Brilliant Beehiiv Newsletters & What They Do Right

Choosing a newsletter platform can feel like you're trying to assemble a car from parts you bought at five different stores. You need a writer, an email sender, an analytics tool, and a payment processor, and getting them all to work together is a huge headache. At Letterhead, we know this problem first-hand, which is why we pay attention to the novel ways other tools in the space help newsletter teams. This guide will show you exactly what makes beehiiv newsletters different, from their powerful growth tools to their built-in monetization features.

Key Takeaways

• Think of beehiiv as a business toolkit, not just an email sender: It combines content creation, audience growth, and monetization features into a single platform, so you don't have to manage multiple different services.
• The platform is built for the solo creator: Its features are designed to help an individual launch and scale a single publication, while larger publisher teams may need a solution with more advanced collaboration and workflow tools.
• Monetize your work without giving up a cut of your earnings: beehiiv offers a 0% platform fee on paid subscriptions and provides a built-in ad network, giving you multiple ways to generate revenue directly from your content.

What is beehiiv?

beehiiv is a platform designed to help creators launch, manage, and grow their newsletters. Think of it as an all-in-one toolkit that combines a content editor, website builder, email sender, and monetization features into a single, streamlined system. The main idea behind beehiiv is to give individual writers and creators the tools they need to build a direct relationship with their audience and turn their passion into a business, without needing a ton of technical know-how or a large team. It aims to simplify the entire process, from the first draft to the first dollar earned.

Instead of piecing together different services for writing, hosting, and payments, beehiiv brings everything under one roof. This approach is especially appealing if you're just starting out or running a solo operation. The platform provides a comprehensive suite of tools that handles everything from designing your emails and managing your subscriber list to analyzing your open rates and placing ads. It’s built on the premise that you should be able to focus on creating great content, while the platform takes care of the complex operational work happening in the background. This focus on the individual creator shapes its entire feature set, prioritizing ease of use and rapid growth for a single publication.

Explore beehiiv's Core Features

At its heart, beehiiv offers a clean, intuitive editor that makes writing and designing your newsletter straightforward. But its feature set goes much further. One of its standout offerings is a built-in ad network, which connects creators with brands looking to sponsor newsletters, making monetization much simpler. The platform also includes powerful growth tools like a referral program and recommendation engine to help you expand your audience. For those looking to build a business, beehiiv integrates seamlessly with popular tools like Stripe for paid subscriptions, Zapier for custom automations, and Google Analytics for deeper performance insights.

Who is beehiiv Built For?

beehiiv is tailored specifically for individual creators. This includes independent journalists, writers, industry experts, and influencers who want to build and monetize a personal brand through a newsletter. The platform is designed to empower a single person to grow their audience and generate revenue as if they had a full team supporting them. If you're looking to quickly grow an email list and explore different revenue streams like paid subscriptions or advertising, beehiiv provides a focused and accessible path to get there. It’s an excellent choice for creators who prioritize growth and monetization for a single newsletter from day one.

What Makes beehiiv Different?

beehiiv has carved out a specific niche for itself by focusing on a simple premise: give newsletter creators the tools they need to grow and make money, all in one place. While many platforms can send an email, beehiiv’s approach is more of an all-in-one business toolkit for writers. It combines a user-friendly interface with powerful, built-in features for audience growth, analytics, and monetization that are often sold as separate, costly add-ons elsewhere. This integrated system is designed to help a solo creator or a small team build a newsletter from a passion project into a sustainable business.

What truly sets it apart is this native integration. Instead of piecing together a referral program from one service, an ad network from another, and a payment processor for subscriptions, beehiiv brings these functions under one roof. This not only simplifies the tech stack but also creates a more seamless experience for both the creator and the reader. For publishers and brands exploring new content ventures, this model offers a streamlined way to test, launch, and scale a newsletter without the operational complexity that often comes with managing multiple vendors and data sources. The platform is built on the idea that growth and revenue shouldn't be afterthoughts; they should be woven into the fabric of the product from day one. Let's look at the core components that make this possible.

An Intuitive Editor and Flexible Design

One of the first things users notice about beehiiv is its clean, straightforward editor. You don’t need to be a designer or know how to code to create a professional-looking newsletter. The platform prioritizes a simple writing experience, allowing you to focus on your content rather than getting stuck on technical hurdles. This ease of use is a major draw for creators who want to publish consistently without spending hours on formatting. While it may not have the complex design capabilities of enterprise-level platforms, it provides enough flexibility with custom fields and templates to build a distinct brand identity that resonates with your audience.

