beehiiv
Ulysses
| Feature | beehiiv | Ulysses |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $39/mo | From $5.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | newsletter-writers, media-companies, solopreneurs, content-creators | authors, bloggers, journalists, apple-users |
| Founded | 2021 | 2013 |
| Newsletter Editor | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ad Network | ✓ | ✗ |
| Referral Program | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web Hosting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✗ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✗ |
| Recommendations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown Editor | ✗ | ✓ |
| Library Organization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Goals And Deadlines | ✗ | ✓ |
| Publishing | ✗ | ✓ |
| Icloud Sync | ✗ | ✓ |
| Split View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ beehiiv Pros
- Built specifically for newsletters
- Ad network for monetization
- Referral program built-in
- Beautiful web hosting for newsletter archives
✗ beehiiv Cons
- Less suitable for e-commerce email
- Automations less mature than Mailchimp
- Free tier limited to 2,500 subscribers
✓ Ulysses Pros
- Beautiful distraction-free writing
- Excellent library management
- Direct publishing to blogs
- iCloud sync across devices
✗ Ulysses Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- Subscription model controversial
- No Windows support
The Verdict
beehiiv is built for newsletter writers and media companies, with a focus on newsletter-editor and ad-network. Ulysses targets authors and bloggers and leads with markdown-editor and library-organization.
On pricing, Ulysses is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5.99/mo compared to $39/mo for beehiiv. That $33.01/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
beehiiv has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Ulysses requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, beehiiv offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Ulysses takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.