Aldus vs Beehiiv
AI-first newsletter creation vs manual newsletter building
Quick Verdict
Beehiiv is a popular newsletter platform focused on growth tools, monetisation, and analytics. Aldus takes a fundamentally different approach: AI writes, designs, and sends your newsletter while you act as editor-in-chief.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Aldus | Beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| AI content generation | Full autonomous drafting | Basic AI assist |
| AI image generation | Built-in (Gemini) | Not included |
| A/B testing | Automatic on every send | Manual setup |
| Custom domains | From $39/mo (Growth) | All plans (free included) |
| Subscriber conversations | AI-powered replies | Not available |
| Free plan subscribers | 2,500 | 2,500 |
| Email analytics | Section-level tracking | Standard metrics |
| Referral programme | Coming soon | Built-in |
| Ad network | Not available | Built-in |
| API access | All paid plans (from $19/mo) | All plans (free included) |
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | Aldus | Beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (2,500 subs) | $0 (2,500 subs) |
| 2,500 subs | from $19/mo | $69/mo (Scale) |
| 5,000 subs | from $29/mo | $89/mo (Scale) |
| 10,000 subs | from $39/mo | $109/mo (Scale) |
| 25,000 subs | from $99/mo | $169/mo (Scale) |
| 50,000 subs | from $149/mo | $199/mo (Scale) |
| 100,000 subs | $299/mo (Pro) | $329/mo (Scale) |
AI-first vs tools-first
Aldus is built around an AI agent that autonomously researches trends, writes content, generates images, and optimises send times. Beehiiv provides tools for you to do all of this manually. If you want to be hands-off, Aldus is the better choice. If you enjoy the craft of writing, Beehiiv gives you more manual control.
Pricing structure
Both platforms scale pricing with subscriber count. Aldus undercuts Beehiiv at every tier while including AI writing. At 2,500 subscribers, Aldus starts at $19/mo vs Beehiiv's $69/mo. At 10,000, Aldus is $39/mo (Starter) vs $109/mo. At 50,000, Aldus is $149/mo (Growth) vs $199/mo. At 100,000, Aldus Pro is $299/mo vs $329/mo.
Subscriber engagement
Aldus includes AI-powered subscriber conversations where your newsletter's AI responds to subscriber replies with context-aware, human-like messages. Beehiiv doesn't offer conversational features. Aldus also has built-in re-engagement campaigns that automatically identify and win back inactive subscribers.
Choose Aldus if you want...
- ✓ AI writes your entire newsletter autonomously
- ✓ AI-generated images for every section
- ✓ Lower pricing across all tiers
- ✓ AI-powered subscriber conversations
- ✓ Automated A/B testing on every send
Best for: Creators who want their newsletter handled for them with AI doing the heavy lifting on research, writing, and design.
Choose Beehiiv if you want...
- ✓ Larger established community
- ✓ Built-in referral programme
- ✓ Ad network for monetisation
- ✓ More third-party integrations
Best for: Creators who enjoy hands-on writing and want built-in monetisation tools like ad networks and referral programmes.