Best Newsletter Platforms Like Beehiiv for 2025
Creators and teams love Beehiiv’s growth-first philosophy - referrals, recommendations, monetization, and sharp analytics - but many are looking for similar newsletter platforms without lock‑in or steep upgrade paths. In 2025, you’ve got more choice than ever among Beehiiv alternatives and best-in-class email marketing tools that bring modern growth features, automation, and clean design to your stack.
Why this guide: We’ve seen thousands of creators and SaaS teams push past “send-and-hope” email by adopting platforms that prioritize list growth, monetization, and actionable analytics - without sacrificing simplicity. This guide helps you quickly compare the best newsletter tools with Beehiiv-like capabilities, so you can scale with confidence (and no regrets).
What you’ll learn:
The best newsletter platforms similar to Beehiiv - and who each is best for
Standout features for growth (referrals, recommendations, SEO), monetization, and automation
Design flexibility, ease of use, and analytics trade‑offs to consider before switching
Pricing and plan gotchas that matter as your list grows
How we picked: We analyzed five leading comparison posts and combined that with our hands‑on experience helping teams run high‑velocity newsletters. Our criteria focused on:
Growth tools: referrals, recommendations, and SEO‑friendly archives
Monetization: paid tiers, sponsorships, and partner networks
Automation: onboarding, nurture, and behavior-based workflows
Design: modern, fast templates that look great in every inbox
Ease of use: intuitive editors and clear, privacy-friendly analytics
Who this is for:
Creators, writers, and media operators who need growth and monetization, not just “send”
SaaS and startups validating traction via content-led email
Marketers who want modern email marketing tools without platform lock‑in
Quick tip: Start with a free plan to validate fit and audience response; once you see traction, upgrade for automation and monetization to compound growth.
1) BlogBowl - Beehiiv‑like growth with built‑in newsletter + AI SEO engine
Why it’s like Beehiiv
All‑in‑one publishing hub: launch a fast SEO blog, host content, capture subscribers, and send newsletters from one place.
Growth focus: SEO‑optimized pages, privacy‑friendly analytics, and automation that helps you publish consistently and rank.
Standout for creators & SaaS teams
AI automations: daily SEO articles, keyword research, internal linking, images, and embedded media.
Integrated newsletter: capture forms, broadcasts, and content‑driven list growth (no separate ESP needed to start).
Multi‑blog management: unlimited blogs/changelogs/help docs, multi‑author, custom domains.
Keep in mind
Best fit if your newsletter is tied to a content site and SEO growth; does not focus on a native ads marketplace.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Creators, SaaS/startups, and media teams who want Beehiiv‑like growth with a content-led, SEO‑driven newsletter |
Core strengths | AI content engine, built‑in newsletter, SEO‑optimized templates, privacy-friendly analytics, multi‑blog management |
Monetization | Newsletter sponsorships, paid content tiers via content gating, and SEO‑driven lead capture for product-led growth |
Automation level | High: daily SEO posts, keyword research, internal linking, auto‑publishing, embedded media, and smart archives |
Templates/Design | Fast, SEO‑optimized blog and newsletter templates with easy color/font/layout controls |
Free plan availability | Yes: start free to validate, upgrade for advanced automations and scale |
2) Beehiiv - the benchmark for growth, referrals, and monetization
Why it’s great
Built‑in growth loops: referrals, boosts, and recommendations.
Monetization options: paid subscriptions, native ads, and sponsorship workflows; no platform fee on subscription revenue.
Standout for creators
Simple editor + SEO web archive; custom domains; advanced analytics.
Automation and segmentation available on paid tiers.
Keep in mind
Design flexibility is basic; some automations and templates require paid plans.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Growth-focused creators, publishers, and brands prioritizing referrals and monetization |
Core strengths | Referral program, Boosts, recommendations, ad network, advanced analytics, no-code website builder |
Monetization | Paid subscriptions with no platform fee, native ad network, sponsorship workflows |
Automation level | Medium–High on paid tiers: automations, AI features, and audience segmentation |
Templates/Design | Clean, text-first editor with basic styling; website templates available |
Free plan availability | Yes: generous free tier; advanced features unlock on paid plans |
3) Kit (formerly ConvertKit) - creator‑first with paid subscriptions and commerce
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Built to help creators grow, sell, and segment audiences with simple workflows.
Native monetization: paid newsletters, tips, sponsorship opportunities, and digital product sales.
Standout for creators
Creator Network for recommendations; forms/landing pages; visual automations.
Multiple payment options (e.g., pay‑what‑you‑want, one‑time, subscriptions).
Keep in mind
Costs scale with list size and advanced features.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Creators monetizing via paid newsletters, tips, and digital product commerce |
Core strengths | Visual automations, robust tagging/segments, Creator Network, high deliverability |
Monetization | Paid newsletter tiers, tips, sponsorships via partners, and product sales |
Automation level | High: behavior-based flows, tagging, nurturing, and sales sequences |
Templates/Design | Clean email templates, landing pages/forms, custom fonts, and embeds |
Free plan availability | Yes: start free; advanced features and higher volumes on paid tiers |
4) MailerLite - simple, affordable, and surprisingly powerful
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Easy publishing, landing pages, websites, and newsletter archives.
