beehiiv vs Kit (ConvertKit)
beehiiv is a newsletter platform while Kit (ConvertKit) is a email marketing platform. Kit (ConvertKit) has been around since 2013, giving it a 8-year head start over beehiiv (founded 2021). Kit (ConvertKit) is the more affordable option at $39/mo, which is $10 less than beehiiv's $49/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. beehiiv has the edge with a drag-and-drop editor. Both tools work well for bloggers and creators.
Quick Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) wins on price, deliverability, rating, integrations.
Best for most users: Kit (ConvertKit) (bloggers).
beehiiv
The newsletter platform built for growth
beehiiv was built by the team behind Morning Brew's growth to 4 million subscribers. It's specifically designed for newsletter businesses with built-in monetization through ad networks, paid subscriptions, and referral programs. The highest affiliate commission in the space at up to 60%.
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing built for creators
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) is purpose-built for online creators including bloggers, podcasters, YouTubers, and course creators. It emphasizes simplicity and deliverability over complex design features, making it ideal for text-based newsletters and automated sequences.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $39/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | 10,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
| Email Templates | 20 | 50 |
| Integrations | 40 | 90 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 98.2% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | No |
| SMS Marketing | No | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | No | No |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
beehiiv: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Purpose-built for newsletter businesses
- + Built-in ad network for monetization
- + Referral program to grow subscribers
- + Paid subscription support
- + Founded by ex-Morning Brew team
Cons
- − Limited to newsletter use case
- − Fewer templates than established tools
- − Smaller integration ecosystem
- − No SMS marketing
- − Relatively new platform (2021)
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- + Intuitive visual automation builder
- + Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- + Strong deliverability rates
- + Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- − Limited email template design options
- − Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- − No native SMS; texting needs the third-party SlickText app
- − Basic reporting compared to competitors
- − No drag-and-drop email editor
The Verdict
beehiiv and Kit (ConvertKit) are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, Kit (ConvertKit) reports 98.2% compared to 98% for beehiiv — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | beehiiv | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $49/mo | $39/mo Winner |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 98.2% Winner |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 40 | 90 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose beehiiv if…
- + You're a newsletter creators
- + You're a media companies
- + Purpose-built for newsletter businesses
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($39/mo)
- + You're a solopreneurs
- + You're a coaches