Beehiiv Review

Introduction

If you've ever thought about turning your lifetime of expertise into something that earns income while inspiring others, Beehiiv makes it remarkably simple. This all-in-one newsletter platform—built by the team behind Morning Brew—helps you publish, grow, and monetize your ideas without needing tech skills or big budgets.

For retirepreneurs launching content-based businesses or consulting practices, Beehiiv removes technical barriers while providing sophisticated features. Whether you're sharing industry expertise, building a consulting pipeline, or monetizing decades of knowledge, Beehiiv gives you the tools to grow an engaged email audience without wrestling with complex software. The platform handles everything from writing and design to subscriber growth and revenue generation in one streamlined system.

 

Key Features & Benefits

• Referral Growth Engine: Build subscriber lists organically through Beehiiv's advanced referral program, which incentivizes your readers to share your newsletter with automated reward tracking. You'll grow your audience without paid advertising budgets.

• Built-In Monetization: Generate revenue from day one using the built-in ad network that connects you with sponsors, plus native tools for paid subscriptions and sponsorship management. You can monetize your expertise immediately.

• AI Writing Tools: Create professional content effortlessly with AI-powered writing assistance, image generation, and translation tools built directly into the editor. You'll produce polished newsletters even without technical design skills.

• Advanced Analytics Dashboard: Understand your audience deeply through analytics showing open rates, click patterns, and reader behavior. You'll know exactly what content resonates and make data-driven decisions.

• Workflow Automation: Automate your workflow with customizable email sequences, segmentation by subscriber interests, and scheduled sends. You'll save time while delivering personalized content to different audience segments.

• Integrated Website Builder: Publish beyond email with a website builder that hosts your newsletter archive and landing pages. You'll maintain one platform instead of juggling multiple tools.

• Seamless Integrations: Connect your existing tools through integrations with Zapier, Stripe, and major social platforms. You'll incorporate Beehiiv into your current workflow seamlessly.

Curious what this looks like in practice? Here's how Beehiiv simplifies every step of your publishing process.

 

Pricing

Plan	Monthly Price	Subscriber Limit	Best For
Launch	Free	Up to 2,500	Testing your newsletter concept, early retirees exploring content creation
Scale	$43/month*	Up to 100,000	Growing consultants, established expertise-sharers ready to monetize
Max	$99/month*	Up to 100,000	Professional content creators wanting premium features and white-label branding
Enterprise	Custom	Unlimited	Large-scale operations needing dedicated support and custom infrastructure

*Pricing increases with subscriber count within each tier.

Best Value Recommendation: Start with the Launch plan to validate your newsletter concept and build your first 1,000 subscribers at zero cost. Once you're consistently publishing and ready to activate monetization features, upgrade to Scale to access the ad network, referral program, and AI tools. The Scale tier pays for itself quickly once you start generating sponsorship revenue.

New users receive a 30-day free trial on paid plans, giving you risk-free access to premium features.

Not sure where to start? The free Launch plan gives you everything you need to test your first newsletter today.

 

Pros & Cons

 

How It Works

1. Create your publication
   Sign up for a free account, choose your newsletter name, and select a template design. You'll have a professional-looking publication ready in under 10 minutes.

2. Design your first newsletter
   Use the visual editor to write content, add images, and format your message. AI writing tools help you refine your copy and generate ideas when needed.

3. Build your subscriber list
   Set up your referral program with rewards for readers who share your newsletter. Embed signup forms on your website or social media to capture new subscribers.

4. Publish and analyze
   Schedule or send your newsletter with one click. Review analytics to see open rates, click patterns, and which content resonates most with your audience.

5. Monetize your audience
   Activate the ad network to connect with sponsors, enable paid subscriptions for premium content, or use the recommendation network to earn through newsletter collaborations.

 

Comparison with Competition

Feature	Beehiiv	Substack	Ghost
Free Plan	✅ Up to 2,500 subscribers	✅ Unlimited	❌ Paid only
Advanced Referral Program	✅ Built-in with automation	❌ Basic only	❌ Not included
Built-in Ad Network	✅ Sponsor connections	❌ No	❌ No
AI Content Tools	✅ Writing & images	❌ No	❌ No
Website Builder	✅ Included	❌ Limited	✅ Full blogging platform
Pricing Model	Tiered by subscribers	10% revenue fee	Flat monthly rate

Key Differentiation: If growth and monetization matter, Beehiiv stands out. Substack is simpler but takes a 10% cut of your earnings, while Ghost offers full blogging tools but lacks Beehiiv's built-in referral and ad systems. Beehiiv gives you the best blend of power and profit for creators prioritizing audience growth and multiple revenue streams.

