Email Marketing comparison · 2026
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp (2026 Comparison)
Side-by-side: pricing, features, pros, cons, and our editorial winner for email marketing.
Winner summary
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp: how they differ
We have not scored Beehiiv against our rubric yet, so we are not naming an overall winner here. The dimensions below are still directly comparable.
Cheaper
Beehiiv
Higher rated
Not compared
Better free tier
Tie
Feature comparison
| Dimension | Beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $0/mo | $13/mo |
| Free trial | Free up to 2.5k subs | Free up to 500 contacts |
| Best for | Newsletter operators | Small businesses |
| Badge | — | — |
Beehiiv key features
- Boosts (paid recommendations)
- Ad network monetization
- Referral program built-in
- Website + newsletter hybrid
- Polls & segmentation
Mailchimp key features
- Drag-drop email builder
- Audience segmentation
- Customer journeys
- Built-in CRM
- 1000+ integrations
Beehiiv — pros & cons
Pros
- Built for newsletter growth & revenue
- Boosts + ad network are unique
Cons
- Not ideal for transactional or e-commerce
- Newer ecosystem
Mailchimp — pros & cons
Pros
- Familiar brand & UI
- Huge integration ecosystem
Cons
- Pricing scales aggressively
- Free tier deliberately limited
When to pick which
Choose Beehiiv if…
- Newsletters
- Media businesses
Choose Mailchimp if…
- Small business email
- E-commerce drip