Beehiiv vs Mailchimp: Which Is Better for Creators?

ear, frustration, uncertainty, overwhelm.

We've all felt these emotions when trying to choose the right email platform for our newsletter. They're part of the creator experience — albeit not the fun part.

But these emotions are often the predecessors to transformation.

Your newsletter isn't just content — it's your connection, your community, your commerce. Choose the wrong platform and you're fighting uphill. Choose the right one and suddenly everything flows.

Behind every platform decision is a desire for comfort, control and peace of mind.

You want to feel okay about where you're building your audience.

Beehiiv and Mailchimp represent two different paths. Beehiiv, the relative newcomer founded in 2021, has quickly captivated content creators and newsletter publishers with its laser focus on growth and monetization. Mailchimp, established back in 2001, stands as the weathered veteran with a robust suite of features designed for businesses of all sizes.

What you're about to read isn't just a comparison — it's clarity in a world full of content. Because when it comes to platform decisions, clarity brings comfort.

Let's explore how these platforms truly stack up against each other, beyond the marketing speak and find which might be the perfect fit for your specific needs in 2025.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp — Quick Comparison for Creators

Beehiiv and Mailchimp are two leading email marketing platforms with distinct strengths. Beehiiv excels in newsletter growth and monetization with features like referral programs, an ad network and subscription options at competitive pricing (free for up to 2,500 subscribers). Mailchimp offers broader marketing capabilities with extensive templates, advanced automation and e-commerce integration but at a higher price point (free for up to 500 subscribers). For content creators focused on newsletters, Beehiiv's specialized tools make it the superior choice, while businesses needing comprehensive marketing solutions may prefer Mailchimp's all-in-one approach.

1. Platform Overview: Understanding the Key Differences

You've probably heard the buzz about both platforms.

"Mailchimp is for everyone," they say. "Beehiiv is built for creators," others chime in.

But what does that actually mean for you?

Beehiiv: The Creator-First Newsletter Platform

Beehiiv isn't trying to be everything for everyone. Instead, it positions itself as the platform built specifically for newsletter creators. Founded by former Morning Brew team members who lived and breathed newsletters, it focuses on helping publishers grow their audience and monetize their content effectively.

It's like they looked at the traditional email marketing landscape and thought: "What if we designed this entire thing around making newsletters successful, not just sent?"

Key differentiators:

• Newsletter-first approach with specialized growth tools
• Built-in monetization options (subscriptions, ad network, boosts)
• Modern, streamlined interface
• SEO-friendly blog integration
• No commission on subscription revenue

Mailchimp: The All-in-One Marketing Solution

Mailchimp has evolved far beyond its humble beginnings. What started as a simple email marketing tool has transformed into a comprehensive marketing platform. It's like the Swiss Army knife of digital marketing — versatile, reliable, but perhaps not specialized for any single purpose.

Key differentiators:

• Extensive template library
• Robust automation capabilities
• Integration with e-commerce platforms
• Advanced segmentation and tagging
• Comprehensive marketing features (landing pages, social media, etc.)

The choice between them isn't just about features — it's about vision. Do you want a specialized tool crafted for newsletters or a versatile platform that handles all your marketing needs?

2. User Interface and Ease of Use

We've all felt that sense of dread when opening a new platform — the overwhelm, the confusion, the "where do I even start?"

The interface isn't just about aesthetics. It's about feeling in control. Comfortable. Like you can actually use this thing without a computer science degree.

Beehiiv: Streamlined for Content Creators

Opening Beehiiv feels like walking into a minimalist apartment designed specifically for writers. Everything has its place. Nothing distracts from the primary purpose: creating great newsletters.

The email editor feels intuitive, almost like it's anticipating what you want to do next:

• Drag-and-drop functionality that actually works
• Clean, modern templates that don't scream "template"
• Straightforward customization options without overwhelming you
• Mobile-responsive design that doesn't break when viewed on phones
• HTML editing capability tucked away until you need it

Beehiiv's dashboard gives you a clear picture of your newsletter performance with just a glance. No digging through complex menus or deciphering cryptic metrics.

It's the difference between a Swiss Army knife and a perfectly balanced chef's knife. One does many things adequately; the other does one thing exceptionally well.

Mailchimp: Feature-Rich but More Complex

Mailchimp offers a friendly interface — friendly in the way a labyrinth with helpful signage is friendly. You'll get there eventually, but you might take a few wrong turns along the way.

Its email builder provides:

• Drag-and-drop functionality with more options than you might need
• Extensive template library (100+ templates) for every situation imaginable
• Comprehensive customization options that sometimes feel overwhelming
• Preview capabilities across devices to ensure consistent experiences
• HTML coding options for the technically inclined

Mailchimp guides you well, but mastering its full potential requires more time investment. It's like learning to play the piano versus the kazoo — greater capability comes with a steeper learning curve.

