Does Beehiiv Have a Free Version

So, you’ve been dabbling the concept of transforming your e-mail checklist into an earnings stream, however you’re bewildered by all the choices out there. Noise familiar? You’re not the only one. If you’ve been utilizing a fundamental email solution and scratching your head concerning sponsorships, advertisements, and paid registrations, it could be time to take a look at beehiiv. In this guide, I’ll walk you through whatever you require to understand about using beehiiv to transform your e-newsletter right into money– all from my own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Does Beehiiv Have a Free Version

Why You Might Be Stuck with Your Existing Email System

You’ve probably attempted the usual suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (now Kit), Substack, or something similar. And if you’re like a lot of small web content makers, here’s what likely occurred:

Minimal Money Making Alternatives

You have a handful of devoted customers– perhaps 500 to 1,000 individuals– however absolutely no very easy way to make money. Sponsorships seem like a foreign language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brand names on a monthly basis.

Do It Yourself Automation Headaches

You intend to trickle campaign brand-new customers, send a welcome collection, and sector individuals for targeted emails … however setting up those automations seems like you require a computer science level.

System Costs Draw

Whenever you think about paid memberships, the system takes a huge piece, and the payment setup is more complicated than it’s worth.

Development Stalls

Development hacks appear to help everyone else– however not for you. You wish there was an easy way to discover new subscribers without by hand chasing them down.

I remained in your footwear at the beginning of 2024. I would certainly been utilizing Kit (previously ConvertKit), however it felt like a stumbling block for monetization. Do not get me wrong– Kit is great for building funnels and establishing basic automations. But when it pertained to making a couple of hundred bucks a month from a little checklist, there wasn’t an apparent “on” switch.

Enter beehiiv.

My Switch to beehiiv: A Reality Examine

In January 2024, I ultimately pulled the trigger and moved my newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Right here’s the honest truth: I really did not have time to hunt down enrollers, discuss rates, or build complex paid funnels. I run a search engine optimization writing company permanent, so my newsletter was always going to be a side project. I required something that almost ran itself.

The “Market Me” Moment

What sold me on beehiiv was straightforward:

Integrated Monetization: Right from the beginning, beehiiv shouts, “Hey, you can make money below!” It wasn’t an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
Low-Effort Sponsorships: Instead of me searching LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings offers right to my dashboard. All I have to do is click “accept,” drop in the advertisement copy, and struck send out.
Easy Earnings Boosts: By advertising various other newsletters in my weekly email, I earn $1–$ 3 per referred subscriber. No hefty training, no challenging analytics– just constant, step-by-step revenue.

Spoiler alert: It repaid. In my initial complete year on beehiiv (2024 ), I pulled in $940 from ad sponsorships and boosts alone– on a checklist that never ever covered 1,000 clients. I didn’t develop a paid course. I didn’t release a product and I simply let beehiiv do its thing.

My Partner Program Windfall

As if that had not been sufficient, I likewise signed up with the beehiiv Partner Program– generally an affiliate program. By blogging about beehiiv on my blog and sharing my experience with pals, I filched $5,108 in referral commissions with completion of 2024. Yep, you read that right: over five grand, just by talking about the platform.

So if you’re asking yourself whether beehiiv is worth it for tiny makers or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. But, obviously, it isn’t flawless. Let’s break down the excellent, the bad, and the great things you require to know.

The Advantage of Using beehiiv

1. Monetization Made Unbelievably Straightforward

What I like finest regarding beehiiv is how simple it is to make money on auto-pilot. You do not require a substantial audience. Below’s how it works:

Advertisement Network Sponsorships: When you hit just 1,000 active clients, brand names begin aligning. You obtain 3– 6 ad demands per month typically. You choose the ones you like, insert the copy, and you’re done. They pay per click or watch– no challenging invoicing. And due to the fact that beehiiv matches you with appropriate brand names, your customers are more likely to click.
Boosts Referral Income: Don’t have enrollers yet? Not a problem. Advertise other maker newsletters for $1–$ 3 per client. It resembles Amazon’s affiliate program, but for email checklists. I made several hundred bucks this way without breaking a sweat.
Paid Subscriptions (When You prepare): Down the line, if you determine to bill for superior web content, beehiiv takes a very little charge (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction by means of Stripe). You can establish multiple pricing tiers, run totally free tests, and even let customers “call their cost.”.
Partner Program Compensations: Not in it for the short haul? Sign up for the affiliate program. Earn 60% commission on beehiiv’s monthly or annual plans when someone signs up with your code. It’s literally additional cash for sharing something you already like.

