Last Updated: March 19, 2026 | Quick Answer: Beehiiv is best for Newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut, while HubSpot excels for Small businesses and startups that want a free CRM today with room to scale into marketing and sales automation. Both are strong email marketing options — your choice depends on your specific needs and budget.
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At a Glance
| Beehiiv | HubSpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut | Small businesses and startups that want a free CRM today with room to scale into marketing and sales automation |
| Starting Price | Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+) | Free CRM; Starter from $20/mo |
| Free Plan | Check website | Check website |
| Our Rating | 8.5/10 | 8.5/10 |
| Key Strength | Built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network | Genuinely powerful free CRM that serves as the foundation for an all-in-one business platform |
Beehiiv Overview
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform built by early Morning Brew employees who saw firsthand what it takes to grow a newsletter to millions of subscribers. Launched in 2022, it’s rapidly become the go-to platform for serious newsletter operators who want growth tools, monetization options, and data — no
Top Features:
- Growth Engine (Recommendations + Boosts)
- Built-in Ad Network
- Referral Program
- Custom Website and SEO
HubSpot Overview
HubSpot is an all-in-one CRM platform that combines marketing, sales, customer service, and content management into a single system. Founded in 2006 by Brian Halligan and Dharmesh Shah at MIT, HubSpot pioneered the concept of “inbound marketing” — attracting customers through valuable content rather
Top Features:
- Free CRM
- Email Marketing and Marketing Automation
- Sales Pipeline and Deal Tracking
- Landing Pages and Forms
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | HubSpot |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Engine (Recommendations + Boosts) | Yes | Similar |
| Built-in Ad Network | Yes | Similar |
| Referral Program | Yes | Similar |
| Custom Website and SEO | Yes | Similar |
| Advanced Analytics and Automations | Yes | Similar |
| What We Like | Yes | Similar |
| Free CRM | Similar | Yes |
| Email Marketing and Marketing Automation | Similar | Yes |
Pricing Comparison
| Beehiiv | HubSpot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+) | Free CRM; Starter from $20/mo |
| Free Plan/Trial | Check website | Check website |
Pros and Cons
Beehiiv
Pros:
- 0% revenue share on paid subscriptions (Scale+) — Substack takes 10%
- Built-in growth tools (referrals, recommendations, boosts) are unmatched
- Free plan is genuinely usable with 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends
- Custom domain support on all plans, including free
Cons:
- No native community or discussion features (Substack has Notes and comments)
- Brand removal requires the Max plan ($96/mo)
HubSpot
Pros:
- The free CRM is the best in the industry — functional enough to run a small business without paying a dollar
- All-in-one platform eliminates the need to stitch together separate tools for CRM, email, landing pages, and support
- Clean, modern interface with a relatively gentle learning curve for a platform this powerful
- Extensive integration marketplace (1,500+ integrations) connects HubSpot to nearly every tool you already use
Cons:
- You want a lightweight, sales-focused CRM without the marketing overhead (consider Pipedrive)
When to Choose Beehiiv
- You need built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network
- Your primary focus is newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut
- You want a platform rated 8.5/10 by our team
When to Choose HubSpot
- You need genuinely powerful free crm that serves as the foundation for an all-in-one business platform
- Your primary focus is small businesses and startups that want a free crm today with room to scale into marketing and sales automation
- You want a platform rated 8.5/10 by our team
FAQ
Is Beehiiv better than HubSpot?
It depends on your needs. Beehiiv is better for newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut, while HubSpot is stronger for small businesses and startups that want a free crm today with room to scale into marketing and sales automation. We rated Beehiiv 8.5/10 and HubSpot 8.5/10.
Can I use both Beehiiv and HubSpot?
Yes, many teams use both tools together. Beehiiv and HubSpot can complement each other depending on your workflow requirements.
Which is cheaper, Beehiiv or HubSpot?
Beehiiv starts at Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+), while HubSpot starts at Free CRM; Starter from $20/mo. Both offer different tiers, so compare plans based on the features you actually need.
Our Verdict
Both Beehiiv and HubSpot are solid choices in their respective categories. Choose Beehiiv if you prioritize built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network. Choose HubSpot if genuinely powerful free crm that serves as the foundation for an all-in-one business platform matters more to your workflow. Either way, both tools offer free trials or plans so you can test before committing.
Read our full Beehiiv review | Read our full HubSpot review
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