The question isn't just which is easier to use, but which aligns better with how you work. Do you want simplicity and focus or comprehensive capability with more complexity?

3. Email Creation and Design Capabilities

Beehiiv: Focused on Newsletter Quality

Beehiiv provides a straightforward approach to newsletter creation with modern templates and easy customization. While it offers fewer templates than Mailchimp, its designs are specifically optimized for newsletter content.

Key design features include:

• Clean, contemporary newsletter templates
• Efficient customization options
• Excellent mobile responsiveness
• Content blocks optimized for newsletters
• Ability to save sections for reuse

Mailchimp: Extensive Design Options

Mailchimp excels in design flexibility with a vast library of templates and robust customization capabilities. Its design features include:

• 100+ pre-designed templates for various purposes
• Extensive customization options for branding
• Advanced styling capabilities
• Saved content blocks and templates
• Comprehensive asset library

For businesses that prioritize design versatility and brand consistency across various marketing materials, Mailchimp provides more extensive options.

4. Audience Management and Segmentation

Beehiiv: Essential Segmentation for Publishers

Beehiiv offers practical segmentation capabilities designed for newsletter publishers:

• Audience grouping based on engagement
• Contact importing/exporting
• Contact scrubbing
• Basic behavioral segmentation
• Custom fields for additional data

Mailchimp: Advanced Audience Management

Mailchimp provides more sophisticated audience management tools:

• Tags for flexible organization
• Groups for subscriber preferences
• Advanced segmentation with multiple conditions
• Behavioral targeting based on activity
• Predictive demographics and insights

For businesses requiring detailed audience segmentation and complex targeting, Mailchimp offers more advanced capabilities.

5. Growth and Engagement Features

Growth isn't just about numbers.

It's about relief. The comfort of knowing you're building something sustainable. The excitement of watching your ideas reach more people. The validation that comes from seeing your subscriber count tick upward.

But how do these platforms help you achieve that growth?

Beehiiv: Built for Newsletter Growth

Beehiiv approaches growth differently than traditional email platforms. Instead of generic marketing tools, it offers specialized features designed specifically to help newsletters expand their audience.

It's as if they looked at how the most successful newsletters actually grow and built those strategies directly into the platform.

What sets Beehiiv apart:

• Built-in referral program that turns your readers into recruiters
• Recommendation network where newsletters cross-promote each other
• Boosts marketplace for paid subscriber acquisition (when you're ready to invest)
• One-click audience polls that increase engagement with minimal friction
• SEO-optimized web pages that bring in organic traffic while you sleep

I've seen newsletters on Beehiiv go from hundreds to thousands of subscribers simply by leveraging these built-in growth tools. No external apps, no complex integrations, no marketing degree required.

Mailchimp: Comprehensive Marketing Tools

Mailchimp takes a broader approach to growth with a comprehensive suite of marketing tools:

• Landing page builder for capturing leads
• Social media integration for cross-channel promotion
• Retargeting ads to re-engage prospects
• A/B testing to optimize your messaging
• Survey capabilities to gather feedback

These are powerful tools for businesses with diverse marketing needs, but they aren't specifically optimized for newsletter growth.

Here's the difference: Mailchimp gives you general marketing tools that can be applied to newsletter growth. Beehiiv gives you specific newsletter growth tools designed for that singular purpose.

Which approach resonates more with your needs? The specialized newsletter growth platform or the comprehensive marketing toolkit?

6. Monetization Capabilities

Money matters.

Not just because we all need to eat, but because monetization is the difference between a hobby and a sustainable creative business.

And let's be honest — this is where the two platforms diverge most dramatically.

Beehiiv: Multiple Revenue Streams Built Right In

One of Beehiiv's strongest advantages is how monetization is woven into its DNA. It's not an afterthought or an add-on — it's a core feature designed to help creators build sustainable businesses.

Think about it. Wouldn't it be nice if the platform you use to send newsletters actually helped you make money from those newsletters?

Beehiiv offers:

• Premium subscription models with surprisingly flexible options:
  
  • Monthly/annual subscriptions like everyone else offers
  • Lifetime access for those big upfront payments
  • "Pay what you want" option for those who believe in value-based pricing
• Integrated ad network where sponsors come to you
• Boosts marketplace to earn from referring subscribers to other newsletters
• No platform fees on subscription revenue (just standard payment processing)
• Referral program with customizable rewards that actually motivate sharing

These aren't just bullet points on a feature list. They're revenue streams that can transform your newsletter from a passion project into a profitable publication.

Mailchimp: Limited Direct Monetization

Mailchimp approaches monetization from a completely different angle.

