Beehiiv vs ConvertKit: Newsletter Growth vs Creator Monetization

The creator economy has evolved dramatically over the past decade. What started as bloggers collecting email addresses through basic email marketing tools has transformed into a sophisticated ecosystem where newsletters can become standalone media businesses generating six and even seven figures annually.

At the center of this transformation are two platforms that have emerged as favorites among creators and publishers: Beehiiv and ConvertKit (now known as Kit). While both help creators build and manage email newsletters, their philosophies are fundamentally different.

Beehiiv positions itself as a growth-focused publishing platform designed to help newsletter businesses scale rapidly. ConvertKit, on the other hand, focuses on helping creators monetize audiences through products, subscriptions, and customer relationships.

The choice between Beehiiv and ConvertKit isn’t simply about email delivery. It’s about choosing between two different paths: audience growth versus creator monetization.

This article examines both platforms in depth and includes a real-world-style case study demonstrating how different creators might achieve different outcomes depending on their goals.

Understanding the Core Difference

Before comparing features, it’s important to understand the strategic difference between these platforms.

Beehiiv’s Philosophy: Build a Media Company

Beehiiv was founded by former Morning Brew employees who helped scale one of the world’s fastest-growing newsletters.

Their vision is straightforward:

• Grow subscribers as fast as possible.
• Turn newsletters into media businesses.
• Leverage network effects and referrals.
• Generate revenue through sponsorships and advertising.

Beehiiv is optimized for audience acquisition and newsletter growth.

ConvertKit’s Philosophy: Build a Creator Business

ConvertKit was created specifically for creators, coaches, authors, educators, and digital entrepreneurs.

Its mission centers around helping creators:

• Build direct relationships.
• Sell products.
• Create automated customer journeys.
• Monetize through subscriptions and digital goods.

ConvertKit is optimized for customer conversion and long-term revenue generation.

This philosophical difference influences almost every feature each platform offers.

Feature Comparison

1. Newsletter Growth Tools

Beehiiv Wins

Growth is where Beehiiv truly shines.

Key growth features include:

Native Referral Program

One of Beehiiv’s most powerful features is its built-in referral system.

Subscribers can invite friends and earn rewards automatically.

This feature was inspired by Morning Brew’s famous referral program that helped generate millions of subscribers.

Benefits include:

• Viral growth loops
• Reduced acquisition costs
• Increased subscriber engagement
• Community-driven expansion

With ConvertKit, similar functionality requires third-party integrations or custom setups.

Recommendations Network

Beehiiv allows newsletter operators to recommend other newsletters directly within the ecosystem.

When a new subscriber joins:

• They see suggested newsletters.
• One click subscribes them.
• Publishers cross-promote audiences.

This creates a network effect that accelerates subscriber growth.

Boosts Marketplace

Beehiiv’s Boosts feature allows publishers to pay or get paid for subscriber referrals.

For example:

• Newsletter A sends subscribers to Newsletter B.
• Newsletter B pays a referral fee.
• Both parties benefit.

This essentially creates a customer acquisition marketplace built directly into the platform.

SEO-Optimized Blog

Every Beehiiv newsletter includes a searchable website optimized for Google.

Benefits:

• Organic search traffic
• Long-term discoverability
• Additional subscriber acquisition channels

For content-focused publishers, this can become a significant source of growth.

ConvertKit’s Growth Features

ConvertKit includes:

• Landing pages
• Forms
• Subscriber tagging
• Integrations

While effective, growth tools are less aggressive and less newsletter-focused compared to Beehiiv.

Winner: Beehiiv

2. Creator Monetization

ConvertKit Wins

Monetization is where ConvertKit excels.

The platform was designed specifically to help creators earn revenue.

Digital Product Sales

ConvertKit allows creators to sell:

• E-books
• Courses
• Templates
• Workshops
• Memberships

without requiring extensive third-party systems.

Commerce Features

Creators can:

• Accept payments
• Deliver products
• Manage customers
• Track purchases

from one dashboard.

This simplifies operations considerably.

Subscriber Segmentation

ConvertKit’s tagging system is among the best in the industry.

Creators can segment audiences based on:

• Purchases
• Interests
• Behaviors
• Engagement

This enables highly personalized marketing campaigns.