Supports paid subscriptions and digital product sales on higher tiers.
Standout for creators
Generous free plan; visual automations; templates; rich drag‑and‑drop editor.
Good deliverability and straightforward analytics.
Keep in mind
Community features are limited; advanced options may require higher tiers.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Beginners to mid‑size teams wanting affordability with solid automation and design |
Core strengths | Drag‑and‑drop editor, landing pages/websites, templates, visual automations, 24/7 support |
Monetization | Paid subscriptions and simple digital product sales on eligible plans |
Automation level | Medium–High: visual workflows, multistep sequences, behavior triggers |
Templates/Design | Large template library, custom blocks, HTML editor, and archive blocks |
Free plan availability | Yes: generous free tier with upgrades for advanced features |
5) Substack - frictionless publishing with built‑in discovery
Substack prioritizes writing and reader relationships, making it one of the most approachable Beehiiv alternatives for creators who want to publish fast and get discovered through built‑in network effects.
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Dead‑simple writing → email + web; built‑in network effects via recommendations and discovery.
Native paid subscriptions; community features (comments, chat, notes).
Standout for creators
Focus on writing and community over complex automations.
Podcast and multimedia support alongside newsletters.
Keep in mind
Platform fee on paid subscriptions; limited automation/design and integrations.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Writers and creators who value simplicity, discovery, and community engagement |
Core strengths | One‑click publish to email + web, recommendations, comments/notes/chat, hosted archive |
Monetization | Native paid subscriptions (platform fee applies), reader‑supported growth |
Automation level | Low: basic scheduling; limited behavioral automation |
Templates/Design | Minimalist, text‑first layouts with basic branding controls |
Free plan availability | Yes: free to publish; fees on paid subscriptions apply |
Note
"Substack has over 3 million paid subscriptions." - Source
6) Ghost - full publishing platform with memberships
Why it’s like Beehiiv
All‑in‑one site + newsletter + membership stack; great SEO and speed.
Manage free/paid posts and send emails to members.
Standout for creators
Powerful editor, themes, and extensibility; own your stack and brand.
Flexible integrations and APIs.
Keep in mind
More setup than a pure newsletter tool; fewer built‑in ad/referral networks.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Independent publishers, creators, and media brands that want a full website + newsletter + memberships |
Core strengths | Open-source flexibility, modern themes, great SEO, fast performance, member management |
Monetization | Paid memberships, premium posts, sponsorship pages, and 0% platform payment fees |
Automation level | Medium: native email sends + Zapier/API for advanced workflows |
Templates/Design | Rich theme ecosystem, block editor, custom routes, and full-brand control |
Free plan availability | Free trial available; paid hosting plans for growth |
7) Flodesk - gorgeous design and simple digital sales
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Focus on beautiful emails, forms, and simple selling.
Landing pages and checkout for digital products.
Standout for creators
Minimal, on‑brand templates; effortless form builder.
Flat, predictable pricing model (no overage surprises).
Keep in mind
Limited automations vs. marketing platforms; no native paid newsletter subscriptions.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Visual brands and creators who value stunning design and straightforward digital sales |
Core strengths | Minimal templates, intuitive form builder, link‑in‑bio capture, strong deliverability |
Monetization | Sales pages/checkout for digital products, memberships, and services |
Automation level | Medium: link actions, simple workflows, timers, embedded polls |
Templates/Design | Patented layouts, custom fonts/colors, pixel‑perfect controls, on‑brand components |
Free plan availability | Free trial available; flat‑rate paid plans with predictable pricing |
8) Mailchimp - all‑in‑one marketing with deep segmentation
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Strong editor, templates, segmentation, and automations.
Broad integrations; suitable when email must tie into a larger marketing stack.
Standout for creators
Journey builder, A/B tests, and robust analytics.
App ecosystem and ecommerce connections.
Keep in mind
Can feel heavy for simple newsletters; pricing scales with contacts and features.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Creators and teams who need email tightly integrated with ecommerce and a broader marketing stack |
Core strengths | Journey builder, advanced segmentation, A/B testing, analytics, large integration ecosystem |
Monetization | Ecommerce journeys, product feeds, promo automation; indirect via sponsorship workflows |
Automation level | High: event‑based journeys, behavioral triggers, predictive segmentation |
Templates/Design | Extensive template gallery, custom‑coded templates, brand kits, popups/forms |
Free plan availability | Limited free plan; paid tiers unlock advanced features and higher volumes |
9) Moosend - cost‑effective automation and personalization
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Visual automations, segmentation, and templates geared for engagement.
Solid deliverability and real‑time analytics.
Standout for creators
Drag‑and‑drop editor, AI writing assist, prebuilt automation templates.
Friendly pricing for small and midsize lists.
