How to migrate from Substack to beehiiv (free, step by step)
beehiiv has built-in, free tools to move your subscribers, paid subscriptions, and past posts off Substack. Here's the exact process, what transfers, what doesn't, and the fee math that makes the switch pay for itself.
Migration steps verified from beehiiv's official support docs, 2026-07-13.
Why writers move: the 10% vs 0% math
Substack takes 10% of your paid-subscription revenue (plus Stripe fees). beehiiv takes 0% — you pay a flat monthly fee instead. Once your paid revenue passes roughly 10× beehiiv's annual fee, the flat fee is cheaper, and every extra dollar you earn widens the gap. See the full beehiiv vs Substack crossover math. If you're already earning meaningfully from paid subscriptions, the migration typically pays for itself within the first year.
The migration, step by step
- Export your subscribers from Substack. In Substack: Subscribers → open the dropdown on the right → export a CSV of all subscribers.
- Import free subscribers into beehiiv. In beehiiv: Settings → Subscribers Import, and upload the CSV.
- Migrate paid subscriptions via Stripe. Under "Import paid subscriptions from Stripe", click "Start a New Migration." Paying subscribers move over with billing intact — they don't re-enter cards or re-subscribe.
- Import your past content. beehiiv's Content Import tool supports Substack, WordPress, Ghost, and Mailchimp — bring your published posts across.
Free, but time it around a send. Migrations take a little while to process. Do the subscriber import between issues so nobody gets a duplicate or missed send during the switchover.
What transfers — and what doesn't
| Item | Transfers? | How |
|---|---|---|
| Free subscribers | Yes | CSV import |
| Paid subscriptions | Yes | Stripe migration (billing intact) |
| Text posts / archive | Yes | Content Import tool |
| Audio / video posts | No | Recreate manually |
After you switch: cost check
Once you're on beehiiv, your bill is a flat monthly fee by list size — no cut of your revenue. Use the cost calculator to see your exact monthly, yearly, and 3-year cost at your subscriber count, and compare against what Substack's 10% was taking.
Sources
Migration steps and tool coverage from beehiiv's official support documentation (Substack migration + Content Import articles), read 2026-07-13. Fee figures: Substack 10% + Stripe 2.9%+$0.30; beehiiv 0% subscription take-rate — see the comparison for full sourcing.