beehiiv vs Kit (ConvertKit): Which Newsletter Platform Grows Faster?

If you are comparing beehiiv vs Kit (formerly ConvertKit), you are looking at two platforms built specifically for creators. Neither one is trying to be Mailchimp. Both are designed for people who write newsletters and sell digital products. The question is which one gives you better tools to grow and monetize what you are building.

I use beehiiv because the monetization tools are built in from the start. If you want to try it: beehiiv.

Affiliate note: if you use my beehiiv link, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The price is the same either way.

What this comparison covers:

• How the free plans compare.
• Paid tier pricing.
• Where Kit wins.
• Where beehiiv wins.
• The growth question.

Quick answer:

• How the free plans compare.
• Paid tier pricing.
• Where Kit wins.
• Where beehiiv wins.
• The growth question.

How the free plans compare

Both platforms offer generous free plans, but they work differently.

Feature	beehiiv Free	Kit Newsletter (Free)
Subscribers	2,500	10,000
Email sends	Unlimited	Unlimited
Landing pages	Yes	Yes (30+ templates)
Automations	Limited	1 basic automation
Sell digital products	No (paid plans)	Yes (3.5% + $0.30 fee)
Platform branding	Removable on paid	Required
Newsletter monetization	Yes (ads, boosts)	No
Requirement	None	Must enable Recommendations

Kit gives you more subscribers on the free plan (10,000 vs 2,500), but requires you to enable their Creator Network recommendations. beehiiv gives you fewer subscribers but includes newsletter monetization through ads and boosts even on the free plan.

Paid tier pricing

Tier	beehiiv Scale	Kit Creator	Kit Creator Pro
Price (1,000 subs)	$39/mo	$39/mo	$79/mo
Price (10,000 subs)	$39/mo	$139/mo	$189/mo
Price (25,000 subs)	$39/mo	$199/mo	$279/mo
Unlimited subscribers	Yes ($39/mo)	No (scales with count)	No (scales with count)
Full automations	Yes	Yes	Yes
Referral program	Yes	No	Yes (SparkLoop)
Ad monetization	Yes	No	No
Subscriber scoring	Yes	No	Yes

The pricing difference becomes dramatic as your list grows. At 10,000 subscribers, beehiiv costs $39/mo. Kit Creator costs $139/mo. Kit Creator Pro costs $189/mo. At 25,000 subscribers, the gap is even wider.

Where Kit wins

Kit has a more established creator ecosystem. The Creator Network helps you get discovered by other newsletter writers, and the recommendation engine can drive new subscribers without any marketing effort on your part. If you are starting from zero and want the platform to help you find your first readers, Kit’s network is a real advantage.

Kit also lets you sell digital products on the free plan. You can sell ebooks, templates, courses, and subscriptions directly through Kit without upgrading. beehiiv’s free plan does not include commerce features.

The visual automation builder is more mature. Kit has had years to refine its automation workflows, and the builder is intuitive for non-technical creators. beehiiv’s automations are functional but not as polished.

And SMS marketing is included on Kit Creator and above. beehiiv does not currently offer SMS as a feature.

Where beehiiv wins

beehiiv wins on price at scale and monetization.

The flat $39/mo for unlimited subscribers is hard to argue with. As your list grows on Kit, your bill grows with it. On beehiiv, it stays flat. At 25,000 subscribers, you are saving $160 to $240 per month compared to Kit. That is $1,920 to $2,880 per year.

The built-in ad network is unique to beehiiv. You can run sponsored placements in your newsletter and earn revenue from your audience without selling your own products. Boosts let you earn money by recommending other newsletters. Kit has no equivalent revenue feature. The newsletter itself generates income on beehiiv. On Kit, the newsletter is a channel for selling products.

The referral program is included in beehiiv Scale ($39/mo). On Kit, you need Creator Pro ($79/mo and up) to get SparkLoop referrals. That is a $40/mo difference for the same growth mechanic.

The growth question

Pick beehiiv if:

• You want to monetize your newsletter directly through ads and boosts.
• You expect your list to grow past 5,000 subscribers and want predictable costs.
• You want a referral program without paying $79/mo or more.
• Your newsletter IS the product, not a funnel for something else.

Pick Kit if:

• You want to sell digital products from day one on the free plan.
• You value the Creator Network for organic discovery.
• You need SMS marketing alongside email.
• You want a more mature visual automation builder.
• You are under 10,000 subscribers and want the most generous free plan.

The bottom line

Both beehiiv and Kit are built for creators, but they optimize for different outcomes. Kit optimizes for selling digital products through email. beehiiv optimizes for making the newsletter itself profitable. If you plan to grow a large list and want to keep your costs flat while earning from your audience, beehiiv is the better long-term platform.

See what the free plan offers: Start with beehiiv free.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is beehiiv or Kit better for creators?

It depends on your goal. beehiiv is better for creators who want to monetize through newsletter ads and boosts. Kit is better for creators who sell digital products and want a built-in commerce platform on the free plan.

Did ConvertKit change its name?

Yes. ConvertKit rebranded to Kit. The platform, features, and pricing remain the same. Existing accounts were automatically updated.

Why is beehiiv cheaper than Kit at scale?

beehiiv Scale is a flat $39/mo for unlimited subscribers. Kit charges more as your subscriber count grows. At 25,000 subscribers, Kit Creator costs $199/mo while beehiiv stays at $39/mo.

Related Comparisons

• beehiiv vs Mailchimp — email platform comparison.
• beehiiv vs Substack
• beehiiv Review
• beehiiv Referral Program

About the author: Chris Myers builds AI-powered business systems and tests every tool in his own solopreneur stack before recommending it. He writes at Piscion Global.