Substack vs beehiiv: what each costs on your numbers
Substack keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue. beehiiv keeps 0% but charges a plan fee, from $49 a month for Scale. Stripe's card fees are the same on both. So beehiiv costs less once paid revenue passes $490 a month, and Substack costs less below that.
Your results
Check these numbers:
beehiiv Scale is cheaper by $1,332.00 over the first year: your $1,600.00 a month in paid revenue is above the $490.00 break-even.
Gross paid revenue: $1,600.00 a month, $19,200.00 over the first year.
| Per month unless noted | Substack | beehiiv Scale |
|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | $160.00 | $49.00 |
| Stripe fees | $117.60 | $117.60 |
| Total cost | $277.60 | $166.60 |
| Cost over the first year | $3,331.20 | $1,999.20 |
| You keep over the first year | $15,868.80 | $17,200.80 |
beehiiv Scale costs less than Substack once gross paid revenue passes $490.00 a month ($5,880.00 a year) on monthly billing.
With the A1 Promos offer (a 14-day free trial, counted as half of month 1 free, then 20% off months 2–4 on monthly billing), beehiiv Scale costs $1,945.30 over the first year, $53.90 less than paying the monthly list price from day one.
How each platform charges
- Substack is free to publish on and takes 10% of what paid subscribers pay. A newsletter with no paid subscribers costs $0.
- beehiiv charges a plan fee and takes 0% of paid subscriptions. Launch is free up to 2,500 subscribers but has no paid subscriptions. Scale costs $49 a month or $517 a year; Max costs $109 a month or $1,151 a year. Both cover up to 100,000 subscribers; above that, Enterprise is priced by quote.
- Stripe processes payments on both: 2.9% + $0.30 per card charge, plus 0.7% for Stripe Billing. We apply the same Stripe fees on both platforms, and an annual subscriber pays one card fee a year instead of twelve.
Where the break-even sits
beehiiv costs less once 10% of your gross paid revenue is more than its plan fee. On monthly billing that is $490 a month for Scale and $1,090 for Max. On annual billing it drops to $430.83 and $959.17.
What the calculator leaves out
- Substack's network. Recommendations, the Substack app and Notes bring many writers new readers, which can be worth more than the 10%.
- beehiiv's extra income. The beehiiv ad network and Boosts (paid recommendations) can earn money on Scale and Max. We don't count them because they vary so much.
- Larger lists. We use beehiiv's listed plan prices. Check beehiiv's pricing page for your list size before you switch.
- Taxes, refunds, failed payments, international cards and app-store purchases, which add to the fees on either platform.
Frequently asked questions
Is beehiiv cheaper than Substack?
It depends on your paid revenue. Substack takes 10% of it; beehiiv Scale costs $49 a month on monthly billing or $517 a year on annual billing, and takes nothing. Below $490 a month in paid revenue Substack is cheaper; above it beehiiv is. With no paid subscribers Substack costs $0, and beehiiv's free Launch plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers.
At what revenue does beehiiv beat Substack?
When 10% of your gross paid revenue is more than the beehiiv plan fee: $490 a month for Scale on monthly billing ($430.83 on annual billing), and $1,090 a month for Max ($959.17 on annual). Stripe's fees apply on both platforms, so they don't move the break-even.
Does beehiiv take a cut of subscriptions?
No. beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscription revenue on Scale and Max, while Substack takes 10%. On both you still pay Stripe's processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 per card charge, plus 0.7% for Stripe Billing). Paid subscriptions aren't available on the free Launch plan.
Is there a beehiiv discount?
Yes. Our link gives a 14-day free trial, then 20% off your first 3 paid months on Scale or Max with monthly billing. Counting the trial as half a month free, that saves about $53.90 on Scale and $119.90 on Max. It doesn't apply to the free Launch plan, annual billing or Enterprise.
Estimates use list prices and fee rates checked on 10 Oct 2026. Your actual fees depend on your plan, region and payment mix. Links to beehiiv are referral links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. See the beehiiv codes and our beehiiv coupon guide for the offer's full terms.