beehiiv vs MailerLite
beehiiv is a newsletter platform while MailerLite is a email marketing platform. MailerLite has been around since 2010, giving it a 11-year head start over beehiiv (founded 2021). MailerLite is the more affordable option at $12/mo, which is $37 less than beehiiv's $49/mo entry point. Both offer free plans to get started. Both tools work well for bloggers.
Quick Verdict
beehiiv wins on deliverability.
MailerLite wins on price, rating, integrations.
Best for most users: MailerLite (small businesses).
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%.
MailerLite
Email marketing tools for growing businesses
MailerLite is known for its simplicity, affordability, and clean design. It's one of the best options for small businesses and beginners who want professional email marketing without complexity. The built-in website builder and digital product sales features add extra value.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $49/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | 2,500 subscribers | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2021 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 20 | 90 |
| Integrations | 40 | 140 |
| 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 | No |
| 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)
MailerLite: Pros & Cons
Pros
- + Excellent value for money — most affordable paid plans
- + Clean, intuitive interface perfect for beginners
- + Built-in website and landing page builder
- + Sell digital products directly
- + Strong drag-and-drop email editor
Cons
- − Free plan limited to 250 subscribers and 2,500 emails/month
- − No SMS marketing
- − Fewer integrations than competitors
- − Strict approval process for new accounts
- − Limited automation compared to ActiveCampaign
The Verdict
beehiiv and MailerLite are closely matched — both score within 0.1 points of each other in our overall rating. Your decision should come down to specific needs rather than overall quality. On deliverability, beehiiv reports 98% compared to 97% for MailerLite — a meaningful difference if inbox placement is critical for your campaigns.
| Criterion | Weight | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $49/mo | $12/mo Winner |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98% Winner | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 Winner |
| Integrations | 10% | 40 | 140 Winner |
| 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 MailerLite if…
- + You want lower starting costs ($12/mo)
- + You're a small businesses
- + You're a beginners