Simply put, beehiiv transforms money making right into an integrated feature, as opposed to a job you fear.

2. Analytics That Do Not Make Your Head Explode

If you’ve ever before looked at a dashboard reasoning, “What does any of this really imply?”, you’ll value beehiiv’s approach:.

Clear Customer Development Charts: See exactly the number of brand-new individuals joined, the number of left, and why your checklist diminished (much more on that in a sec).
Open Up and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down performance over the last 30 days, so you can spot patterns as soon as possible. As an example, I kept an eye on my open rate (hovering around 64%– tolerable) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either statistics dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
Money making Dashboards: Sponsorship profits, boosts revenue, partner referral revenues– you get the picture. Income streams are nicely divided so nothing obtains lost in the shuffle.

It resembles having a partner who tells you, “Hey, your January email killed it– here’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s repair this.”.

3. Expanding Your Checklist Without Selling Your Spirit

Many e-newsletter systems will bill you for each extra customer after a threshold. Not so with beehiiv– for approximately 2,500 customers, it’s free. You get:.

Unrestricted e-mail sends.
Access to the boosts network (expand your target market by advertising your e-newsletter on other beehiiv e-newsletters).
Basic analytics and types.

If you’re a newbie or have a little target market, this is huge. You can trying out subject lines, send out regularity, and various lead magnets without stressing over hitting a paywall.

4. Built-In Website & Custom Pages

Think of ditching WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace altogether since your e-newsletter platform functions as a website builder. That’s beehiiv in short:.

Newsletter Archive Pages: All your past emails live on a blog-like web page that’s automatically SEO-optimized.
Customized Landing Pages: Required a lead magnet page? A thank-you web page? A web page to market an item? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
Mobile-Friendly Templates: Every little thing looks terrific on phones– crucial given that a ton of people review emails on mobile.

Sure, you will not get every expensive drag-and-drop that a specialized website builder offers, but also for most designers, it’s ample.

5. Referral Program to Turbo Charge Development

Beehiiv’s referral program is remarkable if you intend to use a community of like-minded developers. When your customer clicks “Recommend This E-newsletter” and joins, both you and the referring designer get credit history. It’s a wise way to expand your list without spamming.

The Downsides: What to Look out for

No product is best– and beehiiv has its missteps. Before you dive in, here’s what may trip you up:.

Feature Overload in the beginning

When you visit, there are a lot of alternatives– Forms, Boosts, Advertisements, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can feel overwhelming. If you’ve just made use of an easy service that sends one-off emails, you might need a couple of days to get comfortable.

Irrelevant Ad Requests

Occasionally the sponsors beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your particular niche. A gaming e-newsletter may obtain offered a code-review device for developers. Ensure to decrease anything that does not jive with your audience, or you’ll container your click-throughs.

No Time At All Area– Based Sends

If your listing is global, you can not immediately set up emails based upon each client’s time zone. All sends go out at the same time, so you could get up to low open prices if half your listing is asleep.

Customized Page Builder Isn’t Very Instinctive

Producing a landing page is possible, however the UI could be smoother. I spent a couple of hours (and a handy conversation with assistance) getting a free offer opt-in page ideal. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you might find it cumbersome.

Limited Integrations

If you use Gumroad to sell items, you’re out of luck– no straight integration yet. You’ll need to use embed codes or a Zapier workaround.

All that stated, beehiiv’s team is frequently turning out updates– and those disadvantages are slowly yet undoubtedly being dealt with.

Who Should Take into consideration beehiiv?

Not every person requires a completely featured newsletter platform. However if any of the adhering to describes you, beehiiv may be a match made in heaven:.

Absolute Beginners: You have actually never ever sent an email blast, you do not want to spend money upfront, and you need a complimentary, simple way to experiment. Beehiiv lets you begin totally free, send out limitless e-mails to approximately 2,500 clients, and grow naturally with the boosts network.
Small-List Creators: If you currently have a couple of hundred or a couple thousand subscribers yet no clue exactly how to transform that into earnings, beehiiv’s advertisement and boost programs are tailor-made for you. In my initial 10 months, I was making concerning $92/month with a ~ 1k checklist. Okay for coffee cash, right?
Creators Who Despise “Salesy” Things: You do not wish to pitch items nonstop or sling digital programs. You ‘d rather share value, construct trust, and let the cash come in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s advertisement network and boosts let you gain without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
Switchers Who Don’t Wish To Rebuild Every Little Thing: Possibly you get on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your e-mail automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv promises a smooth migration from those platforms. Plus, if you have a big list (claim 10k+), you can get aid from beehiiv’s assistance group to relocate every little thing over without losing your automations.

