Mailchimp and Beehiiv are both popular email marketing platforms, but they serve different audiences and use cases. Mailchimp is an established all-in-one marketing platform ideal for small businesses and e-commerce, while Beehiiv is a modern newsletter platform built for content creators and publishers. Understanding their differences will help you choose the right tool for your specific goals.
| Feature | Mailchimp | Beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Free Tier Subscriber Limit | 500 subscribers | 2,500 subscribers |
| Paid Plan Starting Price | $13/month | $39/month |
| Best For | Beginners and small businesses | Newsletter publishers and media operators |
| G2 Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.7/5 |
| Key Differentiator | Drag-drop editor, landing pages, A/B testing | Newsletter monetization, ad network, referral program |
It depends on your use case. Mailchimp is better for small businesses and e-commerce with its broader feature set and lower pricing, while Beehiiv excels for newsletter publishers wanting to monetize their audience. Beehiiv has higher customer satisfaction ratings (4.7 vs 4.3 on G2), but Mailchimp offers more traditional marketing automation features.
Mailchimp is cheaper overall, starting at $13/month for paid plans compared to Beehiiv's $39/month. However, Beehiiv offers a more generous free tier with 2,500 subscribers versus Mailchimp's 500, making Beehiiv better value if you stay on the free plan longer.
Yes, both platforms allow you to export your subscriber lists, though the process and data fields transferred may vary. Most email platforms support CSV exports, but you should verify that all custom fields and segments transfer correctly before switching.