Keep in mind
Smaller integration library than legacy ESPs.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Budget‑minded creators and SMBs who need capable automation without enterprise pricing |
Core strengths | Visual workflows, segmentation, AI suggestions, landing pages/forms, transactional email |
Monetization | Product promotions, funnels, and simple checkout integrations via partners |
Automation level | High: triggers, conditions, and multi‑step journeys with real‑time analytics |
Templates/Design | Library of modern templates, drag‑and‑drop editor, dynamic content blocks |
Free plan availability | Free trial available; paid plans are competitively priced for growth |
10) Omnisend - ecommerce‑ready newsletters with SMS/web push
Why it’s like Beehiiv
Email + SMS + push in one; powerful segmentation and automation.
Product pickers, dynamic discounts, and revenue tracking.
Standout for creators/brands
Ecommerce templates and flows (welcome, abandon cart, win‑back).
Strong Shopify/WooCommerce integrations.
Keep in mind
Best for stores; overkill if you only need a content newsletter.
At‑a‑glance
Category | Details |
|---|---|
Best for | Ecommerce brands that want omnichannel campaigns tied to store data |
Core strengths | Email + SMS + push, product feed blocks, real‑time segmentation, revenue reporting |
Monetization | Automated promo flows, cart recovery, discount codes, product recommendations |
Automation level | High: prebuilt ecommerce journeys with deep behavioral triggers |
Templates/Design | Store‑ready templates, product pickers, discount blocks, brand kits |
Free plan availability | Free tier available; paid plans scale with contacts and channels |
Overall comparison: Beehiiv‑like platforms at a glance
Platform | Primary focus | Monetization options | Automation depth | Templates/Design | Free plan | Notable growth features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BlogBowl | AI‑driven blog + built‑in newsletter for SEO growth | Sponsorships, paid content gating, product‑led funnels | High (AI daily posts, internal linking, auto‑publish) | Fast, SEO‑optimized blog/newsletter templates | Yes | AI keyword research, internal linking, SEO archives, privacy‑friendly analytics |
Beehiiv | Newsletter growth and monetization | Paid subscriptions (no platform fee), native ads, sponsorships, Boosts | Medium–High (on paid tiers) | Clean, text‑first editor; website templates | Yes | Referrals, Boosts, recommendations, ad network, advanced analytics |
Kit (ConvertKit) | Creator commerce + paid newsletters | Paid tiers, tips, sponsorships, digital product sales | High (visual automations, tagging/segments) | Clean email + landing page templates | Yes | Creator Network recommendations, forms/LPs, high deliverability |
MailerLite | Simple newsletter + sites/LPs | Paid subscriptions and digital product sales (on higher tiers) | Medium–High (visual workflows) | Large template library + HTML editor | Yes | Landing pages, websites, newsletter archive blocks |
Substack | Frictionless publishing + discovery | Paid subscriptions (platform fee applies) | Low (basic scheduling) | Minimalist, text‑first layouts | Yes | Built‑in discovery, recommendations, comments/chat/notes |
Ghost | Full site + newsletter + memberships | Paid memberships (0% platform payment fees) | Medium (native sends; advanced via API/Zapier) | Rich theme ecosystem; full brand control | Free trial | SEO‑friendly CMS, own your stack, fast performance |
Flodesk | Beautiful email design + simple sales | Sales pages/checkout for digital products/services | Medium (simple workflows, link actions) | Minimal, on‑brand templates; custom fonts/colors | Free trial | High‑converting forms, link‑in‑bio capture, predictable flat pricing |
Mailchimp | All‑in‑one marketing stack | Ecommerce promos, product feeds, sponsorship ops via partners | High (journey builder, predictive segments) | Extensive gallery + custom‑coded templates | Limited | Deep integrations, A/B tests, robust analytics |
Moosend | Cost‑effective automation + personalization | Product promos and funnels via integrations | High (triggers/conditions, multi‑step journeys) | Modern template library; dynamic content | Free trial | Real‑time analytics, segmentation, landing pages/forms |
Omnisend | Ecommerce email + SMS + web push | Cart recovery, discount codes, product recommendations | High (prebuilt store journeys) | Store‑ready templates; product pickers | Yes | Omnichannel flows, deep Shopify/Woo integrations, revenue tracking |
Conclusion: Pick the Beehiiv‑style platform that matches your growth plan
Want an all‑in‑one content + newsletter engine with AI publishing? Pick BlogBowl.
Want referrals, boosts, and built‑in ads? Beehiiv.
Want creator commerce and paid subs? Kit.
Want simple, affordable automations + templates? MailerLite.
Want community and built‑in discovery? Substack.
Want a full site + memberships you control? Ghost.
Want gorgeous design and quick checkout pages? Flodesk.
Need deep marketing automation/CRM? Mailchimp.
Need cost‑effective automations? Moosend.
Running ecommerce with SMS/push? Omnisend.
If you need to grow an audience from search while sending polished newsletters without juggling tools, try BlogBowl first - spin up a fast SEO blog and integrated newsletter in under a minute, then layer automations as you scale.
Try BlogBowl free - launch a fast SEO blog + built‑in newsletter in under 60 seconds