SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: A Comprehensive Comparison

Whether you're a budding blogger, a savvy small business owner, or a marketing maestro, finding the right email platform can feel like searching for a needle in a digital haystack.

That's why we’re reviewing the best email services for marketers and creators and making the process as easy as pie (and just as satisfying). This article focuses on three email marketing software: SendFox, MailerLite, and beehiiv.

We’re talking about each platform's features, benefits, and unique quirks — all you need to make an informed decision and find your ideal email-marketing partner.

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Which Should You Choose?

Everyone has different priorities in choosing an email platform, so pick one that performs well in the categories that matter most to you.

beehiiv Overview

beehiiv stands out in the crowded email marketing and newsletter landscape with a solution tailored for newsletter creators.

It combines newsletter functionality with a web archive of past publications, ensuring strong SEO performance directly out of the box. Moreover, best-in-class email deliverability ensures that your messages reach your audience.

Designed by successful newsletter creators, beehiiv is built to automate and simplify every stage of the content creation process.  Manage advertising opportunities and track growth to facilitate easy subscriptions.

beehiiv Pros

Integrated Blog and Newsletter Functionality with Strong SEO

beehiiv offers a seamless blend of blog creation and newsletter functionality, optimized for strong SEO performance. This integration allows creators to rank higher on search engines without the hassle of managing multiple platforms or tools.

A streamlined content-creation process enables you focus on producing quality content that resonates with your audience and performs well on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). 

Check out the website for the publication: The Daily Bite.

User-Friendly and Accessible

beehiiv requires no coding expertise. The incredibly accessible platform is intuitive, enabling creators of all skill levels to leverage its tools.

The ease of use for advanced features gives beehiiv an edge over other email marketing platforms that can frustrate users with a steeper learning curve for premium features.

Sophisticated Monetization Options

Monetization is a core focus of beehiiv, offering multiple income sources for creators.  From access to its ad network to paid subscriptions and an affiliate program, beehiiv simplifies the process of monetizing content.

The paid boost system can also compensate creators for recommending subscribers to their peers.

Best-in-Class Growth Tools

In addition to standard features such as subscription forms and landing pages, beehiiv gives creators access to a built-in referral program and one-click subscription "magic links."

It also provides users access to a free recommendation network and the ability to pay for boosts in other publications. There's also the hiiv — a dedicated Slack channel for beehiiv creators.

One Trustpilot review says, "Best of all there's a strong community of beehiiv writers that share resources and help promote new newsletters on the platform."

beehiiv Cons

Plan Limitations

With all email services, double-check that the features you most need are included in your plan of choice. beehiiv is no exception in that, some tools are reserved for paid plans.

Fairly New Platform

While beehiiv creators buzz about the platform's rapid development, it's still a relatively new player in the market, which comes with some limitations.

For example, beehiiv does not have the long list of built-in integrations that MailerLite does.

beehiiv Pricing

How much does beehiiv cost?

beehiiv offers the most generous free plan (known as the Launch plan) with up to 2,500 subscribers and unlimited sends.

The Grow plan (starting at $34/month) adds premium features, including growth and monetization tools such as the ability to create paid subscriptions and referral programs.

The Scale plan (starting at $86/month) gives users access to priority support and best-in-class training tools. It also allows for up to ten publications per account.

Note: All prices reflect the 15% discount for users who pay annually rather than monthly.

SendFox Overview

SendFox is a new player in the email marketing arena and a member of the AppSumo family. Its design philosophy leans heavily towards simplicity and efficiency, giving content creators and marketers a straightforward option to connect with their audience.

SendFox Pros

Simplicity in Design and Use

How good is SendFox? 

SendFox takes pride in its simplicity and bare-bones approach to newsletter creation. Limited options have helped it become an attractive MailerLite alternative for some.

For example, creating landing pages for new subscribers is as easy as pie – you can have a sleek, functional page up and running in seconds. (Literally. I entered my name and turned out the following landing page. Note: I could have changed the image or text to fit my brand.)

Part of the AppSumo Family

Who owns SendFox? 

SendFox is owned by Noah Kagan, the founder of AppSumo, and belongs to that family of applications.

