beehiiv vs Mailchimp
Free-plan headroom and true monthly cost as the list grows. Paid columns use Lite vs Essentials. At 10k: beehiiv $139 · Mailchimp $110.
Free plans
| Feature | beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free available | Yes | Yes |
| Contacts | 2500 | 250 |
| Sends / mo | unlimited | 500 |
| Automations on free | false | false |
| Remove branding | No | No |
Monthly cost by list size
| Subscribers | beehiiv | Mailchimp | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $0 | $13 | beehiiv |
| 1k | $0 | $26.50 | beehiiv |
| 2.5k | $0 | $45 | beehiiv |
| 5k | $109 | $75 | Mailchimp |
| 10k | $139 | $110 | Mailchimp |
| 25k | $199 | $270 | beehiiv |
| 50k | $299 | $385 | beehiiv |
| 100k | $469 | $800 | beehiiv |
beehiiv gotchas.
- Automations only on Lite+
- Remove branding only on Pro+
- Paid subscriptions / Ad Network need Lite+
- Free capped at 2,500 subscribers
Mailchimp gotchas.
- Free plan cut to 250 contacts / 500 sends — poorly suited for real newsletters
- Unsubscribed contacts still count toward paid tiers
- Often more expensive than MailerLite/Kit at same list size
beehiiv vs Mailchimp FAQ
Which is cheaper at 10,000 subscribers — beehiiv or Mailchimp?
On the plans we track (Lite vs Essentials), the cheaper verified bill at 10k is Mailchimp ($110 vs $139). Unknown cells stay blank.
Which has the better free plan — beehiiv or Mailchimp?
beehiiv: free contacts 2500. Mailchimp: free contacts 250.
How much do beehiiv and Mailchimp cost at 1,000 and 5,000 subscribers?
Monthly billing on the plans we track: at 1,000 — beehiiv $0, Mailchimp $26.50; at 5,000 — beehiiv $109, Mailchimp $75. $0 means the free plan still covers that size; “—” means we have not verified a price.
Should I switch from beehiiv to Mailchimp?
Use free-plan headroom and the cost table on this page — not feature star ratings. Read gotchas on each tool page and confirm live vendor pricing before migrating.