Beehiiv vs Mailchimp 2025 – (Tried and Tested)

Last updated on April 20th, 2025 at

So, you’re stuck between Beehiiv vs Mailchimp for your email marketing? You’re not alone! It’s like being caught between two amazing options, and you’re wondering which one will fit your business best. Both platforms are popular and come with their own set of shiny features, but which one is the one for you?

Mailchimp is powerful and packed with features — great for advanced email marketing. But it can be overwhelming and pricey, especially if you’re just starting out or not using all the extras.

Beehiiv is simple, clean, and built for creators. It’s easier to use, more focused on content and growth, but may lack some of the advanced tools bigger businesses might want.

In this Beehiiv vs Mailchimp post, I’m not here to declare a “winner” between Mailchimp and Beehiiv. Both tools are great in their own ways. My goal is to help you decide which one fits your needs better. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for specific features, it all comes down to what you really need.

Ready to figure out which platform deserves your love? Let’s dive in and find out!

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp: At a Glance

FeatureBeehiivMailchimp
Ease of UseWinner: Simple, intuitive interface; ideal for beginners.Lose: Slightly steeper learning curve with more features.
Templates & DesignLose: Limited pre-built templates; design from scratch.Winner: 100+ templates; more versatile for ecommerce.
CustomizationLose: Basic customization with a code-block option.Winner: Advanced customization with drag-and-drop editor.
Monetization ToolsWinner: Paid subscriptions, ads, sponsored content.Lose: Ecommerce-focused tools like promo blocks & carts.
Audience EngagementWinner: Boosts, Recommendations, Referral program.Lose: Limited, focuses on email campaigns & signup forms.
List ManagementWinner: Advanced segmentation, automatic updates.Lose: Tagging system; can become messy with multiple lists.
AutomationsLose: Simple, flexible multi-step journeys.Winner: Advanced workflows, customer journey builder.
Analytics & ReportingLose: Quick, simple overview; 3D analytics for posts and subscribers.Winner: Comprehensive with customizable reports and KPIs.
PricingWinner: Free plan up to 2,500 subscribers; affordable paid plans.Lose: Free plan up to 500 subscribers; paid plans with limits.

Quick Overview of Beehiiv

 Beehiiv vs Mailchimp

After trying both Beehiiv and Mailchimp, I can say that if you’re looking for something simple and made for creators, Beehiiv is a great choice. It’s perfect for newsletter writers and small businesses who want to grow their audience without dealing with complicated tools. Beehiiv makes it easy to organize your audience, personalize emails, and see how well your emails are doing with clear, simple analytics. It’s easy to use and focuses on helping you get results without extra confusion.

Quick Overview of Mailchimp

Mailchimp Home Page (Email Marketing Software) - ProfitBooks.net

Mailchimp is a powerful tool with a lot of features that go beyond just email. It helps you automate tasks, organize your audience, track your results, and connect with other tools you use. But, it can be a bit complicated, especially if you’re new to email marketing. If you’re willing to spend some time learning how it works, Mailchimp can help you grow your email marketing in a big way. It’s like having a toolbox full of useful tools, but it takes some time to learn how to use them all.

Ease of Use: Which Platform Is Simpler to Navigate?

Beehiiv

Beehiiv's dashboard homepage

New to Email Marketing? Beehiiv Keeps It Super Simple

If you’re just starting out and don’t want to deal with a bunch of confusing tools, Beehiiv is a great pick.

The dashboard is clean and easy to understand. You won’t get lost in buttons or settings. You can start writing your first email newsletter in just a few minutes—no tech skills needed.

It’s perfect if you just want to focus on your writing and get your message out fast. No stress, no complicated setup.

👉 In short: Beehiiv is beginner-friendly and lets you hit “send” without the headaches.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp dashboard - survey

Mailchimp Has Lots of Features—Maybe Too Many at First

Mailchimp gives you a lot. It’s like a Swiss Army knife for email marketing—you’ll find tools for automation, fancy templates, detailed audience targeting, and connections to other apps.

But if you’re new? It might feel like too much. There are tons of buttons and options, and you might be asking, “Where do I even start?”

It’s kind of like learning to drive a stick shift. At first, it’s tricky. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll have more control and power.

👉 In short: Mailchimp is packed with tools, but be ready for a learning curve if you’re just getting started.

Email Editor: Crafting Your Perfect Message

Beehiiv

The Best Editor in Email

Beehiiv Makes Writing Emails Easy (And Kinda Fun)

If you’re a content creator or just want to send out emails without the stress, Beehiiv keeps things simple.

The editor is super easy to use—you can write your newsletter, design a sign-up form, and make everything look nice without needing any tech skills. Just type, click, and send. ✨

Want to get fancy? You can even add your own code blocks. But don’t worry—you don’t have to.

What’s really great is how organized everything is:

  • You write your content ✍️

  • Choose who it’s going to 📊

  • Add final details

  • And send it off 🚀

Everything happens step-by-step, so you won’t get lost. It’s clean, calm, and even works well if you’re collaborating with a team.

Oh—and customizing your sign-up page? Super easy. Just fill in a few things, turn off what you don’t need, and you’re good to go. 👍

👉 In short: Beehiiv is made for creators who want less stress and more sending.

Now, let’s talk about Mailchimp.

Mailchimp's new builder

Mailchimp Gives You Two Ways to Build Emails – But It Can Be Confusing at First

When you start creating an email in Mailchimp, you’ll be asked to pick between two builders:

1. Classic Builder

  • Great if you like full control and don’t mind digging into custom code or more advanced settings.

  • Works well for using things like RSS-to-email (automatic email updates from a blog or site).

  • Familiar to long-time Mailchimp users, but might feel a bit outdated for beginners.

2. New Builder

  • Designed to be more modern and beginner-friendly.

  • Includes helpful features like:

    • Undo/redo buttons (super handy if you make a mistake)

    • Survey blocks so you can ask readers questions directly in the email

    • Content Optimizer – a tool that gives you real-time tips to improve your email (like making it more readable or engaging)

Both builders let you design solid emails, but they work differently, and that can be a little confusing if you’re just getting started. You might need to play around a bit to see which one fits your style best.

👉 In short: Mailchimp gives you powerful tools to build emails and pages—but be prepared to spend a little time learning where everything is and how it works.

Design and Flexibility: Who’s Got the Creative Edge?

Beehiiv

Design Stunning Email Newsletters with Canva and beehiiv

Beehiiv Gives You a Blank Canvas – Great for Creators, But Not Plug-and-Play

When you create a newsletter or landing page in Beehiiv, you start with a clean, empty layout. It’s perfect if you love designing things your own way. You get total freedom to create whatever you want—no limits.

But here’s the catch:
Since there are no pre-made templates, you’ll need to build everything from scratch. If you’re not super comfortable with design, it might take a bit longer to make things look just right.

👍 Pros:

  • Full design freedom – You control how everything looks

  • Simple, clutter-free editor – Great if you like a minimal workspace

  • Ideal for creators or designers who want a custom look

👎 Cons:

  • No ready-made templates – You’re building from the ground up

  • Takes more time if you’re new to email or design

👉 In short: Beehiiv is awesome for creative freedom—but if you want quick, done-for-you templates, this might slow you down a bit.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp email templates

Mailchimp Makes It Easy with Pre-Built Templates (No Design Skills Needed)

If you don’t want to design emails from scratch, Mailchimp has your back.

With a paid plan, you get access to 100+ pre-built email templates—and even the Free plan includes a few basic ones. All of them are mobile-friendly, so they look good on any device.

These templates are perfect if you’re short on time or just want something that’s ready to go. Just pick one, add your content, and you’re done.

Want more control?

  • You can code your own email template (if you’re into that).

  • Or check out the Mailchimp Marketplace—a library of extra templates you can use or customize.

Monetization Options: Which Platform Helps You Earn?

Beehiiv

Beehiiv's paid subscriptions

Beehiiv Makes It Easy to Monetize Your Content (But It’s for Paid Plans)

Beehiiv has been awesome for turning my newsletter into a source of income. The platform offers easy ways to make money through:

  • Multiple subscription tiers (so you can offer different levels of access)

  • Sponsored content (letting you work with brands)

  • Ads (to make extra cash from your content)

Everything’s simple to use, so managing subscriptions and growing your audience is a breeze. However, keep in mind that these money-making features are only available on the paid plans.

For me, though, the investment has been totally worth it to turn my passion into profit.

👉 In short: Beehiiv makes it easy to monetize your newsletter—but you’ll need a paid plan to access these features.

Mailchimp and Monetization: Good for eCommerce, But Not Focused on Newsletters

When it comes to making money with your email list, Mailchimp is more geared toward selling physical or digital products rather than monetizing content itself.

It offers useful eCommerce tools, like:

  • Product recommendations

  • Promo codes

  • Sales automation

But if you’re trying to monetize your newsletter content directly, Mailchimp doesn’t have the same level of flexibility as Beehiiv.

Also, if you plan on using affiliate links (promoting products and earning a commission), Mailchimp has strict rules about it. So, you’ll need to follow their guidelines carefully to avoid any issues.

👉 In short: Mailchimp works well for selling products, but it’s not built for newsletter-based monetization like Beehiiv.

List Management: Which Platform Lets You Organize and Engage Better?

Beehiiv

Beehiiv's subscriber profile dashboard

Make Your Emails Smarter with Beehiiv (Even If You’re New!)

If you’re sending emails to a bunch of people, it helps to know who’s interested in what. Beehiiv makes this easy.

With Beehiiv, you can organize your audience into groups based on what they like, how they behave, or how often they read your stuff. This way, you’re not sending the same email to everyone—you’re sending the right email to the right person.

One cool thing? There’s a subscriber profile for each person. It shows you what they’ve clicked, read, or ignored. That helps you understand what’s working and what’s not.

You can also tag your readers (kind of like putting labels on them), like:

  • Where they signed up from

  • What kind of content they like

  • How often they read your emails

And best part? Beehiiv can do this automatically—so you don’t have to spend hours sorting people by hand.

👉 In short: Beehiiv helps you send smarter emails that people actually want to read.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp Lists Tutorial | Coupler.io Blog

Mailchimp: Good Tools, But It Can Get Messy Fast

Mailchimp is a popular email tool, but when it comes to keeping your audience organized, it’s not always the smoothest ride.

Instead of letting you make multiple clean lists for different groups, Mailchimp wants you to use just one big list for everyone. Then you have to tag and segment people inside that list. It works, but once you have a lot of subscribers, it can feel like tossing everything into one messy drawer. You can find what you need—but it might take some digging.

You can make more than one list, sure—but here’s the catch: if the same person is on two lists, Mailchimp counts them twice, which means you pay more. Not ideal if you’re trying to save money.

Now, one cool feature is something called Groups. This lets you ask your readers what they’re interested in when they sign up. For example, they can choose if they want news, tips, or deals—so you don’t have to guess. That puts your subscribers in control and helps you send more relevant stuff.

👉 In short: Mailchimp can work well, but it might take more time and effort to keep things tidy—especially as your audience grows.

Automations: Who’s Doing the Heavy Lifting for You?

Beehiiv

beehiiv workflow

Beehiiv’s Automations: Simple, Powerful, and Super Easy to Set Up

When it comes to automations, Beehiiv keeps things simple—no need for a tech degree. It’s like your favorite coffee order: just right, no extra fluff.

With Beehiiv, you can create automated journeys for your subscribers. For example, you can set up automatic emails based on things they do, like:

  • Signing up for your newsletter

  • Filling out forms

  • Upgrading to a premium plan

It’s like having a little robot that sends the perfect content to each person at the right time—without you lifting a finger.

You can even add time delays and conditional paths (like “only send this if they clicked this link”), so your subscribers always get what they need, when they need it. And the best part? Beehiiv’s tools are super beginner-friendly. It feels like the platform is guiding you every step of the way, making sure you’re not lost.

👉 In short: Beehiiv makes automations easy and effective—even if you’ve never set one up before.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's pre-built customer journey

Mailchimp’s Automations: The Ultimate Power Tool for Email Marketing

If Beehiiv is the laid-back option, then Mailchimp is the automation powerhouse—it’s like the Swiss Army knife of email automations. There’s almost nothing it can’t do!

Here’s how it works:

  • Classic Automations handle the basics—things like welcome emails, birthday greetings, or abandoned cart reminders (if you’re selling products).

  • Customer Journey Builder is where things get cool. You can create custom workflows based on how your subscribers act. For example:

    • If someone didn’t open your last email about your sale, you can set up an automation to send them a follow-up email.

    • If they clicked on a link, you can send them more content about that topic.

If you don’t want to start from scratch, Mailchimp has pre-built journeys you can just plug in and go. It’s like having a personal assistant who handles your subscriber needs—while you sit back and relax.

👉 In short: Mailchimp’s automations are powerful and flexible, but they might feel more complicated if you’re just starting out.

Analytics and Reporting: Who Gives You the Best Insights?

Beehiiv

Boost Newsletter Growth with beehiiv 3D Analytics Insights

Beehiiv Makes Tracking Your Performance Easy and Straightforward

With Beehiiv, tracking your performance is simple and quick. When you log into your dashboard, you immediately see a snapshot of how your publication is doing, based on the time frame you choose—whether it’s the last 7 days, 4 weeks, or any other period you like. Think of it as the headlines of your email marketing—everything you need in one place.

If you want to dive deeper into the numbers, you can easily switch between:

  • Overview mode for a quick glance

  • Detailed insights like:

    • Audience growth 📈

    • Engagement rates 💬

    • Monetization performance 💰

It’s all right there on the home screen—no digging through menus. This makes tracking your progress a lot faster and saves you time when you’ve got other things to focus on.

3D Analytics: Dig Into Your Data with Two Key Reports

Beehiiv’s 3D analytics break things into two main panels:

  1. Posts Reports – Track how each of your posts is performing, including engagement levels (who’s reading and clicking).

  2. Subscribers Reports – See how your subscriber count is growing, and find out which channels are bringing in the most people.

You can also check out Clicks Reports, which show you which links are getting the most attention from your readers. This near real-time data lets you adjust your content strategy on the spot—so you can keep improving.

👉 In short: Beehiiv gives you quick, clear insights to track your email performance and grow your audience without the hassle.

Mailchimp

Mailchimp's custom report option

Mailchimp’s Analytics: A Powerhouse for Data Lovers

When it comes to tracking your performance, Mailchimp is like the Swiss Army knife of analytics—it’s got a tool for just about everything! If you love diving into numbers and want to know everything about your email campaigns, Mailchimp is where you’ll feel right at home.

Powerful Dashboard for Quick Insights

Mailchimp’s marketing dashboard gives you a detailed overview of how your campaigns are doing. It tracks:

  • Open rates (how many people are opening your emails)

  • Bounce rates (how many emails aren’t being delivered)

  • Revenue (how much money your campaigns are generating)

You can even see performance metrics for each individual email—so you’ll know exactly how every message is doing.

Advanced Metrics for Data Lovers

If you want to dive even deeper, Mailchimp gives you access to advanced analytics, like:

  • Email forwards and opens (who’s sharing your content?)

  • Average revenue per automation (which automations are making you money?)

  • Top subscriber locations and email clients (where your audience is and how they’re reading your emails)

Customize Your Reports

What sets Mailchimp apart is that you can customize and organize your reports to focus on the data that matters most to you. Whether it’s:

  • Landing page performance

  • Automations

  • Social media posts

Mailchimp gives you the flexibility to view everything from a broader marketing perspective, so you’re always in control of the numbers.

👉 In short: Mailchimp’s analytics are perfect if you want to dive deep into the data and customize your reports. It’s a great tool for anyone who loves numbers!

Pricing: Who Offers the Best Bang for Your Buck?

Beehiiv

Beehiiv Pricing: Generous Free Plan and Affordable Options for Growth

Let’s talk pricing. Beehiiv is super generous, especially if you’re just starting out. Their free plan lets you manage up to 2,500 subscribers—which is a big deal compared to other platforms. And you still get features like:

  • Audience segmentation (organize your subscribers)

  • Custom emails (send personalized content)

It’s a great option for creators and small publishers who want to try things out without spending a cent.

Ready to Grow? The Paid Plans

When you’re ready to scale up, Beehiiv’s Scale plan is a fantastic next step. For just $39/month, you can manage 1,000 contacts and send unlimited emails. Plus, you get access to awesome features like:

  • Beehiiv AI (helping you optimize your content)

  • Audio newsletters (add a new dimension to your content)

  • Recommendation network (helping you grow your audience)

If you’re looking to go all out with all the features, the Max plan is available for $99/month. It’s a solid price for everything you get, and it’s more affordable than many other platforms as you scale up.

👉 In short: Beehiiv offers a super generous free plan and affordable paid plans that make scaling easy without breaking the bank.

Beehiiv's Scale plan vs Mailchimp's Standard plan

Mailchimp Pricing: Free Plan and Paid Options, But Watch Out for Limits

Mailchimp also offers a free plan, letting you manage up to 500 subscribers with 1,000 email sends per month. It’s a decent way to get started, but once you hit those limits, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Mailchimp’s Standard plan costs $20/month for 500 contacts, and it comes with 50,000 sends per month—which sounds like a lot, right? But keep in mind, depending on how often you send emails, you might hit that limit sooner than you think.

The Standard plan gives you advanced features like:

  • Abandoned cart recovery (ideal for eCommerce stores)

  • Customer journey building (set up automated workflows)

  • MMS marketing (Multimedia messaging)

However, if you’re not running an eCommerce business, these tools might feel like overkill for your needs.

Scaling Up: Mailchimp’s Premium Plan

If you want to scale up, Mailchimp’s Premium plan starts at a hefty $350/month—which is a pretty big leap compared to Beehiiv’s $99/month Max plan. So, scaling with Mailchimp can get expensive fast!

👉 In short: Mailchimp’s free plan is fine for small lists, but as you scale, the pricing can get pricey quickly—especially compared to Beehiiv’s more affordable options.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp – Pros and Cons

Beehiiv: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Easy to Use: Clean, beginner-friendly interface.

  • Great Free Plan: Up to 2,500 subscribers for free.

  • Monetization Tools: Paid newsletters, ads, and sponsorships.

  • Personal Support: Fast, personalized help from a smaller team.

  • Audience Growth: Boosts, referrals, and recommendations to grow faster.

Cons:

  • Few Templates: No pre-designed email templates.

  • Limited Customization: Basic design options unless you code.

  • Simple Automation: Lacks advanced automation features.

  • Paid Features: Monetization tools require a paid plan.


Mailchimp: Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • Feature-Rich: Full marketing suite with ecommerce tools.

  • 24/7 Support: Help anytime (on paid plans).

  • In-Depth Analytics: Advanced reports and insights.

  • Tons of Templates: 100+ email templates included.

  • Advanced Automation: Smart customer journeys and workflows.

Cons:

  • Harder to Learn: More complex for beginners.

  • Gets Expensive: Costs rise quickly with list size.

  • Ecommerce Focused: Not ideal for pure content creators.

  • Free Plan Limitations: Key features locked until you upgrade.

Beehiiv vs Mailchimp – Which One’s Right for You?

At the end of the day, picking the right email marketing platform depends on what you value most.

If you want something that’s easy to use, clean, and built for content creators, Beehiiv is a great choice. It’s beginner-friendly, comes with a generous free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers), and offers powerful tools to help you monetize your content—like paid newsletters, sponsorships, and referrals.

On the other hand, Mailchimp is loaded with features—advanced automation, deep analytics, ecommerce tools, and over 100+ templates. It’s ideal for businesses with more complex needs. But for smaller creators, it can feel overwhelming and get expensive as your list grows.

Quick Recap:

Go with Beehiiv if you want:

  • A simple, distraction-free platform

  • Built-in monetization tools

  • Easy audience growth features

  • More value from the free plan

Go with Mailchimp if you need:

  • Advanced automations and analytics

  • Ecommerce-focused tools

  • A full marketing suite

  • Flexibility with integrations


Comments

No comments yet. Why don’t you start the discussion?

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *