beehiiv vs Mailchimp
Prices read from both vendors on 2026-10-19. No invented scores.
Short answer: beehiiv starts at $59 per month; Mailchimp starts at $13 per month. beehiiv is the better fit for newsletter operators who want an ad network and paid subscriptions built in. Mailchimp is the better fit for small lists that want the brand-name tool, on a plan ladder that grows with contacts.
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Price comparison
| beehiiv | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest paid plan | $59/mo | $13/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Plans listed | 4 | 4 |
beehiiv plans
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free/mo | Up to 2,500 subscribers, 1 team seat, 1 publication, 30-day analytics lookback, unlimited email sends |
| Lite | $59 | $49/mo | Up to 100,000 subscribers, 2 team seats, 3 publications, paid subscriptions with 0% take rate, ad network, automations, 12-month analytics lookback |
| Pro | $109 | $95/mo | Everything in Lite plus remove beehiiv branding, webinars and coaching, advanced analytics, webhooks, dynamic content, up to 250,000 subscribers, 10 team seats, 10 publications, 24/7 priority support |
| Enterprise | Custom | — | Custom pricing and subscriber volume, SSO/SAML, dedicated IPs, concierge onboarding |
Best for: Newsletter operators who want an ad network and paid subscriptions built in.
Not for: Plain email marketing — you are paying for newsletter monetization you may never use.
Mailchimp plans
| Plan | Monthly | Billed annually | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free/mo | Under 250 contacts, core features. Sending pauses if the contact or email-send limit is exceeded. On 2026-10-14 the comparison table's Free column printed Max of 500/mo or 250/day. |
| Essentials | $13 | — | Starts at 0-500 contacts ('starts at' rate). Testing and scheduling features, 14-day free trial. Price rises with contacts. |
| Standard | $20 | — | Starts at 0-500 contacts ('starts at' rate), send up to 6,000 emails each month at that tier. Automations, personalization, optimization tools. 14-day free trial. |
| Premium | $350 | — | Unlimited contacts, advanced tools, priority support. Promo on the page: 15% off the first 12 months for 10,000+ contacts ($297.50/mo for 12 months). |
Best for: Small lists that want the brand-name tool, on a plan ladder that grows with contacts.
Not for: Anyone watching cost as the list grows - every price steps up at each contact tier and the free plan stops at 250 contacts.
How to choose
beehiiv starts at $59 per month; Mailchimp starts at $13 per month. beehiiv is the better fit for newsletter operators who want an ad network and paid subscriptions built in. Mailchimp is the better fit for small lists that want the brand-name tool, on a plan ladder that grows with contacts.
Run the 12-month cost calculator →
Sources: https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing, https://mailchimp.com/pricing/marketing/. Checked 2026-10-19.