beehiiv vs Keila (2026)
Newsletter platform built by growth-obsessed media people — against — Privacy-first open-source newsletters, hosted in the EU or self-hosted. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.
Affiliate disclosure: Critingo is reader-supported. If you sign up through links on this page we may earn a commission — it costs you nothing extra and never changes our verdicts. We verify pricing and terms regularly, but they change often: always confirm on the vendor's site before buying.
Head-to-head
Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.
| beehiiv 🏆 | Keila | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: up to 2,500 subscribers | No |
| Paid from | Paid scales with list size (Launch is free; paid tiers typically start around $39/mo) | From €8/mo for 2,000 emails, unlimited contacts |
| Free trial | 30 days | None |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing pages | ✓ | ✗ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ecommerce features | ✗ | ✗ |
| Our score | 4.4/5 | 3.8/5 |
Choose beehiiv if…
- You're primarily creators starting or scaling a newsletter
- Growth tools built in: recommendation network, referral programs, boost marketplace
- You can live with: younger company — fewer third-party integrations than veterans
Choose Keila if…
- You're primarily privacy-conscious senders in the eu
- Open source (AGPLv3) with a hosted cloud option
- You can live with: no free plan
beehiiv vs Keila: FAQ
beehiiv or Keila — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching beehiiv's strengths (creators starting or scaling a newsletter), beehiiv is the stronger choice — it scores 4.4/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose beehiiv for creators starting or scaling a newsletter, and Keila for privacy-conscious senders in the eu.
Is beehiiv cheaper than Keila?
beehiiv has a free plan (Paid scales with list size (Launch is free; paid tiers typically start around $39/mo)), while Keila has no permanent free plan (From €8/mo for 2,000 emails, unlimited contacts). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from beehiiv to Keila (or back)?
Yes. Subscribers export as CSV/JSON from either platform and import into the other. Automation sequences usually need rebuilding — map your tags and forms before migrating.