The short verdict
These two tools look similar from the outside, since both send newsletters and both have free plans, but they are built around different businesses. beehiiv's plan cards are organised around growing and monetising a publication: recommendations, a referral program, an ad network and paid subscriptions. [1] MailerLite's plan cards are organised around marketing a business: active automations, forms, landing pages, websites, digital products and seats. [2]
Who should pick beehiiv: a writer or media brand whose newsletter is the thing being sold, and who wants ads or paid subscribers to pay for it. Who should pick MailerLite: a shop, studio or service business that needs welcome series, abandoned-sign-up follow-ups and segments at a low monthly cost. Who should skip both: anyone whose current tool already covers the job and whose renewal fits the budget, because a move means rebuilding forms, templates and automations.
Cost at matched list sizes
Prices below were read from each official pricing page on October 29, 2026, in USD, billed monthly, with the annual-billing monthly equivalent in brackets where the page showed it. MailerLite's tier prices come from the subscriber slider on its pricing page; its page says annual billing saves 10%. [2] beehiiv's page prices Lite and Pro by subscriber bucket; Free covers up to 2,500 subscribers, so the 5,000 row uses Lite. [1]
| Subscribers | beehiiv | MailerLite Free / Comfort | MailerLite Power |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | Free $0 (up to 2,500) [1] | Above Free's 250; Comfort $12 ($10.80) [2] | $25 ($22.50) [2] |
| 1,000 | Free $0; Lite $59 ($49) [1] | Comfort $19 ($17.10) [2] | $39 ($35.10) [2] |
| 2,500 | Free $0, at the limit [1] | Comfort $33 ($29.70) [2] | $49 ($44.10) [2] |
| 5,000 | Above Free; Lite $109 ($95) [1] | Comfort $49 ($44.10) [2] | $69 ($62.10) [2] |
What the cheaper plan actually leaves out
A free plan is only cheaper if it runs the emails you need. beehiiv Free lists no automations, three segments, one publication and one seat, and the comparison table shows the ad network, referral program and paid subscriptions as unavailable on Free. [1] That is enough for a weekly broadcast to a growing list, and not enough for a timed welcome series.
MailerLite Free caps you at 250 subscribers, 2,500 monthly emails, three active automations and limited templates, with knowledge-base support only. [2] Comfort raises that to 50 active automations, unlimited templates, a monthly email limit of 10 times the top of your subscriber tier, and email support. Power adds unlimited automations, multiple automation triggers, unlimited monthly emails under a fair-use policy, and priority email plus 24/7 live chat. [2]
| Need | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Automated welcome series | Lite: 10 live custom automations; Pro: unlimited [1] | Free: 3 active; Comfort: 50; Power: unlimited [2] |
| Segments | Free: 3; Lite: 10; Pro: unlimited [1] | Not compared here; check the plan table [2] |
| Ad network | Lite and above, some regions excluded [1] | Not listed on the pricing page [2] |
| Referral program | Lite and above [1] | Not listed on the pricing page [2] |
| Paid subscriptions | Lite and above, 0% beehiiv take [1] | Comfort and Power, via Stripe [3] |
| Support | Human support listed from Lite [1] | Free: knowledge base; Comfort: email; Power: priority email and 24/7 chat [2] |
Worked example: a 1,000-subscriber list in each shape
Hypothetical publisher: 1,000 readers, one weekly issue, no automations, plans to sell sponsorships later. beehiiv Free costs $0 today and stays free until the list passes 2,500. [1] The same list on MailerLite needs Comfort at $19 per month, because Free stops at 250. [2] For this reader, beehiiv is the cheaper fit until they want the ad network or a referral program, both of which start on Lite.
Hypothetical shop: 1,000 customers, a three-email welcome series, a post-purchase follow-up and a monthly promotion. On beehiiv the automations require Lite at $59 per month billed monthly, or $49 per month billed yearly. [1] On MailerLite, Comfort at $19 per month includes 50 active automations and 10,000 emails a month at the 1,000 tier. [2] Over a year that is $228 on MailerLite Comfort billed monthly against $588 on beehiiv Lite billed yearly, before taxes.
Monetisation and fees
beehiiv's pricing FAQ says it takes 0% of paid subscription and digital product revenue, and that you keep what you earn minus Stripe's standard processing fee of 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. [1] MailerLite's help center says Comfort and Power accounts can sell digital products, recurring subscriptions and paid newsletters with Stripe, with a minimum product price of $0.50 and card-only payment for recurring purchases. [3]
The difference is the rest of the revenue stack. beehiiv adds an ad network and paid recommendations on Lite and above, which only matter if your audience is large enough for advertisers. [1] MailerLite gives you more automation per dollar, which matters more when each email is meant to drive a sale.
Leaving later: export check
beehiiv's support article says subscriber exports from the dashboard are available on all plans, in a Quick version (email, status and tier) or a Full version that adds custom fields and statistics; post content can be exported too, and download links last 24 hours. [4] Before committing to either tool, run a test export in the first week and confirm that your custom fields and unsubscribes come out the way you expect.
Decision checklist
- Is the newsletter the product, with ads or paid readers planned in the next year? Lean beehiiv.
- Do you need three or more automations now? Price beehiiv Lite against MailerLite Comfort at your list size.
- Under 2,500 subscribers and broadcasts only? beehiiv Free costs $0. [1]
- Under 250 subscribers and need a small welcome series? MailerLite Free allows three active automations. [2]
- Selling products or bookings alongside email? MailerLite's Comfort and Power plans cover products and subscriptions via Stripe. [3]
- Recheck both pricing pages on the day you decide; slider prices change.
Questions before you decide
Is beehiiv or MailerLite cheaper at 1,000 subscribers?
On list price alone beehiiv is cheaper, because its Free plan covers up to 2,500 subscribers while MailerLite Free stops at 250. Once you need automations, the comparison flips: beehiiv Free lists no automations and Lite is $59 per month billed monthly, while MailerLite Comfort is $19 per month at 1,000 subscribers.
Can I run a paid newsletter on either?
Yes, on paid plans. beehiiv lists paid subscriptions on Lite and above with a 0% beehiiv take, minus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. MailerLite's help center says Comfort and Power accounts can sell recurring subscriptions and paid newsletters with Stripe.
Which one has an ad network?
beehiiv lists an ad network on Lite, Pro and Enterprise, with exclusions for trials and some regions. MailerLite's pricing page does not list an ad network.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- beehiiv pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MailerLite pricing Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- MailerLite Help: How to sell digital products through MailerLite using Stripe Accessed 29 Oct 2026
- beehiiv Support: Exporting post content or subscriber data from beehiiv Accessed 29 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.