The deciding question: which paid feature will you actually use?
Both services can send a broadcast newsletter for free. The real difference shows up at two points: how big the list can get before you must pay, and which growth or money-making features sit behind the paywall.
Choose Kit if you want the longest free runway for a plain newsletter or you sell digital products to your list. Look at beehiiv if your plan depends on a custom-domain web publication, its ad network or paid subscriptions and you are ready to pay for Lite or Pro.
Free plans compared (checked October 29, 2026)
| Kit Free | beehiiv Free | |
|---|---|---|
| Subscriber limit | Up to 10,000 | Up to 2,500 |
| Broadcasts | Unlimited email broadcasts | Included |
| Automations | Sequences and Visual Automations listed as Creator additions | Not included |
| Custom domain | Not stated on the Free card | Not included |
| Selling to readers | Sell digital products and subscriptions listed on Free | Paid subscriptions not included |
| Users | 1 | See pricing page |
Paid plans at up to 1,000 subscribers
Both services price by list size; these are the lowest published rows. Kit's Pro promotion applies to the first year only, so budget for the renewal.
| Plan | Monthly billing | Annual billing | Notable additions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit Creator | $33/month | $390/year | Unlimited sequences and Visual Automations, remove Kit branding, apps and integrations, 2 users |
| Kit Pro | $50/month promo ($66 standard) | $593 first year, then standard rate | Newsletter referral system, unlimited users |
| beehiiv Lite | $59/month | $588/year ($49/month) | Custom domains, up to 10 automations, ad network, paid subscriptions |
| beehiiv Pro | $109/month | $1,140/year ($95/month) | Unlimited automations, remove beehiiv branding, Send API |
Worked example: 1,800 subscribers, weekly issue
Both free plans cover 1,800 subscribers today. If you expect to pass 2,500 within a year and want to stay free, beehiiv Free runs out first; Kit Free lists room to 10,000.
If instead you plan to launch a $5 paid tier for readers, check where that sits: Kit lists selling subscriptions on Free, while beehiiv puts paid subscriptions on Lite and above.
Who should skip a move
This guide compares published plan pages. We have not run subscriber campaigns or measured inbox placement on either service.
- Your current sender already reaches your list and you cannot name a missing feature.
- You would pay for an ad network or discovery feature you have not yet planned to use.
- You lack time this month to rebuild signup forms, tags and domain authentication.
Watch demos / Official walkthroughs
See how the tools work.
Videos load from YouTube only when you press play. These are provider videos, not our own product tests.
Kit / Official video
Kit’s New Vertical Navigation: A Full Walkthrough
What to look for: Locate subscriber, email, and automation navigation before choosing a workflow.
Watch on YouTubeQuestions before you decide
What does beehiiv Free leave out?
beehiiv's comparison on October 29, 2026 showed Free without custom domains, automations, the ad network or paid subscriptions. Free does include API access, excluding the Send API. Lite adds custom domains, up to 10 live custom automations, the ad network (not in trial and not in all regions) and paid subscriptions.
Which is cheaper at 1,000 subscribers on a paid plan?
On the pricing pages checked October 29, 2026: Kit Creator $33 a month or $390 a year; beehiiv Lite $59 a month or $588 a year ($49 a month equivalent). Kit Pro showed a first-year promotion of $593 that renews at the standard rate, and beehiiv Pro was $109 a month or $1,140 a year. Compare the plan that has the feature you need, not the cheapest card.
Should I move an existing Kit newsletter to beehiiv?
Only if you can name a beehiiv feature you will use every week and that Kit's plan at your size does not cover. Moving means rebuilding forms, tags and automations, and authenticating your sending domain again.
Have you tested beehiiv sending?
The beehiiv Max trial editor displayed “Test email sent” for one message to an address we control on September 15, 2026. We did not check the receiving inbox. This was not a subscriber campaign or a paid-plan test; the pricing comparison is based on documentation reviewed that day.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- beehiiv pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- Kit pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.