Substack vs beehiiv, and a third option.
Substack is a publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video. beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a website builder and podcast hosting. Here they are on price, fees and features, with Sherpo next to them.
- Substack and beehiiv, side by side
- A year of platform cost
- Sherpo as a third option
- 0% of your sales on Sherpo
- Substack$3,000 a year
- beehiiv Lite$1,308 a year
- Sherpo Pro$588 a year
beehiiv Lite is $59 a month at 1,000 subscribers, and its price rises with your list.
Substack is free to start and charges 10% of paid subscriptions. beehiiv Lite is $109 a month at 10,000 subscribers, and takes 0% of sales. For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders with 10,000 subscribers, Substack costs $3,000 a year and beehiiv Lite costs $1,308. Sherpo is a flat $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of sales.
- Substack
- Free, 10% of paid subscriptions
- beehiiv Lite
- $109 a month at 10,000 subscribers, 0% of sales
- Sherpo
- From $19 a month, 0% of sales
- At $2,500 a month
- $3,000 and $1,308 a year
Substack, beehiiv and Sherpo, side by side.
Each platform’s entry plan. Features that need a higher plan or another tool are marked.
| Feature | Substack | beehiiv | Sherpo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry price | Free | $109 a month at 10,000 subscribers | Lite $19 · Pro $49 |
| Fees on your sales | 10% of paid subscriptions | 0% of your sales | 0% of your sales |
| Your brand | |||
| Your own domain | IncludedOne-time $50 | Included | IncludedPro |
| White-label | Not offered | LimitedOn beehiiv Pro | IncludedPro |
| Site builder | IncludedPreset layouts | Included | Included |
| Export your customer list | Included | Included | Included |
| What you can sell | |||
| Online courses | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| Quizzes | Not offered | Not offered | IncludedPro |
| Certificates | Not offered | Not offered | IncludedPro |
| Blog with a paywall | Included | Included | Included |
| Files and downloads | LimitedAttachments inside posts | Included | Included |
| Live portfolio | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| Tips | LimitedFounding member tier only | Included | Included |
| Buyers’ AI access to every product (MCP) | Not offered | Not offered | Included |
| How you sell | |||
| Membership tiers | LimitedTwo fixed levels | Included | Included |
| Coupons | IncludedOffer links | Included | Included |
| Affiliates with commission | LimitedReferrals, no commission | Not offered | Included |
| Built in | |||
| Video hosting | Included | LimitedWebinar replays and video files | IncludedNo bandwidth fees |
| AI subtitles | Included | LimitedPodcast audio only | IncludedOn Sherpo Pro |
| For developers and AI | |||
| API for your own front-end | LimitedRead-only | LimitedSubscriptions only, no checkouts | IncludedYour own codebase, on Pro |
| Run your store from your AI | LimitedRead-only, bestsellers only | Included | IncludedEvery plan |
| Included | 7 of 19plus 6 with a limit | 9 of 19plus 4 with a limit | 19 of 19 |
- Included
- Included with a limit, or through another tool
- Not offered
A year on Substack, on beehiiv, and on Sherpo.
For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders with 10,000 subscribers, Substack costs $3,000 a year and beehiiv Lite costs $1,308. Sherpo Pro, with unlimited customers, costs $588.
The Substack figure is 10% of paid subscriptions. The beehiiv figure is $109 a month for beehiiv Lite at 10,000 subscribers. That is the number of customers Sherpo Pro includes; at 1,000 subscribers beehiiv Lite is $59 a month. Card processing is charged by the payment provider on all three. Sherpo prices here are billed monthly. Competitor prices are from each platform’s own pages and published price trackers, checked in October 2026.
Put in your own numbers| Substack | beehiiv Lite | Sherpo Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price a month | $0 | $109 | $49 |
| Transaction fee | 10% | 0% | 0% |
| Plan price a year | $0 | $1,308 | $588 |
| Fees on $30,000 of sales | $3,000 | $0 | $0 |
| Total a year | $3,000 | $1,308 | $588 |
| Difference | Sherpo Pro costs $720 less | ||
What each is known for, and where Sherpo fits.
Substack is known for its reader network and its app. beehiiv is known for newsletter growth tools: an ad network, a referral program and paid recommendations. Sherpo is the option for selling under your own brand, at a flat price.
One flat price
Sherpo is $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of your sales, whatever you sell.
Your brand, your domain
On Pro your site runs on your own domain, with no Sherpo branding.
Every format in one account
Courses, paid blogs, files, live portfolios and memberships, with one login and one customer list.
Switching from Substack or beehiiv?
Contact us and tell us what you are moving. Our team handles the move with you, content and customers included.
Substack vs beehiiv: common questions.
Still curious? Talk to us
What is the difference between Substack and beehiiv?
Substack is a publishing platform for newsletters, podcasts and video, known for its reader network and its app. beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a website builder and podcast hosting, known for newsletter growth tools: an ad network, a referral program and paid recommendations.
Which is cheaper, Substack or beehiiv?
At $2,500 a month, beehiiv Lite is the cheaper of the two. For a business earning $2,500 a month in $50 orders with 10,000 subscribers, Substack costs $3,000 a year and beehiiv Lite costs $1,308. Sherpo Pro, with unlimited customers, costs less than both: $588 a year. beehiiv Lite is $59 a month at 1,000 subscribers, and its price rises with your list.
Does Substack take a cut of sales?
Substack charges 10% of paid subscriptions. Card processing is charged separately by the payment provider. Sherpo takes 0% on every plan.
Does beehiiv take a cut of sales?
Not on beehiiv Lite: its platform fee is 0%. Card processing is charged separately by the payment provider. Sherpo takes 0% on every plan.
Can I use my own domain on Substack, beehiiv and Sherpo?
On Sherpo Pro, your site runs on your own domain, with no Sherpo branding. beehiiv also supports custom domains. Substack charges a one-time $50 for a custom domain.
Can AI run my store on Substack, beehiiv or Sherpo?
On Sherpo, yes: the Merchant MCP is on every plan, so Claude and other assistants can create products, prices and coupons in your account. beehiiv also has an MCP server. Substack has a read-only MCP server, for bestseller publications only.
Is there an alternative to Substack and beehiiv?
Yes, Sherpo. It charges a flat $19 or $49 a month and takes 0% of sales. It sells courses, paid blogs, files, live portfolios and memberships from one account. On Pro, it runs under your own brand and domain.
What does Sherpo offer that Substack and beehiiv do not?
Neither Substack nor beehiiv offers online courses, quizzes, certificates, live portfolios or buyers’ AI access to every product through MCP. Sherpo includes them.
Can I switch from Substack or beehiiv to Sherpo?
Yes. Contact us and tell us what you are moving. Our team handles the move with you, content and customers included.
Can I try Sherpo before I leave Substack or beehiiv?
Yes. Lite and Pro start with a 14-day free trial, and your Sherpo site can stay offline until you launch. You can set everything up while your current account keeps running.
See what you would keep.
Start your free trial, or put your own numbers into the fee calculator.
- 14-day free trial
- Sherpo takes 0% of your sales
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