Grow Your Audience with Built-in Tools

This is where beehiiv really starts to stand out. The platform is packed with features specifically designed to help you get more subscribers. Its standout tool is a built-in referral program that turns your most loyal readers into advocates, rewarding them for spreading the word. Beyond that, features like "Boosts" allow you to get paid for recommending other newsletters, while "Magic Links" offer a one-click subscribe experience that reduces friction. These growth-focused tools are integrated directly into the platform, helping you build momentum without having to patch together multiple third-party services.

Understand Your Performance with Deep Analytics

You can't improve what you don't measure, and beehiiv provides the data you need to make smart decisions. The platform offers deep analytics that go beyond simple open and click rates. You can see detailed reports on subscriber demographics, acquisition sources, and post-performance, helping you understand exactly what content connects with your readers. This allows you to see which topics are driving engagement, which referral sources are most effective, and how different segments of your audience behave. Having these key performance indicators readily available helps you refine your content strategy and grow more effectively over time.

Turn Your Newsletter into Revenue

beehiiv was built from the ground up with monetization in mind. It offers a diverse set of tools to help you earn money directly from your newsletter, which is a key differentiator from many traditional email service providers. You can launch paid subscriptions and, most notably, beehiiv takes a 0% platform fee, meaning you keep all of your subscription revenue. It also features a sophisticated ad network that connects you with sponsors, as well as a "Boosts" marketplace where you can get paid to recommend other newsletters. This multi-faceted approach to monetization gives creators multiple paths to building a profitable publication.

beehiiv vs. The Competition

Choosing a newsletter platform can feel overwhelming, but it often comes down to your specific goals. beehiiv has carved out a strong niche for itself, but it’s helpful to see how it stacks up against other popular tools. Whether you’re focused on simple monetization, complex marketing campaigns, or scaling a full-fledged media operation, understanding the key differences will help you find the right fit for your work. Let's look at how beehiiv compares to some of the biggest names in the space.

beehiiv vs. Substack: A Look at Monetization

When it comes to creator-focused platforms, Substack is often the first name that comes to mind. Both platforms make it incredibly simple to start a newsletter and offer paid subscriptions. The biggest difference, however, lies in how you make money. beehiiv provides several built-in ways to monetize, and most importantly, you keep 100% of your subscription revenue. In contrast, Substack takes a 10% cut of every paid subscription you sell. For creators building a sustainable business, that 10% can add up quickly, making beehiiv a more financially attractive option as you grow.

beehiiv vs. Mailchimp: For Creators or Marketers?

Mailchimp is a powerhouse in the email marketing world, known for its robust automation and features designed for businesses. But is it right for a newsletter creator? While Mailchimp is a great tool for running complex marketing campaigns, its focus isn't purely on content creation and monetization. This is where beehiiv shines. If you're a writer, content creator, or solo marketer whose primary goal is to grow and monetize a newsletter, beehiiv’s feature set is more aligned with your needs. It prioritizes growth tools, analytics, and monetization options specifically for content-driven publications.

beehiiv vs. Letterhead: For Solo Creators or Publisher Teams?

beehiiv is designed to help you run an entire newsletter business from a single dashboard, which is a huge advantage for solo creators. It combines writing, growth, and monetization tools into one cohesive platform. However, when you’re part of a larger team or a publisher managing multiple newsletters, your needs change. That’s where a platform like Letterhead comes in. While beehiiv is excellent for an individual, Letterhead is built for the operational complexities of publisher teams, offering advanced workflows, collaboration features, and governance to help scale the business side of newsletters without friction.

Compare Pricing and Value

One of beehiiv’s most compelling features is its generous free plan, which lets you grow your list up to 2,500 subscribers before you have to pay. This gives you plenty of runway to build an audience and test your content strategy. Once you’re ready to upgrade, paid plans are competitively priced, starting around $43 per month for 1,000 subscribers. Users seem to agree that the platform delivers on its promises, with beehiiv earning high ratings from tens of thousands of creators. This combination of a powerful free tier and strong user satisfaction makes it a valuable contender in the market.

How to Make Money with beehiiv

Turning your newsletter into a revenue stream is a major goal for most creators, and beehiiv provides several direct paths to get there. The platform is built with monetization in mind, offering a suite of tools that cater to different business models. Whether you want to charge for premium content, partner with brands, or grow your audience through paid referrals, beehiiv has a built-in solution.

