Beehiiv is purpose-built for newsletter creators with better monetization features and 50% lower starting costs, while Mailchimp is a general email marketing platform with more advanced automation workflows and 8x larger feature set for multi-channel campaigns.
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B
Email newsletter platform designed for independent creators with built-in monetization.
Industry-leading email marketing platform with 12+ million users and extensive integration ecosystem
Starting Price. Paid Plan Entry Cost. Built-in Monetization. Automation Workflows. Free Subscriber Limit. SMS & Multi-Channel Support. Learning Curve (1=easiest, 5=hardest)
Choose Beehiiv if you're a newsletter creator focused on building an independent audience with monetization—its free unlimited subscribers, lower pricing, and native sponsorship/premium features make it ideal for writers and media creators. Choose Mailchimp if you need comprehensive email marketing automation, multi-channel campaigns (SMS, social, ads), or integration with e-commerce—it's better for established businesses managing complex customer journeys.
Beehiiv: 0% (flat fee model) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Ads, paid subs, sponsorships, referrals, tips | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Extensive templates and brand control | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Emerging recommendation system | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Advanced multi-stream analytics and segmentation | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Zapier, Make, and native integrations available | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: $15/month for Pro plan | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 100% of all revenue | Mailchimp: 0% (SaaS model)
Beehiiv: Yes—exclusive sponsorship marketplace | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Full ownership; unrestricted CSV export | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Advanced tagging, conditional logic, dynamic content | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Email + social cross-posting + RSS feeds | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 2-3 (configure monetization and workflows) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: $0 (free tier available) | Mailchimp: $0 (free tier) or $20 (Pro)
Beehiiv: Unlimited | Mailchimp: 500 free contacts
Beehiiv: Paid tiers, sponsorships, referrals | Mailchimp: None (requires third-party solutions)
Beehiiv: $15/month | Mailchimp: $20/month
Beehiiv: Unlimited (free tier) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Basic content gating only | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Native Beehiiv Network with $10/referral | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 2,000+ via Zapier | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: $0 (Limited to 10,000 subscribers) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Subject lines, body copy, image generation | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Yes, unlimited subscribers | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 60 | Mailchimp: 10 calls/second
Beehiiv: 15 behavioral triggers | Mailchimp: Standard audience segmentation
Beehiiv: 4.7/5 (based on 1,200+ reviews) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Included in 10% commission | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 8+ (opens, clicks, unsubscribes, growth, cohorts, engagement) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: 2 (paid subscriptions, sponsorships) | Mailchimp: N/A
Beehiiv: Advanced (conditional logic, triggers, delays, A/B testing) | Mailchimp: Advanced (conditional, behavioral triggers)
Beehiiv: $15/month | Mailchimp: $30/month
Beehiiv: Basic (5 trigger types, limited branching) | Mailchimp: Advanced (100+ triggers, unlimited branching)
Beehiiv: 1 (Email only) | Mailchimp: 5 (Email, SMS, Social Ads, Landing Pages, Postcards)
Beehiiv: 3 (Sponsorships, Boost ads, Premium tiers) | Mailchimp: 0 (Third-party only)
Beehiiv: 10 minutes | Mailchimp: 45 minutes
Beehiiv: 2 (Shopify, limited WooCommerce) | Mailchimp: 5+ (Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Squarespace, others)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (500 contacts)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 7 (moderate to high)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Sophisticated data-driven rules
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, varies by plan
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, with international expansion
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Free on all plans
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (Customer Journey Builder)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: A/B testing and design testing (free)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: More extensive platform coverage
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact management
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Beginner-friendly
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (abandoned cart via integrations)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - charges per contact/send overages
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Comprehensive campaign performance and subscriber insights
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic personalization features
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Available but less intuitive setup
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full SMS suite with 2026 international expansion
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Legacy interface, steep learning curve
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full native CRM platform integrated
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited core features only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Extensive design variety and customization
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact data syncing
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: No (API integration only)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (added 2026, supports international markets)
Contact List Size Limit (Standard Pricing)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited growth with pro-rated pricing
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000 emails/month
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Capped by contact tier multipliers
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 12+ million users
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM suite with advanced segmentation
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited e-commerce via integrations
Price Scaling Factor at 5,000 Subscribers
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Steep 3-4x multiplier
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic add-on CRM
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual segmentation only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, basic social
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Minimal (intuitive interface)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Standard quarterly updates
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes, full CRM suite
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Email, SMS, landing pages, ads
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Moderate, marketing-focused
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 300,000 (based on plan)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $13/month (Essentials)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $800/month (100,000 contacts)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full-featured free plan
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (up to 500 contacts)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Modern and professional
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced automation included
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Third-party integrations
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Transactional email and small business
