Beehiiv vs Mailchimp: Which Platform Actually Grows Your Newsletter in 2025?

You’re staring at your screen, trying to pick between Beehiiv and Mailchimp for your newsletter. I get it. One wrong choice and you’re stuck migrating thousands of subscribers later—or worse, watching your growth stagnate because you picked the wrong tools.

Here’s the reality: Beehiiv and Mailchimp aren’t really competing for the same space anymore. Beehiiv built their platform specifically for newsletter creators who want to grow and make money. Mailchimp? They’re the Swiss Army knife of email marketing—great for businesses, but maybe overkill if you just want to publish a newsletter.

Mailchimp has 14 million users, but Beehiiv’s been quietly stealing newsletter creators away with tools that actually help you grow. Let’s figure out which one fits your situation.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Quick Comparison

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Features Comparison

The features tell the real story here. Beehiiv keeps things focused on what newsletter writers actually need. Mailchimp gives you everything under the sun—whether you need it or not.

Beehiiv

Think of Beehiiv as the platform built by newsletter people, for newsletter people. The founders grew Morning Brew to 4 million subscribers, so they know what actually moves the needle.

The standout feature? Unlimited email sends on every plan. No counting, no overage fees, no panic when you want to send that extra issue this week. Their Boosts marketplace lets you cross-promote with other newsletters—basically paying to get your newsletter in front of engaged readers who already subscribe to similar content.

Then there’s the built-in referral program. Most platforms make you jerry-rig something with third-party tools, but Beehiiv just lets you turn it on. Set up rewards, watch your readers share your newsletter, and see that 137% average monthly growth their users report.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp feels like walking into a fully stocked workshop. You can probably build whatever you want, but first you need to figure out where everything is.

The template library is genuinely impressive—over 100 designs that look professional right out of the box. The automation tools let you build complex customer journeys with triggers, delays, and branching logic. Want to send different emails based on what someone clicked last week? Mailchimp can handle that.

Their predictive analytics use machine learning to tell you which subscribers might churn or make purchases. It’s sophisticated stuff. But here’s the thing—if you’re writing a weekly newsletter about productivity tips, do you really need predictive analytics?

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Pricing Comparison

The pricing structures reveal each platform’s DNA. Beehiiv keeps it simple: pay based on subscribers, send as much as you want. Mailchimp layers on complexity with contact limits, send limits, and feature gates.

Here’s where it gets interesting. Beehiiv’s Scale plan at $49 includes their ad network and premium subscription tools. Those features can literally pay for themselves if you’re monetizing your newsletter. Mailchimp doesn’t have native monetization, so you’re looking at additional tools and costs.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Free Plan Comparison

The free plans tell you everything about each platform’s priorities. Beehiiv gives you room to grow. Mailchimp gives you a taste.

Beehiiv’s free plan gives you 5x more subscribers than Mailchimp. That’s not just generous—it’s practical. You can actually build something meaningful before you hit a paywall.

Pros & Cons

Beehiiv

Beehiiv feels like it was designed by someone who actually writes newsletters. The interface doesn’t overwhelm you with buttons and options you’ll never use. You write, you send, you track what matters.

The monetization tools are where Beehiiv really shines. The ad network connects you with relevant sponsors without the back-and-forth of cold emails. Premium subscriptions let you offer paid content tiers. No third-party tools, no revenue splits—just straightforward ways to make money from your writing.

But you’ll hit some walls. The template selection is limited, so you’ll spend more time on design upfront. Some users mention customer service issues, though that seems to be the exception rather than the rule.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp brings the full email marketing arsenal. Advanced segmentation, sophisticated automation workflows, and enough templates to make any email look professional. The integration ecosystem means it probably connects to whatever tools you’re already using.

Users consistently praise the reliability and deliverability. Your emails get to inboxes, which is kind of important. The learning resources are excellent—Mailchimp wants to educate you into becoming a better email marketer.

The downsides creep up as you grow. Costs escalate quickly, and the interface starts feeling cluttered when you just want to write and send a simple newsletter. Plus, no native monetization means you’re cobbling together additional tools if you want to make money.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — User Testimonials & Reviews

Overall rating:

4.2

/5

G2:

4.6

Trustpilot:

3.6

Capterra:

4.3

See other alternatives

Overall rating:

3.9

/5

G2:

4.3

Trustpilot:

2.8

Capterra:

4.5

See other alternatives

Which One Should You Actually Pick?

Here’s my take after diving deep into both platforms.

Go with Beehiiv if you’re writing a newsletter and want to grow it into something bigger. The free plan gives you real room to experiment, the growth tools actually work, and the monetization features can pay for themselves. It’s built for creators who think like publishers.

Stick with Mailchimp if you’re running a business that needs sophisticated email marketing beyond newsletters. The automation tools, integrations, and analytics depth make sense for complex customer journeys and marketing funnels.The honest truth? Most newsletter creators will be happier with Beehiiv. Most businesses will find Mailchimp more comprehensive. And if you’re not sure which category you’re in yet, Beehiiv’s free plan gives you 2,500 subscribers to figure it out.

About author

Emily Austin

Author

Sender

Emily is a content manager who has dipped her toes in almost all fields of marketing, including email marketing, PR, social media, and ecommerce. She’s also no stranger to testing out marketing tools, always keen to find out whether they truly deliver or are just full of big promises. She loves perfecting digital content, ensuring everything is polished and ready to go live.