Mailchimp vs beehiiv
Compare both platforms using the same audience size, monthly email volume and billing cycle.
Mailchimp Standard uses contact tiers with monthly send caps, while beehiiv Scale uses subscriber tiers with unlimited email sends.
For newsletter-heavy workloads, beehiiv's unlimited sending can change the cost profile substantially. Mailchimp Standard follows a contact-tier model with included send allowances, so the better fit depends on audience size, sending frequency, and required platform features.
What will you actually pay?
Enter your audience and monthly email volume. We match each platform to the lowest modeled paid plan that fits. Free tiers are listed separately on provider pricing pages because their limits are not directly comparable.
Compare the two platforms
500 contacts · 1,000 emails/month · annual billing
Mailchimp Standard
Fits the entered limits at $20/month · $240/year
| Platform | Monthly equivalent | Annual total | $/1k sends | Plan status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MailchimpStandard | $20/mo | $240/yr | $20.00 | Within limits | Visit Mailchimp → |
beehiivScale | $43/mo | $517/yrSave $71/yr | $43.00 | Within limits | Visit beehiiv → |
CompareEmailCost is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you purchase through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate Disclosure
Mailchimp (Standard)
Billing Metric: contact_tiers_with_send_caps
Target Audience: Traditional SMBs & legacy e-commerce
Free Tier: Free up to 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo limit
beehiiv (Scale)
Billing Metric: subscriber_tiers
Target Audience: Modern newsletters, media brands & growth publishers
Free Tier: Launch plan: free up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends
Related Comparisons & Pricing Guides
Explore alternative head-to-head calculations and dedicated tier breakdowns for both providers.
Mailchimp bills by contact list size, while Brevo Starter bills primarily by monthly email sends and applies contact limits that vary by send tier.
Compare Rates →MailerLite uses subscriber tiers with plan-specific send rules, while Mailchimp Standard uses contact tiers with a monthly send cap equal to 12 times the selected contact ceiling.
Compare Rates →Full audited pricing breakdown, tier limits, and send caps for Mailchimp.
View Tier Table →Full audited pricing breakdown, tier limits, and send caps for beehiiv.
View Tier Table →Frequently Asked Questions
How do costs compare at 25,000 subscribers?
At 25,000 contacts, Mailchimp Standard is $310/month ($3,720 over 12 monthly payments) with a 300,000-send monthly cap. beehiiv Scale is $169/month on monthly billing ($2,028 over 12 months) or $1,785 total on the annual pricing model currently tracked by CompareEmailCost.
Can beehiiv replace my existing blog or website?
Yes. beehiiv includes a full CMS with custom domains, SEO indexation, and native web-based newsletter archives.
How does beehiiv handle subscriber tier growth?
In the pricing model tracked here, beehiiv Scale uses subscriber brackets rather than per-contact overage charges. When the audience crosses a bracket boundary, the applicable subscription tier changes.