Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. We purchased our Flow Hive ourselves and have used it for multiple seasons. Our opinions are our own.
When Flow Hive launched on Indiegogo in 2015, it broke crowdfunding records and promised to revolutionize beekeeping. Nearly a decade later, the hype has settled. So does the "honey on tap" system live up to its promise? After years of real-world testing and observing the beekeeping community's verdict, here's our honest assessment.
What Is the Flow Hive?
Flow Hive is an Australian-designed beehive system featuring patented "Flow Frames"—specially engineered plastic frames that allow you to harvest honey by turning a key, causing honey to drain out through a tube without opening the hive or disturbing the bees.
The company, Flow (founded by father-son team Stuart and Cedar Anderson), sells complete hives as well as Flow Frames that can be retrofitted into standard Langstroth equipment.
The core innovation is in the frames themselves. The brood boxes work like any standard Langstroth hive—the magic happens only in the honey super.
How the Flow System Works
Each Flow Frame contains rows of partially-formed plastic honeycomb cells. Bees complete the cells with wax and fill them with honey, then cap them as usual.
When you're ready to harvest:
- 1. Insert the Flow Key into the slot at the top of the frame
- 2. Turn the key—this shifts the plastic cells, breaking the honeycomb apart vertically
- 3. Honey flows down channels and out through tubes at the bottom
- 4. Collect honey directly into jars
- 5. Return the key to its original position—bees repair the comb and refill
The whole process takes about 20 minutes per frame and can yield 3+ kg (6.5+ lbs) of honey per frame when fully capped.
What You're NOT Doing with Flow:
- ❌ Opening the hive to remove frames
- ❌ Brushing bees off honey frames
- ❌ Uncapping wax with a hot knife
- ❌ Loading frames into an extractor
- ❌ Spinning, straining, and bottling separately
- ❌ Cleaning extraction equipment
Models and Pricing (2025)
Flow offers several configurations. Prices vary by region and retailer, but here's the general range:
| Model |
What's Included |
Price Range |
| Flow Frames Only (Set of 6-7) |
Just the patented frames—retrofit into your existing hive |
$350-450 |
| Flow Hive Classic |
Flow Super + brood box + roof + base + frames |
$600-700 |
| Flow Hive 2 |
Upgraded design with better pest management, observation windows |
$700-850 |
| Flow Hive 2+ |
Premium cedar construction, all accessories included |
$900-1,100 |
For comparison, a complete traditional Langstroth setup with extractor runs $400-600. So you're paying a $200-500+ premium for the Flow system.
Check current Flow Hive prices on Amazon →
What We Like About Flow Hive
✅
Genuinely Easier Harvesting
This is the big promise, and it delivers. No extractor, no uncapping, no sticky mess. You can harvest a frame in 20 minutes with zero equipment beyond jars. For small-scale hobbyists who found traditional extraction tedious, this is a game-changer.
✅
Less Disruptive to Bees
Traditional harvesting means opening the hive, removing frames, brushing off bees, and disrupting the colony for hours. With Flow, bees barely notice the harvest happening. This reduces stress on the colony and eliminates the post-harvest chaos.
✅
No Extraction Equipment Needed
A decent extractor costs $150-400. Add uncapping tools, straining equipment, and bottling buckets—you're looking at $300+ just for harvest gear. Flow eliminates all of that. For 1-2 hive hobbyists, this can offset a significant portion of the price premium.
✅
Observation Windows
The Flow Hive 2 includes side windows on both the brood box and super. You can check honey levels and general activity without opening the hive. It's a small thing, but genuinely useful for timing harvests and satisfying curiosity.
✅
Build Quality
Flow Hives are well-made. The cedar versions especially are beautiful, durable, and properly finished. The Flow Frames themselves are sturdy and have held up through years of use for many beekeepers.
✅
Great for Physical Limitations
If you have back problems, arthritis, or other physical challenges, not having to lift heavy supers or operate extraction equipment is a significant benefit. Flow makes beekeeping more accessible.
What We Don't Like
❌
High Price
There's no way around it—$600-1,000+ is a lot for a beginner hive. You can start traditional beekeeping for half that cost. For many, the math just doesn't work, especially if you're not sure you'll stick with the hobby.
❌
Doesn't Make Beekeeping Easier
This is the biggest misconception. Flow Hive makes harvesting easier. It does nothing to simplify the actual work of beekeeping: inspections, disease management, varroa treatment, swarm prevention, feeding, winterizing. You need the same knowledge and commitment as any beekeeper.