Automated Funnels

Automation is one of ConvertKit’s strongest advantages.

Examples include:

• Lead magnet delivery
• Product launches
• Webinar funnels
• Course enrollment sequences
• Customer onboarding

These automated systems generate revenue without requiring constant manual effort.

Beehiiv’s Monetization Features

Beehiiv supports monetization through:

• Paid newsletters
• Sponsorship marketplace
• Ad network
• Premium subscriptions

While useful, these tools primarily serve media businesses rather than creators selling products.

Winner: ConvertKit

3. Ease of Use

Beehiiv

Beehiiv offers:

• Modern interface
• Intuitive dashboard
• Clean publishing workflow

Writers often compare the experience to using Notion or Medium.

Publishing feels fast and frictionless.

ConvertKit

ConvertKit remains relatively user-friendly but introduces additional complexity because of:

• Automation workflows
• Tags
• Segments
• Commerce tools

New users may experience a steeper learning curve.

Winner: Beehiiv

4. Automation

ConvertKit Dominates

Automation represents one of the biggest differences between the platforms.

ConvertKit offers visual automation builders that allow creators to create sophisticated customer journeys.

Example:

1. User downloads an ebook.
2. User enters nurture sequence.
3. User receives sales emails.
4. User purchases course.
5. User enters onboarding sequence.
6. User receives upsell offer.

All of this can happen automatically.

Beehiiv provides automation features but they are significantly less advanced.

Winner: ConvertKit

5. Advertising Revenue

Beehiiv Wins

For newsletter operators relying on sponsorship revenue, Beehiiv offers a major advantage.

The platform includes:

• Built-in ad marketplace
• Sponsorship matching
• Revenue opportunities for smaller newsletters

This allows creators to start earning even before building large subscriber bases.

Many newsletters can secure sponsorships long before they could independently attract advertisers.

ConvertKit lacks a comparable advertising ecosystem.

Winner: Beehiiv

6. Pricing

Pricing changes frequently, but the general trend remains consistent.

Beehiiv

Advantages:

• Generous growth features
• Newsletter-focused pricing
• Strong value for publishers

Particularly attractive for rapidly growing newsletters.

ConvertKit

Advantages:

• Powerful automation
• Commerce capabilities
• Creator-focused tools

More cost-effective when revenue comes from products and services rather than advertising.

Winner: Depends on use case

Case Study: Two Creators, Two Strategies

To understand the practical difference between Beehiiv and ConvertKit, consider two hypothetical creators starting with identical audiences.

Creator A: The Newsletter Publisher

Background

Sarah launches a newsletter covering technology and startups.

Goals:

• Build audience quickly
• Reach 50,000 subscribers
• Monetize through sponsorships

She chooses Beehiiv.

First Six Months

Sarah uses:

• Referral program
• Recommendations
• Boosts
• SEO blog posts

Results:

• Subscriber growth accelerates.
• Existing readers recruit new readers.
• Recommendations bring consistent traffic.

After six months:

• 18,000 subscribers
• Multiple sponsorship opportunities
• Growing ad revenue

Twelve Months

After one year:

• 55,000 subscribers
• Weekly sponsorship deals
• Strong referral engine

Revenue Sources:

• Ads
• Sponsorships
• Premium newsletter tier

Annual revenue reaches approximately $80,000.

Most growth comes directly from Beehiiv’s built-in ecosystem.

Creator B: The Digital Educator

Background

Michael teaches productivity and career development.

Goals:

• Sell online courses
• Build coaching business
• Create recurring revenue

He chooses ConvertKit.

First Six Months

Michael creates:

• Free lead magnet
• Email nurture sequence
• Webinar funnel
• Course launch automation

Results:

• 8,000 subscribers
• Highly engaged audience
• Automated sales process

Growth is slower than Sarah’s.

However, conversions are significantly higher.

Twelve Months

After one year:

• 20,000 subscribers
• Online course sales
• Coaching clients
• Membership community

Revenue Sources:

• Courses
• Coaching
• Memberships

Annual revenue reaches approximately $150,000.

Although Michael has fewer subscribers, his monetization per subscriber is dramatically higher.

