What is included in the beehiiv free trial?

The trial gives you access to most paid features including the ad network, referral program, advanced analytics, paid subscriptions, and automations. A few monetization tools are restricted during the trial period.

What happens after the beehiiv free trial ends?

If you upgrade, you get 20% off for your first 3 months. If you don't upgrade, your account automatically reverts to the free Launch plan — you don't lose your data or subscribers.

Is beehiiv free forever?

Yes. beehiiv's Launch plan is permanently free for up to 2,500 subscribers. The 14-day trial is for the paid Scale and Max plans, and comes with 20% off for 3 months if you convert.

beehiiv Free Trial 2026 – 14 Days + 20% Off for 3 Months

Q: Does beehiiv have a free trial?

Yes. beehiiv offers a 14-day free trial on both the Scale and Max plans, plus 20% off for your first 3 months. No credit card is required to start.

Does beehiiv have a free trial?

Yes — and it's one of the better deals in the newsletter space. beehiiv gives you 14 days free on either the Scale or Max plan, plus 20% off for your first 3 months if you decide to upgrade. No credit card is required to start, and if you decide not to upgrade, your account drops back to the free Launch plan automatically. You don't lose anything.

There's also the Launch plan itself, which is free forever — up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends, a newsletter + website. So even after the trial, you're not left with nothing.

Which plan should you trial?

beehiiv offers a trial on two paid plans. Here's what each includes:

Scale Plan

Scale — Best for most creators

$49/month after trial · billed monthly

14-day free trial + 20% off for 3 months

Up to 2,500 subscribers (Launch limits during trial)
beehiiv Ad Network access
Referral program (Boosts)
Paid subscriptions (0% revenue cut)
Advanced analytics
Email automations
AI writing tools
3 publications
Custom domains
Team members

Start Scale Trial Free →

Max Plan

Max — For serious publishers

$99/month after trial · billed monthly

14-day free trial + 20% off for 3 months

Everything in Scale
Remove beehiiv branding
10 publications
Dynamic content blocks
Priority support
Unlimited team seats
Advanced segmentation
Custom newsletter themes

Start Max Trial Free →

What's restricted during the trial

Sending limits apply — your account is capped at Launch plan send limits (2,500 active subscribers)
Some monetization tools are not available until you upgrade to a paid plan
The trial is for new accounts only — existing free users may need to check eligibility

Free plan vs. free trial vs. paid plan

It's easy to confuse beehiiv's permanent free tier with the trial. Here's the difference at a glance:

Feature	Launch (Free)	Scale Trial	Scale Paid
Cost	Free forever	Free / 14 days	$49/mo
Unlimited sends	✓	✓	✓
Newsletter + website	✓	✓	✓
Ad network	✕	✓	✓
Paid subscriptions	✕	Limited	✓
Boosts (referrals)	✕	✓	✓
Advanced analytics	✕	✓	✓
AI writing tools	✕	✓	✓
Credit card required	✕	✕	✓

How to activate your beehiiv free trial

The process takes under 2 minutes. No payment info needed at any step.

1

Create your account

Go to beehiiv.com and click "Get started free." Enter your email and create a password — that's it. No card, no commitment.

2

Choose Scale or Max trial

During onboarding, beehiiv will offer you a free trial of either Scale or Max. Pick the plan that matches your goals — you can always downgrade after.

3

Set up your newsletter

Name your publication, choose a niche, and customize your beehiiv website. The whole setup wizard takes about 5 minutes.

4

Use all the paid features — free for 14 days

Explore the ad network, automations, analytics, and AI tools. If you upgrade, you get 20% off for your first 3 months. If it's not for you, your account drops to the free Launch plan automatically. Nothing is deleted.

Frequently asked questions

Does beehiiv require a credit card for the free trial?

No. You can start the 14-day free trial on Scale or Max without entering any payment information. You'll only need a card if you decide to upgrade to a paid plan at the end of the trial — and if you do, you get 20% off for your first 3 months.

What happens to my newsletter if I don't upgrade after the trial?

Your account automatically reverts to beehiiv's free Launch plan. Your subscribers, content, and settings are all preserved — you simply lose access to the paid features until you upgrade.

Can I switch between Scale and Max during the trial?

Yes. You can change your plan from within your account settings at any time. If you upgrade from Scale to Max mid-trial, beehiiv will adjust your access accordingly.

Is beehiiv's free plan good enough without the trial?

For beginners, absolutely. The Launch plan gives you up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends, a newsletter, and a website — all free forever. The trial is most useful if you want to test monetization features (ad network, paid subscriptions) before committing.

How does beehiiv compare to Substack on the free plan?

Substack charges 10% on paid subscriptions. beehiiv charges 0% — even on the free plan. If you plan to monetize your newsletter, beehiiv's economics are significantly better at scale. The trade-off is that Substack has a built-in reader network beehiiv doesn't replicate.

Can I get a discount on beehiiv after the free trial?

Yes. Using an affiliate link like the one on this page typically unlocks a discount (20% off for 3 months) for new paid subscribers, on top of the 30-day trial.

Is the beehiiv free trial available in all countries?

Yes, beehiiv is available worldwide. The free trial has no geographic restrictions. Payouts via the ad network or paid subscriptions may depend on Stripe availability in your country.

beehiiv Free Trial:
14 Days + 20% Off for 3 Months