Kit vs beehiiv: what the free plans actually allow
Kit gives you 10,000 subscribers for free. beehiiv gives you unlimited sends for free. On paper both are $0, and they are not the same deal.
The two free plans, side by side
| Kit | beehiiv | |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier | Up to 10,000 subscribers | Unlimited sends, templates, landing pages, API |
| First paid tier | $33/mo billed yearly ($390) | $49/mo monthly, $39/mo billed yearly |
| What the paid tier adds | Automations, sequences, referral program | Paid subscriptions, ad monetisation, automations |
| Best for | Sending a weekly email for years at $0 | Growing with referrals and recommendations |
Prices from both vendors' pricing pages on 1 November 2026.
Why the difference matters
Kit's free plan is a subscriber limit. You can send as often as you like to 10,000 people and pay nothing, which covers most small newsletters for their entire life.
beehiiv's free plan is not about size, it is about features. You get unlimited sends, but the growth machinery that makes beehiiv worth choosing sits on the paid tier.
Which one to start on
If the plan is "send one good email a week and see what happens", Kit's free tier will not cost you anything for a long time. If the plan is "grow using referrals and sell ads", beehiiv's paid tier is the product you actually want, and the free plan is a trial.
Either way, do not pay before the list has readers. A $39 subscription does not make a newsletter grow; the writing does.