Kit (ConvertKit) vs beehiiv vs MailerLite
Budget-conscious creators and bloggers often shortlist these three for their strong free tiers and creator-friendly features. Kit is the established creator tool, Beehiiv is the fast-growing newsletter challenger, and MailerLite offers surprising depth at the lowest price point.
Quick Verdict
Best for most users: MailerLite — email marketing tools for growing businesses.
Kit (ConvertKit): Email marketing built for creators
beehiiv: The newsletter platform built for growth
MailerLite: Email marketing tools for growing businesses
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Starting Price | $33/mo | $39/mo | $10/mo |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers | 1,000 subscribers |
| Founded | 2013 | 2021 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 50 | 20 | 90 |
| Integrations | 90 | 40 | 140 |
| Deliverability Rate | 98.2% | 98% | 97% |
| 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 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The Verdict
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $33/mo | $39/mo | $10/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 98.2% | 98% | 97% |
| Rating | 25% | 4.6/5 | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 |
| Integrations | 10% | 90 | 40 | 140 |
| Free Tier | 10% | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Choose Kit (ConvertKit) if…
- + Best for solopreneurs
- + Best for coaches
- + Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
Choose beehiiv if…
- + Best for newsletter creators
- + Best for media companies
- + Purpose-built for newsletter businesses
Choose MailerLite if…
- + Lowest starting price ($10/mo)
- + Best for small businesses
- + Best for beginners
Kit (ConvertKit): Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Excellent creator ecosystem with built-in monetization
- +Intuitive visual automation builder
- +Generous free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- +Strong deliverability rates
- +Creator-focused features like tip jars and paid newsletters
Cons
- −Limited email template design options
- −Gets expensive at higher subscriber counts
- −No SMS marketing capabilities
- −Basic reporting compared to competitors
- −No drag-and-drop email editor
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 1,000 subscribers
- −No SMS marketing
- −Fewer integrations than competitors
- −Strict approval process for new accounts
- −Limited automation compared to ActiveCampaign