How Cardel and Beehiiv compare
Beehiiv treats a newsletter like a media business. Referral programs, Boosts and recommendations, an ad network, paid subscriptions, automations, segmentation, a website with SEO, and deep analytics are all pointed at one thing: growing and monetising a list. Operators who think in subscriber counts and CPMs love it.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own. Cardel is not a newsletter monetisation platform; there are no paid tiers, referral programs, or ad network.
Where they are different
Beehiiv's site exists to convert subscribers. Cardel's site is the home: blog, Showcase, Shop, Videos, Schedule, with reader comments and accessibility standard.
Beehiiv monetises the list. Cardel monetises your work with a Stripe-backed Shop and bookings.
Beehiiv sends. Cardel sends and receives on your own domain and gathers replies, reader chat, and forms in a Messaging Center.
Choose Beehiiv when your newsletter is the business and growth loops and ad revenue are the plan.
Choose Cardel when the newsletter is one part of a site, audience, shop or bookings, and inbox living together on your domain.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Common questions
Is Cardel a Beehiiv alternative?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Beehiiv when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Can I use Cardel and Beehiiv together?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Beehiiv for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared to Beehiiv?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Beehiiv sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
How do I switch from Beehiiv to Cardel?
Choose Start for Free, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare features
What's on Cardel and Beehiiv
A check means that capability is available. Beehiiv is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Custom domainUse your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Use your own domain with HTTPS. Cardel includes the DNS records for the site and for sending and receiving email.Cardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Editor ModeCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Theme and fontsCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Brand kitCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
Public content
- BlogCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Reader engagementCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Shop pagesCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Not included
Reach and quality
- SEOCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
Audience and email
- AudienceGroups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Groups, tags, and import so you can organize contacts and bring in an existing list.Cardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Email templates and From addressesCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- AI Email Template BuilderCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Email on your domainSend and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Send and receive from your custom domain, not a shared Cardel address.Cardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Not included
- Marketing emailsCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Bulk email workflowsCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Campaign workflowsCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
Messaging
- Messaging CenterCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Not included
- Built-in chatCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsSell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Sell on your Shop pages with Stripe. Cardel takes a 0.5% application fee on those card sales. Stripe's own processing fees still apply, and you keep the rest.Cardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Cardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Not included
Team
- Admin usersCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- Per-admin permissionsCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
- AI AssistantCardel: IncludedBeehiiv: Included
Other
- Ad networkCardel: Not includedBeehiiv: Included
- SponsorshipsCardel: Not includedBeehiiv: Included
- Paid user subscriptionsCardel: Not includedBeehiiv: Included
- Polls and surveysCardel: Not includedBeehiiv: Included
- A/B testingCardel: Not includedBeehiiv: Included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or Beehiiv, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or Beehiiv may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Cardel vs Beehiiv pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
You don't pay until you publish
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live.
Beehiiv
Current plans and prices
See what Beehiiv charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Choose Cardel
Looking for a Beehiiv alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
Compare Cardel
See how Cardel stacks up, or explore Beehiiv comparisons.