Beginning: A Detailed Walkthrough

Join and Discover the Control panel

Once you create an account, beehiiv drops you into a control panel where you see your customer count, open rates, click-through prices, and any kind of pending ad offers. Consider it as your mission control– whatever you require is simply a click away.

Develop Your First Subscribe Kind

Navigate to Target Market �’ Subscribe Kinds �’ Develop Brand-new Type. You’ll need:

A heading that hooks site visitors
A short blurb clarifying what your e-newsletter is about
A call-to-action switch (e.g., “Join My E-newsletter”)
Your logo or a pertinent photo
A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Many thanks for signing up with! Examine your inbox in a sec.”)

You can select from different form styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (simply the e-mail area), or advanced (with tracking codes). The personalization alternatives are standard– shades for switches and background images– however it’s remarkably reliable for recording e-mails.

Establish Your Site and Customized Pages

If you want more than simply a kind, jump into Style �’ Website Builder �’ Customized Pages �’ Internal Page. Utilize this to:

Host your newsletter archive (all past issues, searchable and SEO-friendly).

Create a landing page for a free offer (e.g., “Download my SEO rip off sheet”).

Build a thank-you page that goes online after a person subscribes.

I spent a couple of hours tweaking my initial landing page, once I got the hang of it, I realized just how powerful it is to have every little thing under one roofing system. Instead of managing Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.

Draft Your Initial Newsletter

Click the huge “Beginning Writing” switch in the top-right edge. You’ll see a clean, distraction-free editor where you can:

Write your email copy Does Beehiiv Have a Free Version
Insert pictures, headers, and custom HTML obstructs
Preview just how it’ll look in inboxes and on your site
Schedule or send quickly

One catch: Customization is restricted. Every client sees “Hey there” as opposed to “Hey there [First Name]” If you require hyper-personalization, you may miss that. But also for a lot of folks, a friendly, conversational intro suffices.

Switch on Money making

When you hit 1,000 energetic clients, beehiiv will invite you to:.

Sign Up With the Advertisement Network: Automatically obtain sponsorship demands that match your particular niche. Choose which ones to accept, place the ad copy into your e-newsletter, and earn money per click/view.
Establish Boosts: Relate to advertise other newsletters. If somebody joins via your web link, you gain $1–$ 3 per client.

For paid e-newsletters, browse to Monetization �’ Paid Memberships. You’ll attach your Stripe account (beehiiv does not bill additional fees past Stripe’s processing), set your pricing plans (monthly, yearly, or “Call Your Rate”), and decide what material goes behind the paywall.

Monitor and Enhance

Examine your analytics weekly. If open prices drop listed below 40%, reconsider your subject lines. If a sponsorship obtains zero clicks, it could be unimportant to your audience– decrease similar future advertisements. When a boost converts well, submit more boost demands or modify your deal.

It could seem like a whole lot initially, yet I assure you’ll master it within a few days. And the incentives– both financial and in regards to your audience’s growth– deserve the first contour.

Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options

If you’re serious about transforming your e-newsletter into an economic equipment, let’s break down each income stream in detail.

1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Revenues)

Consider this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Right here’s the lowdown:.

How It Functions: You register for the Partner Program, grab your one-of-a-kind referral web link, and share it on your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When a person clicks, signs up for a paid plan (Scale or Max), you make a payment.
Compensation Fees: Approximately 60% of their first-year payment. If they pay $100, you could see $60. Cha-ching.
Payment: Beehiiv pays regular monthly via PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to jump via.

In my situation, I released a Medium blog post walking individuals with my beehiiv experience (spoiler: this overview right here is part of that initiative). Via a mix of blog web traffic and word-of-mouth, I transformed $5,000 in affiliate compensations by December 2024. All I did was share my real experience.

2. Boosts: Gain by Assisting Others Expand

Boosts are basically funded promos– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” model. Below’s the scoop:.

