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News & Media · head to head

Beehiiv vs Medium

Beehiiv logo

Beehiiv

News & Media

The all-in-one platform for newsletter creators

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Medium logo

Medium

News & Media

The best place to read and write stories on the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Beehiiv platform lacks native SMS support; requires third-party integrations via API or webhooks; Medium unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
  • They diverge on capability: Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation, Medium covers Story publishing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Beehiiv and Medium actually diverge.

Attributes where Beehiiv and Medium differ
AttributeBeehiivMedium
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20212012

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (News & Media).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation
  • Email automation
  • Subscriber management
  • Monetization tools
  • Analytics dashboard
  • Referral program
  • A/B testing
  • Spam checking

Only in Medium

  • Story publishing
  • Member program
  • Earning potential
  • Reading time estimates
  • Clap reactions
  • Highlighting & annotations
  • Story recommendations
  • Following system

Both cover

  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Web support
  • Mobile support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Beehiiv

  • Newsletter creation and hosting with monetizationnot Medium
  • Content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptionsnot Medium
  • Podcast hosting and distributionnot Medium

Medium

  • Publishing articles without running your own blognot Beehiiv
  • Reading long-form writing across technology, culture and newsnot Beehiiv
  • Earning from writing through the Medium Partner Programnot Beehiiv

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Beehiiv

  • Platform lacks native SMS support; requires third-party integrations via API or webhooks
  • Free Launch plan offers only read-only AI capabilities

Medium

  • Unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
  • Audio versions of stories are a member-only feature
  • Earning money from writing requires joining the Medium Partner Program rather than being automatic
  • The iOS app requires iOS 17.0 or later

Pricing, plan by plan

Beehiiv

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Beehiiv review.

Medium

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited reading
    • Publishing platform
    • Story drafts
  • Medium Membership$5/month
    • Unlimited access
    • Exclusive stories
    • Member earnings

Which should you pick?

Choose Beehiiv if

  • You need newsletter creation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want email automation.
Beehiiv review

Choose Medium if

  • You need story publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want member program.
Medium review

Questions people ask

Is Beehiiv or Medium better?
Neither clearly leads. Beehiiv starts at Free and Medium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Beehiiv or Medium?
Beehiiv starts at Free and Medium at Free.
Does Beehiiv or Medium run on more platforms?
Beehiiv runs on Web. Medium runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Beehiiv for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Beehiiv best used for?
Beehiiv is most often used for newsletter creation and hosting with monetization, content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptions, podcast hosting and distribution. Of those, newsletter creation and hosting with monetization and content creator monetisation through ad networks and paid subscriptions are not what Medium is typically brought in for.
What can Beehiiv do that Medium cannot?
Beehiiv covers Newsletter creation, Email automation, Subscriber management, Monetization tools. Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates. Both handle Twitter, LinkedIn, Web support, Mobile support.
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