ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter vs Beehiiv — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter starts at $19/mo. Beehiiv starts at $49/mo. ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is $30/mo cheaper on the entry tier than Beehiiv.
See price history: ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter · Beehiiv
How pricing works
These two tools don't price the same way, so the headline numbers below aren't directly comparable until you plug in your own volume.
- ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter (Per Usage) — ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter bills purely on usage — contacts. There is no fixed per-seat fee, so the monthly cost depends entirely on how much you consume.
- Beehiiv (Per Usage) — Beehiiv bills purely on usage — Subscribers. There is no fixed per-seat fee, so the monthly cost depends entirely on how much you consume.
Per-minute, per-credit and per-token rates exclude any downstream model, speech or telephony costs unless the vendor states otherwise.
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is ActiveCampaign's entry marketing automation product — email marketing, drip campaigns, segmentation, and basic automation at 1,000 contacts baseline for $19/mo monthly ($15/mo annual). Price scales with contact list size: 10K contacts ≈ $149/mo Plus. ActiveCampaign sells 2 additional products with independent pricing not tracked here: ActiveCampaign Sales (standalone CRM), ActiveCampaign Bundle (Marketing + Sales combined at a discount, Bundle Plus at $93/mo is the sweet spot for many customers). All three products scale with contact count. Popular with SMBs and solopreneurs graduating from Mailchimp.
Newsletter platform for creators positioned as the alternative to Substack, ConvertKit, and Mailchimp. Distinctive for its founder pedigree (Morning Brew's co-founders and early employees) and features that generalist tools lack: built-in referral programs, ad network, and 3D analytics. Priced free-$99/mo up to 100K subscribers. Popular with newsletter operators building media businesses (not personal newsletters).
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter monthly | ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter annual | Beehiiv monthly | Beehiiv annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | — / Launch | — | — | Free | Free |
| Entry paid | Starter / Scale | $19 | $15 | $49 | $43 |
| Mid tier | Plus / — | $59 | $49 | — | — |
| Pro / power | Pro / Max | $99 | $79 | $109 | $96 |
| Enterprise | Enterprise | $179 | $145 | Custom | Custom |
Tier names differ across vendors. Rows are aligned by tier role, not name. Full tier structures on each tool's page.
What each is best for
ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is worth it if… SMBs (500-5,000 contacts) that need email + basic automation + CRM in one tool without HubSpot's price tag. Starter covers most basic email flows; Plus adds sales automation and SMS.
Beehiiv is worth it if… newsletter creators (both hobbyist and full-time) who want built-in monetization (paid subs, sponsorships, referrals) plus growth tools baked in — not just ESP-style sending. Launch (free) covers up to 2,500 subscribers; Scale unlocks referrals + custom domains; Max adds AI writer and premium features.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter over Beehiiv if…
Choose ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $19/mo).
- You match the profile ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter is built for: SMBs (500-5,000 contacts) that need email + basic automation + CRM in one tool without HubSpot's price tag.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
Choose Beehiiv if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $49/mo).
- You match the profile Beehiiv is built for: newsletter creators (both hobbyist and full-time) who want built-in monetization (paid subs, sponsorships, referrals) plus growth tools baked in — not just ESP-style sending.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter | Beehiiv | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Entry price | $19/mo | $49/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | Per Usage |
| Last verified | September 12, 2026 | September 17, 2026 |
| Full pricing | View full pricing | View full pricing |
Pricing last verified September 17, 2026. Tracked daily.
Frequently asked questions
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Common questions about ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter and Beehiiv
- How much does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter cost in 2026?
- Does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter have a free plan?
- How often does ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter change prices?
- What are the best ActiveCampaign Marketing Starter alternatives in 2026?
- How much does Beehiiv cost in 2026?
- Does Beehiiv have a free plan?
- How often does Beehiiv change prices?
- What are the best Beehiiv alternatives in 2026?