Best email marketing for solopreneurs: Kit vs beehiiv vs MailerLite
Which email platform should a solopreneur use? Kit, beehiiv and MailerLite compared on free plans, automations, monetization and pricing.
Your email list is the one audience you own. Choose based on what you'll sell: products and courses (Kit), a newsletter business (beehiiv), or a low-cost all-rounder (MailerLite).
| Kit | beehiiv | MailerLite | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Creators selling digital products | Newsletter-first businesses | Budget all-rounder |
| Free plan | Yes (see Kit pricing) | Yes, up to 2,500 subscribers | Yes (see pricing) |
| Paid from | See Kit pricing | Lite: $49/mo billed annually or $59 monthly (up to 1,000 subscribers) | See pricing |
| Automations | Visual automation builder | On paid plans (Lite and up) | Yes |
| Monetization | Digital products, paid newsletters, tip jar | Ad network, paid subscriptions (0% take rate), recommendations | Paid newsletters, digital products |
beehiiv figures from beehiiv pricing, checked 21 Oct 2026.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit): best for creators selling courses and digital products
Tags, sequences and a visual automation builder, plus built-in product sales and paid newsletters.
- Price: See current pricing
- Watch out: Pricing scales with subscribers; check the current plan limits.
Visit Kit (formerly ConvertKit)
beehiiv: best for building a newsletter as the business
Unlimited sends on all plans, a built-in website, referral program and ad network. Takes 0% of paid subscription revenue (Stripe fees apply).
- Price: Free up to 2,500 subscribers; Lite from $49/mo billed annually
- Watch out: Automations, the ad network and custom domains require a paid plan.
MailerLite: best for a capable, low-cost all-rounder
Clean editor, landing pages and automations at a low price.
- Price: See current pricing
- Watch out: Account approval can be strict for new senders.
Our take
Selling a course or templates? Start with Kit. Is the newsletter the product? beehiiv. Want the lowest cost with decent automation? MailerLite. All three let you export subscribers, so the decision is reversible.
Based on vendor documentation and public pricing (checked 21 Oct 2026), not hands-on testing. See how we research tools. Prices change: confirm on the vendor's site.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kit or beehiiv better?
Sources
- beehiiv pricing beehiiv.com
Checked 21 Oct 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Update history
- : first published; figures checked against the sources listed.