ConvertKit vs beehiiv

Two platforms built for newsletter creators. ConvertKit (now Kit) has years of trust. beehiiv is the newer player with aggressive free-tier features and built-in monetization.

Updated 2026-09 · 2026

ConvertKit

Email marketing platform built for creators

Freeup to 10,000 subscribers (Kit Free plan)

Strengths

+Proven deliverability track record over many years
+Now offers a genuine free plan with unlimited broadcast sending up to 10,000 subscribers
+Visual automation builder for complex email sequences (paid plans)

Weaknesses

-Automations, integrations, and advanced reporting locked behind paid Creator/Creator Pro plans
-Newsletter landing pages and design templates feel dated
-Gets expensive quickly once you pass 1,000 subscribers on a paid plan

Best for

Established creators who rely on email automations, sequences, and selling digital products to their audience.

beehiiv

Newsletter platform with built-in growth and monetization

Freeup to 2,500 subscribers

Strengths

+Generous free tier with up to 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends
+Built-in ad network lets you monetize from day one
+Referral program and recommendation engine drive growth

Weaknesses

-Email automation is less mature than ConvertKit
-Shorter track record, still proving long-term reliability
-Premium features like custom domains and advanced automation locked behind Grow ($42/mo) and Scale ($84/mo) plans

Best for

New and growing newsletter creators who want built-in monetization tools and a strong free tier to start with.

Feature Comparison

Feature	ConvertKit	beehiiv
Free tier	10,000 subscribers, includes broadcasts	2,500 subscribers, includes broadcasts
Paid starting price	$25/mo (Creator, 1K subs)	$42/mo (Grow, 2.5K subs)
Email automations	Advanced visual builder (paid plans)	Basic, improving
Built-in ad network	No	Yes, beehiiv Ad Network
Referral program	No (third-party needed)	Built in
Custom website/blog	Basic landing pages	Full website builder
Subscriber tagging	Excellent	Good
Analytics	Basic open/click rates	Detailed with click maps

The Verdict

Both platforms now have genuinely usable free tiers, so the decision comes down to what you do with your list. ConvertKit (Kit) is the safer pick if you rely on complex automations and sequences to sell digital products. beehiiv is the better starting point for new creators because its free tier includes real growth tools (referrals, recommendations, ads) that help you build and monetize at the same time. If you are starting from zero, beehiiv. If you are migrating an existing business built on automations, ConvertKit.

How to switch from ConvertKit to beehiiv

Full ConvertKit export guide →

1Export your subscriber list from Kit: go to Subscribers, select the list you want, and click Export to download a CSV file with emails, tags, and custom fields.
2Manually save or copy any past broadcasts, landing page copy, or lead magnets you want to keep — Kit doesn't offer a bulk broadcast export, so pull the HTML or text of key emails individually.
3Import the CSV into beehiiv via Audience > Import Subscribers, mapping Kit's tags to beehiiv's tags or segments so your existing segmentation carries over.
4Rebuild your key automations in beehiiv (welcome series, tag-triggered sequences) since Kit's visual automation logic doesn't transfer automatically and beehiiv's automation builder works differently.
5Reconnect integrations like Zapier, Shopify, or your landing page tool to beehiiv, generating new API keys or webhooks since Kit's connections won't carry over.
6Verify your sending domain and DNS records in beehiiv, do a small test send, then pause broadcasts in Kit and switch your primary sending over to beehiiv to avoid duplicate emails during cutover.

ConvertKit vs beehiiv: common questions

How do I export my subscriber list from ConvertKit to beehiiv?+

In Kit, go to Subscribers, select your list (or all subscribers), and click Export to download a CSV file containing emails, tags, and custom fields. In beehiiv, go to Audience > Import Subscribers, upload the CSV, and map the tag/custom field columns to beehiiv's tagging system.

What do I lose when I switch from ConvertKit to beehiiv?+

You lose Kit's more mature visual automation builder, the Creator Network for cross-promotion, and native digital product sales — beehiiv has no built-in commerce for selling products directly. Your automation sequences and tag-based logic won't transfer automatically and need to be rebuilt manually in beehiiv.

Is beehiiv's free plan enough for a small team newsletter?+

Yes, for most small teams under 2,500 subscribers — the free Launch plan includes unlimited sends, a website builder, and basic analytics. Once you need multiple team seats, a custom domain on some setups, or advanced automation, you'll need to move to the Grow ($42/mo) or Scale ($84/mo) plan.

Does beehiiv support the same integrations as ConvertKit?+

beehiiv connects to Zapier, Shopify, and has a public API and webhooks, but its native integration marketplace is smaller than Kit's. If you rely on niche Kit integrations (e.g., specific course platforms or CRMs), check beehiiv's Zapier support before migrating since some connections may require custom webhook setup.

Is beehiiv actually cheaper than ConvertKit over time?+

It depends on list size — beehiiv's free tier is larger (2,500 vs Kit's automation-limited features on similar list sizes), so it's cheaper early on. But as your list grows past 10,000-25,000 subscribers, compare beehiiv's Scale plan pricing against Kit's Creator/Creator Pro tiers directly, since per-subscriber costs vary by plan and both raise prices as your list grows.