Beehiiv vs Constant Contact: Which Is Better in 2026?
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform, not a general email marketing tool. Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Beehiiv’s strength is growing and monetizing a newsletter as a business in itself; Constant Contact’s is helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand.
01Pricing
Beehiiv: paid plans start at $49/mo for 1,000 subscribers. Constant Contact: paid plans start at $10.20/mo for 500 contacts. Both price by the size of your list or sending volume, so the entry prices above only hold for a small audience; check each vendor’s calculator at your list size. Beehiiv has a free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers). Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days.
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | Up to 2,500 subscribers; 1 publication; 1 team seat; 1 guest author | |
| Lite | $49 | n/a | 1,000 subscribers at this price; Up to 100,000 subscribers; 3 publications; 2 team seats | Paid subscriptions, 0% take rate; Ad monetization; Automations; Audience polls |
| Pro | $95 | n/a | 1,000 subscribers at this price; Up to 250,000 subscribers; 10 publications; 10 team seats | Remove beehiiv branding; Webinars and coaching; Advanced analytics; Webhooks |
| Enterprise | Custom | Custom | Custom subscriber and publication limits; Unlimited team seats | SSO/SAML; Dedicated IPs; Customer success manager; Concierge onboarding |
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Limits | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lite † | $10.20 | $12 | 500 contacts at this price; Monthly sends 10x contacts; 1 user; 1 automation template | Basic reporting |
| Standard † | $29.75 | $35 | Monthly sends 12x contacts; 3 users; 3 automation templates | Email scheduling; A/B testing; Advanced reporting |
| Premium † | $68 | $80 | Monthly sends 24x contacts; Unlimited users | Unlimited automations and segments; Dynamic content; Dedicated priority support team |
Prices are per month on annual billing. † marks prices taken from the vendor’s documentation or page data instead of its visible pricing page. Beehiiv pricing and Constant Contact pricing have the full detail.
02The Two Tools
Beehiiv
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform, not a general email marketing tool. It bundles a website, a referral program, recommendations between newsletters, an ad network and paid subscriptions, all aimed at publishers who want to grow and earn from a list. Automation and ecommerce features are minimal because that is not what it is for.
- Best at
- Growing and monetizing a newsletter as a business in itself.
- Falls short
- It is not suited to stores or sales-driven marketing, and the paid plans cost more than basic email tools.
Constant Contact
Constant Contact is a long-standing choice for small businesses and nonprofits. Beyond email it handles event registration, social posting and surveys, and it backs them with phone support and plenty of guidance. Automation is basic, and there is a trial instead of a free plan.
- Best at
- Helping non-marketers send email and run events with support on hand.
- Falls short
- Automation and segmentation are limited, and you pay from the start.
03Which Fits Your Situation
| If you are | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small Business | Constant Contact | Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers. |
| Ecommerce | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for ecommerce. |
| Startups | Beehiiv | For startups whose product is the newsletter, or whose growth runs through one. |
| Creators | Beehiiv | The strongest option when the newsletter itself is the business. |
| Agencies | Neither | Neither is a natural fit for agencies. |
04Verdict
Choose Beehiiv if you publish a newsletter and want growth and monetization tools built in. Choose Constant Contact if you are a small business or nonprofit that wants hand-holding and event tools.
05FAQ
Is Beehiiv or Constant Contact cheaper?
Beehiiv starts at $49/mo and Constant Contact at $10.20/mo. Both rise with the size of your list. Prices are per month on annual billing.
Do Beehiiv and Constant Contact have free plans?
Beehiiv has a free plan (up to 2,500 subscribers). Constant Contact has no free plan; the trial runs 30 days.
Which is easier to learn, Beehiiv or Constant Contact?
There is little between them: both are quick to set up.
Which is better for small business, Beehiiv or Constant Contact?
Constant Contact. Phone support and event tools suit owners who are not marketers.