beehiiv vs Sailthru: Compare Features & Pricing (2026)
SailThru vs. beehiiv
beehiiv is the dynamic and modern alternative to SailThru, focused on newsletter growth and monetization.
Enterprise Infrastructure vs. Newsletter Growth & Monetization
SailThru is a cross-channel marketing automation platform built for mid-sized to large enterprises in media, publishing, and retail. It offers AI-powered personalization and multi-channel orchestration across email, SMS, and web.
beehiiv was built by the Morning Brew team specifically for newsletter publishing. It combines growth tools, monetization features, and analytics into a single platform for creators and publishers looking to build sustainable content businesses.
SailThru requires sales calls, custom quotes, months-long implementations, and dedicated technical teams. beehiiv offers transparent pricing, self-serve signup, and most teams are publishing within a week.
SailThru is good for
- High-volume senders needing support for transactional comms and marketing automation.
- Analytics teams integrating email data into internal models and pipelines.
- Teams with engineering bandwidth to build custom flows using APIs and webhooks.
beehiiv is best for
- Content-focused newsletters and publications
- All-in-one solution for website, email, data analytics, and growth tools
- Ownership of your audience and custom aesthetic
- Affordable flat-rate pricing that favors growing creators and companies
- Enterprise-level solutions made simple and accessible to everyone
compare features
With beehiiv you'll have the same suite of tools used by the world's largest newsletters.
| Feature | beehiiv Get started |
SailThru Full comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Pricing | ||
| Monthly email sends | Monthly email sends, beehiiv, Unlimited | Monthly email sends, SailThru, Variable send limits |
| Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers | Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers, beehiiv, Yes | Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers, SailThru, No |
| Up to 10,000 subscribers | Up to 10,000 subscribers, beehiiv, $109 | Up to 10,000 subscribers, SailThru, No public pricing; requires meeting with sales for a quote |
| Up to 100,000 subscribers | Up to 100,000 subscribers, beehiiv, $329 | Up to 100,000 subscribers, SailThru, No public pricing; requires meeting with sales for a quote |
| Paid Subscriptions | Paid Subscriptions, beehiiv, 0% | Paid Subscriptions, SailThru, 0% |
| Content Management Features | ||
| Team members | Team members, beehiiv, Yes | Team members, SailThru, Yes |
| Email sends | Email sends, beehiiv, Yes | Email sends, SailThru, Yes |
| Web posts | Web posts, beehiiv, Yes | Web posts, SailThru, No |
| Publications | Publications, beehiiv, Yes | Publications, SailThru, No |
| Subscribers | Subscribers, beehiiv, Yes | Subscribers, SailThru, Yes |
| Website Features | ||
| Web hosting | Web hosting, beehiiv, Yes | Web hosting, SailThru, No |
| Subscribe forms | Subscribe forms, beehiiv, Yes | Subscribe forms, SailThru, Yes |
| Advanced email capture | Advanced email capture, beehiiv, Yes | Advanced email capture, SailThru, Yes |
| Custom domain | Custom domain, beehiiv, Yes | Custom domain, SailThru, No |
| Survey forms | Survey forms, beehiiv, Yes | Survey forms, SailThru, Yes |
| Advanced web builder | Advanced web builder, beehiiv, Yes | Advanced web builder, SailThru, No |
| Podcast sites | Podcast sites, beehiiv, Yes | Podcast sites, SailThru, No |
| Link in bio | Link in bio, beehiiv, Yes | Link in bio, SailThru, No |
| Ai website builder | Ai website builder, beehiiv, Yes | Ai website builder, SailThru, No |
| Website analytics | Website analytics, beehiiv, Yes | Website analytics, SailThru, No |
| Newsletter Features | ||
| Custom builder | Custom builder, beehiiv, Yes | Custom builder, SailThru, Yes |
| Optimized deliverability | Optimized deliverability, beehiiv, Yes | Optimized deliverability, SailThru, Yes |
| Custom fields | Custom fields, beehiiv, Yes | Custom fields, SailThru, Yes |
| Custom HTML | Custom HTML, beehiiv, Yes | Custom HTML, SailThru, Yes |
| Audience polls | Audience polls, beehiiv, Yes | Audience polls, SailThru, Yes |
| A/B Testing | A/B Testing, beehiiv, Yes | A/B Testing, SailThru, Yes |
| Content creation AI | Content creation AI, beehiiv, Yes | Content creation AI, SailThru, No |
| Custom mobile apps | Custom mobile apps, beehiiv, Yes | Custom mobile apps, SailThru, No |
| Podcasts | Podcasts, beehiiv, Yes | Podcasts, SailThru, No |
| Collaborative editing | Collaborative editing, beehiiv, Yes | Collaborative editing, SailThru, No |
| Inline comments | Inline comments, beehiiv, Yes | Inline comments, SailThru, No |
| Dynamic content | Dynamic content, beehiiv, Yes | Dynamic content, SailThru, Yes |
| Growth | ||
| Recommendation network | Recommendation network, beehiiv, Yes | Recommendation network, SailThru, No |
| Magic links | Magic links, beehiiv, Yes | Magic links, SailThru, No |
| Referral program | Referral program, beehiiv, Yes | Referral program, SailThru, No |
| Monetization | ||
| Integrated Ad network | Integrated Ad network, beehiiv, Yes | Integrated Ad network, SailThru, No |
| Paid Subscriptions | Paid Subscriptions, beehiiv, Yes | Paid Subscriptions, SailThru, No |
| Paid recommendations | Paid recommendations, beehiiv, Yes | Paid recommendations, SailThru, No |
| Direct sponsorships | Direct sponsorships, beehiiv, Yes | Direct sponsorships, SailThru, No |
| Digital products | Digital products, beehiiv, Yes | Digital products, SailThru, No |
| Analytics | ||
| Campaign analytics | Campaign analytics, beehiiv, Yes | Campaign analytics, SailThru, Yes |
| Subscriber metrics | Subscriber metrics, beehiiv, Yes | Subscriber metrics, SailThru, Yes |
| Advanced segmentation | Advanced segmentation, beehiiv, Yes | Advanced segmentation, SailThru, Yes |
| Advanced analytics | Advanced analytics, beehiiv, Yes | Advanced analytics, SailThru, Yes |
| Integrations | ||
| Giphy | Giphy, beehiiv, Yes | Giphy, SailThru, No |
| Unsplash | Unsplash, beehiiv, Yes | Unsplash, SailThru, No |
| API access | API access, beehiiv, Yes | API access, SailThru, Yes |
| App marketplace | App marketplace, beehiiv, Yes | App marketplace, SailThru, Yes |
| Security | ||
| 2FA | 2FA, beehiiv, Yes | 2FA, SailThru, Yes |
| SSO | SSO, beehiiv, Yes | SSO, SailThru, Yes |
| Support | ||
| Normal support | Normal support, beehiiv, Yes | Normal support, SailThru, Yes |
| Priority support | Priority support, beehiiv, Yes | Priority support, SailThru, Yes |
| Account manager | Account manager, beehiiv, Yes | Account manager, SailThru, Yes |
Common Questions About Platform Migration
Will I lose subscribers migrating from SailThru to beehiiv?