This focus on revenue is a key reason many creators choose the platform. Instead of patching together third-party tools for payments, ad sales, and referrals, you can manage these income streams from one central dashboard. This integrated approach saves time and helps you focus on what matters most: creating great content that your audience is willing to pay for, either with their wallet or their attention. Let’s look at the three primary ways you can earn money with a beehiiv newsletter.

Offer Paid Subscriptions Without Platform Fees

One of the most straightforward ways to monetize your content is by offering paid subscriptions, and beehiiv makes this incredibly appealing. Unlike platforms like Substack that take a 10% cut of your subscription revenue, beehiiv charges a 0% platform fee. This means you keep 100% of the money you earn from your subscribers, aside from standard payment processing fees.

This difference is significant, especially as your newsletter grows. For a creator earning $10,000 a month from subscriptions, that’s an extra $1,000 in your pocket every month. This fee structure gives you a clear financial advantage and allows you to maximize your earnings from the loyal community you’ve built.

Find Sponsors and Run Ads

If you’d rather keep your content free, sponsorships and advertising are excellent ways to generate revenue. beehiiv simplifies this process with its own ad network, which connects creators with brands looking to reach engaged audiences. Instead of spending hours on cold outreach to find potential sponsors, you can use the network to find partnership opportunities directly within the platform.

This feature helps you add a professional and scalable revenue stream to your newsletter. You can manage ad placements, negotiate rates, and track performance all in one place. It’s a powerful tool for creators who want to monetize their audience's attention without putting their content behind a paywall.

Use Referrals to Grow and Earn

beehiiv offers a unique way to grow your audience that can also become a revenue source. Using a feature called Boosts, you can pay other newsletters to recommend your publication to their subscribers or get paid to recommend others. It’s a marketplace for growth. You can also implement a traditional referral program, incentivizing your current subscribers to share your newsletter with their friends.

This strategy was famously used by newsletters like Morning Brew to achieve explosive growth. By rewarding your most loyal readers for spreading the word, you create a powerful, self-sustaining growth engine. beehiiv’s built-in tools, like Magic Links, make it easy to track referrals and manage rewards, turning your audience into an effective marketing team and exploring successful newsletter strategies.

Popular Newsletter Niches on beehiiv

While you can write about nearly any topic, certain subjects have found a strong foothold on beehiiv. The platform’s features tend to attract creators who are experts in their fields and are focused on building a direct relationship with their audience. This has led to a thriving ecosystem of newsletters that are both informative and highly engaging. Let's look at a few of the niches where Beehiiv newsletters are making a real impact.

Tech and Startups

It’s no surprise that tech and startup content thrives on beehiiv. The platform itself is a product of the creator economy, and its audience is full of founders, builders, and tech enthusiasts. The most successful newsletters in this space go beyond surface-level tips, offering actionable advice on everything from the fundamentals of starting a business to advanced growth marketing tactics. They provide readers with concrete strategies for product development, AI implementation, and community building, making them an indispensable resource for anyone trying to scale a business.

Personal Finance and Investing

Following closely behind tech is the world of personal finance. This makes sense—entrepreneurs and creators are often charting their own financial paths and need reliable guidance. Newsletters in this niche cover the essentials of managing money, building long-term wealth, and understanding the financial side of a business. Readers aren't just looking for stock tips; they want to learn how to create sustainable financial systems for their personal and professional lives. The content is practical and empowering, helping subscribers make smarter decisions with their money as they grow their ventures.

Creative and Business Content

Beyond the tech and finance worlds, beehiiv is a hub for all kinds of creative and business-focused content. The top newsletters prove that success isn't an accident—it's the result of smart strategy and the right tools. These creators are masters of audience engagement, and it pays off. In fact, the top 10 writers on the platform collectively earn over $25 million a year. This highlights the platform's strength in helping individual experts and storytellers build a media business from the ground up, whether they're writing about marketing, design, or personal development.

Keys to a Successful beehiiv Newsletter

Running a newsletter on beehiiv is more than just hitting "publish." The platform gives you a powerful set of tools, but turning those tools into a thriving, profitable publication requires a smart strategy. The most successful newsletters aren't just lucky; they're built with intention, focusing on a few key areas that drive growth and engagement. They understand that a newsletter is a product, and like any good product, it needs a solid foundation. Whether you're just starting or looking to scale, mastering these fundamentals will make all the difference. Let's walk through the core pillars of a successful beehiiv newsletter, from creating can't-miss content to building a loyal community around your brand.

