An honest beehiiv alternative
beehiiv is a newsletter platform with a website, podcast hosting, a recommendation network and an ad network. Its Free plan covers 2,500 subscribers. Terlido Newsletter is free up to 10,000 subscribers and sends each issue from your own mailbox, but has no ad network or paid subscriptions. Here is an honest look at both.
Pricing, as of November 2026
beehiiv's paid plans are priced by subscriber count, and yearly billing is cheaper. beehiiv takes 0% of paid subscription revenue; Stripe's processing fee applies.
beehiiv
| Free$0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers, 1 publication, website and podcast, recommendation network, unlimited email sends |
|---|---|
| LiteFrom $59/month | $139/month at 10,000 subscribers. 3 publications, ad network, paid subscriptions (1 tier), 10 automations, custom domains, A/B tests |
| ProFrom $109/month | $239/month at 10,000 subscribers. 10 publications, unlimited paid tiers and automations, Send API, branding removal |
| EnterpriseCustom | SSO, audit logs, dedicated IPs |
Terlido
| Free$0, forever | Up to 10,000 subscribers, 1 brand, a welcome email, and a small "Sent with Terlido Newsletter" line in the footer. |
|---|---|
| Pro$29/month | Up to 100,000 subscribers across unlimited brands, all automations, A/B tests, referrals, RSS-to-email, the API, your own domain, and an AI agent that drafts, tests, schedules and sends. Past 100,000: +$10 a month for each extra 50,000. |
Where beehiiv is stronger
- Ways to earn: an ad network and paid subscriptions from Lite, with 0% taken from subscription revenue. Terlido has neither.
- A website, podcast hosting and a recommendation network, even on Free. Terlido has a public archive and a signup page, not a site builder or podcasts.
- Unlimited email sends on every plan and up to 250,000 subscribers on Pro. Terlido sends from your mailbox at your provider's pace, so a big list can take more than a day.
Where Terlido is stronger
- Terlido Free covers up to 10,000 subscribers, against 2,500 on beehiiv Free.
- Terlido Free includes a welcome automation. beehiiv lists automations from Lite.
- Pro is one flat monthly price up to 100,000 subscribers across unlimited brands. beehiiv Lite is $139 a month at 10,000 subscribers, with 3 publications.
- Issues go out from your own mailbox, so readers see your address and replies land in your inbox.
Who Terlido Newsletter is for
For: Writers, founders and small teams who want to send a newsletter from their own address and read replies in their own inbox.
Not a fit:
- Paid newsletters. Terlido has no paid subscriptions or paywall.
- Sending a big list in one burst. Terlido sends from your mailbox at your provider's pace, so a large list can take more than a day.
- Lists of people who never agreed to hear from you.
Which one should you pick?
Pick beehiiv if: You want to earn from your newsletter with ads or paid subscriptions, or want a website and podcast in the same place.
Pick Terlido if: You want to stay free past 2,500 subscribers, send from your own address, and keep a flat price as you grow.
Terlido Newsletter is new and has no customer logos or open-rate numbers to show you. The fastest way to judge it is to connect a mailbox on the Free plan and send yourself a test issue.
Start freeSources
beehiiv details were checked in November 2026. Prices and plans change, so check their site before you buy.