beehiiv vs. Kit: Which Newsletter Platform Should Creators Pick?
An email list is the one audience a platform can't take away from you. beehiiv and Kit (formerly ConvertKit) are the two platforms most creators shortlist. Both send newsletters well. Where they differ is in what they help you do after someone subscribes.
The short answer
- Pick beehiiv if your newsletter is the product: you want to grow subscribers fast and earn from ads and paid subscriptions.
- Pick Kit if your newsletter feeds something you sell, such as courses, coaching or digital products, and you want automated email sequences to do the selling.
Growth
beehiiv was built around growth. It has a built-in referral program that rewards readers for bringing friends, plus a recommendation network where newsletters suggest each other at signup. Kit has its own creator recommendation network and solid landing pages and signup forms, but its center of gravity is automation rather than viral growth.
Automation
This is Kit's strength. Its visual automation builder lets you tag subscribers by what they click or buy and send them down different email sequences. A welcome series that leads into a product launch is easy to build and runs on its own. beehiiv has automations too, but Kit's are deeper and more flexible.
Making money
beehiiv has its own ad network that places sponsors in your newsletter, plus paid subscriptions and a boost program where other newsletters pay you for referrals. Kit leans toward selling your own things. You can sell digital products and paid newsletters directly, and its automations are designed to move subscribers toward a purchase.
Website
beehiiv publishes every issue to a hosted website, so your newsletter doubles as a blog that search engines can find. Kit offers landing pages and a creator profile page, but most Kit users pair it with a separate website.
Our take
If you're starting from zero and want the list to grow on its own, start with beehiiv. If you already have something to sell, or plan to soon, Kit's automations will earn their keep. Check each platform's current plans, since features at each pricing tier change often.