ActiveCampaign vs beehiiv.
Different strengths. Different costs. Here’s what to weigh before you choose.
Compare the plans as well as the brands. These prices may have different billing commitments and capacity limits; they are not equivalent quotes.
| What matters | ActiveCampaign | beehiiv |
|---|---|---|
| Starting point | Marketing platform for businesses needing email campaigns, automated customer journeys, segmentation and CRM connections. | Newsletter publishing platform combining email, a website, audience growth tools and paid subscriptions for creators and media businesses. |
| Listed plan | Starter | Lite |
| Base price | Contact vendor | $49 / mo · annual billing |
| Pricing conditions | Official price calculator did not expose a USD price in retrieved content. Contact count and optional CRM add-ons affect cost. | USD monthly equivalent billed yearly. Pricing page currently shows Free, Lite and Pro; limits and billing must be confirmed at checkout. |
| Documented capabilities | email, automation, crm, analytics | newsletter, email, website, automation, analytics |
| Free plan | Not verified | Yes, with limits |
| Trial | 14 days, no credit card required | Paid-feature trial available; no card required. Duration not stated on current pricing page. |
| Integrations | Shopify, Salesforce, Zapier, Make, WordPress, Stripe | Not yet verified |
| Benefits (editorial) | Combines email automation with CRM capabilities. Official integrations include Shopify, Salesforce, Zapier and Make. | Newsletter and website publishing share one platform. Paid subscriptions and automations are included in Lite. |
| Limitations | Starter allows only five actions per automation. Enhanced CRM functions are sold as add-ons. | Removing platform branding requires Pro. Free-plan analytics history is limited to 30 days. |
| Typical fit (editorial) | Marketing agency, E-commerce, Creator & newsletter, Professional services | Creator & newsletter, Marketing agency |
| AI, support & ease of use | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. | Confirm plan-specific AI limits and support. Ease of use has not been independently tested. |
| Evidence | Sources checked 2026-10-07 → | Sources checked 2026-10-07 → |
| Your next step | Visit ActiveCampaignStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. | Visit beehiivStandard provider link; no commission currently earned. |
Use-case recommendations
Consider ActiveCampaign when…
Combines email automation with CRM capabilities.
Check first: Starter allows only five actions per automation.
Consider beehiiv when…
Newsletter and website publishing share one platform.
Check first: Removing platform branding requires Pro.
Make the decision on your terms
Test your real workflow, calculate the full team and usage cost, and confirm export options before migrating. A higher advertised feature count does not necessarily create a better fit.
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