Sources checked Sep 22, 2026
beehiiv pricing: when should you leave the free plan?
See the listed price jump and which growth or monetization needs could justify it.
Up to 2,500 active subscribers with unlimited sends. The pricing page does not include paid subscriptions, the ad network, or automations on Launch.
Scale is priced by active subscribers, from $49 a month at 1,000 to $329 at 100,000; the table below has every tier. The pricing page showed a $43 monthly equivalent at the smallest tier when billed annually.
Read the price at your own tier, not the headline $49. A list that outgrows the free 2,500 limit starts at $69 a month; at 10,000 subscribers it is $109.
WORKED SCENARIOS
When would you need to pay?
Each row uses the smallest subscriber band beehiiv documents for that plan. They are planning examples, not quotes.
Scroll sideways to see all columns →
| Situation | Plan to check | Starting price | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,000 subscribers · free publication | Launch | $0/mo | Unlimited sends fit; monetization and automation tools stay unavailable. |
| 1,000 subscribers · paid subscriptions | Scale | $49/mo monthly | Scale is the documented entry point for paid subscriptions. |
| 1,000 subscribers · annual commitment | Scale | $43/mo equivalent | The displayed annual total was $517; compare the commitment, not only the monthly equivalent. |
EVERY TIER WE HOLD
The prices behind our calculator.
Only tiers a primary source states directly. Nothing here is estimated between tiers or projected above the largest one.
Scroll sideways to see all columns →
| Plan | Planning price | Audience cap | Email cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | $0 free tier | 2,500 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 1,000 tier | $49/mo monthly billing | 1,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 2,500 tier | $69/mo monthly billing | 2,500 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 5,000 tier | $89/mo monthly billing | 5,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 10,000 tier | $109/mo monthly billing | 10,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 25,000 tier | $169/mo monthly billing | 25,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 50,000 tier | $249/mo monthly billing | 50,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 75,000 tier | $289/mo monthly billing | 75,000 | No cap stated in source |
| Scale · 100,000 tier | $329/mo monthly billing | 100,000 | No cap stated in source |
LIKELY FIT
beehiiv makes more sense when…
- The newsletter itself is a product or media property.
- Referrals, recommendations, ads, or paid subscriptions have a defined role.
- You want the publication site and newsletter workflow together.
COMPARE ANOTHER OPTION
Look elsewhere when…
- You mainly need lower-cost email campaigns and forms.
- Complex commerce funnels are the core requirement.
- You would upgrade without using a paid-plan feature.
What this page cannot tell you
Need more subscribers than the largest tier shown? Ask beehiiv for a quote. Try the editor, support, and imports with your own workflow before moving. We record pricing updates in the changes log.
Moving a list here? Price all three platforms in the cost calculator, then read the Substack or Mailchimp cost guide and the migration checklist.
FINAL PRICE CHECK
Price your actual list before choosing.
Confirm billing period, subscriber band, sending allowance, tax, and checkout total. This direct link is tracked as a vendor click but is not currently an affiliate link.