beehiiv vs AWeber (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
⚡ Quick Verdict
beehiiv beats AWeber for newsletters in 2026. beehiiv scores 9/10 to AWeber's 7.5/10. beehiiv also has a free plan.
Excellent
beehiiv — Our Verdict
beehiiv is the stronger choice for newsletters — it scores 9/10 vs 7.5/10 and wins on 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. substack's 10%. AWeber is worth considering if 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation is your top priority.
- 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. Substack's 10%
- Built-in ad network connects newsletters directly with advertisers
- Free tier is genuinely useful (2,500 subs, custom domain, analytics)
Pros
- 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. Substack's 10%
- Built-in ad network connects newsletters directly with advertisers
- Free tier is genuinely useful (2,500 subs, custom domain, analytics)
Cons
- Scale plan required for automations — not available on free tier
- Complex UI for newcomers
- No native CMS beyond newsletters
beehiiv vs AWeber (2026): Which Email Marketing Tool Is Actually Better?
Budget is often the deciding factor when choosing between beehiiv and AWeber. beehiiv starts at $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers) while AWeber comes in at $0 (up to 500 subscribers) — but the real question isn’t just cost, it’s what you get for your money. We spent weeks using both email marketing and newsletter platforms tools to build this no-fluff comparison.
Bottom line up front: beehiiv is our pick for newsletters — read on for why, and where AWeber wins instead.
Quick Verdict
| beehiiv | AWeber | |
|---|---|---|
| Our Rating | 9/10 | 7.5/10 |
| Free Plan | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Starting Price | $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers) | $0 (up to 500 subscribers) |
| Best For | Newsletter operators who want growth tools… | Small businesses and bloggers who value… |
| Our Pick | ⭐ Winner |
About beehiiv
beehiiv is a email marketing and newsletter platforms tool known for its capabilities. It’s designed for Newsletter operators who want growth tools and monetization built into the platform and has built a strong reputation for 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. substack’s 10%.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. Substack’s 10%. Built-in ad network connects newsletters directly with advertisers
Where it falls short: Scale plan required for automations — not available on free tier. Complex UI for newcomers
About AWeber
AWeber takes a different approach to email marketing and newsletter platforms. It’s built around its core strengths and is particularly well-suited for Small businesses and bloggers who value deliverability heritage and simplicity over advanced features.
Key features:
What makes it stand out: 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation. Free plan allows unlimited subscribers on basic features
Where it falls short: UI is dated compared to MailerLite and ActiveCampaign. Free plan limited to 3 automations and 3 landing pages
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
| Feature | beehiiv | AWeber |
|---|
The feature gap between these tools reflects their different design philosophies. beehiiv prioritizes breadth, while AWeber goes deeper on specific use cases.
For a full look at beehiiv’s capabilities, see our beehiiv review. For AWeber, read the AWeber review.
Pricing Comparison
| Plan | beehiiv | AWeber |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free tier available | Free tier available |
| Enterprise | Custom/mo (Custom annually) | ❌ Not available |
Important pricing notes:
- All prices verified as of 2026-03-28. Check official pages before purchasing.
- beehiiv has a free plan — see full beehiiv pricing breakdown for limits.
- AWeber has a free plan — see AWeber pricing details.
Pros and Cons
beehiiv Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. Substack’s 10%
- ✅ Built-in ad network connects newsletters directly with advertisers
- ✅ Free tier is genuinely useful (2,500 subs, custom domain, analytics)
Cons:
- ❌ Scale plan required for automations — not available on free tier
- ❌ Complex UI for newcomers
- ❌ No native CMS beyond newsletters
AWeber Pros and Cons
Pros:
- ✅ 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation
- ✅ Free plan allows unlimited subscribers on basic features
- ✅ AMP for Email support enables interactive elements inside messages
Cons:
- ❌ UI is dated compared to MailerLite and ActiveCampaign
- ❌ Free plan limited to 3 automations and 3 landing pages
- ❌ Unlimited plan at $899/mo is expensive for unlimited subscribers
Which One Should You Choose?
The right answer depends on what you’re actually trying to accomplish:
Best for newsletters: beehiiv — 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. Substack’s 10%
Best for ecommerce: AWeber — 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation
Best for creators: beehiiv — Built-in ad network connects newsletters directly with advertisers
If you’re still on the fence: beehiiv is the safer default. It scores 9/10 in our testing versus AWeber’s 7.5/10, and 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. substack’s 10%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is beehiiv better than AWeber? beehiiv scores higher in our testing (9/10 vs 7.5/10). beehiiv is the better choice for newsletters due to 0% take rate on paid subscriptions vs. substack’s 10%. However, AWeber is a stronger fit if 26+ years in business — rock-solid deliverability reputation.
What’s cheaper, beehiiv or AWeber? beehiiv starts at $0 (up to 2,500 subscribers), while AWeber starts at $0 (up to 500 subscribers). beehiiv has a free plan. AWeber also has a free tier. See the pricing comparison table above for the full plan breakdown.
Does beehiiv have a free plan? Yes. beehiiv offers a free tier — Free tier available. This makes it easy to test before committing to a paid plan.
Does AWeber have a free plan? Yes. AWeber offers a free tier — Free tier available.
Related Comparisons & Guides
- beehiiv Full Review
- beehiiv Pricing 2026
- beehiiv Alternatives
- beehiiv vs Kit (ConvertKit)
- beehiiv vs Mailchimp
- beehiiv vs ActiveCampaign
- AWeber Full Review
- AWeber Pricing
Frequently Asked Questions
Is beehiiv better than AWeber?
What's cheaper, beehiiv or AWeber?
Does beehiiv have a free plan?
Does AWeber have a free plan?
Try beehiiv yourself
See current pricing and features on the official site.