Mailchimp vs beehiiv: Which is better in 2026?
A side-by-side comparison of pricing, features, and use cases to help you decide between Mailchimp and beehiiv.
Email marketing and automation platform
Newsletter platform built for growth
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Mailchimp | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $13/mo ✓ Cheaper | $39/mo |
| Free plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Pricing model | freemium | freemium |
| G2 rating | 4.3/5 | 4.8/5 ↑ |
| Capterra rating | 4.5/5 | 4.8/5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2021 |
Mailchimp: pros & cons
- ✓Easy to use
- ✓Generous free plan
- ✓Good template library
- ✓Strong e-commerce integrations
- ✗Pricing jumps steeply
- ✗Automations less powerful than competitors
- ✗Contact-based pricing gets expensive
beehiiv: pros & cons
- ✓Built for growth-focused newsletters
- ✓Best referral & boost tools
- ✓No transaction fees on paid subs
- ✓Strong analytics
- ✗Less suited for e-commerce or lead nurture
- ✗Newer platform
- ✗Free plan limited to 2,500 subs
Choose Mailchimp if...
- →You're a small business or startup sending newsletters and promotional emails to under 5,000 contacts
- →You run a Shopify or WooCommerce store and want basic abandoned cart and welcome automations without complex setup
- →Your team is non-technical and needs a drag-and-drop email builder with a large template library
Choose beehiiv if...
- →You're building a newsletter business and want a referral programme and Boosts network to grow your list without paid ads
- →You want to monetise your newsletter with paid subscriptions and keep 100% of revenue with no platform cut
- →You're moving from Substack and need better analytics, segmentation, and growth infrastructure
Our verdict
beehiiv scores higher on G2 (4.8/5 vs 4.3/5), suggesting stronger overall user satisfaction. Mailchimp is the more affordable option. The right pick depends on your team size and workflow.
Mailchimp vs beehiiv: frequently asked questions
Is Mailchimp better than beehiiv?
beehiiv has a higher G2 score (4.8/5 vs 4.3/5). The best tool depends on your specific use case and budget.
Which is cheaper, Mailchimp or beehiiv?
Mailchimp is cheaper, starting at $13/mo.
What is the main difference between Mailchimp and beehiiv?
Mailchimp focuses on email campaigns, automations, landing pages. beehiiv focuses on newsletter editor, paid subscriptions, referral programme. Both serve similar use cases but differ in approach and pricing model.
Can I migrate from Mailchimp to beehiiv?
Most teams migrate between Mailchimp and beehiiv within a day or two. Export your data from Mailchimp (typically as CSV or via API), then use beehiiv's import wizard to bring it across. Check each tool's help centre for a step-by-step migration guide before switching.