Last Updated: March 19, 2026 | Quick Answer: Beehiiv is best for Newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut, while Constant Contact excels for Small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations new to email marketing. Both are strong email marketing options — your choice depends on your specific needs and budget.
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At a Glance
| Beehiiv | Constant Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut | Small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations new to email marketing |
| Starting Price | Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+) | $12/mo (Lite, 500 contacts) / $35/mo (Standard) / $80/mo (Premium) |
| Free Plan | Check website | Check website |
| Our Rating | 8.5/10 | 7/10 |
| Key Strength | Built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network | Easiest onboarding experience in email marketing — genuinely beginner-friendly with live coaching |
Beehiiv Overview
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform built by early Morning Brew employees who saw firsthand what it takes to grow a newsletter to millions of subscribers. Launched in 2022, it’s rapidly become the go-to platform for serious newsletter operators who want growth tools, monetization options, and data — no
Top Features:
- Growth Engine (Recommendations + Boosts)
- Built-in Ad Network
- Referral Program
- Custom Website and SEO
Constant Contact Overview
Constant Contact is an email marketing and digital marketing platform founded in 1995. It’s one of the oldest email marketing companies in the industry, serving over 600,000 customers — primarily small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations.
Top Features:
- Email Editor
- Contact Management
- Automation
- Event Management
Read our full Constant Contact review
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Beehiiv | Constant Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Growth Engine (Recommendations + Boosts) | Yes | Similar |
| Built-in Ad Network | Yes | Similar |
| Referral Program | Yes | Similar |
| Custom Website and SEO | Yes | Similar |
| Advanced Analytics and Automations | Yes | Similar |
| What We Like | Yes | Similar |
| Email Editor | Similar | Yes |
| Contact Management | Similar | Yes |
Pricing Comparison
| Beehiiv | Constant Contact | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+) | $12/mo (Lite, 500 contacts) / $35/mo (Standard) / $80/mo (Premium) |
| Free Plan/Trial | Check website | Check website |
Pros and Cons
Beehiiv
Pros:
- 0% revenue share on paid subscriptions (Scale+) — Substack takes 10%
- Built-in growth tools (referrals, recommendations, boosts) are unmatched
- Free plan is genuinely usable with 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends
- Custom domain support on all plans, including free
Cons:
- No native community or discussion features (Substack has Notes and comments)
- Brand removal requires the Max plan ($96/mo)
Constant Contact
Pros:
- Easiest email marketing platform to learn — true beginner-friendly UX
- Live phone support (rare in this category) plus chat and email
- Built-in event management with registration, ticketing, and payments
- 200+ email templates that look professional on mobile
Cons:
- Expensive for the feature set — ActiveCampaign and Mailchimp offer more for less
- Automation is basic — no conditional branching, lead scoring, or complex workflows
- Contact pricing scales steeply — gets very expensive above 10,000 contacts
When to Choose Beehiiv
- You need built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network
- Your primary focus is newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut
- You want a platform rated 8.5/10 by our team
When to Choose Constant Contact
- You need easiest onboarding experience in email marketing — genuinely beginner-friendly with live coaching
- Your primary focus is small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations new to email marketing
- You want a platform rated 7/10 by our team
FAQ
Is Beehiiv better than Constant Contact?
It depends on your needs. Beehiiv is better for newsletter creators who want growth tools and monetization without a platform cut, while Constant Contact is stronger for small businesses, nonprofits, and local organizations new to email marketing. We rated Beehiiv 8.5/10 and Constant Contact 7/10.
Can I use both Beehiiv and Constant Contact?
Yes, many teams use both tools together. Beehiiv and Constant Contact can complement each other depending on your workflow requirements.
Which is cheaper, Beehiiv or Constant Contact?
Beehiiv starts at Free — $96/mo (scales with features, not subscribers until 100K+), while Constant Contact starts at $12/mo (Lite, 500 contacts) / $35/mo (Standard) / $80/mo (Premium). Both offer different tiers, so compare plans based on the features you actually need.
Our Verdict
Both Beehiiv and Constant Contact are solid choices in their respective categories. Choose Beehiiv if you prioritize built-in growth engine: referral programs, recommendation network, and boost network. Choose Constant Contact if easiest onboarding experience in email marketing — genuinely beginner-friendly with live coaching matters more to your workflow. Either way, both tools offer free trials or plans so you can test before committing.
Read our full Beehiiv review | Read our full Constant Contact review
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