Visualizing the Difference

The contrast becomes clear:

Sarah’s Beehiiv newsletter focuses on:

• Reach
• Scale
• Sponsorship revenue
• Media business economics

Michael’s ConvertKit business focuses on:

• Relationships
• Customer journeys
• Product sales
• Creator business economics

Neither strategy is inherently better.

They simply optimize for different outcomes.

Who Should Choose Beehiiv?

Beehiiv is ideal for:

Newsletter Operators

If your newsletter is the product itself, Beehiiv is likely the better choice.

Media Entrepreneurs

Anyone trying to build:

• Industry publications
• Local newsletters
• Business newsletters
• News brands

will benefit from Beehiiv’s growth infrastructure.

Audience Builders

If subscriber growth is your primary KPI, Beehiiv offers unmatched advantages.

Choose Beehiiv if your main goal is:

“How can I grow my newsletter as quickly as possible?”

Who Should Choose ConvertKit?

ConvertKit is ideal for:

Coaches

ConvertKit’s automation tools help convert subscribers into paying clients.

Course Creators

The platform excels at nurturing prospects and selling educational products.

Authors

Writers can build relationships, segment audiences, and launch books effectively.

Digital Entrepreneurs

Anyone selling:

• Courses
• Memberships
• Consulting
• Workshops
• Digital products

will likely generate more revenue with ConvertKit.

Choose ConvertKit if your main goal is:

“How can I maximize revenue from each subscriber?”

The Future of Newsletter Businesses

The distinction between Beehiiv and ConvertKit reflects a broader trend in the creator economy.

There are increasingly two types of email businesses:

Media Businesses

Focused on:

• Audience scale
• Advertising revenue
• Sponsorships
• Subscriber growth

Best represented by Beehiiv.

Creator Businesses

Focused on:

• Product sales
• Community building
• Customer relationships
• Lifetime value

Best represented by ConvertKit.

Both models can be extremely profitable.

The key is aligning platform choice with business strategy.

Beehiiv vs ConvertKit: Newsletter Growth vs Creator Monetization

The creator economy has transformed email newsletters from simple communication tools into powerful media businesses. Writers, creators, entrepreneurs, educators, and independent publishers increasingly rely on newsletters not only to build audiences but also to generate revenue. Among the leading platforms competing for this market, Beehiiv and ConvertKit stand out as two of the most influential choices.

Although both platforms help creators build and manage email audiences, they emerged from different philosophies. ConvertKit was built to serve creators who wanted sophisticated email marketing automation and audience management. Beehiiv, on the other hand, was designed with a media-company mindset, focusing on newsletter growth, audience acquisition, and monetization.

Understanding the history and evolution of these platforms reveals why they differ so significantly today. The comparison between Beehiiv and ConvertKit is ultimately a comparison between two visions of newsletter success: growth-driven publishing versus creator-centered monetization.

The Rise of ConvertKit

ConvertKit was founded in 2013 by Nathan Barry, a designer, author, and entrepreneur. At the time, email marketing software was dominated by platforms such as Mailchimp, Aweber, and Infusionsoft. These tools were often complicated, expensive, or designed primarily for traditional businesses rather than individual creators.

Barry identified a gap in the market. Bloggers, online educators, course creators, and digital entrepreneurs needed a simpler way to build email lists and sell products. ConvertKit was created specifically for this audience.

In its early years, ConvertKit focused on three core principles:

1. Simplicity
2. Automation
3. Creator-first marketing

Unlike many competitors, ConvertKit emphasized visual automation workflows that allowed creators to build complex email sequences without technical expertise. Users could segment subscribers, trigger campaigns based on behavior, and create personalized customer journeys.

This focus helped ConvertKit grow rapidly among bloggers and online business owners. During the mid-2010s, the platform became particularly popular within communities focused on online education, digital products, affiliate marketing, and personal branding.

By 2018, ConvertKit had become one of the fastest-growing email marketing companies serving independent creators. Its success coincided with the broader growth of the creator economy, where individuals increasingly monetized expertise through courses, coaching, memberships, and digital products.

ConvertKit’s Evolution into a Creator Platform

As the creator economy matured, ConvertKit expanded beyond traditional email marketing.

