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EmailOctopus vs beehiiv: cost and features compared (2026)
Last verified against official pricing pages · USD, monthly billing, excluding tax
Prices change often. Every price here was checked against the platform's official pricing page on the date shown, but plans, promos and taxes vary. Always confirm on the official site before you buy or switch. Not financial advice.
Quick answer
- Basic newsletter: EmailOctopus is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers.
- With automations: EmailOctopus is cheaper at every size we checked.
- Paid newsletter: only beehiiv has a verified option at every size we checked.
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Try EmailOctopus (paid link) Try beehiiv (paid link)
Cost at 1k, 5k, 10k and 25k subscribers
Basic newsletter (no automations)
| Subscribers | EmailOctopus | beehiiv | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $0 (Free) | $0 (Free) | Same |
| 5,000 | $31.50 (Pro) | $109 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $77.50/mo |
| 10,000 | $44.50 (Pro) | $139 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $94.50/mo |
| 25,000 | $94.50 (Pro) | $199 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $104.50/mo |
With automations (welcome sequences, drips)
| Subscribers | EmailOctopus | beehiiv | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | $0 (Free, limited) | $59 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $59/mo |
| 5,000 | $31.50 (Pro) | $109 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $77.50/mo |
| 10,000 | $44.50 (Pro) | $139 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $94.50/mo |
| 25,000 | $94.50 (Pro) | $199 (Lite) | EmailOctopus by $104.50/mo |
Paid newsletter (5% of subscribers pay $8/mo)
| Subscribers | EmailOctopus | beehiiv | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | n/a | $88.40 (Lite) | beehiiv (only option in our verified data) |
| 5,000 | n/a | $256 (Lite) | beehiiv (only option in our verified data) |
| 10,000 | n/a | $433 (Lite) | beehiiv (only option in our verified data) |
| 25,000 | n/a | $934 (Lite) | beehiiv (only option in our verified data) |
Switching? EmailOctopus → beehiiv cost · beehiiv → EmailOctopus cost · Best platform for your needs
Cheapest plan on each platform that covers the list size and required features. Paid totals = plan + platform cut + Stripe card fees (2.9% + $0.30 per payment, estimate) + Stripe's 0.7% Billing fee on recurring payments where confirmed (beehiiv, MailerLite, Ghost, Buttondown, Substack, AWeber and Flodesk); not added for GetResponse (not confirmed); Kit's 3.5% + $0.30 is all-in. How we model fees. "limited" = feature is capped on that plan. Run your exact numbers →
Key differences
| EmailOctopus | beehiiv | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | free up to 2,500 subscribers | free up to 2,500 subscribers |
| Fee on paid subscriptions | no native paid subscriptions | 0% platform cut + Stripe fees |
| Cheapest plan with automations | Pro (from $10/mo) | Lite (from $59/mo) |
| Cheapest plan with own domain | not verified | Lite (from $59/mo) |
| Cheapest plan without platform branding | Pro (from $10/mo) | Pro (from $109/mo) |
| Plans | Free, Pro | Free, Lite, Pro |
| Prices verified | 2026-10-20 | 2026-10-20 |
Who each is best for
EmailOctopus is best for
Budget newsletters that want a free plan up to 2,500 subscribers and cheap paid tiers, and don't need paid subscriptions built in.
beehiiv is best for
Newsletter-first publishers who want built-in growth and monetization tools (ad network, referrals, website) in one place.
- Bundles growth tools beyond email: website builder, ad network and referral program (ad network not on Free). source
- Takes 0% of paid-subscription revenue on paid plans; Stripe fees apply. source
- Raised prices on October 1, 2026 (Scale→Lite, Max→Pro); existing customers move at their first renewal on or after November 1, 2026. source
Try EmailOctopus (paid link) Try beehiiv (paid link)
FAQ
Is EmailOctopus cheaper than beehiiv?
It depends on your list and needs. In our data (monthly billing, 1,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 25,000 subscribers): basic newsletter — EmailOctopus is cheaper at 5,000, 10,000 and 25,000 subscribers; they cost the same at 1,000 subscribers. With automations — EmailOctopus is cheaper at every size we checked. Paid newsletter — only beehiiv has a verified option at every size we checked. Prices verified 2026-10-20.
Which has the bigger free plan, EmailOctopus or beehiiv?
EmailOctopus: free up to 2,500 subscribers. beehiiv: free up to 2,500 subscribers. Free plans have feature limits — see the comparison table.
Do EmailOctopus and beehiiv take a cut of paid subscriptions?
EmailOctopus: no native paid subscriptions. beehiiv: 0% platform cut + Stripe fees.
What do EmailOctopus and beehiiv cost at 10,000 subscribers?
On monthly billing, a basic newsletter costs $44.50/mo on EmailOctopus Pro and $139/mo on beehiiv Lite. With automations: $44.50/mo (EmailOctopus Pro) vs $139/mo (beehiiv Lite).
Sources
- EmailOctopus pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- beehiiv pricing (checked 2026-10-20)
- beehiiv: beehiiv.com/blog/beehiiv-pricing-2026
- Stripe pricing (card-fee estimate)
- Stripe Billing pricing (0.7% on recurring payments)
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Guides: Is beehiiv worth it in 2026 · Substack to beehiiv migration · beehiiv Free plan (2026) · AWeber Free plan (2026) · Substack fees (2026) · Mailchimp to beehiiv migration · How much does Mailchimp cost
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Recently flagged: Kit: 25% off the first year of Pro on annual billing (limited-time offer) (20 Oct 2026) · beehiiv renames plans and raises prices (Scale → Lite, Max → Pro) (1 Oct 2026)