❌
Bees Are Slower to Accept Plastic
Bees generally prefer natural wax comb over plastic. Some colonies take to Flow Frames quickly; others are reluctant and may take a full season to draw them out. Coating frames with beeswax helps, but it's still slower than wax foundation.
❌
Cold Climate Complications
In cold climates, honey crystallizes or becomes too viscous to flow. You can't harvest when temps are below about 60°F (15°C). Some beekeepers in northern areas find the harvest window too short to justify the investment.
❌
You Still Need to Inspect
The observation windows are nice, but they don't replace real inspections. You still need to open the brood box regularly to check for queen health, brood pattern, disease, and pests. Flow Hive can create a false sense that you can be hands-off.
❌
Controversial in Beekeeping Community
Some experienced beekeepers criticize Flow for encouraging "lazy" beekeeping and attracting people who want honey without learning proper bee husbandry. Whether that's fair or not, it can affect the support you get from local bee clubs.
Is Flow Hive Good for Beginners?
This is complicated. Here's our honest take:
Our Recommendation for Beginners
Start with a traditional hive to learn proper beekeeping skills. Add a Flow Hive as your second or third hive once you're comfortable with inspections, disease identification, and colony management. This way, you get the best of both worlds.
Why not start with Flow?
- Learning curve is the same – You need the same knowledge base. The Flow system doesn't come with a beekeeping education.
- High cost if you quit – 30-50% of new beekeepers don't continue past year two. A $300 traditional hive is easier to recover from than $800.
- False confidence risk – The ease of harvest can lead beginners to neglect inspections and disease monitoring.
- Club support matters – Local mentors using traditional equipment are more helpful when you're learning.
When Flow IS fine for beginners:
- You've taken a beekeeping course and understand what's involved
- You have a mentor or local club support
- Physical limitations make traditional extraction difficult
- You're committed and can afford the investment
- You understand the Flow only helps with harvest, not management
Flow Hive vs. Traditional Extraction
| Factor |
Flow Hive |
Traditional |
| Upfront Cost |
$600-1,000+ |
$250-400 (hive) + $150-400 (extractor) |
| Harvest Time |
20 min/frame, no cleanup |
2-4 hours total, significant cleanup |
| Bee Disruption |
Minimal |
Significant (removing frames, bee escape boards) |
| Physical Effort |
Low |
Medium-High (lifting, spinning) |
| Cold Weather Use |
Limited (honey won't flow) |
Works anytime (indoors) |
| Comb Reuse |
Bees repair and reuse |
Bees repair and reuse (extraction preserves comb) |
| Scalability |
Expensive at scale |
Extractor handles unlimited frames |
| Wax Harvest |
None (plastic frames) |
Cappings wax is valuable byproduct |
Who Should Buy a Flow Hive?
✓ Good Fit If You...
- • Have 1-3 hives as a hobbyist
- • Dislike the mess of traditional extraction
- • Have physical limitations (back, joints)
- • Already know beekeeping basics
- • Can afford the premium
- • Live in a warm climate with long seasons
- • Want to minimize bee disturbance
- • Value convenience over tradition
✗ Skip It If You...
- • Are brand new to beekeeping
- • Have a tight budget
- • Plan to scale beyond 3-4 hives
- • Want to harvest wax as well as honey
- • Live in a cold climate with short seasons
- • Enjoy the traditional harvest process
- • Already own extraction equipment
- • Are unsure if you'll stick with beekeeping
Final Verdict
The Flow Hive is a well-engineered product that genuinely delivers on its promise: easier, cleaner, less-disruptive honey harvesting. The bees don't seem to mind the plastic frames once drawn, and the convenience factor is real.
But it's not a shortcut to beekeeping success. The brood box is standard Langstroth, the bees have the same needs, and you must develop the same skills. The Flow system only helps with one task—harvesting—which most beekeepers do once or twice a year.
Our recommendation: If you're an experienced hobbyist who can afford it, Flow Hive is a nice quality-of-life upgrade. If you're a beginner, start traditional, learn the fundamentals, and add Flow later if you still want it.
Check Flow Hive Prices on Amazon →
Get Better at Beekeeping
Join our newsletter for seasonal reminders, tips from experienced beekeepers, and guides sent straight to your inbox.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.