DevVersus

Mailchimp vs beehiiv(2026)

Mailchimp is better for teams that need largest brand recognition. beehiiv is the stronger choice if best growth tools (referrals + boosts). Mailchimp is freemium (from $13/mo) and beehiiv is freemium (from $39/mo).

Full feature breakdown, pricing details, and pros & cons below.

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Mailchimp logo

Mailchimp

freemium

Mailchimp is the world's most popular email marketing platform, offering newsletters, automations, landing pages, and a free plan — trusted by millions of businesses worldwide.

Starting at $13/mo

Visit Mailchimp
beehiiv logo

beehiiv

freemium

beehiiv is a newsletter platform built by the team behind Morning Brew, designed specifically for growth with referral programs, ad network, paid subscriptions, and advanced analytics.

Starting at $39/mo

Visit beehiiv

How Do Mailchimp and beehiiv Compare on Features?

FeatureMailchimpbeehiiv
Pricing modelfreemiumfreemium
Starting price$13/mo$39/mo
Email campaigns
Marketing automations
Landing pages
A/B testing
Audience segmentation
Analytics dashboard
Commerce integrations
Referral program
Ad network
Paid subscriptions
Web hosting
Advanced segmentation
Automations
Boosts (paid growth)

Mailchimp Pros and Cons vs beehiiv

M

Mailchimp

+Largest brand recognition
+Generous free tier (500 contacts)
+Wide integrations
+Good templates
Pricing jumps steeply
Deliverability not best-in-class
Limited creator features
b

beehiiv

+Best growth tools (referrals + boosts)
+Built-in monetization
+Great analytics
+No transaction fees on paid subs
More expensive than alternatives
Web presence less polished than Substack
Newer platform

Should You Use Mailchimp or beehiiv?

Choose Mailchimp if…

  • Largest brand recognition
  • Generous free tier (500 contacts)
  • Wide integrations

Choose beehiiv if…

  • Best growth tools (referrals + boosts)
  • Built-in monetization
  • Great analytics

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