I have used a lot of various e-mail list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big proponent of digital sovereignty and having your very own platform. Therefore (and the outstanding features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Plans.
So, it is indeed an unusual move for me to determine to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is an organized application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I wish to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to resolve the concern of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d additionally like to resolve why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Hobby + A Large Shift In Technique, I discussed exactly how and why I made a decision to transform my RV blog right into primarily a newsletter. I chose that was business model I wished to seek with that building.
But, to deliberately seek it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail list for Happily recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, truthfully, using it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. Much more on that in a bit.
As I claimed in that issue of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with devices developed right into it particular to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send the e-mail at the same time without having it be two different actions.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click registration web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick to generate income from with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and primarily run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter authors with features focused on development. The system was actually constructed by the individuals that developed the technology for Early morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I might undoubtedly be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv too. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went all out. And as a matter of fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s very own building to make sure that I can grow it more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown independently. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so easy to shift. But, The Morning WP (previously The Side) 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 expand it on it’s own. It will obviously always be very closely connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, but doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email Listing
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter platform and simply an email list.
You can organize your e-mail listing anyplace you want and there are a variety of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary distinction is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of posting implies that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your e-mail subscribers concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that website. However, you are also dispatching to all subscribers at the same time. The site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much easier.
With the majority of e-mail platforms, any type of e-newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is built totally separately from your site. So, for example, you may release an article to WordPress but then you would require to separately develop and send out an e-mail to your listing to send it to clients. These are then 2 separate sets of archives and two different actions due to the fact that article and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress into a real e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name since it pretty much “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and enables them to be the exact same thing. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong option if I intended to continue to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the development devices that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally includes a different set of needs than a common email checklist.
You don’t typically need much marketing automation. You don’t generally need autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless posting experience and development devices to assist you develop your customer base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my customers that I was going to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the reality that I chose to choose BeeHiiv, that does not imply I believe Substack sucks. In fact, since Substack has been about much longer, it is elder and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple points that initially got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is actually developed by the same folks that constructed the innovation behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. But, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “maker”. Development is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and differentiation also indicates that BeeHiiv has some rather large brand names and huge magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo makers. Once more, it simply tells me the client character distinction in between the two companies.
Sending our my e-newsletter through FluentCRM didn’t specifically suck. The only reason I would certainly contemplate drinking points up is if I believed I might expand the checklist faster. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I in fact don’t view BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a various kind of consumer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
But, let’s dive deeper than simply the positioning below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was developed by people that understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more tailored toward designers.
As an example, BeeHiiv uses custom areas on clients. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still rather limited in triggers and the only action is the capability to send an email. However, improvements are coming. Soon sufficient, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to new actions, such as modifying custom fields, sending out webhooks, and so on. I’ve already seen improvements to their automations simply since I began making use of the platform. As an example:
- Capability to set off automations based upon which details embed kind they can be found in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and deal with individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do fundamental conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply wouldn’t think to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it concerns creating your newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is simply much more tailored toward e-newsletters. Actually, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it functions. I locate it to be a lot more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface behaves and tidy, yet it would certainly be extra equivalent to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than simply type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and after that placed anything you want in it. After that, you can put Exposure alternatives on that area to show it only to paid clients, conceal it from email, conceal from subscribers, show only to subscribers, and so on. Substack supplies absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs registration model, BeeHiiv does not take any income. As a matter of fact, you essentially link as much as your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the number of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more money than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem unpopular, however what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv deal with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in any way.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was extra built towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page designs seem better built for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv include, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack positions itself toward “developers” more than email marketing experts and newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some things geared more toward individuals who simply think in terms of web content creation.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous publications, they are treated fairly separately. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … amazing for individuals who might require it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. For example, it has a chat feature to host chats with clients. It likewise has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. On the whole, Substack is set up to be more like a social media which supports long-form content.
Generally, Substack is likewise a lot more … minimal. You either take care of that or do not. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions rather well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it comes to real marketing, I do not believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for even more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a tough time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly through to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the exact same target audience and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at developers (like Substack), but it is far more strongly satisfying individuals who do it for business. ConvertKit has nice visual automation structure, it’s very own business platform, and a lot more. ConvertKit is an actually wonderful platform.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is well known already. However, below’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has extra versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly likewise claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains tagging. This is simply a standard function of email listings that enables segmentation in an even more flexible method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support tagging eventually soon, truthfully. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Plans.
ConvertKit does now provide the capability to sell things through their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always pick a much more direct option anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and for that reason has way much more integration options. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For example, their plugin currently also supports member-gated material as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this a lot more closely places ConvertKit into direct competition by having you be able to publish to your website and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic tackling the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with rewards, yet you can also pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your list. These are truly outstanding features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you recognize ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of one of the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall surface of what this indicates for the system moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Plans
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it also suggests that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed virtually weekly release of brand-new features into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … yet big features that are fairly essential. Their rate of development now has gone over.
I also significantly appreciate exactly how responsive they are. Actually, one of their item statements about some design enhancements to the web design features really had a tiny trouble with the content size. I simply responded to that email to tell them. I promptly got a reply directly from the CEO:.
That same day, the issue was taken care of.
Couple of days later on, I provided an additional recommendation …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to cause automations based upon the embed type used was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct involvement of the group is something I truly appreciate.
An additional significant factor of distinction below is the rate. Both systems provide complimentary plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan provides extra ability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more beneficial. ConvertKit appears cheaper in the beginning look because their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, nevertheless the client limits are much lower and your cost swiftly boosts as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid yearly), however you can have up to 10,000 customers. That very same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I personally use), you can expand your list approximately 100,000. A list of that dimension would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, as well, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in a completely different organization when it involves pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise costs? They might as time goes on. Yet, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among things you absolutely need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to evolve rather swiftly and make new item statements rather usually, yet there are some standard features I actually desire they had that I require to just await.
One is that they require to have a setup on subscription kinds where I might choose an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be outstanding for so many factors. As of now, membership kinds look OK, yet there’s very little settings for them to assist in division.
It would certainly behave to have tagging at the client degree. This would be powerful.
I assume webhooks ought to become part of automations to make integrated automations much easier and decrease reliance on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface changes that would come in handy. As an example:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to mass edit messages (as an example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as basic on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more customization alternatives for the internet site (such as even more adaptable color choices, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Things I wish they finish with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, however it isn’t perfect and absolutely not virtually as created as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It most likely never ever will be, either. As I said, the function is various so it would not a lot a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation platform. I think you never recognize, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv fairly a whole lot. Enough where I decided to change my very own e-newsletters over to the system in spite of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my own platform.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing design especially, I saw enough worth in their platform to call for the adjustment.
Keep in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email checklist. I use BeeHiiv for what it is proficient at, however I deliberately have points establish so that I likewise keep my checklist “in house” inside of FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply a good insurance policy, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your checklist will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the question is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are making use of Substack right now, I ‘d absolutely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will simply be much more business-friendly. It is targeting different capacities and various needs. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be rather uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a big email listing and are consequently 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 likewise a pretty good possibility you’re not even utilizing a few of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a much better and much more budget friendly fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really willful regarding growing a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is among the best video games in the area right now. This is the platform to watch.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be fairly feature abundant.