beehiivLite from $49/mo billed annually ($59 monthl…
Riversidecard required). Pro $24/mo billed annually o…beehiiv vs Riverside
beehiiv publishes the newsletter; Riverside records and edits interview material. A publisher can need both, but a podcast recording plan does not replace audience management or consent, and a newsletter plan does not supply a recording workflow. Pricing facts last verified 2026-11-02.
- beehiiv starts at Free; Lite from $49/mo (annual, 1,000 subscribers), with a free plan.
- Riverside starts at Pro $24/mo (annual) or $29 monthly; 14-day trial, no free plan.
beehiiv review · Riverside review · beehiiv alternatives · Riverside alternatives
For a proposed interview edition, map the guest's recording approval, the edited asset and the message subscribers receive. Price Riverside's regional offer and track-download or editor limits separately from beehiiv's audience band. More included recording time does not mean more newsletter subscribers.
A guest can approve participation without approving every promotional claim taken from an interview. For a proposed edition, identify the quote or clip needing review and the person signing off the message. Keep the original recording and approved edit available independently of the sending system, with access appropriate to the guest agreement.
Newsletter platform with a website builder, email automations, ad network, paid subscriptions and built-in AI tools, for businesses running an email newsletter.
- Starting price
- Lite from $49/mo billed annually ($59 monthl…
- Free tier
- Yes
- Setup
- ~1 hour (est.)
Browser-based studio for recording podcasts, video interviews and webinars in separate high-quality tracks, with a text-based AI editor, Magic Clips, publishing, and (since October 2026) four AI agents that produce, edit, clip and market your content. Paid plans from $24/mo billed annually; no free plan.
- Starting price
- card required). Pro $24/mo billed annually o…
- Free tier
- No
- Setup
- ~15–30 min to a first recorded interview (est.)
Full comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | Riverside |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free up to 2,500 subscribers; Lite from $49/mo billed annually ($59 monthly) and Pro from $95/mo annually ($109 monthly) at up to 1,000 subscribers; price scales with list size; Enterprise custom. | No free plan (14-day free trial on Pro, Grow and Webinar; card required). Pro $24/mo billed annually or $29 monthly; Grow $34 ($39); Webinar $79 ($99); Business: contact sales. Add-ons: extra editor seat $19/mo or $168/yr; AI credits $2 per 100. Prices as shown to our checker in the Czech Republic on 2 Nov 2026; Riverside says prices vary by region (see notes). |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Setup time | ~1 hour (est.) | ~15–30 min to a first recorded interview (est.) |
| No-code | Yes | Yes |
| Replaces | Separate email tool + newsletter website + ad sales | Zoom or Teams recordings for content, a separate podcast editor, clip-making freelancers and a separate podcast host |
| Best for | Creators & media, Local businesses with a newsletter, B2B content marketing, Consultants & agencies | Consultants & coaches, Agencies, B2B marketing teams, Podcasters & creators, Professional services, Training & education |
| Integrations | beehiiv API, Webhooks (Lite: 3, Pro: unlimited), Zapier, Make, Facebook Lead Ads, Elementor, Gumroad, ManyChat, Discord, beehiiv MCP | YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, Facebook, X, HubSpot (Webinar plan), Salesforce and Marketo (Business), Custom RTMP, Riverside MCP for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor |
| Pros | **Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers** with unlimited sends, a website and the core growth tools.; **0% take rate** on paid subscriptions and digital products (Stripe fees apply).; **Growth tools built in:** referral program, Recommendations network and pop-ups without add-ons.; **All products on every plan:** website, podcast, community and digital products, with limits rising by plan.; **SOC 2 Type 2** and a published DPA with EU SCCs.; **No card needed** to trial Lite or Pro. | **Studio-quality separate tracks** recorded locally for each guest, up to 4K and 48 kHz.; **Unlimited recording hours** on every plan; caps apply only to separate-track downloads.; **Four AI agents** that edit, clip and schedule, but always ask before publishing or spending credits.; **Record-to-publish in one tool:** editing, clips, hosting, social publishing and webinars.; **Guests need no account** and can join from a browser or the app.; **Clear plan FAQ** on studios, credits and download caps. |
| Cons | **Price scales with list size,** so costs climb as you grow past 1,000 subscribers.; **Branding removal needs Pro** at $95 a month (annual) or more.; **Few seats on Lite:** just 2 team seats, which can pinch a small marketing team.; **US-only data storage** per the Trust Center; no EU residency option stated.; **Not a full CRM or e-commerce email tool:** no SMS, and store-triggered flows aren't its focus. | **No free plan**, and the trial needs a card and auto-converts on day 15.; **Prices vary by region,** and Riverside's own pages show different figures for the US and Euro area.; **One seat per plan below Business;** extra editors cost $19 a month each and collaborative editing is Business-only.; **Content may be used for AI training** unless you negotiate a written opt-out on a business plan.; **Webinars need the $79+ plan,** capped at 100 registrants below Business.; **SSO and compliance paperwork are Business-only** (price on request). |
| SMB score (draft) | 8/10 | 7/10 |
| Sources |
Which should you choose?
Start with the channel the business can maintain. Only add interview production when it has an owner and a useful publication route. We haven't recorded or published such a campaign as a test of these products.
beehiiv vs Riverside: FAQ
How much does beehiiv cost compared with Riverside?
beehiiv: Free; Lite from $49/mo (annual, 1,000 subscribers). Riverside: Pro $24/mo (annual) or $29 monthly; 14-day trial. Prices from each vendor's pricing page, checked 2026-11-02.
Do beehiiv and Riverside have a free plan?
beehiiv: yes, a free plan or free tier is listed. Riverside: no free plan is listed.
Which is better, beehiiv or Riverside?
Start with the work you need done. beehiiv mainly replaces separate email tool + newsletter website + ad sales; Riverside mainly replaces zoom or teams recordings for content, a separate podcast editor, clip-making freelancers and a separate podcast host. We haven't run hands-on tests of either yet, so we don't declare a winner.
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