Users of other AppSumo apps may find it easier to integrate SendFox into their tech stack. The platform offers built-in integrations with KingSumo (a giveaway service) and Sumo.com (a tool to create email capture forms and landing pages).

The integration with KingSumo plays well with the referral widget, allowing you to generate giveaway entries as part of a referral program.

However, SendFox offers fewer total built-in integrations than either MailerLite or beehiiv.

SendFox Cons

Basic Features

While SendFox's simplicity is part of its charm, some users may regret the loss of features such as advanced automation or a full website).

Limited Customization Options

The email design is bare bones and lacks options to add complex visual email elements. In addition to limited template offerings, SendFox includes its branding even on its paid Lifetime Plan (though not with the Empire Add-On).

Challenges with Email Delivery

My biggest concern with SendFox is the reported low email delivery rates. SendFox reviews highlight concerns that their emails aren't reaching their audiences.

Even SendFox's pricing chart raises deliverability red flags. Free users receive "normal" deliverability as compared to "better" and "best" for the two paid plans. Most email marketing services don't penalize their free users in this way.

I'm also not sure what the "throttled" email sends for the free plan would include. SendFox advertises that it limits sends but doesn't give details.

SendFox Pricing

How much does SendFox cost?

SendFox offers a free plan for up to 1,000 subscribers. At the time of writing, the service is running a promotion on the Lifetime Plan, selling it for a one-time fee of $49.

People with more than 5,000 subscribers or who want to remove all SendFox branding then need to subscribe to the Empire Add-On for $18/month. (Note: you do need to purchase the lifetime plan before upgrading.)

MailerLite Overview

MailerLite is a popular email marketing and newsletter platform for small businesses looking to improve their email game.

The platform offers (separate) email marketing and transactional email services, making it easy to handle all your email needs in one place.

MailerLite is highly accessible for beginners while still offering solid email deliverability, some advanced tools, and limited monetization options.

MailerLite Pros

Integrated Digital Sales and Landing Page Builder

One of MailerLite's standout features is the ability to sell digital products and subscriptions directly from its platform. This feature is seamlessly connected to a landing page builder, making it easier to drive conversions.

This integration simplifies the sales process with a unified platform for managing both marketing and sales efforts.

Strong Deliverability and Instant Email Verification

MailerLite's email deliverability benefits from an instant email verification tool, resulting in a 96.5% delivery rate. This reliability improves campaign effectiveness and helps businesses maintain high engagement levels.

MailerLite Cons

Scaling Costs with Subscriber Growth

As contact lists grow, the cost of MailerLite rises quickly, which can pose a challenge to rapidly expanding businesses.

This escalating cost structure requires users to budget carefully — especially if they hope to grow. 

Limited Growth and Monetization Features

While MailerLite offers basic functionalities to sell digital products and subscriptions, it doesn't offer a built-in network for creators or options to sponsor other products or newsletter recommendations.

It also lacks any referral or recommendation programs.

Basic Subscriber Management

MailerLite lacks a robust tagging system and advanced automation capabilities, which can be an issue if you want to implement advanced techniques to streamline marketing operations. 

MailerLite Pricing

How much does MailerLite cost?

MailerLite offers a limited free plan for users with up to 1,000 subscribers. Their two paid plans are the Growing Business plan (starts at $9/month for up to 500 subscribers) and the Advanced plan (starts at $9/month for up to 500 subscribers).

Both paid plans have a tiered pricing structure, increasing in proportion to your number of subscribers. Snowballing expenses are one reason to favor beehiiv vs. MailerLite.

Here are the prices at a few different points. Note: all prices reflect the 10% discount for users who pay annually.

*The Growing Business plan maxes out at 50,000 subscribers.

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Web Pages

When it comes to creating websites and landing pages, each platform offers distinct features tailored to different needs.

SendFox simplifies the process with hosted Smart Landing Pages that require only minutes to set up. However, it's limited to one form and landing page under the free plan, restricting users looking to expand their digital footprint. It also lacks a full website builder.

MailerLite steps up the game with a full website builder with blog functionality alongside landing pages. This makes it a more versatile option for users seeking to build a comprehensive online presence.

beehiiv has a full website builder and automatically creates an SEO-friendly newsletter archive. This positions beehiiv as a strong contender for creators focused on maximizing their content's reach and discoverability through search engines.

