Your email platform is the foundation of your revenue engine. Pick the wrong one and you’re fighting the tool instead of growing your audience. We’ve used all three in production — here’s the honest breakdown.
Pricing
Beehiiv’s free tier supports 2,500 subscribers with full automation — no feature gates. ConvertKit (now Kit) offers a free plan for 1,000 subscribers but limits automations. Mailchimp’s free plan caps at 500 contacts and adds their branding.
At 10,000 subscribers: Beehiiv costs $49/mo, ConvertKit runs $119/mo, and Mailchimp charges $100/mo. The gap widens dramatically at scale.
Automation Capabilities
ConvertKit has the most mature automation builder with visual workflows, conditional logic, and deep tagging. Beehiiv’s automation is simpler but covers the essentials — drip sequences, conditional sends, and webhook triggers. Mailchimp’s automation exists but feels bolted on.
Monetization Features
Beehiiv wins outright. Built-in paid subscriptions, ad network revenue, referral programs, and boosts from other newsletters. These features generate passive income from your list without additional tools. ConvertKit offers paid newsletters but lacks the ad network. Mailchimp has no native monetization.
Deliverability
All three platforms deliver well to major email providers. ConvertKit has a slight edge in deliverability rates based on industry benchmarks. Beehiiv’s dedicated IP option on higher plans helps large senders maintain reputation.
Our Pick
For creators and solo operators, Beehiiv is the best value in 2026. The free tier is genuinely useful, the monetization features are unmatched, and the growth tools (referral programs, recommendations) help you build faster. ConvertKit is the choice if advanced automation is your primary need.