Become a Boost Sponsor: If you think your e-newsletter can aid others grow, use in the Boosts control panel. You’ll explain why your audience is a great fit and established a rate you ‘d pay for a new subscriber.
Apply to Boost Others: If you desire fast customers, you can pay to boost your newsletter on various other creators’ lists. However what a lot of small designers enjoy is the reverse: you put on be a boost partner for various other newsletters. When a person register through your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
Limits:
- You can send up to 25 boost provides per month, but beehiiv only surfaces 3 offers at a time to potential companions.
- If a boost is carrying out well, various other creators will pick it up quickly.

Right here’s a fast instance: In October 2024, I advertised a fellow search engine optimization developer’s e-newsletter for $1.75 per subscriber. Over 2 weeks, I created 200 brand-new subscribers for them– and gained regarding $350 at the same time. Win-win.

3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Ads)

This is where the huge dollars can can be found in, even if your listing is “small.” Here’s exactly how it goes:

Qualification: You require at least 1,000 active clients and a consistent send out schedule (at least one email each month, though regular is suitable).
Automation: As soon as approved, you’ll begin receiving 3– 5 sponsorship requests each month. Beehiiv matches you with brands based on your target market’s rate of interests– so a marketing SaaS company may come close to an SEO-focused e-newsletter, for instance.
Payment Design:
- Expense Per Click (CPC): You make money whenever someone clicks the advertisement in your email.
- Cost Per Mille (CPM): You earn based on a thousand perceptions.
Relieve of Use: You can approve or decrease each offer right from your dashboard. Beehiiv takes care of all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the ad right into your newsletter.

In 2024, I ran 37 funded advertisements, consisting of a couple of high-profile brands like HubSpot. I made $632 from ads alone, with my leading campaign producing $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Bear in mind: importance is king. Irrelevant ads storage tank click-through prices, so be discerning.

4. Paid Subscriptions (” Costs Material”)

If you create genuinely one-of-a-kind web content– deep dive reports, unique tutorials, or insider evaluations– you could take into consideration a paid rate. Here’s the 101:

Setup: Go to Money Making �’ Paid Registrations, connect Stripe, and choose your pricing:
- Monthly
- Annual (generally discounted)
- One-time repayment (for a solitary guide or course)
- Name Your Rate (your customers pick what they can manage)
Revenue Split: Beehiiv does not bill you a platform charge; they only pass Stripe’s processing charge (2.9% + $0.30) on you.
Instances: If you have 100 customers paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe fees). Okay, ideal? Of course, getting to 100 paid clients means you need a devoted, involved base.

Currently, be sensible: Paid registrations are a grind. You need consistent, high-value material that makes individuals comfy taking out their wallets. If you’re just beginning, the ad network and boosts may be quicker victories.

Pricing Plans: What You’ll Pay (and Obtain)

I understand pricing is a big question mark when you’re thinking of switching over systems. Here’s the failure as of mid-2025:.

Free Plan (approximately 2,500 customers): Great for pet projects or if you’re evaluating the waters. You still obtain boosts for list development, basic analytics, and unrestricted sends– simply no ad network or paid memberships yet.
Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Suitable if you’re serious about generating income from. You obtain advertisement network accessibility, boosts, paid registrations, and the AI Writing Assistant to accelerate your newsletter creation.
Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (photo generation, grammar repairing, translation) issue to you, and you want priority assistance, this is the wonderful place. And also, you can introduce a mobile app for your subscribers.
Enterprise (100k+ clients): For brand names and mega-creators who need custom-made migrations, service-level contracts, and progressed security. Few little developers require this.

My referral? Start on the Free plan. Obtain a feel for the control panel, expand your listing to 1,000, after that upgrade to Scale as soon as you understand you classifieds earnings and boosts.

Unique Features Does Beehiiv Have a Free Version

You might be believing, “Okay, advertisements and boosts are awesome. But what else can beehiiv do that can not?” Let me highlight a few standout features:.

1. Audio Newsletters

Ever before considered turning your email right into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s built-in audio newsletter feature instantly transforms your e-mails right into spoken-word sound. No added modifying software, no outsourcing to Fiverr– simply toggle it on, and your clients can pay attention on the go. For hectic audiences who drive or exercise, this is a handy method to stay connected.

