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beehiiv alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave beehiiv: monthly cost rises steeply with subscriber count, and no reader app or network as strong as Substack's. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces beehiiv, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Substack currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Ghost logoGhostOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 562.6
  1. Ghost logo

    1. GhostTop pick

    Best for: Independent publishers who want their own branded site, newsletter and memberships

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    62.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from beehiiv

    Open-source and self-hostable, with membership and newsletters under your own brand.

    Pros

    • No transaction fees from Ghost on paid memberships
    • Open source and self-hostable for full control
    • Custom themes and a large integration marketplace
    • Fast sites with strong SEO defaults

    Cons

    • No discovery network to bring in readers
    • Starter plan lacks custom themes and paid subscriptions
    • Self-hosting needs a server and some sysadmin work
    Visit Ghost Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ghost a good beehiiv alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $18/month (Starter, billed yearly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Publisher plan
    $29/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Transaction fees
    0% from Ghost (processor fees apply)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, Ubuntu or Docker
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best beehiiv alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Substack logo

Best beehiiv alternative for most people

Substack

Free to run, with a reader network that brings in subscribers, in exchange for a revenue cut.

Ghost logo

Best beehiiv alternative for a free option

Ghost

Open-source and self-hostable, with membership and newsletters under your own brand.

Buttondown logo

Best beehiiv alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Buttondown

Much cheaper and simpler for smaller lists that don't need an ad network.

Ghost logo

Best beehiiv alternative for open source

Ghost

Open-source and self-hostable, with membership and newsletters under your own brand.

Ghost logo

Best beehiiv alternative for self-hosting

Ghost

Open-source and self-hostable, with membership and newsletters under your own brand.

Kit logo

Best beehiiv alternative for iPhone and Android

Kit

Puts more weight on automations and selling digital products, with a large free plan.

Cu

Best beehiiv alternative for working in the browser

Curated

Built for link-roundup newsletters, free up to 1,500 subscribers.

beehiiv alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to beehiiv?

Substack ranks first right now. Free to run, with a reader network that brings in subscribers, in exchange for a revenue cut. Ghost and Buttondown follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to beehiiv?

Yes. Substack (free plan + paid), Ghost (open source), Buttondown (free plan + paid) and Curated (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to beehiiv?

Yes: Ghost. Ghost can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from beehiiv?

The complaints we hear most: monthly cost rises steeply with subscriber count; no reader app or network as strong as Substack's; removing beehiiv branding requires the Pro plan.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces beehiiv, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.