Newsletter service Beehiiv has announced the launch of its native podcast hosting feature, as reported exclusively by TechCrunch. This development allows creators to host, distribute, and monetize their podcasts directly within the Beehiiv platform. Users will have the ability to publish episodes, share them with their audience, and monitor their analytics all in one place.

“Entering the podcasting space was a natural progression,” commented Tyler Denk, co-founder and CEO of Beehiiv, in an email to TechCrunch. “At a fundamental level, newsletters and podcasts have significant overlap. Both formats generally consist of episodic, long-form content delivered to a dedicated audience and monetized through sponsorship. Our future direction is greatly influenced by our users. They’ve expressed a strong desire to centralize their tools within Beehiiv, with podcasting being asked for repeatedly by users of all types.”

Denk indicates that Beehiiv currently has numerous users who host their podcasts on other platforms, making it logical to bring the service in-house. This initiative further illustrates Beehiiv’s commitment to transforming its platform into a comprehensive hub for creators, competing directly with Patreon and Substack, both of which have endorsed podcasts for a long time. The expansion into podcasting builds on the company’s recent rollout of a toolkit focused on creators, encompassing website creation, analytics, and more.

By stepping into the podcasting arena, Beehiiv seeks to draw creators to its platform, especially as its competitors adopt similar approaches. Substack has actively engaged with video and podcast creators, while Patreon has sought to attract newsletter authors with much-anticipated feature enhancements.

Semafor previously reported on Beehiiv’s efforts to enter the podcasting domain.

One strategy Beehiiv is utilizing to encourage creators to transition from competitors like Substack and Patreon is by not taking a cut from their earnings. Denk states that creators retain 100% of their income, with the company not claiming any share. In contrast, Substack takes a 10% cut from revenue generated by paid podcast subscriptions, while Patreon takes 8%. 

Creators have the ability to bundle their podcasts with existing subscriptions and offer a private feed to paying subscribers. They can provide a premium experience featuring exclusive episodes, early access, and additional benefits. Denk points out that many existing Beehiiv users charge for a paid newsletter and can now include a podcast in that subscription. Creators also have the option to offer their podcasts for free.

Beehiiv intends to broaden its advertising network beyond newsletters to also dynamically serve advertisements within podcasts. The company is in the process of hiring a head of Podcasts to oversee this initiative, according to Denk’s statements to TechCrunch.

Among the podcasts launching on Beehiiv are Genshe with Avni Barman, 505 podcast featuring Brayden Figueroa and Kostas Garcia, The Rebooting Show with Brian Morrissey, Sweat Equity by Alex Garcia and Brian Blum, The Most Important Question from Dr. Katelyn Jetelina, Lunch with Jamie by Jamie Patricof, and several others. 

Denk anticipates significant adoption from current users in the upcoming weeks and months, highlighting that several additional notable podcasts have pledged to debut on the platform shortly.

In addition to catering to individuals on Beehiiv who already possess newsletters and podcasts, Denk states that the new feature could also attract podcasters looking to start a newsletter.

“We are convinced that a newsletter should serve as a fundamental piece of infrastructure for any podcast,” Denk said. “It’s essential for audience ownership, expanding distribution, and generating more opportunities for advertisers. Podcasters aiming to initiate a newsletter will discover a natural fit here. Growth remains one of the largest hurdles in podcasting. Newsletters bolster podcast downloads, while podcasts enhance newsletter subscriptions. The two processes support one another, and at present, creators are managing that across disparate tools. We’re addressing that.”

Creators can directly upload their podcasts to Beehiiv, and the platform will subsequently distribute them to major podcast channels such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Castro, and more. The platform accepts MP3, M4A, and WAV files and features automatic audio normalization to ensure consistent audio quality. Each episode comes with a complete transcript, enhancing search and LLM discoverability. 

Each episode of the podcast receives its own SEO-optimized web page, noted Denk. Instead of directing listeners to Apple, Spotify, or YouTube, Beehiiv allows them to remain on the platform where they can opt to listen directly or select their preferred player. 

Beehiiv’s podcast analytics adhere to IAB standards and provide comprehensive breakdowns by country, listening application, device, and operating system. Creators also receive insights into downloads at the episode level and access real-time data. 

Founded in 2021, Beehiiv last secured $33 million in a Series B round in April 2024, with Lightspeed Venture Partners and NEA among the investors. Denk recently mentioned that Q1 2026 marked Beehiiv’s most successful quarter to date, as the company added $4.5 million in ARR, sent over 10 billion emails, and surpassed 50,000 active users.

Updated to reflect previous reporting on Beehiiv’s podcasting initiatives.