Last updated: 2026-06-16 · By Shash Eran
Beehiiv vs ConvertKit (Kit) 2026 — Which Is Right for Creators?
TL;DR
Beehiiv vs ConvertKit (now Kit) head-to-head. Pricing, automation depth, newsletter tools, and who each platform is actually built for in 2026.
I spent two weeks inside Kit (the tool formerly known as ConvertKit) before deciding to build on Beehiiv. The decision wasn't obvious. Kit is genuinely good at what it does. This page is why I landed where I did, and why you might land in the other direction.
Quick verdict
Newsletter-first creator: Beehiiv. Course and product creator with complex funnels: Kit. The tools are actually aimed at slightly different people, which is why the comparison gets confusing.
What ConvertKit (Kit) actually is
Kit rebranded from ConvertKit in late 2023. Same product, new name, kitdotcom. It was originally built for bloggers and online course creators who needed email automation to support their funnels — sell a course, trigger an onboarding sequence, upsell the premium version three weeks later. That DNA is still there.
Over time Kit added a newsletter mode, a "Creator Network" for cross-promotion, and free plan improvements. It's expanded toward Beehiiv's territory. But the automation builder is still the centrepiece and it's still the best reason to pick Kit over everything else.
Pricing compared
| Platform | Free tier | Paid start | At 10K subscribers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beehiiv | 2,500 subs + custom domain + growth tools | $43/mo (Scale, up to 100K subs) | $43/mo |
| Kit (ConvertKit) | 10K subs, 1 basic automation included | $33/mo for 1K subs | ~$116+/mo |
Kit's free plan now includes one basic Visual Automation — a small improvement over the old broadcast-only free tier — but real automation work (unlimited sequences, A/B testing, branding removal) still requires the Creator plan, which starts at $33/mo for just 1,000 subscribers and climbs from there as your list grows. By 10K subscribers, Kit runs well over $100/mo. Beehiiv's Scale plan now covers up to 100,000 subscribers for $43/mo flat — a $4 increase from last year, but for a 10x higher subscriber ceiling.
Where Beehiiv wins
- ✓Price at scale. $43/mo covers up to 100,000 subscribers on Beehiiv's Scale plan. Kit's Creator plan starts at $33/mo for just 1,000 subscribers and climbs from there — by 10K subscribers you're well past $100/mo. For the same job — publishing a newsletter — Beehiiv is dramatically cheaper as your list grows.
- ✓Boosts marketplace. Pay per subscriber acquired. Kit has the Creator Network for cross-promotion but it's not the same mechanism — Boosts is paid acquisition with a defined cost per subscriber.
- ✓Newsletter editor. Beehiiv's editor feels like a publication tool. Kit's email editor is functional but clearly designed for marketing campaigns, not editorial publishing.
- ✓Custom domain on free plan. Kit requires a paid plan for custom domain on the newsletter web view. Beehiiv includes it free.
- ✓Referral programme. Built-in subscriber referral tracking. Kit doesn't have this natively.
Where Kit wins
- ✓Automation depth. Kit's visual automation builder is best-in-class for the creator category. Conditional sequences, multiple triggers, tag-based branching. If your funnel is: subscriber downloads lead magnet → waits 2 days → gets email A → if they clicked, gets email B, otherwise gets email C → wait 5 days → pitch course. Kit handles this cleanly. Beehiiv does not.
- ✓Commerce integrations. Kit integrates with Gumroad, Teachable, Thinkific, and other creator platforms. If you sell a course and want purchase behaviour to trigger email sequences, Kit has those connections.
- ✓Tag-based segmentation. Kit's tagging system is powerful. Segment subscribers by interest, purchase history, behaviour. Beehiiv's segmentation is simpler.
- ✓Creator Network. Kit's cross-promotion network has been growing. Less predictable than Boosts but an organic discovery option without additional cost.
Full feature comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | Kit (ConvertKit) |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | 2,500 subs + growth tools + custom domain | 10K subs, 1 basic automation included |
| At 10K subscribers | $43/mo (covers up to 100K) | ~$116+/mo |
| Automation | Basic sequences | Best-in-class conditional branching |
| Subscriber growth tool | Boosts (paid acquisition) | Creator Network (organic only) |
| Newsletter editor | Publication-native, editorial feel | Functional, campaign-focused |
| Creator platform integrations | Limited | Gumroad, Teachable, Thinkific |
| Referral programme | Built-in | Not natively |
| Segmentation | Segments + basic tags | Advanced tag-based system |
| Revenue cut | 0% | 0% |
Who should pick what
Pick Beehiiv if you:
- → Primarily publish newsletter content to a growing audience
- → Want to use Boosts for predictable subscriber growth
- → Care about pricing at scale — $43/mo for up to 100K subs vs $33/mo+ for just 1K on Kit
- → Don't need complex conditional automation
- → Want a publication-feel editor, not a campaign builder
Pick Kit if you:
- → Sell digital products or courses (Gumroad, Teachable, etc.)
- → Need multi-step conditional automation for your sales funnel
- → Have complex tagging and segmentation requirements
- → Already have a large audience and the cost difference is manageable
Try Beehiiv free — 2,500 subs, no credit card
Custom domain, recommendations widget, and Boosts access all on the free plan. When you're ready to upgrade, this link gets you 14 days free plus 20% off your first 3 months.
Get 14 days free + 20% off →Frequently asked questions
Is Beehiiv better than ConvertKit for newsletters?
For pure newsletter publishing, yes. Beehiiv has better growth tools (Boosts, recommendations), cleaner pricing at scale, and an editorial-native interface. Kit wins if you need complex conditional automation for a product or course funnel.
What is ConvertKit called now?
ConvertKit rebranded to Kit in late 2023. Same product, same features, new name. The platform is at kit.com. You'll see both names used interchangeably across the internet.
How much does Kit cost vs Beehiiv at 10K subscribers?
Kit's Creator plan starts at $33/mo for just 1,000 subscribers and scales up from there — by 10K subscribers it's well over $100/mo. Beehiiv's Scale plan is a flat $43/mo and now covers up to 100,000 subscribers. For a 10K-subscriber newsletter, Beehiiv is dramatically cheaper.
Does Beehiiv have automation like Kit?
Basic automation, yes — welcome sequences, drip campaigns, available on paid plans. Not the advanced conditional branching Kit is known for on its Creator and Pro plans. If "if subscriber clicked X but didn't buy Y, wait 3 days then send Z" is core to your workflow, Beehiiv will frustrate you. Kit is the answer for that.
Can you migrate from ConvertKit to Beehiiv?
Yes. Export your list from Kit as a CSV. Beehiiv imports it. You lose your automation sequences — those need rebuilding. Tags need to be manually recreated. The list migration itself is straightforward; it's the automation rebuild that takes time.
Written by Shash
Founder, Infinfy Solutions. Tested both platforms on a real list. Writing about what I actually found.