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.
Mailchimp
Email marketing and automation platform
From $13/mo
Free plan available
beehiiv
Newsletter platform built for growth
From $39/mo
Free plan available
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
Pros
- ✓Easy to use
- ✓Generous free plan
- ✓Good template library
- ✓Strong e-commerce integrations
Cons
- ✗Pricing jumps steeply
- ✗Automations less powerful than competitors
- ✗Contact-based pricing gets expensive
beehiiv: pros & cons
Pros
- ✓Built for growth-focused newsletters
- ✓Best referral & boost tools
- ✓No transaction fees on paid subs
- ✓Strong analytics
Cons
- ✗Less suited for e-commerce or lead nurture
- ✗Newer platform
- ✗Free plan limited to 2,500 subs