Best Features or Just Another Tool with Different Skin?
A newsletter can be a quiet little side hustle, the kind you build after work, one issue at a time. But once you try to grow it, the tool choice starts to matter. A lot.
This Beehiiv review breaks down what it does, where it still feels limited, and who should spend money on it (or skip it). If your goal is to turn writing into income, without stitching together five different apps, Beehiiv is worth a hard look.
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Why Side Hustlers are Liking Beehiiv
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform that behaves like a mini media business kit. You write a post once, then Beehiiv can publish it as an email and as a web post on your newsletter site. That matters for side hustlers because it keeps you consistent when time is scarce.
It’s also built around growth loops, not just “send a broadcast.” You get a hosted website, landing pages, signup forms, and tools meant to help you pull in new readers and keep them reading. If you’re building a niche newsletter about local deals, AI tools, money tips, fitness, or any topic with a clear audience, Beehiiv’s setup makes it easier to look legit early.
A practical upside: you can run your publication on a custom domain (better trust, easier to share). A practical downside: if you treat Beehiiv like your full website and archive, switching later can become a project, not a click.
If you want to see how the platform handles common tasks (sending, subscriber management, best practices), Beehiiv’s own knowledge base and support hub is the best place to sanity-check details before committing.
Best Beehiiv Features That Actually Move the Needle
Beehiiv’s best features are the ones that save you months of “I’ll monetize later” procrastination.
Monetization is built in on paid plans. Beehiiv includes options like its Ad Network and Boosts Network, plus paid subscriptions with a 0 percent take rate (Beehiiv’s claim for its platform fee). For a side hustle, that’s a big deal because you can test revenue without rebuilding your stack. You can start free, then turn on monetization once you have real readers.
Referral-style growth tools are another standout. The core idea is simple: reward readers for sharing. It’s the newsletter version of a punch card at a coffee shop, it turns your best fans into your sales team.
Audience tools are solid for creators. You can segment and tag subscribers, run surveys, and set basic automations that react to behavior (like a new signup). You also get A/B testing for subject lines, up to four variations, which is useful if your biggest problem is opens.
Publishing feels creator-first. It’s more “write and publish” than “build a complicated funnel.” For a sense of how it stacks up in real-world use, this review from EmailToolTester is a helpful second opinion.
Beehiiv Pricing, Plans, and Limits
Beehiiv has four plans: Launch (Free), Scale, Max, and Enterprise. Prices below are the published starting points as of January 2026, and Beehiiv’s paid tiers scale with subscriber count (the starting price is the base rate for the first 1,000 subscribers, then increases as your list grows).
Here’s the clearest way to compare what you’re buying.
| Plan | Price (USD) | Subscriber limit | Key features and gates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Launch (Free) | $0 | Up to 2,500 | Custom website, unlimited sends, basic publishing tools, no ads or paid subscriptions | Testing an idea, first list build |
| Scale | $49 monthly, or $43 monthly billed annually | Up to 100,000 | Ad Network, Boosts Network, paid subs (0 percent take rate), AI tools, surveys, A/B subject lines, up to 3 team members | Growing fast, monetizing early |
| Max | $109 monthly, or $96 monthly billed annually | Up to 100,000 | Everything in Scale, plus up to 10 publications, remove Beehiiv branding, audio newsletters, podcast websites, sponsorship storefront, unlimited seats, priority support, RSS to Send, Dynamic Content | Operators running multiple newsletters |
| Enterprise | Custom | 100,000+ | Everything in Max, plus concierge onboarding, dedicated account manager, dedicated IP, Send API, custom publication limits | Large publishers, serious deliverability needs |
Downsides, Lock-in risks, and the Best Alternatives (so you don’t regret it)
Beehiiv is strong, but it isn’t a perfect fit for every side hustle.
Real limits to know before you commit
Design flexibility can feel tight if you want fully custom layouts. Testing is also limited: A/B tests focus on subject lines, not full email content elements. If your marketing style depends on heavy experimentation, that can be a pain.
On lock-in, think in plain terms: the more you rely on Beehiiv’s website, templates, and publication structure, the more work it can take to move later. Also, if you build on a custom domain, switching platforms means DNS changes and possible disruption if you don’t plan the handoff carefully. Before you grow, confirm what you can export (subscribers, posts, analytics), then do a small test export so you’re not guessing later.
Deliverability and compliance also deserve realism. Public sources don’t offer a single universal “deliverability score” for Beehiiv, and you shouldn’t trust one if they did. What matters is list hygiene, authentication setup, and sending habits.
Best for
- Side hustlers building a newsletter as the main product
- Creators who want ads and paid options without extra tools
- Builders running more than one publication (Max plan)
Not for
- E-commerce brands needing deep SMS and store data flows
- Marketers who want highly custom email design controls
- People who want a full CMS with total ownership (self-hosted)
Alternatives (and when to choose each)
If you want a broader comparison across creator tools, this Beehiiv vs Kit vs Mailchimp guide gives a useful framework.
- Substack: pick it if you want maximum simplicity and built-in discovery, and you’re okay paying a platform cut on paid subscriptions.
- MailerLite: pick it if you want an easy drag-and-drop editor and strong “general email marketing” value at higher list sizes.
- ConvertKit (Kit): pick it if your side hustle is powered by selling digital products and you want deeper creator commerce features.
- Ghost: pick it if you want more control and ownership, and you’re comfortable managing a more hands-on setup.
- Buttondown: pick it if you want minimal fuss and low cost, and you don’t care about big monetization networks.
Quick decision checklist
- You want to earn from a newsletter (ads, boosts, paid) within 3 to 6 months.
- Your content can live as both email and web posts.
- You’re fine with simpler design controls.
- You accept that pricing rises as your list grows.
- You’re willing to set up domain and sending best practices early.
- You’ve checked export options before your list gets big.
Conclusion
Beehiiv in 2026 is best seen as a newsletter business engine, not just an email sender. It shines when you want growth and monetization in the same place, and you don’t want to spend weekends wiring tools together. If you’re building a serious newsletter side hustle, Beehiiv is a strong choice, as long as you’re honest about design limits and you plan for platform lock-in from day one.
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