Before you import anything
beehiiv's Substack guide asks for two setup steps first. Set a default post style in the Post Builder, because after migration styling can only be changed post by post. If you have paid content, connect Stripe and create paid tiers that mirror your Substack tiers before importing paywalled posts; otherwise beehiiv warns that paywalled content becomes visible to readers who have not paid.
Check your plan. The content and free subscriber import is listed for all plans, but the paid subscriber import is on paid beehiiv plans. At up to 1,000 subscribers, beehiiv's pricing page lists Lite at $49 per month billed yearly or $59 monthly.
Step 1: import the archive
For free posts only, paste your Substack URL into Settings, Content Import, choose Substack and Free content. For free and paid posts, first create a new export in Substack under Settings, Import/Export, download the zip, and upload it under Paywalled content. Safari users should stop Safari from automatically opening safe files, because beehiiv needs the file to stay zipped. beehiiv says imports usually take 5 to 10 minutes.
Exact paywall placement does not carry over. Paid posts are fully hidden from free readers by default; add a Paywall block and click Update web on any post where you want a preview.
Step 2: import free subscribers from a cleaned CSV
Export all subscribers from Substack, keep the recommended fields, and rename columns before upload so they map cleanly. Split full names into first and last columns and paste them as values so first-name merge tags work. Subscription dates default to the import date; beehiiv says to contact its support after importing if you want the original dates kept.
beehiiv also recommends excluding subscribers with a Substack Activity Rating of 0 from your first 2 to 4 weeks of sends, using an excluded segment on each post.
| Substack column | Rename to for beehiiv | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | subscription_date | Keeps the signup date as a field |
| Subscriber country | subscriber_country | Country is a reserved beehiiv field |
| Subscription source (free) | utm_source | Preserves where the reader came from |
| Activity | Substack Activity Rating | Lets you exclude rating 0 at first |
| Email, Name | Map directly; split Name into first and last | Merge tags need separate name fields |
Step 3: move paid subscribers through Stripe
In beehiiv, open Settings, Subscribers Import, and start a new migration under Import paid subscriptions from Stripe. In the Stripe account connected to Substack, copy all customers to the Stripe account connected to beehiiv and accept the transfer there. Stripe notes transfers may take up to three days; beehiiv says most finish in 5 to 15 minutes. beehiiv's paid import article says this copy step does not create charges.
Next, give beehiiv the Substack-side Stripe account ID and a restricted API key named for beehiiv, map each Substack product to a beehiiv tier, download the preview CSV for your records, and start the import. Map legacy or discounted prices to a matching tier. beehiiv says imported subscribers keep their current price; a reader paying $3 a month stays at $3 even if your new tier is $5, and they are billed on their regular renewal date.
Stop Substack billing and handle special cases
This is the step that causes double charges if skipped. beehiiv's guide recommends going to Substack Settings, Payments, clicking Pause subscription billing and choosing Pause indefinitely. If you cancel instead, contact Substack support and confirm no refunds are issued. Turn on Stripe's failed payment and expiring card emails in the beehiiv-connected account.
Comped and gifted readers are not in Stripe, so grant them complimentary access in beehiiv using the expiration date from your Substack export. iOS subscribers must cancel through the App Store themselves; beehiiv suggests exporting them, emailing that segment, and offering a discount link to resubscribe.
What does not transfer
- Video and podcast-type posts through the importer (podcasts have a separate RSS redirect step after you stop publishing on Substack).
- Previous paywall placements.
- Photo gallery elements.
- Comments.
- Category structures.
- Code blocks, which become plain text and need recreating with an HTML snippet.
Cutover checklist to avoid sending twice
The order below is our suggested sequence built from beehiiv's steps. The goal is one publishing platform per issue and one billing platform per reader.
| Order | Action | Check before moving on |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Set default post style, connect Stripe, create tiers | Tiers match Substack prices |
| 2 | Publish your last Substack issue and stop scheduling there | No scheduled Substack posts remain |
| 3 | Import archive and free subscribers | Count of imported readers matches the cleaned CSV |
| 4 | Run the paid Stripe migration | Paid subscriber count in beehiiv matches the preview CSV |
| 5 | Pause Substack subscription billing indefinitely | Pause confirmed in Substack Payments settings |
| 6 | Grant comped access and email iOS subscribers | Each special case has an owner |
| 7 | Point your custom domain to beehiiv | Old /p/ links open the same posts |
| 8 | Send the first beehiiv issue, excluding Activity Rating 0 | Test send to your own addresses first |
Questions before you decide
Which beehiiv plan do I need?
beehiiv lists the Substack content and subscriber migration article as available on all plans, but its paid subscriber import is available on paid plans only.
Will paid subscribers be charged twice?
beehiiv places imported paid subscribers on a temporary trial until their regular renewal date, but says it is your responsibility to stop billing on the old platform. Its Substack guide recommends pausing subscription billing in Substack indefinitely.
Do my old post links break?
beehiiv says it uses the same /p/ URL structure as Substack, so post redirects do not need manual setup once your domain points to beehiiv.
Do comments come across?
No. beehiiv lists comments among the items that do not transfer, along with paywall placement, photo galleries and category structures.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- beehiiv Support: How to migrate from Substack to beehiiv Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv Support: How to import paid subscribers Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
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