The company recognized that creators were seeking more than email delivery. They needed tools for:

• Selling digital products
• Managing subscriptions
• Growing audiences
• Building landing pages
• Running automated marketing funnels

ConvertKit gradually introduced features supporting these needs.

One significant milestone was the launch of paid newsletters. This allowed creators to monetize directly through subscriber payments, reducing dependence on external platforms.

The company also introduced creator profiles, recommendation systems, and commerce features that helped users generate income without requiring separate e-commerce software.

In 2024, ConvertKit rebranded as Kit, reflecting its broader mission to become an operating system for creators rather than merely an email marketing tool. While many users still refer to it as ConvertKit, the rebranding highlighted the company’s ambition to serve creators across multiple business models.

Throughout its history, ConvertKit maintained a reputation for robust automation and audience management. For creators selling courses, coaching services, digital products, or memberships, these capabilities remained its strongest advantage.

The Emergence of Beehiiv

Beehiiv entered the market much later than ConvertKit.

The platform was founded in 2021 by former employees of Morning Brew, one of the most successful newsletter media companies in the world. The founders included Tyler Denk, Benjamin Hargett, and Jake Hurd.

Their experience at Morning Brew shaped Beehiiv’s philosophy.

Morning Brew had demonstrated that newsletters could become large-scale media businesses generating millions of dollars through advertising, sponsorships, and premium subscriptions. The Beehiiv founders believed existing email platforms were optimized for marketers rather than publishers.

As a result, Beehiiv was built from the ground up with newsletter growth in mind.

Instead of focusing primarily on email automation, Beehiiv emphasized:

• Audience acquisition
• Referral programs
• Publication growth
• Native monetization
• Media business infrastructure

This distinction immediately differentiated Beehiiv from ConvertKit.

Where ConvertKit viewed subscribers as customers moving through marketing funnels, Beehiiv viewed subscribers as readers participating in a publication ecosystem.

The Newsletter Renaissance

Beehiiv’s launch coincided with a broader newsletter renaissance.

Several trends accelerated demand:

Creator Independence

Writers increasingly wanted ownership of their audiences rather than relying solely on social media platforms.

Declining Organic Reach

Creators faced declining reach on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and X, making owned channels more valuable.

Subscription Economy Growth

Consumers became more willing to pay for premium content through subscriptions.

Media Fragmentation

Audiences sought niche expertise and independent voices rather than traditional media outlets.

These trends created favorable conditions for Beehiiv’s rapid growth.

Within a few years, thousands of newsletter operators migrated from platforms such as Substack, Mailchimp, and ConvertKit to Beehiiv.

Beehiiv’s Growth-Centric Approach

What truly distinguished Beehiiv was its obsession with growth mechanics.

Historically, newsletter operators relied on social media, SEO, partnerships, or paid advertising to acquire subscribers.

Beehiiv introduced built-in tools that made audience growth a native part of the platform experience.

Referral Programs

One of Beehiiv’s most influential features was its referral system.

Publishers could reward readers for referring new subscribers. This approach mirrored Morning Brew’s highly successful growth strategy.

Referral programs transformed readers into distribution channels, creating viral growth loops that many newsletter businesses previously struggled to implement.

Recommendation Network

Beehiiv introduced a recommendation ecosystem where newsletters could recommend one another.

This allowed creators to acquire subscribers directly within the platform.

The recommendation model created a network effect that strengthened as more publishers joined Beehiiv.

SEO-Friendly Publishing

Unlike many email platforms, Beehiiv invested heavily in web publishing.

Newsletters could function as searchable websites, helping publishers attract organic traffic through search engines.

This feature blurred the line between blogging platforms and newsletter software.

Beehiiv’s Monetization Infrastructure

Another major milestone in Beehiiv’s history was its focus on monetization.

Traditional email platforms generally required creators to find sponsors independently.

Beehiiv attempted to solve this challenge through native advertising infrastructure.

Ad Network

Beehiiv launched an advertising marketplace connecting advertisers with newsletter publishers.

Even relatively small newsletters could access sponsorship opportunities.

This lowered the barrier to monetization and enabled creators to generate revenue earlier in their growth journey.

