Beehiiv vs ConvertKit (Kit) 2026: Which Is Better?
Beehiiv and Kit (formerly ConvertKit) are the two most popular newsletter platforms for creators in 2026, but they serve different needs. Beehiiv is built for newsletter growth and monetization. Kit is built for creators who sell digital products alongside their newsletter.
This comparison breaks down every major difference to help you pick the right one.
Quick Verdict
Choose Beehiiv if your newsletter IS the product. You want to grow subscribers, monetize through ads and sponsorships, and use built-in growth tools like referrals and boosts.
Choose Kit if your newsletter SUPPORTS a business. You sell courses, ebooks, memberships, or coaching and need powerful automations and native commerce tools.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2,500 subscribers | 10,000 subscribers |
| Paid pricing | $39/mo (up to 100K) | $25/mo (1K subs) |
| Ad network | Built-in | None |
| Referral program | Built-in | None (requires third party) |
| Visual automations | Basic | Best-in-class |
| Digital product sales | None | Native (no Gumroad needed) |
| SEO website | Full SEO-optimized site | Basic landing pages |
| Email editor | Good | Functional but basic |
| Segmentation | Advanced | Good |
| Integrations | Growing (100+) | Extensive (200+) |
| Deliverability | Strong | Strong |
| Custom domain | Free tier | Free tier |
Pricing Breakdown
Beehiiv's pricing is simpler and more favorable at scale. The $39/month Scale plan covers up to 100,000 subscribers. Kit's pricing increases with subscriber count, so at 25,000 subscribers you are paying $150/month on Kit versus $39/month on Beehiiv.
Kit has a more generous free tier (10,000 vs 2,500 subscribers), but the free plan restricts automations and sequences. If you need those features, you are paying from day one.
Growth Tools
Beehiiv dominates here. Its referral program lets existing subscribers earn rewards for sharing your newsletter. The Boost network lets newsletter operators pay each other for cross-promotions. The built-in ad network generates revenue automatically once you reach scale. Kit has none of these features natively.
Automations & Commerce
Kit dominates here. Its visual automation builder lets you create complex subscriber journeys with branching logic, delays, conditions, and triggers. You can sell digital products (courses, ebooks, presets) directly through Kit with no additional tools. Beehiiv's automation capabilities are basic by comparison and it has no native commerce.
Who Wins?
Choose Beehiiv if:
- Your newsletter is your primary product
- You want to monetize through ads and sponsorships
- You want built-in growth tools (referrals, boosts)
- You want flat pricing that does not scale with subscribers
- You want an SEO-optimized website included
Choose Kit if:
- You sell digital products, courses, or memberships
- You need complex email automations and sequences
- You want the largest free tier (10K subscribers)
- You need deep integrations with other tools
- Your newsletter drives traffic to products you sell elsewhere
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