beehiiv and MailerLite both let you start sending email for free and grow into paid plans. beehiiv is a newsletter-first platform with growth and monetization tools. MailerLite is a simple email marketing tool with automations and landing pages.
Written October 2026. Prices and features change, so confirm on each vendor's site.
The short answer
| Feature | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Email & newsletters | Email & newsletters |
| Best for | Writers and media brands growing a paid or ad-supported newsletter | Small businesses and creators who want straightforward email without complexity |
| Pricing | beehiiv has a free plan for getting started, with paid tiers that scale by subscriber count and unlock features such as advanced growth tools, paid subscriptions and the ad network. Check their pricing page for current limits. | MailerLite offers a free plan for small lists and paid plans that scale mainly by subscriber count and features. Check the current pricing page for limits and what each plan unlocks. |
| Keep in mind | Features and limits vary by plan; compare tiers before committing. | Free-plan limits and feature access change, so check what is included before you build around it. |
| Skip it if | Skip it if you need complex e-commerce automations or course hosting alongside your emails; an all-in-one tool may fit better. | Skip it if you need advanced creator commerce, ad-network monetization or heavy segmentation from day one. |
| Why people pick it |
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Categories: Email & Newsletter Platforms and Email & Newsletter Platforms. Details come from our reviews of each tool.
The question is whether email is your product or a support channel. If it is the product, beehiiv's publishing and growth features matter. If it supports a business, MailerLite's simplicity may be enough.
Free-plan limits and paid tiers change, so check current details on both sites.
The verdict
beehiiv for newsletters as a business, MailerLite for simple email alongside a site or shop.
Want the full write-up on each? Read our beehiiv review and MailerLite review.
Both have ways to start small. Check current plans and trials, then pick the one that matches the thing you are building.
Both have offered free plans for small lists. Limits change, so check each pricing page.
MailerLite aims at simplicity, while beehiiv is broader for newsletter publishing. Try each with a test list.
Possibly. The buttons use affiliate links, so we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change the price you pay or which tool we say fits you.