Q1 2026 Changes at a Glance
| Platform | What Changed | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Mailchimp | Free tier now 250 contacts, 500 sends/mo | Free tier is effectively a demo |
| Ghost | Restructured to Starter ($18), Publisher ($35), Business ($239) | Clearer tiers but higher entry price |
| Kit (ConvertKit) | Creator plan at $39/mo, Creator Pro at $79/mo | Paid plans positioned higher |
| beehiiv | Stable: Launch free, Scale $49/mo, Max $109/mo | No changes (rare in this market) |
| ActiveCampaign | Starter at $15/mo, Plus at $49/mo, Pro at $79/mo | Current pricing stable |
| Brevo | Stable: Free (300/day), Starter $9/mo, Standard $18/mo | No changes |
Mailchimp: The Free Tier Is Now a Demo
Mailchimp's free tier trajectory has been one-directional since the Intuit acquisition in 2021. The current state: 250 contacts and 500 emails/month. For context, in 2019, Mailchimp Free included 2,000 contacts and 10,000 sends/month. That is an 87.5% reduction in contacts and 95% reduction in sends.
The Essentials plan ($13/month for 500 contacts, 5,000 sends) is now the practical starting point. Standard ($20/month) adds advanced automations. Premium ($350/month) is enterprise territory at 10,000 contacts and 150,000 sends.
What to do: If you are on Mailchimp Free, consider switching to Kit Free (10,000 subscribers, unlimited sends) or beehiiv Launch (2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends). Both offer dramatically more than Mailchimp Free at the same price: $0.
Ghost: Restructured Pricing, Higher Entry Point
Ghost restructured its managed hosting (Ghost Pro) into three clear tiers: Starter at $18/month (1,000 members, 1 staff user), Publisher at $35/month (unlimited members, 3 staff, paid subscriptions), and Business at $239/month (unlimited everything, priority support).
The self-hosted version remains free and open source. For creators who want Ghost without the managed hosting cost, self-hosting on a $5–$10/month VPS is still an option — but requires technical skills for setup and maintenance.
Who it affects: New Ghost users deciding between managed and self-hosted. The $18/month Starter tier is reasonable for individual publishers, but the jump to Publisher ($35/month) for paid subscriptions is a consideration. beehiiv Scale ($49/month) includes similar features plus a built-in ad network and referral program.
Kit (ConvertKit): Paid Plans Positioned Higher
Kit's free Newsletter plan remains generous at 10,000 subscribers with unlimited sends but no advanced automations. The paid Creator plan is $39/month (1,000 subscribers) with automations and integrations. Creator Pro is $79/month with advanced reporting, subscriber scoring, and newsletter referrals.
The value question: Kit Creator at $39/month for 1,000 subscribers competes with ActiveCampaign Starter at $15/month for 1,000 contacts. ActiveCampaign is cheaper and more powerful for automation. Kit wins on simplicity and creator-specific features like the sponsor network and commerce tools.
What to do: If you need Kit for its creator ecosystem (commerce, sponsor network), the pricing is fair. If you just need email automation at scale, ActiveCampaign or beehiiv may offer better value.
The Platforms That Did Not Change (And Why That Matters)
beehiiv: Launch (free, 2,500 subscribers), Scale ($49/month), Max ($109/month). No changes. beehiiv is still in growth mode, acquiring users, which historically means stable pricing. Enjoy it while it lasts.
Brevo:Free (100,000 contacts, 300 emails/day), Starter ($9/month), Standard ($18/month). Brevo's contact-based pricing model (pay by sends, not contacts) remains the most generous for large lists.
ActiveCampaign: Starter ($15/month), Plus ($49/month), Pro ($79/month), Enterprise ($145/month). All for 1,000 contacts. Prices scale with contact count. Current pricing has been stable through Q1 2026.
The Trend: Free Tiers Are Shrinking
The pattern across Q1 2026 is clear: established platforms are tightening free tiers (Mailchimp) while newer platforms maintain generous free offerings (beehiiv, Kit, Brevo). This is the standard SaaS growth cycle: attract users with free, build market share, then monetize.
Prediction:Platforms currently offering generous free tiers (beehiiv, Kit) will likely tighten them within 12–24 months as growth-stage economics shift to profitability-stage economics. If you are choosing a platform, factor in the likely future pricing trajectory, not just today's pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mailchimp still worth using in 2026?
For e-commerce with Shopify integration, yes — Mailchimp has the deepest product recommendation engine. For newsletters, no. beehiiv and Kit both offer better free tiers and more growth-focused features.
Which email platform has the most stable pricing?
Ghost self-hosted (free forever, open source) and Brevo (no changes in over a year). Cloud-hosted platforms all adjust pricing periodically. beehiiv and Kit have been stable but are growth-stage companies that will likely adjust in the future.
Should I switch from Mailchimp to a cheaper platform?
If you are on Mailchimp Free (250 contacts), switching to beehiiv Launch or Kit Free costs nothing and gives you 10x–40x more capacity. If you are on a paid Mailchimp plan with complex automations, calculate the switching cost (data migration, automation rebuild) before deciding.
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