I have used a lot of various e-mail list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and having your very own system. Because of that (and the awesome features), I have actually been using Beehiiv Bad Astronomy.
So, it is without a doubt a strange move for me to make a decision to make use of BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I want to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to deal with the concern of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I would certainly likewise like to deal with why I selected to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Huge Shift In Technique, I discussed just how and why I chose to turn my recreational vehicle blog into primarily a newsletter. I chose that was business version I wished to go after keeping that residential property.
But, to deliberately seek it as an e-newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email checklist for Gladly motor home, however FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, utilizing it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I said in that issue of the e-newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices developed into it specific to my purpose. Points such as:
- Ability to publish (to the blog site) and send the email at the same time without having it be 2 different activities.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are generally one-click subscription web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in advertisement network, if I pick to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and primarily run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features focused on development. The platform was essentially constructed by the individuals that accumulated the modern technology for Morning Mixture. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I may certainly be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv also. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went for it. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own residential or commercial property to make sure that I can grow it extra purposefully as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown individually. Happily RV was young, so simple to change. Yet, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will certainly constantly be very closely linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, yet doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was built for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Regular Email List
There’s a difference between a newsletter platform and just an e-mail checklist.
You can organize your email listing anywhere you want and there are a variety of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The main difference is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of publishing indicates that it is mosting likely to your site and to your email customers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have an internet site. You are releasing to that internet site. Yet, you are likewise sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The internet site and it’s clients are done in one. This makes administration of the system much less complex.
With most email platforms, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed totally separately from your site. So, for instance, you could release a short article to WordPress however after that you would certainly require to independently develop and send out an email to your checklist to send it to subscribers. These are after that two separate collections of archives and two separate activities since post and your e-mails are not inherently linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress into a true e-newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and permits them to be the same point. Absolutely, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong choice if I wanted to continue to self-host whatever. Nonetheless, you would certainly shed the development devices that include a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a various collection of requirements than a normal email listing.
You don’t normally require much marketing automation. You don’t generally need autoresponder series, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO demand, though, is one smooth publishing experience and development devices to assist you build your subscriber base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my clients that I was mosting likely to switch over the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to go with BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I think Substack draws. Actually, due to the fact that Substack has actually been about much longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair things that at first got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is essentially built by the exact same individuals who developed the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter growth called me out over the even more common positioning of being a “creator”. Development is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and distinction likewise suggests that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brand names and large magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo designers. Once more, it simply tells me the consumer character difference in between the two firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter via FluentCRM really did not specifically suck. The only factor I would contemplate drinking things up is if I believed I might expand the list much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that objective.
As a result of the targeting, I in fact do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more direct competitors.
But, allow’s dive deeper than simply the positioning right here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv feels like it was constructed by people who understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more tailored toward makers.
As an example, BeeHiiv uses customized fields on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that functions a lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still quite limited in triggers and the only action is the ability to send out an e-mail. However, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will have brand-new triggers in addition to brand-new activities, such as modifying personalized fields, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply because I started using the system. For example:
- Capacity to cause automations based on which particular embed type they was available in on.
- Capability to immediately do re-engagement (and manage individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an email marketing expert.
When it pertains to composing your e-newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is simply much more geared towards e-newsletters. In fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I find it to be extra user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s composing interface behaves and tidy, but it would certainly be a lot more comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is more than simply kind. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Area” and then put anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Exposure choices on that section to reveal it only to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, hide from customers, reveal only to subscribers, and so on. Substack offers absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a costs registration design, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any type of earnings. Actually, you literally link as much as your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Depending on how many subscribers you get, that 10% can be quite a bit even more cash than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem unpopular, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outside using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in any way.
Overall, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra built towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was developed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page develops seem far better constructed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually claimed, Substack settings itself toward “developers” greater than email marketers and newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some points geared more toward people who simply assume in terms of material development.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple magazines, they are dealt with fairly individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … awesome for individuals who may require it.
Substack also has more social functionality built-in. For instance, it has a conversation function to host talks with subscribers. It also has a “Notes” function which functions type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. Generally, Substack is set up to be much more like a social media network which sustains long-form content.
On the whole, Substack is also extra … minimal. You either care for that or do not. Personally, I don’t. However, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear here …
When it pertains to actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better matched. I searched for even more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, however frankly … I have a tough time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually through to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the exact same target market and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at developers (like Substack), however it is much more highly satisfying individuals who do it for service. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business system, and much more. ConvertKit is a really wonderful platform.
I’m not going to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature break down below. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, here’s exactly how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has extra flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is simply a fundamental feature of email checklists that makes it possible for segmentation in a far more versatile means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain labeling at some point quickly, truthfully. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Bad Astronomy.
ConvertKit does currently supply the capacity to sell things via their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly constantly choose an extra straight option anyhow. For me, I prefer to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around much longer and because of that has way more integration options. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. As an example, their plugin now even sustains member-gated web content in addition to auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. In essence, this more closely places ConvertKit right into direct competitors by having you have the ability to publish to your site and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely lacking in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even hectic taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your newsletter with advantages, however you can likewise pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are really awesome features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most well known viral promotion platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall wherefore this indicates for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Bad Astronomy
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates much less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it also indicates that they are swiftly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have observed practically weekly launch of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t weak little features … however large features that are rather essential. Their speed of advancement now has been impressive.
I likewise very much appreciate just how responsive they are. Actually, one of their item announcements regarding some design improvements to the web design features actually included a little issue with the material size. I simply responded to that email to tell them. I swiftly got a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That same day, the issue was dealt with.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional suggestion …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to activate automations based upon the embed type utilized was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I actually value.
An additional major point of distinction here is the rate. Both systems provide free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan supplies more capability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more desirable. ConvertKit appears more affordable initially look because their pricing web page reveals lower numbers, nevertheless the customer restrictions are much reduced and your rate swiftly raises as your list expands.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid annually), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally make use of), you can expand your listing approximately 100,000. A list of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, as well, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay each year.
BeeHiiv is in a completely various league when it pertains to pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They could as time takes place. Yet, I’m presuming people like myself who are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Add
Among the important things you absolutely need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to evolve rather rapidly and make new item statements somewhat frequently, yet there are some basic features I truly wish they had that I require to simply await.
One is that they need to have a setting on subscription types where I could select an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be incredible for many reasons. As of now, registration forms look OK, yet there’s extremely little settings for them to aid in segmentation.
It would certainly behave to have labeling at the subscriber degree. This would be effective.
I think webhooks need to become part of automations to make built-in automations less complicated and lower dependence on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface adjustments that would be handy. As an example:
- Capability to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to bulk edit messages (for instance, to mark a number of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard fields as typical on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more modification choices for the internet site (such as more flexible shade choices, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I hope they do with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, but it isn’t ideal and absolutely not almost as created as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM product.
It most likely never ever will certainly be, either. As I said, the objective is various so it would not a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to come to be a complete marketing automation system. I guess you never ever know, however.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv quite a lot. Enough where I determined to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the system despite my personal preference for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Put simply, for the newsletter posting design specifically, I saw sufficient value in their system to require the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my special e-mail list. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is good at, yet I deliberately have points establish so that I also keep my list “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is just a great insurance policy, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are making use of Substack today, I ‘d definitely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and various requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import tools for Substack, so the switch needs to be rather simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are therefore being fleeced with their high regular monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are repeating swiftly. There’s also a pretty good opportunity you’re not even utilizing some of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv could easily be a better and extra budget-friendly fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really intentional about expanding an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is made to be, it is one of the most effective video games in town right now. This is the platform to view.
BeeHiiv provides a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at for yourself. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the totally free account to be fairly feature rich.