beehiiv vs Mailchimp
beehiiv is a newsletter platform while Mailchimp is a all-in-one marketing platform. Mailchimp has been around since 2001, giving it a 20-year head start over beehiiv (founded 2021). Mailchimp is the more affordable option at $13/mo — that's $30 less than beehiiv's $43/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Mailchimp has the edge with SMS marketing.
Quick Verdict
beehiiv wins on deliverability, rating.
Mailchimp 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%.
Mailchimp
Turn emails into revenue
Mailchimp is the most widely recognized email marketing platform, used by millions of businesses worldwide. Acquired by Intuit in 2021, it offers a full suite of marketing tools but has become increasingly expensive compared to alternatives.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $43/mo | $13/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | 250 contacts, 500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2021 | 2001 |
| Email Templates | 20 | 100 |
| Integrations | 40 | 300 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98% | 96% |
| Marketing Automation | ✓ | ✓ |
| A/B Testing | ✓ | ✓ |
| Landing Pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segmentation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drag & Drop Editor | ✓ | ✓ |
| SMS Marketing | ✕ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce Features | ✓ | ✓ |
| API Access | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Language | ✕ | ✓ |
| Web Push Notifications | ✕ | ✕ |
| Live Chat | ✕ | ✕ |
| Advanced Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
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)
Mailchimp: Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Most recognized brand in email marketing
- +Excellent drag-and-drop editor
- +300+ integrations with third-party tools
- +Strong analytics and reporting
- +Good for beginners with guided setup
Cons
- −Free plan severely limited (500 contacts, 1,000 sends)
- −Premium plan is expensive ($350/mo)
- −Charges for unsubscribed contacts
- −Affiliate marketing restricted
- −Deliverability has declined in recent years
The Verdict
beehiiv edges ahead with a 4.5/5 rating compared to Mailchimp's 4.3/5. The gap comes mainly from deliverability (4.5 vs 4) and ease of use (4.8 vs 4.6). On deliverability, beehiiv reports 98% compared to 96% for Mailchimp — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $43/mo | $13/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% | 96% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 40 | 300 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes |
Weights determine how much each criterion counts toward the final score. See full methodology
Choose beehiiv if…
- + You're a newsletter creators
- + You're a media companies
- + Purpose-built for newsletter businesses
Choose Mailchimp if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($13/mo)
- + You need SMS marketing
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a beginners