Beehiiv
๐ What is Beehiiv?
Beehiiv is a modern newsletter platform designed for creators, marketers, media professionals, and businesses to create, grow, and monetize newsletters with ease. Launched in 2021 by former Morning Brew employees, Beehiiv blends simplicity with robust features — making it a favorite among writers and content entrepreneurs.
๐ History & Background
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Founded by: Tyler Denk, Benjamin Hargett, and Jake Hurd
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Launched: 2021
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Inspiration: Morning Brew's internal newsletter system
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Mission: To democratize media by giving independent publishers access to enterprise-grade tools.
๐ง Core Philosophy
Beehiiv operates on the theory that email newsletters are the media brands of the future. It empowers creators to:
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Build direct relationships with audiences
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Own their subscriber list (unlike social platforms)
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Scale without complex tech or reliance on third-party algorithms
✨ Key Features
1. Newsletter Builder
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Drag-and-drop editor
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Custom HTML and CSS support
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Embeds: polls, images, buttons, etc.
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Optimized for desktop & mobile
2. Audience Management
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Segmentation tools
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Custom fields & tagging
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Clean and searchable subscriber database
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Import/export subscriber lists
3. Monetization Tools
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Beehiiv Ad Network: Built-in ad monetization
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Premium subscriptions (coming soon)
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Referral programs for virality
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Paid newsletters support
4. Growth Tools
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Magic links & share pages
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Referral rewards system
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Built-in SEO optimization
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Custom landing pages
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Native recommendation engine (like Substack’s)
5. Analytics Dashboard
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Open/click rates
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Subscriber growth trends
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Referral and traffic sources
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Reader engagement stats
6. Integrations & APIs
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Zapier support
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Webhooks and APIs for custom workflows
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Third-party integrations: Stripe, Google Analytics, Typeform, and more
๐ฆ Plans & Pricing (as of 2025)
| Plan | Price (USD) | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers, basic features |
| Grow | $49/month | Up to 10,000 subs, custom domains, analytics |
| Scale | $99+/month | Advanced growth tools, priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | API access, advanced integrations, SLAs |
๐ก Beehiiv vs Competitors
| Platform | Best For | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Beehiiv | Growth-focused creators | Built-in growth and monetization features |
| Substack | Writers & journalists | Simpler interface, built-in paid subs |
| ConvertKit | Email marketers | More automation tools, advanced forms |
| Mailchimp | Businesses | Full CRM and email marketing suite |
| Revue | Twitter-integrated (defunct) | Was focused on social sharing |
๐ Use Cases
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Solo creators building a personal newsletter
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Media startups launching niche publications
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Marketers running lead-nurturing campaigns
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Influencers monetizing their email list
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Podcasters/YouTubers growing subscriber loyalty
๐ Beehiiv Growth Strategies
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Referral Programs
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Use incentives like eBooks, shoutouts, or swag
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Collaborations & Recommendations
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Tap into Beehiiv's native rec engine
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SEO Optimized Landing Pages
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Index newsletter issues like blog posts
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Exclusive Content
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Gated posts for subscribers only
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Newsletter Cross-Promotions
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Partner with similar creators on Beehiiv
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๐ Performance Metrics That Matter
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Open Rate: % of recipients who opened your email
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Click Rate: % of readers who clicked on links
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Growth Rate: Subscriber list increase over time
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Referral Rate: How many subscribers came via referral
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Revenue per Subscriber: Important for monetized lists
๐ง Advanced Features & Technical Edge
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Custom Domains
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Auto-Scheduling
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Dark Mode Support
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Embeddable Forms & Popups
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Developer API Access
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A/B Testing (in beta)
๐งฌ Theoretical Framework Behind Beehiiv
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Owned Media Theory
→ Email is a direct communication line where the publisher owns the audience (unlike social media). -
Content-Flywheel Model
→ Consistent publishing builds authority → boosts referrals → grows list → more monetization. -
Audience-Centric Value Creation
→ Engagement > reach. Highly engaged email lists outperform large but passive followings. -
Network Effects in Newsletters
→ Referrals and recommendations grow the platform organically (like Substack or YouTube).
๐ฎ Future of Beehiiv
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AI-powered writing tools
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Better monetization options (NFTs, micropayments, paywalled archives)
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More integrations
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Advanced CRM capabilities
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Team collaboration features
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Marketplace for newsletter advertisers
๐ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
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Clean UI, easy to use
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Powerful growth tools
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Free tier with robust features
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Built by newsletter veterans
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Rapidly evolving feature set
❌ Cons
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Automation not as advanced as ConvertKit
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Lacks some eCommerce integrations
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Analytics are basic compared to ESP giants
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Premium features can get costly for large lists
๐ฃ What Creators Are Saying
"Beehiiv gave me tools I didn’t know I needed — like the referral engine. My list doubled in two months." — Creator @ The Weekender
"It feels like Substack, but made for marketers who want to grow fast." — Digital strategist and newsletter coach
๐ Summary Table
| Area | Summary |
|---|---|
| Platform Type | Newsletter builder & monetization suite |
| Target Users | Creators, media brands, digital marketers |
| Founded | 2021 |
| Core Value | Growth and monetization tools baked into platform |
| Free Plan | Up to 2,500 subs |
| Killer Feature | Referral engine, recommendation system |
| Main Competitor | Substack, ConvertKit |
| Philosophy | Owned audience > Algorithmic reach |
๐ Conclusion
Beehiiv is more than just another newsletter platform — it's a growth-focused ecosystem for creators who want to scale their audience and revenue without relying on ads or social media. Whether you're just starting or ready to monetize, Beehiiv offers a blend of ease, control, and smart tools that support the new era of digital publishing.