ConvertKit vs Beehiiv vs Substack
The three newsletter platforms solopreneurs actually use
Side-by-side on pricing, features, monetisation paths, and growth tooling. The right pick depends on whether you're building a newsletter, a list, or both.
The three contenders
What each one is, in one card
- 01
ConvertKit (Kit)
The list-builder's tool
Starting price
Free up to 10K / paid from $25/mo
Best for
Solopreneurs running automation-heavy email funnels and product launches
- 02
Beehiiv
The growth-native newsletter platform
Starting price
Free up to 2.5K / paid from $39/mo
Best for
Publication-style newsletters wanting built-in growth and ad monetisation
- 03
Substack
The audience-native publishing platform
Starting price
Free / 10% of paid subscriptions
Best for
Writers monetising through paid subscriptions, with built-in discovery
The full comparison
Attribute by attribute
| Attribute | ConvertKit (Kit) | Beehiiv | Substack |
|---|---|---|---|
Free tier | Up to 10K subscribers, full features | Up to 2.5K subscribers, most features | Unlimited free tier |
Cost at 10K subscribers | ~$100/mo on paid plans | ~$84/mo on paid plans | Free unless monetising |
Automation & sequences | Strongest of the three | Solid, growing fast | Limited |
Built-in growth tools | Strong landing pages, forms | Strong: referrals, recommendations, ad network | Strong: Substack network discovery |
Paid subscriptions Beehiiv charges nothing for paid subscriptions on most plans; Substack charges 10% | Yes, via integrations | Yes, native | Yes, native (10% take rate) |
Sponsorships / ad network | No native marketplace | Yes, native ad network | Limited |
Email deliverability | Strong | Strong | Strong |
Custom domain | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) | Yes (paid) |
Export your list | Yes, anytime | Yes, anytime | Yes, anytime |
Best for product launches | Strongest | Solid | Limited |
Best for paid subscriptions | Workable with effort | Strong | Strongest |
The verdict
Which one for which person
Pick ConvertKit if
Your newsletter is paired with digital products, courses, or services and you'll run real automation flows. The list-builder feature set is the strongest for solopreneurs running funnels.
Pick Beehiiv if
You're building a publication-style newsletter and want built-in growth tools (referrals, recommendations, ad network). Best balance of features and pricing for most modern solopreneurs in 2026.
Pick Substack if
Your model is paid subscriptions and you want network-driven discovery. The 10% take rate is meaningful at scale — but the built-in audience can compensate, especially in early growth.