It's not designed to help you make money directly from your content. Instead, it focuses on helping businesses promote their products or services through email marketing.

Think of it this way: Mailchimp helps you sell things through email; Beehiiv helps you sell the email itself.

For content creators looking to earn directly from their newsletters, this difference isn't subtle — it's fundamental.

If your business model involves selling products or services and using email as a marketing channel, Mailchimp works beautifully.

But if your business model is the newsletter itself? Beehiiv's built-in monetization tools might be exactly what you need.

7. Automation and Workflow

Beehiiv: Essential Automation for Publishers

Beehiiv offers newsletter-focused automation capabilities:

• Visual drag-and-drop automation builder
• Triggered emails based on subscriber actions
• Conditional logic for personalized workflows
• Pre-built templates for common scenarios
• Post-subscription sequencing

While not as advanced as Mailchimp's automation features, Beehiiv provides the essential tools needed for newsletter publishers.

Mailchimp: Advanced Automation Capabilities

Mailchimp excels in automation with sophisticated options:

• Complex workflow automation
• Multiple trigger points
• Advanced conditional branching
• Customer journey mapping
• Behavior-based automation
• Transactional email support

For businesses requiring complex marketing automation beyond newsletters, Mailchimp offers more comprehensive capabilities.

8. Analytics and Reporting

Beehiiv: Publisher-Focused Insights

Beehiiv provides analytics tailored to newsletter publishers:

• Comprehensive open and click rates
• Growth tracking with source attribution
• Subscriber behavior analysis
• Content performance metrics
• "3D" analytics for premium subscribers

Beehiiv's analytics focus on the metrics that matter most to newsletter creators, making it easier to track growth and engagement.

Mailchimp: Extensive Marketing Analytics

Mailchimp offers broader marketing analytics:

• Detailed campaign performance
• Audience insights and segmentation analysis
• Comparative reporting
• E-commerce performance tracking
• Revenue attribution
• Predictive analytics

For businesses looking to analyze performance across multiple marketing channels, Mailchimp provides more extensive reporting capabilities.

9. Pricing Comparison

Beehiiv: Creator-Friendly Pricing

• Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers with unlimited emails
• Paid Plans: Start at $43/month (annual) or $49/month (monthly)
• No revenue share on subscriptions (only standard payment processing fees)

Mailchimp: Tiered Pricing Structure

• Free Plan: Up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month
• Paid Plans: Start at $13/month
• Prices increase significantly as subscriber count grows

10. Deliverability and Reliability

Beehiiv: Built for Newsletter Deliverability

Beehiiv was designed by "newsletter people" with a focus on deliverability:

• Dedicated infrastructure for newsletter sending
• Domain authentication
• Spam testing capabilities
• Automatic bounce management
• Regular deliverability optimization

Many users report excellent deliverability rates with Beehiiv, with emails consistently reaching the primary inbox rather than promotions or spam folders.

Mailchimp: Industry Leader in Deliverability

Mailchimp has established itself as a deliverability leader:

• Advanced compliance monitoring
• Dedicated IP addresses (premium plans)
• Comprehensive authentication
• AI-driven content scanning
• Detailed deliverability analytics

With its long history and established sender reputation, Mailchimp provides excellent deliverability, particularly for businesses sending promotional content.

11. Integration Capabilities

Beehiiv: Essential Integrations for Publishers

Beehiiv offers a growing selection of integrations focused on the needs of newsletter publishers:

• Google Analytics
• Stripe for payments
• Zapier for connecting with other apps
• API access for custom integrations
• Webhooks support

While more limited than Mailchimp, Beehiiv provides the essential integrations needed for newsletter operations.

Mailchimp: Extensive Integration Ecosystem

Mailchimp offers an impressive range of direct integrations:

• 700+ native integrations
• E-commerce platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.)
• CRM systems
• Social media platforms
• Analytics tools
• Website builders
• Advanced API capabilities

For businesses with complex tech stacks requiring seamless data flow between systems, Mailchimp's integration capabilities are superior.

12. Support and Resources

Beehiiv: Growing Support System

Beehiiv offers:

• Email-based customer support
• Knowledge base and tutorials
• Regular webinars
• Active community
• Responsive team

As a newer platform, Beehiiv's support resources are still growing but generally receive positive feedback from users.

Mailchimp: Comprehensive Support Infrastructure

Mailchimp provides:

• 24/7 email support
• Live chat (paid plans)
• Phone support (Premium plan)
• Extensive knowledge base
• Tutorials and guides
• Marketing resources

With its established position in the market, Mailchimp offers more comprehensive support options, particularly for users on higher-tier plans.

Who Should Choose Beehiiv?