2. Personalized Mobile Apps for Readers

Most systems provide you a “mobile-optimized site.” Beehiiv goes one step further: you can launch a custom-made mobile app for your subscribers. Once they include it to their home screen, your newsletter ends up being a one-tap experience– no inbox clutter. Imagine waking up and seeing application notices when you drop a brand-new problem. Discuss engagement.

3. “Name Your Rate” Subscriptions

Rather than forcing everybody right into $5 or $7 tiers, let your most devoted fans decide what to pay. It’s a trust-building step and can result in higher life time value. I haven’t evaluated this feature directly yet, but for designers who feel a little bit uneasy about cost points, it’s a sweet alternative to experiment with.

4. beehiiv AI Collection

For those on Scale and Max plans, beehiiv’s AI devices are a blessing:

AI Creating Assistant: Generate e-newsletter drafts based on bullet factors or subjects. For days when you’re looking at a blank page, this starts your imagination.
AI Text Device: Grammar, spelling, tone checks– no demand for Grammarly. You get a tidy, sleek draft that feels human Does Beehiiv Have a Free Version.
AI Picture Tool: Create custom header photos or images without purchasing supply photos. Just type a timely, and voila.
AI Translator: Wish to send your e-newsletter in several languages? Convert your material right into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese instantly.

These features can cut hours off content production and help you trying out brand-new formats.

Pro Tips For Succeeding on beehiiv

Since you know what beehiiv can do, below are some insider hacks to take advantage of it:

Clean Your Checklist for Better Efficiency

In August 2024, I cut my client count in half (from concerning 2,400 to 1,200) by eliminating inactive e-mails– individuals who hadn’t opened anything in 6 months. My open rates leapt from ~ 45% to over 60%, which indicated marketers paid more per click. It harmed to lose subscribers, but a lean, involved list is worth greater than a bloated, passive one.

Trying Out Topic Lines Like a Pro

Subject lines make or burst rates. Do A/B examinations on little segments prior to sending out to your entire listing. Brief, punchy, question-based topics (” Ready to double your website traffic?”) commonly outperform generic ones (” April Newsletter”).

Be Pickier with Ad Offers

If an advertisement doesn’t resonate with your niche, say no. Irrelevant ads frustrate viewers and tank click metrics. With time, beehiiv’s formula will discover what fits your audience– decline sufficient off-topic offers, and they’ll stop sending them.

Usage Boosts to Test New Audiences

Got a brand-new classification you want to discover? Attempt increasing your e-newsletter in an associated niche. The expense per client averages $1.63– yet if those clients remain, it’s worth it. I when boosted a SEO e-newsletter in a digital marketing audience and got an unusual uptick in retention.

Utilize AI for Faster Production

On nights when I’m worn out, I ask the AI Composing Assistant to draft a rough outline: intro, three main points, verdict. After that I flesh it out with my own narratives and design tweaks. It’s not ideal, yet it’s a solid structure that conserves me 30– 45 mins per email.

Capitalize on the Mobile App

Urge customers to install your newsletter’s mobile application. In your next email, write a fast “How to Include Our Newsletter to Your Home Screen” tutorial. More application mounts mean even more presence, and press notices defeat inbox noise.

Deal Periodic Paid-Only Content

Rather than making every issue complimentary, tease a “reward record” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Advertise it greatly to your list. Even if you just sell 20 duplicates, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your monthly beehiiv bill.

Wrapping Up: Is beehiiv Right for You?

If you’ve stuck to me this far, you most likely fall into one of these camps:

You’ve never ever sent out a newsletter, however you’re itching to start– beehiiv’s free plan and intuitive devices are ideal for learning the ropes.
You have a tiny listing (< 2,500) and wish to generate income from without frustrations-- beehiiv's advertisement network and boosts pay you for doing virtually absolutely nothing additional.
You’re a mid-sized maker (1k+ subscribers) wanting to scale– beehiiv’s analytics, AI devices, and referral program aid you grow quicker and gain more.
You hate complex e-mail platforms– beehiiv strikes a balance in between powerful features and user-friendly style.

Sure, the feature collection can really feel intimidating at first, and you may obtain a few pointless ad requests. However consider this: in under a year, I made practically $1,000 on a little listing and over $5,000 in affiliate commissions simply by sharing my experience. I have actually seen adequate to understand that if you spend a little bit of time learning the system, the returns can be significant.

So, what are you awaiting? Register for beehiiv, check out the control panel, and let the monetization engines turn. Your future self will certainly thanks when the checks roll in.