ActiveCampaign vs beehiiv: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for ActiveCampaign and beehiiv side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
ActiveCampaign
Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.
Best for you if:
- • You want AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization
beehiiv
Newsletter platform for growth
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
| At a Glance | ActiveCampaign | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $15/mo, billed monthly Starter plan | Free plan, paid from $43/mo, billed monthly Scale plan |
Category | Marketing Automation Email Marketing | Email Marketing Newsletter Tools |
Rating | 4.5/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.6 17,363 reviews | 4.5/5 G2 4.5 · Capterra 4.4 56 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose ActiveCampaign or beehiiv?
Choose ActiveCampaign if
- You want AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization
- You want excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring
- Budget matters ($15/mo, billed monthly vs $43/mo, billed monthly)
- You work in marketing automation, not email marketing
Choose beehiiv if
- You want generous free tier
- You want great growth features
- You work in email marketing, not marketing automation
In-Depth Analysis
ActiveCampaign
Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation.
Strengths
- Pro: AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization.
- Pro: Excellent email deliverability with dedicated IP management and monitoring.
- Pro: Robust integration ecosystem connects with most major business tools.
- Pro: 30-day satisfaction guarantee and free 1:1 coaching for new users.
Weaknesses
- Con: Pricing can become expensive as contact lists grow, especially with add-ons.
- Con: Advanced features like WhatsApp, SMS, and enhanced CRM are paid add-ons.
- Con: Some users may find the initial setup and breadth of features overwhelming.
Key features
beehiiv
Newsletter platform for growth
beehiiv's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust free 'Launch' tier supporting up to 2,500 subscribers.
Strengths
- Pro: Generous free tier
- Pro: Great growth features
- Pro: Built-in monetization
- Pro: Modern interface
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Some features need higher tiers
- Con: Limited customization on free
Key features
Plans and prices: ActiveCampaign vs beehiiv
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ActiveCampaign |
| activecampaign.com/pricing read Oct 30, 2026 |
| beehiiv |
| beehiiv.com/pricing |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on ActiveCampaign pricing and beehiiv pricing.
Key Takeaways
ActiveCampaign
- Lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly vs $43/mo, billed monthly
beehiiv
- Choose if you want newsletter platform for growth
What the data shows
On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews for ActiveCampaign, 4.5/5 from 56 reviews for beehiiv).
- ActiveCampaign has the lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly (Starter) against $43/mo, billed monthly (Scale) for beehiiv.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do ActiveCampaign and beehiiv compare in 2026?
On the data below, ActiveCampaign leads on lower entry price. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. User ratings are within 0.2 points (4.5/5 from 17,363 reviews for ActiveCampaign, 4.5/5 from 56 reviews for beehiiv). ActiveCampaign has the lower entry price: $15/mo, billed monthly (Starter) against $43/mo, billed monthly (Scale) for beehiiv. Both have a free plan.
What are ActiveCampaign and beehiiv used for?
ActiveCampaign: Autonomous marketing platform with AI-powered email, SMS, and WhatsApp automation. beehiiv: Newsletter platform for growth.
What does ActiveCampaign cost vs beehiiv?
ActiveCampaign's cheapest paid plan is Starter at $15/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. beehiiv's cheapest paid plan is Scale at $43/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Oct 30, 2026.
What's the main difference between ActiveCampaign and beehiiv?
ActiveCampaign's main strength: AI agents dramatically speed up campaign creation and personalization. beehiiv's main strength: generous free tier.