Beehiiv is the ideal choice for:

• Content creators and newsletter publishers focused on growing and monetizing their audience
• Writers and journalists looking to build a sustainable newsletter business
• Media companies seeking direct monetization options for their content
• Creators with growing audiences who want to avoid revenue sharing
• Publishers prioritizing simplicity over exhaustive marketing features
• Startups and solopreneurs looking for affordable newsletter tools

Who Should Choose Mailchimp?

Mailchimp is better suited for:

• Small to medium-sized businesses needing comprehensive marketing tools
• E-commerce stores requiring integration with their sales platforms
• Marketing teams managing multiple channels beyond email
• Organizations with complex automation needs across the customer journey
• Businesses with diverse marketing requirements beyond newsletters
• Companies needing advanced segmentation and targeting capabilities

Comparison Table: Beehiiv vs Mailchimp at a Glance

Making Your Decision: Key Considerations

Decision paralysis.

We've all been there. Staring at two options, weighing pros and cons, feeling the weight of potential regret over choosing wrong.

Behind every platform decision is that fundamental desire: to feel okay about your choice.

So let's cut through the noise and focus on what truly matters.

When choosing between Beehiiv and Mailchimp, ask yourself these questions:

1. What's your primary goal? Are you building a newsletter as your primary product or is email just one channel in your marketing strategy?
   
2. How will you make money? Do you want to monetize your newsletter directly through subscriptions and ads or is email simply driving sales elsewhere?
   
3. What's your budget reality? As your subscriber base grows, how will the pricing of each platform affect your bottom line?
   
4. What kind of growth matters to you? Are newsletter-specific growth tools essential or do you need broader marketing capabilities?
   
5. How technically inclined are you? Will you leverage advanced automation and integration capabilities or do you prefer simplicity?
   
6. What does your design process look like? Do you need extensive design flexibility and template variety or is clean simplicity more important?
   
7. Where are you headed? Will your email marketing needs expand beyond newsletters in the future?
   

The answers to these questions will lead you to clarity. And clarity brings comfort. Or just give a go at their free trial and you’ll see which platform you feel more confident about. 

Because ultimately, the "best" platform isn't about features or pricing or what everyone else is using.

It's about what makes you feel okay about where you're building your audience.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Platform for Your Needs

We've dissected features, compared interfaces, contrasted pricing and analyzed strengths and weaknesses.

But at the end of this journey, the decision comes down to a simple truth: these platforms were built with different creators in mind.

Beehiiv wasn't designed to be everything for everyone. It was built for people who see newsletters as their primary medium — their product, not just their marketing. Its specialized growth tools, built-in monetization options and creator-friendly pricing make it particularly attractive for those focused on newsletter publishing.

It's the platform for the newsletter-first creator.

Mailchimp remains the stronger option for businesses that see email as one component of a broader marketing strategy. Its extensive feature set, advanced automation and broad integration capabilities make it well-suited for companies with diverse marketing needs that extend well beyond newsletters.

It's the platform for the marketing-first business.

Ultimately, your choice should align with not just your current needs, but with your vision. With how you see yourself and your content evolving.

Behind every platform decision is a desire for control, for clarity, for comfort. For feeling okay about where you're building.

Choose the platform that gives you that peace of mind. The one that feels aligned not just with what you do, but with who you are as a creator.

Because when your tools align with your vision, you do more than just grow an audience.

You build a sustainable creative business that feels like it was made for you.

Because it was.

FAQs About Beehiiv and Mailchimp

Can I migrate my subscribers from Mailchimp to Beehiiv?

Yes, Beehiiv offers a straightforward migration process for importing subscribers from Mailchimp and other platforms. You can export your contacts from Mailchimp as a CSV file and import them directly into Beehiiv.

Which platform offers better deliverability?

Both platforms offer good deliverability rates. Beehiiv was designed specifically for newsletter deliverability and many users report excellent inbox placement. Mailchimp has established deliverability infrastructure but some users report promotional emails sometimes land in the promotions tab.

Can I monetize my newsletter with both platforms?

Beehiiv offers built-in monetization through paid subscriptions, an ad network and cross-promotion opportunities. Mailchimp doesn't provide direct newsletter monetization tools but can be used to promote products or services through email marketing.

Which platform is more cost-effective as my audience grows?

For most newsletter publishers, Beehiiv tends to be more cost-effective at scale. Its unlimited email sends and higher subscriber limits on lower-tier plans make it more affordable as your audience grows. Mailchimp's pricing increases more significantly with subscriber growth.

Can I create automated email sequences with both platforms?

Yes, both platforms offer automation capabilities. Beehiiv provides essential automation features focused on newsletters, while Mailchimp offers more advanced automation options with complex conditional logic and customer journey mapping.