If you’re running a content business and crossing 5,000 subscribers, you’ve probably started doing the math on platform costs. The difference between ConvertKit, MailerLite, and Beehiiv isn’t just monthly pricing—it’s what you get at each tier, what breaks when you scale, and where each platform forces you to upgrade or migrate.
Here’s an operator-level comparison at the tiers that matter: 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000 subscribers.
Pricing at scale
At 5,000 subscribers:
- ConvertKit: $66/month (Creator plan), unlimited sends
- MailerLite: $45/month (Growing Business), unlimited sends
- Beehiiv: $99/month (Scale plan), unlimited sends
At 10,000 subscribers:
- ConvertKit: $100/month
- MailerLite: $75/month
- Beehiiv: Still $99/month—pricing doesn’t change until 100k
At 50,000 subscribers:
- ConvertKit: $208/month
- MailerLite: $225/month
- Beehiiv: Still $99/month
Beehiiv’s flat-rate structure wins on raw cost above 10k subscribers, but that’s not the whole story.
Feature trade-offs you’ll actually notice
ConvertKit gives you visual automation workflows, robust tagging, and subscriber scoring at every paid tier. If you’re running a funnel with lead magnets, tripwires, or multi-step onboarding, ConvertKit’s automation builder is the most operator-friendly. The downside: no native referral program, no ad network, and you’ll need Zapier or custom code for anything beyond email.
MailerLite includes landing pages, pop-ups, and a drag-and-drop site builder in every plan. You can run a lightweight site-plus-newsletter business without WordPress. The automation is simpler than ConvertKit’s, but it works for most workflows. Where MailerLite falls short: no built-in monetization tools, no recommendation network, and segmentation gets clunky above 20k subscribers.
Beehiiv bundles a referral program, ad network access (on Scale and above), polls, and a recommendation engine. If you’re treating your newsletter as a standalone media property, Beehiiv’s feature set supports that model out of the box. The catch: automations are basic—think “send this email after X days” rather than ConvertKit’s branching logic. If you need complex funnels, you’ll bolt on external tools.
Who each is best for
Pick ConvertKit if you’re selling digital products, running evergreen sequences, or need tight control over subscriber journeys. It’s the best tool for creators who treat email as a funnel, not just a broadcast channel. You’ll pay more per subscriber, but the automation flexibility justifies it if your revenue model depends on segmentation and timing.
Pick MailerLite if you’re early-stage, budget-sensitive, and want an all-in-one starter stack. The site builder and pop-up tools let you skip a separate landing-page tool. It’s ideal for solopreneurs who want simplicity and don’t need advanced monetization features yet. Expect to migrate or supplement when you cross 25k subscribers and need better segmentation.
Pick Beehiiv if you’re running a publication-style newsletter where growth, referrals, and sponsorships matter more than product funnels. The flat pricing makes budgeting predictable, and the ad network can offset platform costs once you’re approved. You’ll sacrifice automation depth, but if your business model is “grow audience, sell ads or subscriptions,” Beehiiv’s feature set aligns.
Migration friction points
All three platforms let you export subscriber lists as CSV, but custom fields and tag structures don’t map cleanly. If you’ve built automations in ConvertKit, expect to rebuild them manually in Beehiiv or MailerLite—there’s no one-click migration for workflows.
Beehiiv’s referral program data doesn’t export. If you’ve grown 10k subscribers via referrals and want to migrate, you’ll lose the referral tree and reward history.
MailerLite’s site-builder content lives inside their platform. Migrating to ConvertKit or Beehiiv means rebuilding landing pages elsewhere.
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