Sources checked Sep 22, 2026
beehiiv vs MailerLite: prices, limits, and who each suits
Compare beehiiv and MailerLite by free-plan capacity, paid features, and monthly sending needs.
SIDE BY SIDE
Free limits and paid starting prices
Documented public-plan facts, not hands-on scores. Each price is tied to the subscriber tier it covers.
Scroll sideways to see all columns →
| Decision | beehiiv | MailerLite |
|---|---|---|
| Free audience limit | 2,500 active subscribers | 250 active subscribers |
| Free sending | Unlimited | 2,500 emails/month |
| Paid plans start at | $49/mo Scale at 1,000 subscribers, $69 at 2,500, $109 at 10,000 | $12/mo Comfort and $25/mo Power, both at 500 subscribers |
| First paid trigger | Paid subscriptions, referrals, ads, or automations | More than 250 active subscribers or 2,500 monthly sends |
| Paid sending model | Unlimited sends | Comfort: 10× the subscriber tier ceiling, so 5,000 sends at 500 subscribers. Power: unlimited under fair use |
At 500 subscribers sending four emails a month, that is 2,000 sends. It fits the documented free beehiiv Launch limits but not MailerLite Free, which stops at 250 subscribers — so MailerLite means paying $12 a month for Comfort at 500 subscribers, whose 5,000-send allowance covers those 2,000 easily. Price beehiiv Scale only if you need a Scale feature, instead of assuming both platforms require an upgrade.
Check the workflow, not the label
A feature name is not a result. Before paying for referrals or ads, check who is eligible and how you would measure the return. Before choosing MailerLite on price, multiply your subscriber tier’s ceiling by ten: that is Comfort’s send allowance, and Power is the plan without it.
CONSIDER BEEHIIV IF
You have a specific use for publication tools
Name the Scale features you would use — paid subscriptions, referrals, ads — and what they replace. If that list is empty, Launch is free to 2,500 subscribers.
Check beehiiv pricing and upgrade triggers →CONSIDER MAILERLITE IF
Your required plan fits the sending budget
A business sending one weekly campaign with forms and a few automations pays $12 a month at 500 subscribers, and has 5,000 monthly sends to work with.
Check MailerLite pricing and upgrade triggers →Four things to test before moving a list
- Add up real monthly sends, automated messages included.
- Name one beehiiv paid feature with a measurable job.
- Rebuild one form, landing page, and automation in each trial.
- Check how each counts active subscribers before you import.
Test the task you rely on most, not just a simple welcome email. Confirm current prices at checkout; we record updates in the changes log.
CHECK THE LIVE QUOTES
Price the same audience and billing period.
Both links go directly to the provider. Neither is currently an affiliate link. Moving an existing list? Price it in the cost calculator, then read the Substack or Mailchimp cost guide.