Comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns to help small businesses choose the right tools and stack them to automate online marketing.
beehiiv vs MailchimpConvertKit vs beehiivMailerLite vs MailchimpKlaviyo vs MailchimpGetResponse vs ConvertKitDescript vs Riverside
beehiiv vs Mailchimp
Last updated: Sep 2025Sources: beehiiv pricing & blog, independent reviews (EmailToolTester, EmailVendorSelection), and customer review sites (Trustpilot, G2, Sender).
beehiiv
Creator-first- Ideal for: creators, media-style newsletters, solo teams focused on audience growth & monetization
- Standouts: built-in referral program, ad/boost networks, paid subscriptions, audience growth tools, simple editor (pricing) (review)
- Notable feedback: strong growth/monetization focus; some mixed support/account reviews on Trustpilot (Trustpilot)
Mailchimp
SMB marketing suite- Ideal for: small businesses wanting broad marketing features (email, forms, sites, basic CRM, SMS add-on)
- Standouts: templates, brand recognition, multi-channel add-ons, large ecosystem (pricing) (G2)
- Notable feedback: good UI and features; some users cite price increases and billing/support frustrations (Trustpilot)
| Category | beehiiv | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Launch plan $0, up to 2,500 subscribers; unlimited sends; website & basic analytics source | Free tier exists but limited; 14‑day Standard trial promos vary over time source |
| Core paid pricing | Scale from ~$34.40/mo billed annually; Max from ~$76.80/mo billed annually (tiered by subscribers) source | Standard/Essentials/Premium tiers; pricing scales by contacts and sends; Premium removes contact limits source |
| Automation | Visual automations included on Scale+; webhooks & API access available source | Enhanced automations on Standard+; journey builder and segmentation source |
| Monetization | Ad Network, Boost Network, paid subscriptions, referral program built‑in review | No native ad network; ecommerce & upsell tools via integrations and add‑ons |
| SMS | No native SMS package highlighted; focus remains on newsletters | SMS add‑on available and integrated with email journeys source |
| Reviews snapshot | Mixed on Trustpilot; praise for creator focus; some complaints on account/support Trustpilot, EVS | G2 4.3/5 (12k+ reviews); Trustpilot ~3.0/5 and recurring billing/support concerns G2, Trustpilot |
| Who should choose it | Choose beehiiv if you're building a publication‑style newsletter and want built‑in growth + monetization with simple, fast workflows. | Choose Mailchimp if you need a broader SMB marketing stack, multi‑channel add‑ons, and an established ecosystem. |
Pricing/features change frequently. Always verify on vendor sites. Some links may be affiliate links; we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
ConvertKit vs beehiiv
Last updated: Sep 2025ConvertKit
| Category | ConvertKit | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free tier available with limited features; scales by subscribers source | Launch plan $0 with generous limits for early publications source |
| Core paid pricing | Creator and higher tiers; pricing increases by subscriber count source | Scale/Max tiers; tiered by subscribers with feature unlocks source |
| Automation | Visual automations, tags, sequences included on paid plans source | Visual automations on Scale+; API and webhooks available source |
| Monetization | Paid newsletters and commerce for digital products source | Ad/Boost networks + paid subscriptions + referrals built‑in review |
| SMS | No native SMS; can integrate third‑party SMS tools | No native SMS package highlighted; newsletter‑centric |
| Reviews snapshot | Generally positive among creators; requests for deeper reporting G2 | Praised for growth tools; mixed on support/account actions Trustpilot |
| Who should choose it | Choose ConvertKit if you want tag‑based automations with a creator toolchain and simple sales. | Choose beehiiv if you want publication‑style growth + built‑in monetization with minimal setup. |
Pricing/features change frequently. Always verify on vendor sites.
MailerLite vs Mailchimp
Last updated: Sep 2025MailerLite
| Category | MailerLite | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free tier available with limits on features and monthly sends source | Free tier exists but limited; periodic trial promos for Standard source |
| Core paid pricing | Tiers scale by subscribers with add‑ons for advanced features source | Standard/Essentials/Premium tiers; scales by contacts and send limits source |
| Automation | Visual automations and triggers on paid tiers source | Journey builder and segmentation on Standard+ source |
| Monetization | Basic ecommerce features and product blocks; integrate stores source | No native ad network; ecommerce & upsell via integrations/add‑ons |
| SMS | No native SMS; use third‑party integrations | SMS add‑on integrated with journeys source |
| Reviews snapshot | Praised for simplicity and value for small lists G2 | Strong brand and features; concerns around pricing changes G2 |
| Who should choose it | Choose MailerLite for budget‑friendly email with solid basics and clean UI. | Choose Mailchimp for broader marketing add‑ons, templates, and ecosystem. |
Pricing/features change frequently. Always verify on vendor sites.
Klaviyo vs Mailchimp
Last updated: Sep 2025Klaviyo
| Category | Klaviyo | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free tier available with limited sends/contacts for testing source | Free tier exists with constraints; trials/promos vary over time source |
| Core paid pricing | Pricing grows with contact count and email/SMS usage for ecommerce stores source | Standard/Essentials/Premium; scales by contacts and sends source |
| Automation | Advanced flows, event‑based triggers, predictive analytics source | Journey builder, behavioral targeting on higher tiers source |
| Monetization | Deep ecommerce focus with segments, recommendations, AOV‑driving flows | Ecommerce via integrations; broader SMB marketing toolkit |
| SMS | Native SMS with tight email + SMS orchestration source | SMS available as an add‑on and integrated with journeys source |
| Reviews snapshot | Well‑regarded for ecommerce features; steeper learning curve for non‑commerce G2 | Accessible UI and templates; some pricing/support concerns G2 |
| Who should choose it | Choose Klaviyo if you run an ecommerce brand that needs deep Shopify/BigCommerce data and advanced flows. | Choose Mailchimp if you want an approachable suite for general SMB marketing beyond ecommerce. |
Pricing/features change frequently. Always verify on vendor sites.