Create Content That Grows Your List

Your content is the engine of your newsletter. It's what attracts new subscribers and keeps current ones opening your emails week after week. The most successful newsletters are built by design, not by chance. They have a clear understanding of who their audience is and what they want to read. Before you write a single word, define your niche and your unique value proposition. What problem are you solving for your readers? What perspective can you offer that they can't get anywhere else? Consistently delivering high-value, relevant content is the most reliable way to build an audience that trusts you and is eager to hear from you.

Optimize Your Newsletter Design

While content is king, design is the castle it lives in. A clean, professional, and easy-to-read design makes your content more enjoyable and reinforces your brand identity. beehiiv makes it simple to create good-looking newsletters without needing to be a coding expert. However, it's worth noting that some creators find the design options a bit limited. The key is to work within the platform's framework to establish a consistent visual style. Use your logo, brand colors, and a clear font hierarchy to create a polished look. A well-organized layout helps readers scan your content and focus on what matters most, ensuring your message lands effectively.

Build a Community, Not Just an Audience

An audience reads your content; a community participates in it. Shifting your mindset from broadcasting to conversation is crucial for long-term success. beehiiv's built-in tools like polls and surveys are perfect for this. Ask your readers for their opinions, invite them to reply to your emails with their thoughts, and feature their responses in future editions. This two-way communication makes subscribers feel heard and valued, turning them into loyal fans. A strong community also fuels growth. When readers feel connected, they're far more likely to share your newsletter and participate in your referral program, creating a powerful, organic growth loop.

Use beehiiv's Features to Your Advantage

beehiiv is designed as an all-in-one platform to help you create, grow, and monetize your newsletter. To get the most out of it, you need to use the full suite of tools at your disposal. Go beyond the editor and explore the deep analytics to understand what content resonates with your audience. Set up the referral program to encourage word-of-mouth growth. When you're ready, tap into the platform's monetization features, like the ad network or premium subscriptions. beehiiv lets you keep 100% of your subscription revenue, which is a huge advantage. By actively using these built-in features, you can streamline your workflow and build a sustainable business around your newsletter.

What Do Real Users Think of beehiiv?

Marketing materials can tell you a lot, but the real story comes from the people using the platform every day. When you look at reviews and community discussions, you get a much clearer picture of a tool’s true strengths and where it might fall short. With thousands of creators actively using the platform, there’s a lot of feedback out there. Let’s break down what users are saying about beehiiv, from the features they can’t live without to the common hurdles they face. This will help you get a feel for whether the platform aligns with what you and your team need to produce a great newsletter.

What Users Love

Overwhelmingly, users praise beehiiv for being more than just an email service provider. They see it as a comprehensive toolkit for running a full-fledged newsletter business. The platform’s focus on growth and monetization is a major draw. Features like the ad network, referral programs, and paid subscriptions are built right in, making it simple to generate revenue directly from your content. A huge plus for many creators is that beehiiv doesn’t take a cut of subscription earnings, which is a significant advantage over some competitors. This all-in-one approach, combined with a strong user rating, makes it a compelling choice for creators who want a single platform to manage their entire operation.

Common Challenges and Workarounds

No platform is perfect, and users point out a few areas where beehiiv could improve. A common piece of feedback centers on the email editor, which some find to have limited design flexibility and a small selection of templates. If your brand relies on a highly custom or visually complex layout, you might feel constrained. Several users wish there were more ways to make newsletters look unique beyond simple text and image blocks. Another point mentioned is the initial learning curve; some find the dashboard a bit confusing at first. The workaround here is to lean into beehiiv’s strengths: focus on creating high-quality content that doesn’t need a flashy design to resonate with your audience.

A Look at Support and Resources

When it comes to getting help, beehiiv’s support structure is important to understand. For users on paid plans, support is primarily handled through email tickets, and there isn’t a live chat or phone option. This means you won’t always get an immediate answer to urgent questions. However, beehiiv compensates for this with a solid knowledge base and exceptional analytics. Users rave about the detailed reports on subscriber behavior, post performance, and click-through rates. These deep insights empower you to understand what’s working and make data-backed decisions to improve your newsletter, giving you the tools to solve many of your own strategic questions.

Is beehiiv Right for You?

Choosing a newsletter platform is a big decision, and what works for one creator might not work for another. beehiiv is a fantastic, feature-rich platform, but its strengths are best suited for a particular type of user. To figure out if it aligns with your goals, let’s break down who it’s really built for and when you might want to consider other options. Think of this as your final gut check before you commit.

Who Should Use beehiiv?

beehiiv shines for individual creators and small businesses who want an all-in-one solution to launch, manage, and grow a newsletter. If you're an independent writer, a founder building a personal brand, or an influencer expanding your content, this platform is designed for you. It combines a user-friendly editor with powerful, built-in growth and monetization tools, removing the need to stitch together multiple services. The core idea is to give you everything you need to build a newsletter business from a single dashboard. If your main goal is to grow your email list quickly and turn your content into a revenue stream without a lot of technical overhead, beehiiv is a strong contender.

When to Look for an Alternative

On the flip side, beehiiv isn’t a universal solution. If you run an e-commerce business, you might find its text-focused editor limiting for showcasing multiple products with rich visuals. The platform is built for content, not catalogs. More importantly, if you’re part of a larger team or a publisher managing a portfolio of newsletters, you may hit a ceiling. beehiiv is centered around the solo creator model, which can create friction when you need collaborative workflows, brand governance across multiple publications, and advanced analytics that compare performance across your entire newsletter program. For those with more complex operational needs, a different platform might be a better fit.

How to Start Your beehiiv Newsletter

Getting your newsletter off the ground with beehiiv is a straightforward process designed to get you publishing quickly. The platform focuses on giving you the essential tools to create your content and find your first readers without a steep learning curve.

Set Up Your Account and First Send

Getting started on beehiiv is refreshingly simple. You can create a free account in just a few minutes without needing to pull out your credit card. This low-friction setup is a big part of its appeal, letting you dive right into building your publication. Once you're in, beehiiv gives you the tools to create both a newsletter and a simple website from a single dashboard. You can customize your design, import any existing subscribers, and write your first post using their intuitive editor. The platform is designed to get you from idea to your first send as quickly as possible, making it a great choice for creators who want to focus on content without getting bogged down in technical details.

Grow Your Subscriber List from Day One

Once your newsletter is live, the next step is finding your readers. beehiiv doesn't just leave you to figure this out on your own; it includes several features designed to help you expand your audience. The platform’s built-in referral program is a standout tool. You can encourage your most loyal readers to share your newsletter by offering them rewards, a strategy that famously helped publications like Morning Brew achieve massive growth. Beyond referrals, beehiiv offers features like "Boosts," which lets you pay other newsletters to recommend yours, and "Magic Links" for easy, one-click sign-ups. These tools give you a clear path to building your subscriber base right from the start.

Related Articles

• Letterhead vs beehiiv
• 6 Best Newsletter Advertising Platforms of 2025
• 10 Best Newsletter Management Tools for 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the main reason a writer would choose beehiiv over other platforms? The biggest draw is that beehiiv acts as an all-in-one business toolkit for a solo creator. It bundles powerful growth features, like a built-in referral program, and multiple monetization options, like an ad network, directly into the platform. This means you can manage your writing, audience growth, and revenue from a single dashboard without having to piece together several different tools.

How does beehiiv 0% platform fee on paid subscriptions actually work? When you offer paid subscriptions, beehiiv doesn't take a cut of the revenue you earn. You keep 100% of your subscription income, which is a major financial advantage as you grow. You are still responsible for the standard transaction fees charged by the payment processor, such as Stripe, but the platform itself won't take an additional percentage.

I manage several newsletters for my company. Is beehiiv a good fit for a team? beehiiv is really optimized for an individual running a single newsletter. While it's powerful for that purpose, it isn't designed for the collaborative workflows, brand oversight, and shared analytics that a publisher team managing multiple newsletters typically needs. If you're coordinating with writers, editors, and sales teams across a portfolio of publications, you'll likely find its solo-focused structure restrictive.

Can I move my existing subscriber list over to beehiiv? Yes, you can. beehiiv allows you to import your current subscriber list, usually by uploading a standard CSV file. This makes it possible to switch platforms without having to rebuild your audience from scratch, so you can bring your community with you.

What are the most common limitations I should be aware of? The most frequent feedback from users is that the design options for the newsletter and website can feel a bit basic. If your brand requires a highly custom or visually complex layout, you might find the editor's capabilities constraining. Additionally, because the platform is built for individuals, it lacks the advanced collaboration and governance features that larger teams often need to manage their operations effectively.