Winner: It depends.

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Free Plan

The free plans vary in value across the platforms. SendFox offers 1,000 max contacts but suffers from poor delivery and "throttled sends," making it less reliable for consistent communication.

MailerLite is a reliable choice for small businesses or startups looking to engage their audience without a significant investment. In addition to strong email delivery, the free plan comes with 1,000 max contacts, up to 12,000 sends per month, up to 10 landing pages, and a limited website.

beehiiv outshines both with its generous offer of 2,500 max contacts, unlimited sends, an archive website, and landing pages. The greater capacity makes beehiiv an attractive option for creators prioritizing growth and engagement.

Winner: beehiiv

MailerLite vs SendFox vs beehiiv: Growth Features

SendFox provides basic tools like opt-in forms and landing pages, with the bonus of a referral widget.

MailerLite lets users connect to Facebook advertising to create custom audiences similar to existing subscribers. In addition to landing pages, lead collection options include an iPad app so people can subscribe at your store or event.

beehiiv distinguishes itself with a comprehensive suite of growth tools, including a recommendation network, one-click subscribe links, a full built-in referral program, and access to paid boosts.

Better growth features are one of the top reasons to migrate from MailerLite to beehiiv.

Winner: beehiiv

MailerLite vs SendFox vs beehiiv: Monetization Features

SendFox lacks direct monetization features, limiting creators looking to earn revenue directly from their newsletters.

MailerLite offers more with paid subscriptions, newsletters, and easy ecommerce integrations. This makes it a viable option for creators who wish to monetize their content directly or sell products.

beehiiv focuses on monetization, providing options for paid newsletters, paid recommendations, and an in-house ad network.

Winner: beehiiv

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Email Design and Delivery

Unlike SendFox, both MailerLite and beehiiv excel at email delivery. Email design is also a draw (pun intended). I prefer beehiiv's editor, but paid MailerLite plans come with a larger library of templates suited to different businesses and occasions.

Winner: MailerLite and beehiiv

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Integrations

MailerLite takes this category with the largest number of built-in integrations. beehiiv comes in second with nine, and SendFox takes third place.

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Ease of Use

It's hard to compare the UX and UI because the platforms don't offer identical features.

Credit where it's due, SendFox is the easiest to set up and use. However, all three platforms are admired for their intuitive interfaces.

Winner: SendFox

Final Thoughts

And there you have it. Each platform brings its flair to the table, but beehiiv's community and advanced features give it the edge. Still, the choice ultimately boils down to what fits your specific needs.

• SendFox is perfect for those who prefer simplicity and are beginning with content creation

• MailerLite stands out as a versatile email solution for small businesses with existing tools to integrate.

• beehiiv should be the perfect choice for creators looking for an easy and efficient way to monetize their newsletters.

Still on the fence? Why not dip your toes into the future of email marketing with beehiiv? With its cutting-edge features designed specifically for newsletter publishers, it'll help you take your brand to the next level.

So, why wait? Sign up for a free plan (including a free trial of advanced features) today.

SendFox vs MailerLite vs beehiiv: Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences between SendFox, MailerLite, and beehiiv?

SendFox is a bare-bones service for email newsletters, while MailerLite and beehiiv offer more extensive email marketing functions and automations.

beehiiv also comes with built-in growth and monetization tools that beat out the competition.

How do the pricing models of SendFox, MailerLite, and beehiiv compare?

MailerLite is the most expensive. SendFox is the least expensive but also comes with the fewest features. beehiiv has the most generous free plan and the best value for the money, particularly as subscriber numbers increase.

Is MailerLite no longer free?

MailerLite may be the most expensive option, but it still offers a limited free plan.

Which platform is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses versus larger enterprises?

MailerLite and beehiiv are both good choices for small businesses. Larger enterprises may prefer beehiiv's non-tiered pricing, which keeps the service affordable even for brands with long lists of subscribers.

Why Trust Me

I regularly publish content on digital marketing, particularly email and long-form content. I'm most familiar with beehiiv, but I've tried the services of both MailerLite and SendFox.