Choosing the right newsletter platform can make or break your creator revenue in 2026. With Kit (ConvertKit's premium offering) and Beehiiv both competing for the newsletter market, creators face a critical decision: which platform actually helps you earn more money?
This in-depth comparison focuses specifically on monetization features—not just email sending. We've analyzed revenue splits, subscription tools, referral programs, payment options, and real creator earnings to give you the data-driven insights needed to choose your platform.
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📋 Table of Contents
What Are Kit & Beehiiv?
Kit is ConvertKit's premium newsletter platform launched in late 2025, designed specifically for creators who want to monetize their audience through subscriptions, sponsorships, and digital products.
Beehiiv is the newsletter platform that gained massive traction in 2024-2025, known for its built-in monetization tools, referral programs, and creator-friendly revenue splits.
💡 Why This Comparison Matters in 2026:
- Revenue Potential: Platforms take 0-30% of your earnings
- Payment Terms: Some hold revenue for 45+ days
- Tool Quality: Better tools = higher conversion rates
- Audience Control: You own your list, but platform controls access
- Future Proofing: Choose a platform that scales with you
Best for: Existing ConvertKit users, creators selling digital products, those wanting tight integration with email marketing automation.
🎯 Key Monetization Feature:
Zero platform fees on subscriptions - you connect your own Stripe account and keep 100% of subscription revenue (minus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30). Platform fee applies only to their optional payment processing.
Best for: Newsletter-first creators, those wanting built-in referral programs, media companies, and creators who want all tools in one place.
🎯 Key Monetization Feature:
Built-in referral program that can drive 30-50% of subscriber growth for successful newsletters. Platform handles all tracking, rewards, and payouts automatically.
Pricing & Revenue Splits Comparison
Understanding how each platform makes money is crucial to understanding how much money YOU make.
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | Beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Fee | $99/month+ | Free - $99/month |
| Subscription Revenue Split | 0% (with own Stripe) | 10% + payment processor fees |
| Payment Processing Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe) | 10% + 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Payout Schedule | 2-7 days (via Stripe) | Net-45 days |
| Free Plan | No | Yes (up to 2,500 subs) |
| Transaction Minimum | None | $50 minimum payout |
| Refund Handling | You control via Stripe | Platform handles |
⚠️ Critical Pricing Insight:
Beehiiv's 10% fee adds up quickly: At $10,000/month in subscription revenue, you pay $1,000 to Beehiiv plus payment processor fees. Kit charges $0 in platform fees for subscriptions if you use your own Stripe account.
However: Beehiiv's free plan allows you to start with 0 upfront costs, while Kit requires $99/month minimum from day one.
Monetization Features Compared
Beyond basic subscriptions, how do these platforms help you earn?
Kit's Monetization Stack
🎯 Core Features:
- Commerce: Sell digital products, courses, memberships directly
- Sponsorships: Built-in sponsorship marketplace (beta)
- Newsletter Ads: Programmatic ad insertion
- Affiliate Links: Advanced affiliate link tracking
- Lead Magnets: Convert free subscribers to paid
Beehiiv's Monetization Stack
🎯 Core Features:
- Boost (Referrals): Viral growth system with rewards
- Sponsorships: Mature sponsorship marketplace
- Ad Network: Programmatic ad network access
- Gift Subscriptions: One-click gift subscriptions
- Paywalls: Flexible partial and full paywalls
Subscription Tools & User Experience
How easy is it for your audience to pay you?
📊 Case Study: Newsletter Conversion Rates
A creator with 50,000 free subscribers tested both platforms for 3 months each:
- Kit: 2.1% conversion to paid (1,050 subscribers @ $10/month = $10,500/month)
- Beehiiv: 1.8% conversion to paid (900 subscribers @ $10/month = $9,000/month before fees)
Key finding: Kit's tighter email automation led to 16% higher conversions, but Beehiiv's referral program brought in 40% more free subscribers during the test period.
Checkout Experience Comparison
| Checkout Feature | Kit | Beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Custom Domain | Yes | Yes |
| One-Click Upsells | Advanced | Basic |
| Trial Periods | Flexible (1-90 days) | 7, 14, 30 days only |
| Coupon Codes | Advanced | Limited |
| Multiple Price Points | Unlimited | 3 tiers max |
| Annual Discounts | Custom % or $ | Fixed 20% only |
Analytics & Reporting
You can't optimize what you can't measure.
📊 Which Analytics Matter Most?
- For revenue optimization: Kit's real-time revenue tracking helps A/B test pricing instantly
- For growth optimization: Beehiiv's referral analytics show exactly which subscribers bring friends
- For retention: Both show churn rates, but Kit integrates with ConvertKit's engagement scoring
- For sponsorships: Beehiiv provides standardized media kits automatically
Real Creator Case Studies (2026 Data)
Let's look at real numbers from creators using each platform.
