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, websites and landing pages for small businesses.
Kit (ConvertKit): Email marketing and digital product sales for online creators
beehiiv: Newsletter platform with ad monetization and paid subscriptions
MailerLite: Email marketing, websites and landing pages for small businesses
Kit (ConvertKit)
Email marketing and digital product sales for online creators
beehiiv
Newsletter platform with ad monetization and paid subscriptions
MailerLite
Email marketing, websites and landing pages for small businesses
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Kit (ConvertKit) | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| Starting Price | $39/mo | $59/mo | $12/mo |
| Free Plan | 10,000 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers | 250 subscribers, 2,500 emails/month |
| Founded | 2013 | 2021 | 2010 |
| Email Templates | 40 | 20 | 90 |
| Integrations | 90 | 40 | 140 |
| Independent Inbox Test | No independent test | 86.4% | No independent test |
| Marketing Automation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| A/B Testing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Landing Pages | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Segmentation | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drag & Drop Editor | No | Yes | Yes |
| SMS Marketing | No | No | No |
| Ecommerce Features | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API Access | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Multi-Language | No | No | No |
| Web Push Notifications | No | No | No |
| Live Chat | Yes | No | Yes |
| Advanced Analytics | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Verdict
| Criterion | Weight | Kit (ConvertKit) | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | 30% | $39/mo | $59/mo | $12/mo |
| Deliverability | 25% | 4.2/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Rating | 25% | 4.0/5 | 4.2/5 | 4.3/5 |
| 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 ($12/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 native SMS; texting needs the third-party SlickText app
- − 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 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