beehiiv vs Ghost (2026): Which Pays Better?

Both are popular newsletter platforms. Here is how beehiiv and Ghost stack up on requirements, what you keep, payout terms, strengths and weaknesses, and which one we would pick.

beehiiv

Newsletter platform with paid subscriptions at 0% cut, a built-in ad network, referral program and boosts.

8.8 /10

Pricing: Free plan, paid from $39/mo

Pros

Ad Network matches sponsors to your list automatically; Boosts pay you to recommend other newsletters
Referral program, website, surveys and polls included

Cons

Monthly fee rather than a revenue cut
Younger platform; deliverability reputation still building

Visit beehiiv ↗

Ghost

Open-source publishing with newsletters, memberships and paywalls built in; 0% platform fee, hosted from $9 a month.

8.9 /10

Pricing: Open source, paid cloud from $9/mo

Pros

Website, newsletter, paywall and memberships in one place with no cut of revenue
Self-hostable and fully yours; excellent SEO and speed

Cons

Fewer growth tools than Substack or beehiiv (no built-in network or ad marketplace)
Self-hosting requires technical comfort

Visit Ghost ↗

beehiiv vs Ghost at a glance

	beehiiv	Ghost
Editor score	8.8 / 10	8.9 / 10
Pricing model	Freemium	Open source
Starting price	$39/mo	$9/mo
Web rank	#5.9k	#4.2k
Minimum traffic	None	None
Revenue share / fee	No cut of paid subscriptions; plans from $39/mo (free up to 2,500 subscribers)	No revenue share; Ghost(Pro) hosting from $9/mo or self-host free
Commission	–	–
Payout	Via Stripe; ad network monthly	Via your Stripe
Methods served	paid newsletter, newsletter sponsorship, memberships subscriptions	paid newsletter, newsletter sponsorship, memberships subscriptions, paywall premium content
Niches accepted	General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail	General, Tech & SaaS, Finance & Insurance, Health & Supplements, Gaming & Esports, E-commerce & Retail
Reader upvotes	0	0
Best for	newsletter, ad network, referral program	newsletter, membership, paywall

Our pick

Ghost edges it with a score of 8.9 versus 8.8. Ghost is the better fit if you value: website, newsletter, paywall and memberships in one place with no cut of revenue, self-hostable and fully yours; excellent seo and speed. Choose beehiiv instead if you need: ad network matches sponsors to your list automatically; boosts pay you to recommend other newsletters, referral program, website, surveys and polls included.