Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Pricing, Plans, and Verified Costs (2026)
Beehiiv starts at $49/mo. Mailchimp starts at $13/mo. Mailchimp is $36/mo cheaper on the entry tier than 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.
- 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.
- Mailchimp (Per Usage) — Mailchimp bills purely on usage — contacts. 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.
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).
The original email marketing platform for SMBs, now owned by Intuit ($12B acquisition, 2021). Distinctive for pricing per subscriber rather than per email sent — which surprises teams with large-but-inactive lists. Free tier up to 500 contacts. Paid tiers get expensive fast as your list grows ($350/mo Premium at 10K+ contacts). Losing SMB share to Beehiiv (creators) and Klaviyo (e-commerce) but still the default for non-technical marketers.
All plans compared
| Tier role | Plan | Beehiiv monthly | Beehiiv annual | Mailchimp monthly | Mailchimp annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free / starter | Launch / Free | Free | Free | Free | — |
| Entry paid | Scale / Essentials | $49 | $43 | $13 | — |
| Mid tier | — / Standard | — | — | $20 | — |
| Pro / power | Max / Premium | $109 | $96 | $350 | — |
| Enterprise | Enterprise / — | 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
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.
Mailchimp is worth it if… SMBs and solo creators who want email marketing + light e-commerce + landing pages — the household-name option with generous templates and easy setup. Free covers up to 500 contacts; Essentials adds automations; Standard adds journeys and A/B testing; Premium adds advanced segmentation.
Bottom line: Similar positioning, closer to a preference call than a strategic one.
Choose Beehiiv over Mailchimp if…
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.
Choose Mailchimp if…
- You want to pay only for actual usage (per usage, from $13/mo).
- You match the profile Mailchimp is built for: SMBs and solo creators who want email marketing + light e-commerce + landing pages — the household-name option with generous templates and easy setup.
- You need a general-purpose marketing & email option rather than a vertical-specific one.
At a glance
| Beehiiv | Mailchimp | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Entry price | $49/mo | $13/mo |
| Enterprise available | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Per Usage | Per Usage |
| Last verified | September 17, 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 Beehiiv and Mailchimp
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- How much does Mailchimp cost in 2026?
- Does Mailchimp have a free plan?
- How often does Mailchimp change prices?
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