Mailchimp vs. beehiiv

beehiiv is the dynamic and modern alternative to Mailchimp, focused on newsletter growth and monetization.

E-Commerce Tools vs. Newsletter Growth & Monetization

Mailchimp was built for e-commerce, with support for cart abandonment workflows, sales campaigns, and promotional blasts.

beehiiv was built in 2021 by the team that scaled Morning Brew to millions of subscribers. Our foundation is publishing: audience growth, content distribution, and revenue generation. This isn't a superficial difference. It shapes every product decision we make.

Quick links

What beehiiv is best for

but don't just take our word

Here's The Dink's story

Tom

@thedink

On beehiiv we immediately upgraded the aesthetic of our newsletter, launched a referral program, and starting driving meaningful engagement via 1-click audience polls.

Mailchimp is good for

One-off email blasts
Promotional or e-commerce emails
Small businesses offering online or in-person services

beehiiv is best for

Content-focused newsletters and publications
All-in-one solution for website, email, data analytics, and growth tools
Ownership of your audience and custom aesthetic
Affordable flat-rate pricing that favors growing creators and companies
Enterprise-level solutions made simple and accessible to everyone

Make the switch

Tom

@pickleball

We launched The Dink on Mailchimp in 2020, and quickly realized it wasn't a long-term solution for us. It was overcomplicated and we ended up needing to use a ton of external tools to accomplish relatively simple things.

compare features

With beehiiv you'll have the same suite of tools used by the world's largest newsletters.

	beehiiv Get started	Mailchimp Full comparison
Monthly Pricing
Monthly email sends	Unlimited	Limited by plan
Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers
Up to 10,000 subscribers	$109	$385
Up to 100,000 subscribers	$329	$800
Paid Subscriptions	0%	0%
Content Management Features
Team members
Email sends
Web posts
Publications
Subscribers
Website Features
Web hosting
Subscribe forms
Advanced email capture
Custom domain
Survey forms
Advanced web builder
Podcast sites
Link in bio
Ai website builder
Website analytics
Newsletter Features
Custom builder
Optimized deliverability
Custom fields
Custom HTML
Audience polls
A/B Testing
Content creation AI
Custom mobile apps
Podcasts
Collaborative editing
Inline comments
Dynamic content
Growth
Recommendation network
Magic links
Referral program
Boosts
Monetization
Integrated Ad network
Paid Subscriptions
Boosts
Direct sponsorships
Digital products
Analytics
Campaign analytics
Subscriber metrics
Advanced segmentation
Advanced analytics
Integrations
Giphy
Unsplash
API access
App marketplace
Security
2FA
SSO
Support
Normal support
Priority support
Account manager

Common Questions About Platform Migration

Will I lose subscribers migrating from Mailchimp to beehiiv?

No. Your list can be transferred completely via CSV import or the API. We've migrated 500,000+ subscriber lists without losing a single record.

What happens to my Mailchimp automations when I switch to beehiiv?

Automations need rebuilding, but most teams find our automation builder faster and more intuitive. Our support team can help map your existing workflows.

How long does custom domain transfer take when moving to beehiiv?

DNS propagation typically completes in 24-48 hours. We provide step-by-step instructions for your registrar.

How long does migration take for large Mailchimp lists?

Technical migration takes less than a day. Full operational transition, including training, typically takes 1-2 weeks.

Can I run Mailchimp and beehiiv simultaneously during migration?

Yes. Run both platforms in parallel during transition. Switch over during a natural break in your publishing schedule.

What training does beehiiv provide for Mailchimp users?

All plans include documentation and email support. Max and Enterprise plans add dedicated onboarding and account management, respectively.

What's the rollback process if I need to return to Mailchimp?

Your original platform stays active until you're confident. Your data is always exportable.

beehiiv is built for

Media Companies & Publishers

Scale your publication with enterprise-grade infrastructure. Manage multiple newsletters, segment audiences at scale, and generate revenue through integrated ad networks and paid subscriptions. All from a single platform and without writing a single line of code.

B2B Organizations

Turn your newsletter into a lead generation engine. Build authority in your industry, nurture prospects with valuable content, and track engagement with analytics designed around business outcomes, not vanity metrics.

Marketing Teams

Own your audience instead of renting it. Reduce dependency on algorithm-driven platforms by building a direct communication channel. Predictable flat-rate pricing means your costs don't spike as your list grows.

Enterprise Communications

Streamline internal and external communications with a platform that handles scale. Team collaboration features, advanced permissions, and dedicated support ensure your newsletter program operates at the level your organization demands.

Still Have Questions?

How does Mailchimp pricing compare to beehiiv at scale?

Mailchimp's pricing is contact-based with email send limits. At 5,000 contacts, Mailchimp Standard starts around $110/month with 100,000 monthly emails. At 50,000 contacts, pricing exceeds $600/month. beehiiv offers transparent pricing: free for up to 2,500 subscribers, with paid plans starting at $43 per month and unlimited sends on every plan.

Does beehiiv offer a free plan like Mailchimp?

Yes, and more generous. Free up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited sends. No credit card required. Mailchimp's free plan limits you to 250 contacts and just 500 monthly emails.

How does beehiiv's email deliverability compare to Mailchimp?

Both platforms have industry-leading deliverability. beehiiv also offers automated custom domain warm-up and proactive monitoring.

Can I monetize my newsletter on beehiiv?

Yes. beehiiv has an integrated ad network, paid subscriptions (0% platform fees), and Boosts for cross-promotion. No third-party integrations needed. Mailchimp focuses on e-commerce monetization, not publisher revenue.

Does beehiiv work for teams like Mailchimp?

Yes. All plans support multiple team members with role-based permissions (Admin, Member, Contributor). Collaborative editing, multiple publications, and advanced team management.

Can I use my own custom domain on beehiiv?

Yes. Custom domains are supported on all plans for sending and hosting.

How do I get started with beehiiv after moving over from Mailchimp?

estimated migration time: 10 minutes

Download our free migration guide below

Download

Upload subscribers

Download a csv of your existing email list and upload it directly to beehiiv.

Estimated time: 2 minutes.

Import existing content

Drop your current URL into our content import tool and we'll do the rest.

Estimated time: 5 minutes.

Transfer premium subscriptions

Your readers won't be notified of the switch—their payment method, billing cycle, and other settings will all remain unchanged...and now you'll keep 100% of your revenue.

Estimated time: 3 minutes.

Case Studies