Email · Head-to-head
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp
Side-by-side review of Beehiiv and Mailchimp for one-person businesses. Pricing, ratings, pros, cons, and which to pick.
Quick verdict
Pick Beehiiv.
Beehiiv edges ahead in our review (4.5/5 vs 3/5). The right pick for most one-person businesses unless you specifically need Mailchimp's strengths.
Newsletter platform built by ex-Morning Brew folks. Better publishing UX than ConvertKit, more monetisation than Substack, and a generous free tier.
The case for
- Generous free tier: 2,500 subscribers, full sending, basic analytics
- Built-in monetisation: ad marketplace, paid subscriptions, Boosts referrals
- Recommendations engine helps you grow via cross-newsletter referrals
The case against
- Email automations are less powerful than ConvertKit/Kit at the high end
- No native course or product hosting; it is a newsletter, not a creator OS
- Paid subscription tier takes a transaction fee on top of Stripe fees
The grandfather of email marketing. Still works, still has the integrations, but the pricing has gotten steep and the UX has not kept up.
The case for
- Brand recognition: every CMS, e-commerce platform, and form builder integrates with it
- Free tier covers up to 500 contacts, fine for testing
- Lots of templates and a familiar editor if you used it years ago
The case against
- Pricing climbs aggressively past 500 contacts: 1,500 contacts is roughly $30/mo Essentials
- Counts unsubscribed contacts toward your tier limit (yes, really)
- UX feels dated next to Beehiiv, Kit, or even Substack
At a glance
| Beehiiv | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 3/5 |
| Pricing | Free up to 2,500 subscribers; paid plans from $39/mo | Free up to 500 contacts; Essentials from $13/mo; Standard from $20/mo |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Solopreneur publishers who want to grow a newsletter and eventually monetise it. | Tiny lists with no growth ambition, or businesses already deeply integrated everywhere with Mailchimp who would rather not migrate. |
| Last reviewed | March 15, 2026 | March 19, 2026 |
Bottom line
Beehiiv
Solopreneur publishers who want to grow a newsletter and eventually monetise it.
Bottom line
Mailchimp
Tiny lists with no growth ambition, or businesses already deeply integrated everywhere with Mailchimp who would rather not migrate.
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