beehiiv vs Constant Contact
beehiiv is a newsletter platform while Constant Contact is a all-in-one marketing platform. Constant Contact has been around since 1995, giving it a 26-year head start over beehiiv (founded 2021). Constant Contact is the more affordable option at $12/mo, which is $37 less than beehiiv's $49/mo entry point. beehiiv offers a free plan (2,500 subscribers), while Constant Contact does not. Constant Contact has the edge with SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
beehiiv wins on deliverability, rating, free tier.
Constant Contact wins on price, integrations.
Best for most users: beehiiv (newsletter creators).
beehiiv
The newsletter platform built for growth
beehiiv was built by the team behind Morning Brew's growth to 4 million subscribers. It's specifically designed for newsletter businesses with built-in monetization through ad networks, paid subscriptions, and referral programs. The highest affiliate commission in the space at up to 60%.
Constant Contact
Small business marketing made easy
Constant Contact is one of the most established email marketing platforms, particularly strong for small businesses and nonprofits. Its event marketing capabilities and social media integration set it apart, though its automation features lag behind newer competitors.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | No free plan |
| Founded | 2021 | 1995 |
| Email Templates | 20 | 300 |
| Integrations | 40 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 97% |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | Yes |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No |
| Live Chat | No | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes |
beehiiv: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Purpose-built for newsletter businesses
- + Built-in ad network for monetization
- + Referral program to grow subscribers
- + Paid subscription support
- + Founded by ex-Morning Brew team
Cons
- − Limited to newsletter use case
- − Fewer templates than established tools
- − Smaller integration ecosystem
- − No SMS marketing
- − Relatively new platform (2021)
Constant Contact: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Longest 60-day free trial in the industry
- + Excellent event marketing features
- + 300+ templates and integrations
- + Strong brand recognition and trust
- + Social media posting included
Cons
- − No free plan
- − Automation is basic on lower tiers
- − Gets expensive with larger lists
- − Interface feels outdated in places
- − Limited advanced features
The Verdict
beehiiv edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to Constant Contact's 4.1/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.5 vs 3.9) and ease of use (4.8 vs 4.3). On deliverability, beehiiv reports 98% compared to 97% for Constant Contact — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | beehiiv | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $49/mo | $12/mo Winner |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% Winner | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 Winner | 4.1/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 40 | 300 Winner |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes Winner | No |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose beehiiv if…
- + You need a free plan to get started
- + You're a newsletter creators
- + You're a media companies
Choose Constant Contact if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a nonprofits