beehiiv
The monetisation stack is what separates it from a plain email tool: an ad network that sells your inventory for you, paid subscriptions with no platform cut, digital products and a referral engine, all in the same account. The free tier is real at 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends, but it withholds the money-making features, and paid plans now scale with list size, so the bill climbs as the audience grows.
Pros
- Free tier up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends
- Built-in ad network, paid subscriptions, digital products and referral program
- Public API, send API and an MCP server for integrations
- No commission on paid subscription or digital product revenue beyond Stripe's fee
Cons
- Automations, the ad network and paid subscriptions are all withheld from the free plan
- Paid plans are priced by subscriber band, so cost rises steadily with the list
- Removing beehiiv branding needs Pro, which starts at $95 a month billed yearly