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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

Sailthru

Monthly Pricing
Monthly email sendsMonthly email sends, beehiiv, UnlimitedMonthly email sends, Sailthru, Variable send limits
Free plan up to 2,500 subscribersFree plan up to 2,500 subscribers, beehiiv, YesFree plan up to 2,500 subscribers, Sailthru, No
Up to 10,000 subscribersUp to 10,000 subscribers, beehiiv, $109Up to 10,000 subscribers, Sailthru, No public pricing; requires meeting with sales for a quote
Up to 100,000 subscribersUp to 100,000 subscribers, beehiiv, $329Up to 100,000 subscribers, Sailthru, No public pricing; requires meeting with sales for a quote
Paid SubscriptionsPaid Subscriptions, beehiiv, 0%Paid Subscriptions, Sailthru, 0%
Content Management Features
Team membersTeam members, beehiiv, YesTeam members, Sailthru, Yes
Email sendsEmail sends, beehiiv, YesEmail sends, Sailthru, Yes
Web postsWeb posts, beehiiv, YesWeb posts, Sailthru, No
PublicationsPublications, beehiiv, YesPublications, Sailthru, No
SubscribersSubscribers, beehiiv, YesSubscribers, Sailthru, Yes
Website Features
Web hostingWeb hosting, beehiiv, YesWeb hosting, Sailthru, No
Subscribe formsSubscribe forms, beehiiv, YesSubscribe forms, Sailthru, Yes
Advanced email captureAdvanced email capture, beehiiv, YesAdvanced email capture, Sailthru, Yes
Custom domainCustom domain, beehiiv, YesCustom domain, Sailthru, No
Survey formsSurvey forms, beehiiv, YesSurvey forms, Sailthru, Yes
Advanced web builderAdvanced web builder, beehiiv, YesAdvanced web builder, Sailthru, No
Podcast sitesPodcast sites, beehiiv, YesPodcast sites, Sailthru, No
Link in bioLink in bio, beehiiv, YesLink in bio, Sailthru, No
Ai website builderAi website builder, beehiiv, YesAi website builder, Sailthru, No
Website analyticsWebsite analytics, beehiiv, YesWebsite analytics, Sailthru, No
Newsletter Features
Custom builderCustom builder, beehiiv, YesCustom builder, Sailthru, Yes
Optimized deliverabilityOptimized deliverability, beehiiv, YesOptimized deliverability, Sailthru, Yes
Custom fieldsCustom fields, beehiiv, YesCustom fields, Sailthru, Yes
Custom HTMLCustom HTML, beehiiv, YesCustom HTML, Sailthru, Yes
Audience pollsAudience polls, beehiiv, YesAudience polls, Sailthru, Yes
A/B TestingA/B Testing, beehiiv, YesA/B Testing, Sailthru, Yes
Content creation AIContent creation AI, beehiiv, YesContent creation AI, Sailthru, No
Custom mobile appsCustom mobile apps, beehiiv, YesCustom mobile apps, Sailthru, No
PodcastsPodcasts, beehiiv, YesPodcasts, Sailthru, No
Collaborative editingCollaborative editing, beehiiv, YesCollaborative editing, Sailthru, No
Inline commentsInline comments, beehiiv, YesInline comments, Sailthru, No
Dynamic contentDynamic content, beehiiv, YesDynamic content, Sailthru, Yes
Growth
Recommendation networkRecommendation network, beehiiv, YesRecommendation network, Sailthru, No
Magic linksMagic links, beehiiv, YesMagic links, Sailthru, No
Referral programReferral program, beehiiv, YesReferral program, Sailthru, No
Monetization
Integrated Ad networkIntegrated Ad network, beehiiv, YesIntegrated Ad network, Sailthru, No
Paid SubscriptionsPaid Subscriptions, beehiiv, YesPaid Subscriptions, Sailthru, No
Paid recommendationsPaid recommendations, beehiiv, YesPaid recommendations, Sailthru, No
Direct sponsorshipsDirect sponsorships, beehiiv, YesDirect sponsorships, Sailthru, No
Digital productsDigital products, beehiiv, YesDigital products, Sailthru, No
Analytics
Campaign analyticsCampaign analytics, beehiiv, YesCampaign analytics, Sailthru, Yes
Subscriber metricsSubscriber metrics, beehiiv, YesSubscriber metrics, Sailthru, Yes
Advanced segmentationAdvanced segmentation, beehiiv, YesAdvanced segmentation, Sailthru, Yes
Advanced analyticsAdvanced analytics, beehiiv, YesAdvanced analytics, Sailthru, Yes
Integrations
GiphyGiphy, beehiiv, YesGiphy, Sailthru, No
UnsplashUnsplash, beehiiv, YesUnsplash, Sailthru, No
API accessAPI access, beehiiv, YesAPI access, Sailthru, Yes
App marketplaceApp marketplace, beehiiv, YesApp marketplace, Sailthru, Yes
Security
2FA2FA, beehiiv, Yes2FA, Sailthru, Yes
SSOSSO, beehiiv, YesSSO, Sailthru, Yes
Support
Normal supportNormal support, beehiiv, YesNormal support, Sailthru, Yes
Priority supportPriority support, beehiiv, YesPriority support, Sailthru, Yes
Account managerAccount manager, beehiiv, YesAccount 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.