Mailchimp vs beehiiv: Which is Better in 2026?
Choosing between Mailchimp and beehiiv comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
Bottom line: Mailchimp wins this matchup. Our overall Email Marketing pick is ActiveCampaign. Our free Email Marketing pick is SendPulse. Pick beehiiv if you need newsletter tools.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Best for you if:
- • You want intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- • You want comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
beehiiv
Newsletter platform for growth
Best for you if:
- • You want generous free tier
- • You want great growth features
| At a Glance | Mailchimp | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | FreeFree tier available | FreeFree tier available |
Best For | Email Marketing | Newsletter Tools |
Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.5/5 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Choose Mailchimp or beehiiv?
Choose Mailchimp if
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
- You want intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- You want comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- Your work is email marketing-shaped, not newsletter tools-shaped
Choose beehiiv if
Newsletter platform for growth
- You want generous free tier
- You want great growth features
- Your work is newsletter tools-shaped, not email marketing-shaped
| Feature | Mailchimp | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Freemium |
| User Rating | ★3.9/5 31,997 reviews | ★4.5/5 56 reviews |
| Categories | Email MarketingMarketing Automation | Newsletter ToolsEmail Marketing |
In-Depth Analysis
Mailchimp
Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing
Mailchimp was once the default email marketing tool for small businesses, and its free tier was legendary.
Watch out
ALL contacts count: subscribed, unsubscribed, non-subscribed, and 'cleaned' contacts all count toward your plan limit. You pay for contacts who unsubscribed last year unless you manually archive them. This inflates costs by 20-40% for most lists
Strengths
- +Intuitive drag-and-drop editor accessible to non-technical users
- +Comprehensive free plan to get started with basic email marketing
- +Powerful automation workflows rivaling dedicated automation platforms
- +Extensive template library with mobile-responsive designs
- +Strong deliverability rates backed by Intuit infrastructure
Weaknesses
- -Free plan capped at just 250 contacts and 500 sends per month
- -Pricing scales steeply as contact lists grow beyond initial tiers
- -Advanced segmentation and multivariate testing require higher tiers
- -Phone support only available on the highest tier
- -Removing Mailchimp branding requires a paid plan
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
- +Generous free tier
- +Great growth features
- +Built-in monetization
- +Modern interface
Weaknesses
- -Learning curve
- -Some features need higher tiers
- -Limited customization on free
Key features
Pricing: Mailchimp vs beehiiv
| Plan | Mailchimp | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Free | $0 Launch |
| Tier 2 | $13 month Essentials | $43 Scale |
| Tier 3 | $20 month Standard | $96 Max |
| Tier 4 | $350 month Premium | Custom Enterprise |
Pricing verified from each vendor's public pricing page. Compare in detail on Mailchimp pricing and beehiiv pricing.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are freemium. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Mailchimp
Want the highest-rated option?
Mailchimp: 3.9/5 (31,997 reviews). beehiiv: 4.5/5 (56 reviews).
Go with: beehiiv
Value user reviews?
Mailchimp: 31,997 reviews (3.9/5). beehiiv: 56 reviews (4.5/5).
Go with: Mailchimp
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are freemium. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Mailchimp is a email marketing tool. beehiiv is in newsletter tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
beehiiv is rated higher: 4.5/5 vs 3.9/5.
Key Takeaways
Mailchimp
- Larger review base (31,997 reviews)
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
beehiiv
- Higher user rating: 4.5/5 vs 3.9/5
- Better fit for newsletter tools
The Bottom Line
Mailchimp wins this matchup. Our overall Email Marketing pick is ActiveCampaign. Our free Email Marketing pick is SendPulse.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp or beehiiv better?
Mailchimp is rated in our evaluation. Both are freemium.
What are Mailchimp and beehiiv used for?
Mailchimp: Grow your business with email, SMS, and AI marketing. beehiiv: Newsletter platform for growth.
What does Mailchimp cost vs beehiiv?
Mailchimp is freemium (free tier + paid plans). beehiiv is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.