 

Testimonials

"The referral program alone has added 800 subscribers in three months without spending a dollar on ads. As a retired executive building a leadership consulting practice, this organic growth has been invaluable for establishing my newsletter as a lead generation tool."
— Michael R., Leadership Consultant & Former VP

"I was intimidated by the technical side of starting a newsletter at 62, but Beehiiv's interface made it surprisingly manageable. Within a week, I published my first issue about retirement financial planning. The AI writing assistant helps me refine my drafts and maintain consistency."
— Sandra T., Retirement Planning Advisor

Join thousands of professionals who've turned their knowledge into income using Beehiiv. Many, like Sandra—a 62-year-old financial planner—say the platform made online publishing possible for the first time.

 

Final Verdict

Beehiiv delivers a powerful platform that balances sophistication with accessibility, making professional newsletter publishing achievable for retirepreneurs. Its combination of growth automation, multiple monetization paths, and AI assistance removes traditional barriers that intimidate mature entrepreneurs exploring content-based businesses.

For many in their 50s and 60s, Beehiiv represents more than software—it's the bridge between decades of experience and a new way to share it with the world. It lets you turn your wisdom into income, influence, and ongoing impact—all from your laptop.

✅ Best for: Retirees and transitional professionals building thought leadership in their industries, consultants generating leads through valuable content, or expertise-sharers ready to monetize decades of specialized knowledge through a sustainable newsletter business.

❌ Not ideal for: Those wanting extensive visual design customization without coding skills, or individuals needing immediate phone support for technical issues.

💡 Ready to start building your newsletter audience? Try Beehiiv's free Launch plan to test your concept risk-free, or activate the 30-day trial on the Scale plan to access monetization features immediately. Start your Beehiiv newsletter here and turn your expertise into a thriving content business.

👉 Start Free with Beehiiv – No credit card required, publish your first issue today.

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✅ Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beehiiv affordable for retirees on a fixed income?

Yes, the free Launch plan supports up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited email sends, making it genuinely viable for testing your newsletter concept at zero cost. You only need to upgrade to the $43/month Scale plan when you're ready to monetize through ads or subscriptions—and at that point, the ad network typically generates enough revenue to cover the subscription cost within your first few months.

How difficult is Beehiiv for someone who isn't tech-savvy?

Beehiiv was built for non-technical users. If you can send an email, you can publish a newsletter. The drag-and-drop editor feels familiar, and video tutorials walk you through setup. Most new users publish their first issue within a day, and while advanced features like automation require some learning, the core functions—writing, scheduling, and sending—are straightforward.

How much time does running a Beehiiv newsletter require each week?

Plan for 3-5 hours weekly once you establish your rhythm: 2-3 hours for content creation and editing, 30-60 minutes for scheduling and formatting, and 30 minutes reviewing analytics. The AI writing assistant can reduce content creation time by 30-40%, while automation features handle repetitive tasks like welcome sequences and audience segmentation without ongoing time investment.

How does Beehiiv compare to free options like Mailchimp or ConvertKit's free tiers?

Beehiiv's free plan includes features that Mailchimp and ConvertKit reserve for paid tiers, particularly the referral program and unlimited email sends. Mailchimp's free tier limits you to 500 contacts and includes prominent branding, while ConvertKit's free version restricts automation features. Beehiiv provides a more complete growth toolkit at zero cost, making it better suited for retirees serious about building a substantial newsletter audience.

What kind of customer support can I expect if I run into problems?

Paid plans include email ticket support with typical response times of 24-48 hours, plus access to an extensive knowledge base with articles and video tutorials. While phone support isn't available, most users find quick answers via the knowledge base or active community forum where experienced newsletter creators provide peer-to-peer troubleshooting assistance.

Can I really make money with Beehiiv's ad network as a beginner?

The ad network becomes accessible once you reach approximately 2,500 subscribers on the Scale plan, but meaningful sponsorship revenue typically requires 5,000-10,000 engaged subscribers. Most successful newsletter creators report earning $200-800 monthly per 10,000 subscribers through the ad network alone. For early-stage retirepreneurs, the paid subscription feature often generates revenue faster while you build toward ad network eligibility.

Does Beehiiv work on mobile devices, or do I need a computer?

Beehiiv's web interface works on tablets and mobile browsers, allowing you to write and edit from any device. However, the experience is optimized for desktop computers where you can more easily access formatting tools and analytics. Many users draft content on mobile devices but finalize and publish from their computers for better control over layout.

Can I migrate from another platform easily?

Yes. Beehiiv includes simple import tools for contacts and posts from Mailchimp, Substack, or ConvertKit, ensuring a smooth transition without losing subscribers. The migration process typically takes less than an hour, and Beehiiv's support team provides guidance for larger migrations to ensure data integrity.