adly.news vs Beehiiv Ad Network: Which Is Right for Your Business?

If you're considering newsletter advertising for your business, you've likely come across the Beehiiv Ad Network. As one of the larger players in the space, Beehiiv offers a full-service advertising solution. But is it the right fit for your business?

In this comparison, we'll break down the key differences between adly.news and the Beehiiv Ad Network to help you make an informed decision.

The Quick Summary

Feature	adly.news	Beehiiv Ad Network
Minimum Budget	None	$10,000
Average Spend	Any amount	~$50,000/month
Service Model	Self-service	Full-service (managed)
Newsletter Selection	Choose specific newsletters	Algorithm-based matching
Platform Support	Any (Beehiiv, Substack, etc.)	Beehiiv newsletters only
Time to Launch	Instant booking available	5-7 business days
Pricing	Transparent, set by newsletters	CPM/CPC (varies)
Negotiation	Yes, make offers & counter	No

Budget Requirements: The Biggest Difference

Beehiiv Ad Network requires a minimum campaign budget of $10,000, with the average advertiser spending around $50,000 per month. This positions Beehiiv firmly in the enterprise advertising space.

adly.news has no minimum budget. You can book a single ad slot for as little as $50-100 with smaller newsletters, making it accessible to startups, small businesses, and anyone wanting to test newsletter advertising before committing significant spend.

Who This Matters For

If you're a well-funded startup or established brand with a significant marketing budget, Beehiiv's minimums might not be a concern. But if you're:

A small business testing newsletter advertising for the first time
A startup with limited marketing budget
Looking to run targeted campaigns with specific newsletters
Wanting to test before scaling

Then adly.news offers a much lower barrier to entry.

Service Model: Managed vs. Self-Service

Beehiiv Ad Network operates as a full-service, "white glove" solution. Their team handles:

Identifying relevant newsletters
Managing placements
Tracking performance
Campaign optimization

This is great if you want someone else to handle everything, but it also means less control and the premium pricing that comes with managed services.

adly.news is a self-service platform where you:

Browse newsletters directly and see their metrics
Choose exactly which newsletters you want to work with
Book instantly or make offers
Communicate directly with newsletter owners
Create campaigns for newsletters to apply to

This gives you complete control over your campaigns while keeping costs lower.

Newsletter Selection: Control vs. Convenience

One of the most significant differences is how you select newsletters for your campaigns.

Beehiiv's Approach

Beehiiv uses "sophisticated matching algorithms" to place your ads in relevant newsletters. You cannot pick specific publications—their system decides where your ads appear based on your targeting criteria.

While this can be convenient, it means:

Less control over brand placement
No ability to target specific newsletter audiences you've researched
Reliance on their algorithm's interpretation of "relevance"

adly.news Approach

With adly.news, you have two ways to find newsletter partners:

Browse Ad Slots: Search newsletters directly, view their verified metrics (subscribers, open rates, click rates), and book specific ad slots with specific newsletters.
Create Campaigns: Describe what you're looking for and let newsletters apply to your campaign. You review applications and choose who to work with.

Either way, you decide exactly which newsletters carry your ads.

Platform Limitations

Beehiiv Ad Network only works with newsletters hosted on the Beehiiv platform. While Beehiiv has grown significantly, this excludes:

Substack newsletters
ConvertKit newsletters
Mailchimp newsletters
Ghost newsletters
Any other email platform

adly.news works with newsletters from any platform. If a newsletter owner can verify their metrics, they can list on adly.news. This gives you access to a much broader range of potential advertising partners.

Speed to Launch

Beehiiv Ad Network campaigns typically go live within 5-7 business days after all assets are finalized. This timeline accounts for their team reviewing placements and coordinating with publishers.

adly.news offers instant booking for many ad slots. If a newsletter has availability and you're ready to pay the listed price, you can book immediately. Even if you negotiate pricing, the process is typically much faster than a week.

Pricing Transparency

Beehiiv Ad Network uses CPM (cost per thousand impressions) and CPC (cost per click) pricing models. Specific rates vary based on targeting, duration, and audience size. Because it's a managed service, you're also paying for their team's time and expertise.

adly.news features transparent pricing set directly by newsletter owners. You see exactly what each ad slot costs before you commit. If the price doesn't work for you, you can:

Make an offer at a lower price
The newsletter owner can accept, reject, or counter
Negotiate until you find a deal that works

This transparency and flexibility lets you find opportunities that fit your exact budget.

Communication & Coordination

Beehiiv Ad Network handles communication between you and publishers. While this can be convenient, it also adds a middleman to the process.

adly.news provides direct, in-app messaging with newsletter owners. This allows you to:

Discuss campaign details directly
Share creative assets
Ask questions about their audience
Build relationships for future campaigns

Many successful advertisers value these direct relationships, leading to better campaign results and repeat partnerships.

Performance Tracking

Both platforms offer performance tracking:

Beehiiv provides a real-time dashboard with impressions, clicks, conversions, and ROI metrics. They support Facebook Pixel, Google Analytics, and custom conversion tracking.

adly.news allows you to track campaign performance through your own UTM parameters and analytics. Newsletter owners report on placements, and you maintain full control of your tracking setup.

When to Choose Beehiiv Ad Network

The Beehiiv Ad Network might be right for you if:

You have a marketing budget of $10,000+ per campaign
You prefer a fully managed, hands-off approach
You're specifically targeting Beehiiv newsletter audiences
You don't need to select specific publications
You value white-glove service over cost savings

When to Choose adly.news

adly.news is likely a better fit if:

You want to start with a smaller budget and scale up
You prefer choosing exactly which newsletters run your ads
You want access to newsletters across all platforms (not just Beehiiv)
You value pricing transparency and the ability to negotiate
You want to launch campaigns quickly
You prefer direct communication with newsletter owners
You're a small business or startup testing newsletter advertising

Real Cost Comparison

Let's look at a practical example:

Scenario: You want to advertise in 5 newsletters targeting tech professionals.

With Beehiiv Ad Network:

Minimum spend: $10,000
Timeline: 5-7 business days
Newsletter selection: Algorithm decides
You might get placements you didn't specifically want

With adly.news:

You browse tech newsletters and find 5 with great metrics
Total cost: $500-2,000 (depending on newsletter sizes)
Timeline: Book instantly
You chose every single placement

The difference? You could run the same campaign on adly.news for a fraction of the cost, with more control, and faster execution.

The Bottom Line

The Beehiiv Ad Network is a solid option for enterprise advertisers with substantial budgets who want a managed service. Their team handles everything, which appeals to businesses that prefer to outsource their newsletter advertising.

adly.news is built for businesses that want:

Lower barriers to entry (no minimums)
More control (choose specific newsletters)
Broader reach (any newsletter platform)
Transparency (see prices upfront)
Flexibility (negotiate deals)
Speed (instant booking)
Direct relationships (in-app messaging)

Whether you're a small business running your first newsletter campaign or an established brand wanting more control over placements, adly.news gives you the tools to succeed on your terms.

Ready to try newsletter advertising without the $10,000 minimum? Browse newsletters on adly.news and book your first campaign today—no commitment required.