Switching from Substack to beehiiv: what happens to your fees
Published 2026-06-10 · figures computed from pricing data verified 2026-06-10
The before and after
Take a concrete newsletter: 5,000 subscribers, 250 of them paying $10/month — $2,500/month gross. On Substack that costs $415/month all-in (16.6% of gross). On beehiiv's Scale plan it costs $190.58/month (7.62%). That's $224.42/month — about $2,693.04/year — for the same revenue, because beehiiv takes 0% of subscriptions and charges a flat plan fee instead. Full details: Substack vs beehiiv.
Why the savings exist (and when they don't)
Substack's 10% scales with revenue; beehiiv's plan fee doesn't. So the savings grow with your paid base — but they also run in reverse: below roughly $400–500/month gross, Substack is the cheaper home, and migrating costs you money. If you're near that line, check the calculator with your real numbers before doing anything.
Also count what isn't fees: Substack's network (recommendations, app, Notes) drives free-subscriber growth some writers can't replace. A fee saving that costs you your growth channel is a bad trade — the math here covers costs, not distribution.
What to verify before you migrate
Three things to confirm directly with both platforms before committing, since they affect real money: that your paid subscriptions can transfer via Stripe without forcing subscribers to re-enter cards (both platforms use Stripe, which is what makes this possible at all); what happens to annual subscribers mid-term; and beehiiv's current import process for your subscriber list and archive. Platform migration mechanics change often enough that we keep them out of our data layer — verify against beehiiv's site and Substack's docs at migration time.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does switching from Substack to beehiiv save?
For a newsletter grossing $2,500/month (250 paid at $10), about $224.42/month or $2,693.04/year, based on published pricing as of 2026-06-10. Below roughly $400–500/month gross the savings reverse and Substack is cheaper.
Do paid subscribers have to re-subscribe when you leave Substack?
Both platforms bill through Stripe, which is what makes transferring active subscriptions possible — but the exact process and edge cases (annual plans mid-term, failed cards) change over time, so confirm the current procedure with both platforms before migrating.
Does beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
No — 0% revenue share on all paid plans. You pay the plan fee plus Stripe's standard processing (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction).