I have used a great deal of different e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a massive supporter of digital sovereignty and possessing your own platform. For that reason (and the remarkable features), I have been using Brian Schneider Beehiiv.
So, it is without a doubt an unusual move for me to determine to use BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a held application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to deal with the problem of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I ‘d likewise like to attend to why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Huge Change In Strategy, I talked about exactly how and why I made a decision to turn my RV blog into mostly an e-newsletter. I decided that was business model I intended to seek keeping that home.
But, to deliberately seek it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Happily recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little a waste. A lot more on that in a bit.
As I stated in that problem of the newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices built into it certain to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send out the email all at once without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in ability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click membership links. Great for promotion in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, though, so there are methods to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Built-in advertisement network, if I choose to generate income from with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The system was literally built by the individuals who developed the technology for Morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I may without a doubt be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went for it. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s very own property to make sure that I can grow it more intentionally too.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Morning WP (formerly The Side) was buried in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will certainly always be carefully tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, yet does not need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv since it was constructed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between an e-newsletter platform and simply an email checklist.
You can host your email listing anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The main distinction is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of posting means that it is going to your internet site and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are publishing to that website. Yet, you are likewise dispatching to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s customers are done in one. This makes administration of the system much simpler.
With the majority of e-mail systems, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is constructed totally separately from your site. So, for instance, you could publish a write-up to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to separately develop and send out an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are then two different collections of archives and two separate actions due to the fact that post and your emails are not naturally linked.
The closest point that turns WordPress into a true e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it basically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress posts and permits them to be the same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong option if I intended to remain to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the development tools that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter inherently comes with a various set of requirements than a common e-mail listing.
You do not normally require much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder sequences, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO requirement, however, is one smooth publishing experience and growth tools to help you build your customer base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was mosting likely to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I chose to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not imply I assume Substack draws. Actually, since Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair things that originally obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to newsletter publishers. Actually, it is literally built by the exact same folks who built the innovation behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, does not matter. But, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I’m interested in right here.
- That branding and differentiation likewise implies that BeeHiiv has some rather huge brand names and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo developers. Once more, it simply informs me the client avatar difference in between both firms.
Sending our my newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t precisely suck. The only reason I would contemplate trembling things up is if I thought I can expand the checklist quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually do not check out BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more direct competitors.
Yet, let’s dive deeper than simply the positioning below.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv looks like it was constructed by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored towards designers.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers personalized fields on clients. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that functions a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still rather restricted in triggers and the only action is the ability to send out an e-mail. However, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have new triggers as well as brand-new activities, such as modifying personalized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just given that I began using the system. For instance:
- Capacity to activate automations based on which specific embed type they can be found in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and deal with individuals based on opens and non-opens).
- Capability to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can’t do this because the target audience of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email marketer.
When it pertains to writing your e-newsletters, the creating user interface of BeeHiiv is just more tailored toward e-newsletters. In fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it functions. I find it to be more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and tidy, but it would certainly be a lot more equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than simply type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and then put anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Presence choices on that area to show it only to paid customers, hide it from email, conceal from customers, show only to customers, etc. Substack supplies nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a premium subscription version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any income. As a matter of fact, you essentially attach approximately your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending on the amount of customers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more money than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … nothing. No integrations in all.
On the whole, I just felt like BeeHiiv was much more built toward actual e-mail marketing. It was built by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page creates appear far better constructed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv include, I such as the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack positions itself toward “creators” greater than email marketing experts and newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some points geared extra towards people who just assume in regards to content creation.
For example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain several magazines, they are dealt with fairly separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, yet … cool for people that might need it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host chats with subscribers. It likewise has a “Notes” function which functions type of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. Generally, Substack is established to be a lot more like a social media which sustains long-form web content.
In general, Substack is also more … minimal. You either look after that or don’t. Personally, I don’t. Nevertheless, if the objective is simpleness of interface and, frankly, features … Substack works rather well.
Yet, I’ll be clear below …
When it pertains to real marketing, I do not believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better fit. I tried to find more points that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, but truthfully … I have a difficult time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly through to be the closest competitors, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are going after the exact same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is also positioned at designers (like Substack), but it is much more highly catering to people that do it for service. ConvertKit has good visual automation structure, it’s own business system, and more. ConvertKit is an actually wonderful system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature malfunction right here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has extra flexibility when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly also say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is just a standard feature of e-mail checklists that allows division in a far more adaptable means than BeeHiiv presently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to support marking at some time quickly, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Brian Schneider Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now provide the capability to offer points via their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would certainly constantly choose a more straight option anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about much longer and therefore has way more integration choices. Lots of web-based devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is rather effective. For example, their plugin now even sustains member-gated content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Essentially, this a lot more closely puts ConvertKit right into direct competition by having you be able to release to your site and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these type of third-party integrations right now. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with perks, but you can likewise pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are actually outstanding features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you recognize ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall surface wherefore this implies for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Brian Schneider Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it likewise indicates that they are swiftly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed virtually once a week release of brand-new features into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … however large features that are quite vital. Their speed of growth now has gone over.
I also quite appreciate exactly how responsive they are. Actually, among their product announcements regarding some style improvements to the web design features actually had a little problem with the web content width. I simply responded to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was fixed.
Few days later, I gave them an additional pointer …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based on the embed type used was contributed to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight participation of the team is something I really value.
An additional significant factor of differentiation right here is the cost. Both platforms offer complimentary plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides extra capability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise FAR more favorable. ConvertKit appears cheaper at first look since their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, however the client limitations are much reduced and your cost promptly boosts as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same dimension list is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I directly make use of), you can grow your checklist approximately 100,000. A listing of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, as well, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, too. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely various league when it concerns pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise costs? They may as time goes on. Yet, I’m guessing individuals like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the things you definitely require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to progress rather swiftly and make brand-new item news somewhat frequently, however there are some basic features I truly wish they had that I require to just await.
One is that they require to have a setting on registration kinds where I could choose an automation to run right at the form level. That would be outstanding for a lot of reasons. Currently, registration kinds look OK, yet there’s really little setups for them to help in segmentation.
It would certainly be nice to have labeling at the subscriber level. This would be effective.
I assume webhooks ought to be part of automations to make built-in automations easier and lower reliance on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface modifications that would certainly come in handy. As an example:
- Ability to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capacity to bulk edit posts (for instance, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic areas as conventional on clients (like the name).
- Some even more personalization choices for the internet site (such as even more versatile shade options, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I wish they make with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t best and definitely not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It possibly never will be, either. As I claimed, the function is various so it would not much a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation platform. I guess you never ever understand, though.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv rather a great deal. Enough where I chose to switch my very own newsletters over to the platform regardless of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and owning my own system.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing design especially, I saw adequate worth in their platform to warrant the adjustment.
Keep in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail list. I use BeeHiiv of what it is good at, yet I intentionally have things set up to make sure that I likewise maintain my checklist “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is just an excellent insurance coverage, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your checklist will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are making use of Substack today, I ‘d absolutely take into consideration changing to BeeHiiv. It will simply be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and different demands. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button should be pretty straightforward.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely sit tight unless you have a huge email checklist and are therefore being fleeced with their high month-to-month bill. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating promptly. There’s also a respectable chance you’re not even utilizing a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv might easily be a much better and a lot more budget-friendly fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be really intentional concerning growing a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is developed to be, it is just one of the very best video games in the area today. This is the system to view.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth looking into for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the free account to be rather feature rich.