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop, AI-assisted)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with customer profiles
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: All paid plans
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 500 (free) / 5,000 (paid)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.08 months (1 hour)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 3 (Salesforce, HubSpot, custom)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Behavioral segmentation only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Email-based, no SLA
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic (list segmentation only)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: ~5 basic automations
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: No (Zapier third-party only)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 (beginner-friendly)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with 10k contacts max)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Not applicable (subscriber-based)
Starter Tier Monthly Cost (50k contacts)
Automation Workflow Steps (Free/Starter Tier)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (standard feature)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited (with pricing increase)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited basic sequences
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Phone support on paid plans only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 0% (you handle payments)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: No (third-party required)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (subject lines, send time)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Included in paid plans
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 30+ (payment processor + Mailchimp config)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Not offered (email-focused)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 1-2 (self-service)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited (up to 5-10 per plan tier)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01-0.05 per SMS
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 100+ templates
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $2–$7 (plan-dependent)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 0.5–1 hour (UI-based)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced (subject, send time, content)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Manual review required
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Full CRM with segmentation, tagging, custom fields
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $200–$350 (based on tier)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $0.01 (SMS add-on)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 100+ professional templates
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 1 day (no-code signup)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 12M+ users (2025)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Unlimited steps
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 1,000+ templates
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: No (paid add-on)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 20 (1K-contact plan)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 500+ templates including AI-generated
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: $20 additional per month
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced abandoned cart, product recommendations, dynamic pricing
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic automation on free plan
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced AI copywriter with subject line optimization
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited - basic integration support only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Advanced visual builder included
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: List management only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes - iOS and Android
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Yes (drag-and-drop)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Available at higher tiers
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Basic contact segmentation, limited tagging, no pipeline management
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: None—email-focused platform only
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Automations available on free plan with customer journey builder
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Requires API/Zapier connectors
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: 4 (email, SMS, ads, landing pages)
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Limited on starter plans
Beehiiv: N/A | Mailchimp: Premium+ ($350/month minimum)
How to choose between Beehiiv and Mailchimp
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Structured Comparison Data
Machine-readable comparison dataset for Beehiiv vs Mailchimp. Contains 221 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Attribute Category Vocabulary
Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Beehiiv vs Mailchimp.
Which platform is better for a newsletter writer starting out?
Beehiiv is the clear choice for new newsletter creators. You get unlimited free subscribers (no artificial caps), a creator-focused interface that takes minutes to learn, and native monetization tools (ads, sponsorships, premium tiers) to earn revenue as you grow. Mailchimp limits free accounts to 500 contacts and doesn't offer built-in revenue features, making it inefficient for solo creators.
Can I use Beehiiv if I need SMS marketing?
No. Beehiiv is email-only at its core tier. If SMS, social ads, or multi-channel campaigns are essential, Mailchimp is the better choice—it includes SMS, landing pages, and social media ads in its plans. Some Beehiiv users supplement with Twilio or other SMS tools via IFTTT, but this requires manual setup.
Which platform has better automation for complex customer journeys?
Mailchimp dominates here with 100+ automation triggers, unlimited workflow branching, and conditional logic that supports sophisticated customer journeys. Beehiiv's automation is basic—ideal for welcome sequences and simple triggers but not suitable for multi-step, conditional business workflows. If your automation needs are complex, Mailchimp's advanced features justify the higher cost.
How much will it cost to scale to 10,000 subscribers?
Beehiiv: $25/month for 10,001-25,000 subscribers. Mailchimp: $350+/month for the same list size (Pro plan at $300/mo + SMS fees). Beehiiv's pricing scales linearly and is dramatically cheaper for creators, while Mailchimp's per-contact pricing hits harder at scale. For large creator audiences, Beehiiv saves 90% in costs.
Can I integrate Mailchimp with my Shopify store?
Yes. Mailchimp has a native Shopify app with automatic syncing of customer data, abandoned cart recovery, and product recommendation emails. Beehiiv has basic Shopify integration via Zapier but lacks native tools for e-commerce automation. If running an e-commerce store is core to your business, Mailchimp is significantly better equipped.
How to Choose Between Beehiiv and Mailchimp
Starting Price: Beehiiv has $0/month (free tier), while Mailchimp has $0/month (free tier).
Paid Plan Entry Cost: Beehiiv has $15/month (Substack competitor), while Mailchimp has $30/month (Essentials).
Built-in Monetization: Beehiiv has Yes - Beehiiv Boost, sponsorships, premium content, while Mailchimp has No - requires third-party integration.
Automation Workflows: Beehiiv has Basic (limited conditional logic), while Mailchimp has Advanced (unlimited branching, 100+ triggers).
Free Subscriber Limit: Beehiiv has Unlimited on free plan, while Mailchimp has Up to 500 free contacts.
SMS & Multi-Channel Support: Beehiiv has Email-only at core tier, while Mailchimp has SMS, social, landing pages included.
Consider: Learning Curve (1=easiest, 5=hardest)
Learning Curve (1=easiest, 5=hardest): Beehiiv has 2 - Creator-focused interface, while Mailchimp has 4 - Feature-rich but complex.