beehiiv vs. substack: which is best? [2026 review]
Beehiiv vs. Substack - Pick the Wrong Platform (And Pay For It Later)
If you're reading this, you're probably frustrated. You want to grow your audience, monetize your passion, and build a brand that lasts, but you're stuck choosing between two newsletter platforms that each promise the world.
Let's be honest: this isn't just about features. It's about your time, your results, and your peace of mind. I've been there. I've tested them. And I know what most comparison articles won't tell you.
The Direct Comparison: What You Really Get
Substack is great for simplicity and community, and it's free to start.
Simple, clean, and perfect for writers who want to focus on one thing: writing. If you're looking for a dead-simple interface and strong community features like discussion threads, Substack delivers.
But here's what you need to know: that simplicity comes at a cost. When you decide to monetize, Substack takes a steep 10% of your revenue, and you're on your own for finding advertisers.
Even more concerning, many users report that their emails, sent through Substack, frequently land in spam folders, especially with Outlook and Hotmail addresses.
Beehiiv is great for monetization and growth, and its paid plans start at $43/month.
Beehiiv is the growth engine. It's packed with advanced features like segmentation, automated sequences, and a built-in ad network. It was built by the team behind Morning Brew, so they know a thing or two about scaling a newsletter.
The trade-off is that it's not free, and while it offers more power, you're still dealing with the same deliverability challenges that affect every other platform.
You're paying for sophisticated tools, but the question remains: are you getting the guaranteed reach you need?
The Systemic Solution They Don't Talk About
Here's what most people never talk about: you don't have to choose between these limitations. And you don't have to accept that your emails will disappear into the junk folder, especially when you're investing good money and following all the rules.
If you want the best of both worlds (powerful growth tools and reliable deliverability) without the high costs or revenue sharing, you might want to consider Lemon Email.
Lemon Email doesn't ask you to compromise. You get all the advanced features you'd find in Beehiiv (segmentation, automation etc.) plus a multi-engine, AI-driven routing system that's designed to ensure your messages reach every inbox, every time.
The interesting part is that even Outlook and Hotmail (the notorious spam traps) aren't a problem for Lemon. It's built specifically to solve the deliverability challenges everyone else just accepts as part of doing business.
And the investment is actually less than what you'd pay for Beehiiv's premium features, because Lemon leverages multiple engines and smart routing to deliver more value for your dollar.
Your Next Step
If you're ready to stop making compromises, stop worrying about deliverability, and stop watching your emails disappear (especially to Outlook and Hotmail users), you have options.
Lemon Email might be worth exploring.
You don't have to settle for "good enough." You can choose a solution that's built for results. Just set up your account, connect your list, and start sending with confidence.
Because your business deserves to be seen by everyone who wants to hear from you.
