Verdict: built for publishers, not for stores
beehiiv's pricing page frames its plans as Free (the essentials), Lite (the tools to grow and monetize) and Pro (the complete growth engine), with Enterprise priced by quote. Every plan includes unlimited email sends, and the FAQ says the website, podcast, community and digital products are on every plan, with limits and advanced features changing as you move up. [1]
That design favors a writer or media brand trying to grow an audience and earn from it through ads, sponsorships and paid tiers. It is a weaker fit for an online store whose email program runs on many behavioral segments and cart or browse events. If an older article or invoice names different beehiiv plans, map it to the current lineup before comparing prices: the October 29, 2026 pricing data uses Free, Lite, Pro and Enterprise. [1]
Plans at a glance
From beehiiv's published pricing data on October 29, 2026, in USD. Prices shown are for the smallest bucket, up to 1,000 subscribers. [1]
| Item | Free | Lite | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price at up to 1,000 subscribers | $0 | $59/mo, or $588/yr ($49/mo) [1] | $109/mo, or $1,140/yr ($95/mo) [1] |
| Subscriber ceiling | 2,500 | 100,000 | 250,000 [1] |
| Email sends | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited [1] |
| Publications / seats | 1 / 1 | 3 / 2 | 10 / 10 [1] |
| Segments (depth) | 3 (3) | 10 (10) | Unlimited (20) [1] |
| Live custom automations | None | 10 | Unlimited [1] |
| Referral program | No | Yes, 3 milestones | Yes, unlimited milestones [1] |
| Ad network and paid subscriptions | No | Yes | Yes [1] |
| Paid subscription tiers | None | 1 | Unlimited [1] |
| Custom website pages | 1 | 5 | Unlimited [1] |
| Remove beehiiv branding | No | No | Yes [1] |
The built-in website and custom domains
Every plan includes a website builder, templates and an AI website builder, so a newsletter can launch without a separate site host. Custom pages are capped at 1 on Free and 5 on Lite, and website analytics are basic on Free. [1]
For your own domain, beehiiv's custom domain article is labeled for paid plans. One custom domain can serve as the web domain, a root-domain redirect, the email sending domain and the branded link domain. Verification usually takes a few hours but can take up to 72 hours, and every publication sending from a custom domain needs a DMARC record. [4] The Free plan summary on the pricing page also mentions custom domains while its comparison table does not, so confirm in your account before relying on a custom domain on Free. [1]
Growth tools: referrals and recommendations
The referral program gives each subscriber a unique link and rewards them at milestones you define. Digital rewards are distributed automatically; physical rewards may need manual fulfillment, and you can change rewards and milestones at any time. [3] Lite allows 3 milestones and Pro allows unlimited milestones. [1]
The recommendation network, where publications recommend each other, is listed on every plan. Paid recommendations sit on Lite and above. The pricing data notes that recommendations and the ad network are not in trial and not in all regions. [1]
Referral programs reward volume, so plan how you will judge quality. Watch whether referred subscribers open and click before raising rewards.
Monetization: the ad network and paid subscriptions
The ad network is open to anyone on Lite or above who is actively sending. Offers pay by CPM (beehiiv's example: a $5 CPM pays $5 per 1,000 unique opens) or by CPC (its example: a $2 CPC with 100 verified clicks pays $200). You see an estimated payout before reserving an offer, advertisers are vetted, and you are not required to run any ads. Payouts are processed on the 20th of each month for the prior month, through a required Stripe Express account. [2]
As a worked illustration using beehiiv's own example rate, an issue with 4,000 unique opens at a $5 CPM would earn $20. Four issues a month would earn $80, which is below Lite's $109 monthly price at the up-to-5,000 bucket. [1] [2] Actual rates depend on the offers available and on your audience, so treat ads as a supplement until you see real offers.
Paid subscriptions require Lite or above in the pricing comparison, with 1 paid tier on Lite and unlimited tiers, paid trials and group subscriptions on Pro. beehiiv says it takes 0% of paid subscription revenue; Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction still applies. [1]
Automation and segmentation depth
Custom automations start on Lite. The published trigger list includes signed up, email or form submitted, segment entered or exited, tag added or removed, survey submitted, paid subscription purchased or cancelled, product purchased, custom field changed and an unengaged trigger. Actions include send email, delay, tags, field updates, tier updates, true or false branches and enrolling in another automation. Pro adds click-triggered automations and A/B splits with advanced conditions. [1]
That is enough for welcome series, paid-tier onboarding and re-engagement. The pricing data does not list storefront events such as cart abandonment or product browsing as triggers, and segments are capped at 3 on Free and 10 on Lite. [1] A store that relies on those behaviors should confirm its integrations before choosing beehiiv.
Leaving later: exports
beehiiv's export article says dashboard exports are available on all plans. Subscribers come as a Quick export (email, status and tier) or a Full export that adds custom fields and statistics. Posts can be exported too, including published, archived and draft posts. Download links last 24 hours, and API-based subscriber exports need a paid plan. [5] Run a test export early so you know what a move would carry.
Checklist: should you pick beehiiv?
- The newsletter is the product, and you want growth tools in the same account: good fit.
- Under 2,500 subscribers with no ads or paid tier yet: Free covers you. [1]
- You want ads, referrals or paid subscriptions: budget for Lite at your bucket. [1]
- You run a store and need many segments, cart or browse triggers: compare an ecommerce-focused tool first.
- You need to remove beehiiv branding or run several publications: price Pro. [1]
- You can verify a custom domain and publish a DMARC record before switching senders. [4]
Questions before you decide
Is beehiiv free?
Yes, for up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited email sends and no credit card required. The Free plan does not include the ad network, referral program, paid subscriptions or custom automations, according to the pricing comparison.
Does beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
beehiiv's pricing FAQ says it takes 0% of paid subscription and digital product revenue, and that Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction still applies. The pricing data marks the 0% take rate as not in trial, so confirm what applies before taking payments during a trial.
Can I export my list if I leave?
beehiiv's export article lists dashboard exports of subscribers and posts on all plans. Subscriber exports come in a Quick or Full version, and download links are valid for 24 hours. Exports through the API need a paid plan.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- beehiiv pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv Ad Network Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv referral program Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv support: How to use a custom domain for your publication Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv support: Exporting post content or subscriber data Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.