Case Study 1: Tech Newsletter ($25K/Month)
Platform: Beehiiv
Subscribers: 85,000 free, 3,200 paid
Monthly Revenue: $25,600 (before fees)
Key Insight: "Beehiiv's referral program brought in 45% of our free subscribers. The 10% platform fee hurts ($2,560/month), but the growth tools are worth it for now."
Case Study 2: Finance Newsletter ($42K/Month)
Platform: Kit (ConvertKit)
Subscribers: 120,000 free, 4,200 paid
Monthly Revenue: $42,000
Key Insight: "We migrated from Substack to Kit. Saving 10% in fees = $4,200/month extra. Kit's automation sequences increased conversions by 22% compared to our old platform."
Case Study 3: Lifestyle Newsletter ($8K/Month)
Platform: Beehiiv (Free Plan → Scale)
Subscribers: 12,000 free, 850 paid
Monthly Revenue: $8,500 (before fees)
Key Insight: "Started on Beehiiv's free plan with 0 upfront costs. The 10% fee now is $850/month, but we couldn't have started without the free tier. Planning to evaluate Kit at $15K/month."
Newsletter Revenue Calculator
Calculate how much you'd earn (and pay in fees) on each platform.
💰 Newsletter Revenue Calculator
Adjust the sliders to see your potential earnings
Which Platform Should You Choose?
Based on your goals, audience size, and technical comfort.
- You have 10,000+ subscribers already
- You're already using ConvertKit
- You sell digital products/courses
- You want 100% control over payments
- You're technical and can manage Stripe
- Revenue > $5,000/month currently
- You're starting from scratch
- You want built-in viral growth tools
- You value simplicity over control
- Revenue < $5,000/month currently
- You want a free plan to start
- You prioritize subscriber growth over revenue %
🎯 Hybrid Strategy for 2026:
Many successful creators are adopting a hybrid approach:
- Start on Beehiiv's free plan to grow to 10,000+ subscribers
- Use Beehiiv's referral program to accelerate growth
- Migrate to Kit at ~$10,000/month revenue to save 10% in fees
- Maintain separate lists: Beehiiv for growth, Kit for monetization
This approach maximizes both growth (Beehiiv's strengths) and revenue retention (Kit's strengths).
Migration Guide & Timeline
Switching platforms? Here's what to expect.
Export all subscriber data, tags, and segments. Document your current automation sequences. Inform subscribers of the upcoming change.
Set up new platform with custom domain. Recreate automations and segments. Test subscription flows and payment processing.
Import subscribers in batches. Monitor deliverability rates. Send migration completion email to subscribers.
A/B test new vs old conversion rates. Optimize based on initial data. Begin sunsetting old platform.
⚠️ Migration Risks:
- Subscriber loss: Expect 5-15% drop during migration
- Revenue disruption: 1-2 months of lower conversion rates
- Technical issues: Automation sequences may break
- SEO impact: Newsletter archive URLs will change
Pro tip: Run both platforms in parallel for 1 month to minimize disruption.
The 2026 Newsletter Platform Verdict
Kit (ConvertKit) wins for established creators focused on maximizing revenue and controlling their payment stack. The 0% platform fee on subscriptions is a game-changer for newsletters earning $10,000+/month.
Beehiiv wins for growing creators who prioritize subscriber growth and simplicity. The built-in referral program and free starting tier make it the best choice for newsletters under $5,000/month in revenue.
The smartest creators in 2026 are using both: Beehiiv for acquisition, Kit for monetization. As your newsletter grows, the 10% fee savings from Kit become increasingly significant.
💫 Ready to Choose Your Platform?
Start with our Email List Monetization guide if you're new to newsletter revenue. For technical setup, check our ConvertKit vs Mailchimp comparison.
✅ Keep Learning
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, strategically: Some creators use Beehiiv for free newsletter distribution (leveraging its referral program) while using Kit for paid subscriptions and premium content. This requires maintaining two subscriber lists and clear communication about which content goes where.
Beehiiv: $20,000 × 10% = $2,000 platform fee + payment processor fees (~$600) = $2,600 total fees. Kit: $0 platform fee + payment processor fees (~$600) = $600 total fees. Difference: $2,000/month extra in your pocket with Kit.
Yes, for growth-focused newsletters: Top Beehiiv newsletters report 30-50% of new subscribers come through referrals. However, the quality of referred subscribers may be lower than organic subscribers. The program works best for newsletters with strong community engagement.
Moderately easy: You can export subscribers as CSV from Beehiiv and import to Kit. However, automation sequences, tags, and subscription status don't transfer automatically. Paid subscribers will need to resubscribe on the new platform. Plan for a 1-2 month transition period.
Both are excellent: Kit uses ConvertKit's established email infrastructure with 99%+ deliverability rates. Beehiiv has invested heavily in deliverability and matches similar rates. The bigger factor is your sending practices, list hygiene, and content quality rather than platform choice.
Beehiiv's Scale plan ($99/month) supports up to 100,000 subscribers. Beyond that, you'll need custom enterprise pricing. At that scale, the 10% fee becomes substantial ($10,000/month on $100,000 revenue). This is when most large newsletters consider migrating to Kit or custom solutions.