Boosts

Beehiiv’s Boosts program introduced a unique acquisition and monetization mechanism.

Publishers could earn revenue when recommending other newsletters to new subscribers.

This effectively turned subscriber acquisition into an income source.

Premium Subscriptions

The platform also supported paid newsletter subscriptions, allowing creators to diversify revenue streams beyond advertising.

Together, these features reflected Beehiiv’s vision of becoming a complete media business platform.

Different Philosophies: Marketing Funnel vs Media Company

The historical development of Beehiiv and ConvertKit reveals their fundamentally different philosophies.

ConvertKit’s Perspective

ConvertKit evolved from the world of online business and digital entrepreneurship.

Its ideal user might be:

• A course creator
• A coach
• A consultant
• An educator
• A personal brand

For these users, email serves as a relationship-building and sales channel.

The primary objective is converting subscribers into customers.

Beehiiv’s Perspective

Beehiiv emerged from the media industry.

Its ideal user might be:

• A writer
• A journalist
• A newsletter publisher
• A niche media entrepreneur
• A content business operator

For these users, the newsletter itself is the product.

The primary objective is growing readership and monetizing audience attention.

This distinction influences nearly every feature decision each company makes.

Automation: ConvertKit’s Historic Advantage

One area where ConvertKit continues to hold a significant advantage is automation.

Years of development have produced sophisticated workflow capabilities.

Users can create:

• Complex customer journeys
• Behavioral triggers
• Product-based automations
• Segmented campaigns
• Dynamic subscriber experiences

For creators selling multiple products or services, these features are often essential.

Beehiiv has expanded its automation capabilities, but its system remains less comprehensive than ConvertKit’s.

This reflects Beehiiv’s historical emphasis on publishing rather than marketing automation.

Monetization: Beehiiv’s Strategic Focus

Conversely, Beehiiv has invested more aggressively in monetization infrastructure.

The company understands that many newsletter publishers prioritize revenue generation from content rather than product sales.

As a result, Beehiiv offers:

• Built-in sponsorship opportunities
• Newsletter advertising
• Subscriber referrals
• Cross-promotion systems
• Audience growth incentives

These tools are particularly valuable for media-oriented publishers seeking recurring advertising revenue.

ConvertKit supports monetization, but historically approached it through creator commerce rather than advertising ecosystems.

Community and Ecosystem Development

Both companies have cultivated strong communities.

ConvertKit built its reputation through transparency, educational content, and close engagement with creators. Nathan Barry frequently shared company metrics and growth strategies publicly, earning trust within entrepreneurial communities.

Beehiiv adopted a similarly transparent approach but focused heavily on newsletter operators and media entrepreneurs.

The result has been two overlapping yet distinct ecosystems:

ConvertKit Community

• Coaches
• Educators
• Course creators
• Digital product sellers
• Personal brands

Beehiiv Community

• Journalists
• Newsletter operators
• Media startups
• Writers
• Content publishers

Each platform’s community reinforces its core value proposition.

The Future of Newsletter Platforms

The competition between Beehiiv and ConvertKit illustrates broader trends in the newsletter industry.

Increasingly, newsletter creators fall into two categories:

Audience Businesses

These businesses monetize attention through:

• Advertising
• Sponsorships
• Subscriptions

Beehiiv aligns strongly with this model.

Creator Businesses

These businesses monetize expertise through:

• Courses
• Consulting
• Coaching
• Products
• Memberships

ConvertKit aligns strongly with this model.

As the creator economy expands, the distinction between these categories may blur. Many creators now combine advertising, subscriptions, products, and services into hybrid business models.

Consequently, both Beehiiv and ConvertKit continue expanding their feature sets to address overlapping needs.

Conclusion

The history of Beehiiv and ConvertKit reflects two different eras of digital publishing.

ConvertKit emerged during the rise of online entrepreneurship, helping creators build businesses through email marketing, automation, and customer relationships. Its strength lies in turning subscribers into customers through sophisticated marketing systems.

Beehiiv emerged during the newsletter renaissance, inspired by the success of modern media companies such as Morning Brew. Its strength lies in helping publishers grow audiences, attract readers, and monetize content through advertising and subscriptions.