No. Export your contacts from SailThru and import directly into beehiiv. We've migrated lists of 500,000+ subscribers without losing a single contact.
What happens to my SailThru automations when I switch to beehiiv?
SailThru's Lifecycle Optimizer workflows will need to be rebuilt in beehiiv's automation system. Most newsletter workflows are simpler than full cross-channel orchestration and can be set up quickly without custom development.
How long does custom domain transfer take when moving to beehiiv?
DNS propagation typically completes in 24-48 hours. We provide step-by-step documentation for all major registrars.
How long does it take to migrate from SailThru to beehiiv?
Most teams are sending from beehiiv within a week of starting migration. This is faster than typical SailThru implementations, which can require significant technical setup and integration work.
Can I run SailThru and beehiiv simultaneously during migration?
Yes. Run both platforms in parallel during transition. Complete your contract obligations while building your beehiiv operation, then switch over when ready.
What training and onboarding does beehiiv provide for SailThru users?
All plans include comprehensive documentation and AI Assistant support. Enterprise plans include concierge onboarding and dedicated account managers, without the extended implementation timelines enterprise platforms typically require.
Will I lose personalization capabilities switching from SailThru to beehiiv?
Partially. beehiiv offers segmentation, custom fields, A/B testing, and personalization designed specifically for newsletter publishing. Enterprise plans include dynamic content capabilities. You may lose some of SailThru's cross-channel features like mobile push and SMS, but you'll gain newsletter-native tools like referral programs, recommendation networks, and integrated monetization.
beehiiv is built for
Content Creators
Launch and monetize newsletters without enterprise contracts or technical teams. Built-in ad network, paid subscriptions, referral programs, and growth tools work out of the box.
Media Companies & Publishers
Everything needed to grow and monetize newsletters at a fraction of traditional enterprise platform costs. Multiple publications, advanced segmentation, and integrated revenue tools without complex implementations that require a team of engineers.
Startups & B2B Organizations
Build authority and reach through newsletters without months-long setup. Transparent pricing, self-serve onboarding, and analytics focused on business outcomes.
Solopreneurs
One platform with everything needed. No sales calls, no custom quotes, no engineering required. Start free and scale as you grow. Publish tomorrow, not next quarter.
Still Have Questions?
How does SailThru pricing compare to beehiiv?
SailThru doesn't publish pricing publicly and typically requires custom enterprise quotes. beehiiv starts free (up to 2,500 subscribers) with transparent pricing, starting at $43/month for Scale.
Does beehiiv offer a free plan?
Yes. beehiiv's Launch plan is free forever for up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited email sends, a custom website, our full newsletter builder, campaign analytics, and API access. SailThru requires contacting sales for pricing and typically serves mid-sized to large enterprises.
How does beehiiv's email deliverability compare to SailThru?
beehiiv provides industry-leading deliverability on all plans, with dedicated IP addresses available on Enterprise plans.
Can I monetize my newsletter on beehiiv?
Yes. Scale plans include the beehiiv Ad Network, Recommendation Network, and paid subscriptions with 0% platform fees. Max plans add a sponsorship storefront and digital products with appointment scheduling. SailThru focuses on marketing automation rather than publisher monetization.
What newsletter growth tools does beehiiv offer compared to SailThru?
Yes. All plans include the Recommendation Network, magic links, and referral programs. Scale and Max plans add paid recommendations for paid subscriber acquisition. These are newsletter-native features designed specifically for audience growth.
Do I need engineering resources to use beehiiv like SailThru?
No. beehiiv is designed for self-serve setup and can be managed by marketing teams alone. All plans include API access, and Enterprise plans add Send API for custom integrations. SailThru's enterprise features often require dedicated technical teams for implementation and ongoing management.
What integrations does beehiiv offer compared to SailThru?
beehiiv plans include Giphy, Unsplash, webhooks (Scale and above), and API access. beehiiv also offers native integrations for analytics, payments, and content platforms without custom development.
How do I get started with beehiiv?
Sign up free, import your subscribers, and send your first newsletter in minutes. No sales calls required.