Best Beehiiv Alternatives (2026)

Looking for something other than Beehiiv for newsletter? Here are the 4 alternatives we track, ranked, with verified pricing for each.

4 alternatives 3 with a free plan Beehiiv pricing →

Pricing verified Jul 25, 2026

Keep up with your competitors, without the manual work.

Outmano tracks pricing, features, roadmaps and reviews across your market, then sends one weekly brief: what changed, and what it means for you.

Try Outmano free »

Beehiiv alternatives at a glance

Product Entry price Plans Free plan Free trial
Beehiiv this page's subject $43/mo 4 Yes Yes
Kit $33/mo 3 Yes Yes
Mailchimp $13/mo 4 Yes Yes
Buttondown Custom 1 Yes No
Ghost $18/mo 4 No Yes
  1. Kit

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing for creators.

    They're mid-market — not as cheap as Mailchimp's entry tiers, not as expensive as ActiveCampaign or HubSpot. Kit is clearly gunning for the creator economy segment: indie writers, course sellers, and newsletter operators who've outgrown Substack but don't need enterprise CRM complexity.

    Plans: Newsletter $0/mo · Creator $33/mo · Pro $66/mo

    From $33/mo Free plan Free trial Beehiiv vs Kit → Kit pricing →
  2. Mailchimp

    Email Marketing

    Email marketing and automation.

    They're mid-market in price but positioned as the approachable, full-featured option — not the cheapest (Brevo undercuts them) and not the enterprise play (that's Klaviyo or Salesforce Marketing Cloud). They're going after small-to-mid businesses who want a recognizable brand with a low barrier to entry.

    Plans: Free $0/mo · Essentials $13/mo · Standard $20/mo · Premium $350/mo

    From $13/mo Free plan Free trial Beehiiv vs Mailchimp → Mailchimp pricing →
  3. Buttondown

    Newsletter

    Minimal newsletter tool for writers.

    Buttondown is positioned as the indie/developer-friendly alternative to Mailchimp or ConvertKit — leaner, more transparent, and cheaper at small scale. The 50% nonprofit discount and the 'contact us' gate for high-volume senders signal they're deliberately targeting small creators and mission-driven orgs, not enterprise marketing teams.

    Plans: Free $0/mo

  4. Ghost

    Newsletter

    Open-source publishing and newsletters.

    Ghost sits in the mid-to-premium range for creator publishing tools — more expensive than a basic Substack setup but positioning itself as the serious, self-respecting alternative for writers who want ownership and control. They're going after creators who've outgrown Substack's limitations and don't want to be on a platform that takes a revenue cut.

    Plans: Starter $18/mo · Publisher $29/mo · Business $199/mo · Custom Contact Sales

    From $18/mo Free trial Beehiiv vs Ghost → Ghost pricing →

None of these fit? Browse the full pricing directory →

Beehiiv Alternatives FAQ

What is the best alternative to Beehiiv?
Kit is the closest Beehiiv alternative we track for email marketing. Paid plans start at $33/mo, and there is a free plan to start on. Mailchimp and Buttondown are also worth a look.
Are there free alternatives to Beehiiv?
Yes — Kit, Mailchimp, Buttondown offer a free plan, so you can switch without paying up front.
How much do Beehiiv alternatives cost?
Entry prices range from $13/mo (Mailchimp) to $33/mo (Kit). Each product page has the full verified tier breakdown.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Beehiiv?
Yes — Beehiiv starts at $43/mo, while Mailchimp ($13/mo), Ghost ($18/mo), Kit ($33/mo) start lower.

Set it up once. Stay ahead all year.

Add the competitors you care about and Outmano does the watching — then hands you a weekly action plan with what to do next.

Start tracking free »