I have actually used a lot of various email list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a huge supporter of digital sovereignty and possessing your own system. Therefore (and the incredible features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv GDPR.
So, it is indeed a weird move for me to determine to use 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 evaluation, I intend to go over why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to address the issue of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I ‘d additionally like to attend to why I chose to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Approach, I talked about how and why I determined to turn my motor home blog site into primarily an e-newsletter. I chose that was the business model I intended to seek keeping that property.
However, to intentionally pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the e-mail list for Gladly recreational vehicle, yet 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 little a waste. Extra on that in a little bit.
As I stated because problem of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with devices constructed right into it details to my objective. Things such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog) and send the email simultaneously without having it be two different actions.
- Built in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in ability to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are primarily one-click registration links. Great for promo in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I select to monetize with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was literally constructed by the people that accumulated the modern technology for Morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I might without a doubt be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went for it. And actually, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s very own residential property so that I can expand it much more intentionally as well.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded separately. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so simple to shift. But, The Morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will obviously constantly be closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, however doesn’t have to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email List
There’s a distinction in between a newsletter system and just an email list.
You can hold your email checklist just about anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them available, 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 system, the act of publishing implies that it is going to your web site and to your email customers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are publishing to that web site. But, you are also sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The internet site and it’s clients are done in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With many e-mail systems, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed completely separately from your website. So, for example, you may release a post to WordPress however after that you would require to separately build and send out an e-mail to your checklist to send it to customers. These are then two different sets of archives and two different actions because post and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest point that turns WordPress right into a real e-newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it virtually “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress messages and allows them to be the exact same thing. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid option if I wanted to continue to self-host every little thing. However, you would certainly shed the development devices that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently comes with a different collection of needs than a regular email list.
You don’t typically require much marketing automation. You do not typically require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless publishing experience and development tools to aid you build your subscriber base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my subscribers that I was mosting likely to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the fact that I picked to choose BeeHiiv, that does not imply I believe Substack sucks. In fact, since Substack has actually been about longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that initially got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to e-newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is literally developed by the exact same folks who developed the technology behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real life, doesn’t matter. Yet, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the even more common positioning of being a “developer”. Development is what I want right here.
- That branding and distinction also implies that BeeHiiv has some rather large brand names and large magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo creators. Once more, it simply tells me the client character difference in between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t specifically suck. The only factor I would certainly contemplate drinking things up is if I believed I could GROW the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I really do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of customer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more direct competitors.
Yet, allow’s dive deeper than just the placing right here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv feels like it was constructed by people who recognizing email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more geared toward creators.
For instance, BeeHiiv provides personalized areas on clients. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still rather restricted in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have new triggers along with brand-new actions, such as changing customized areas, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations just given that I began using the platform. As an example:
- Ability to set off automations based upon which specific embed form they was available in on.
- Capacity to immediately do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can’t do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply wouldn’t think to approach this like an email marketer.
When it concerns writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply a lot more tailored toward newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I discover it to be a lot more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating interface behaves and tidy, but it would certainly be more equal to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than simply kind. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and after that put anything you desire in it. After that, you can place Presence alternatives on that area to reveal it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from e-mail, conceal from clients, reveal just to subscribers, and so on. Substack provides nothing such as this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a premium subscription version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any revenue. In fact, you literally attach up to your very own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Depending on the number of clients you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear nerdy, but what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outdoors utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
Generally, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more developed towards actual email marketing. It was constructed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page develops appear better constructed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv add, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually claimed, Substack placements itself towards “designers” greater than e-mail marketing professionals and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some things geared more toward people who just believe in regards to material production.
For example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does support numerous magazines, they are dealt with rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to several publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … cool for individuals who might require it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. For example, it has a conversation feature to host talks with customers. It also has a “Notes” feature which functions sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. Generally, Substack is set up to be extra like a social media which supports long-form content.
On the whole, Substack is additionally extra … minimalist. You either take care of that or don’t. Personally, I do not. However, if the goal is simplicity of interface and, honestly, features … Substack works rather well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it concerns actual marketing, I don’t think there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, yet frankly … I have a difficult time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually via to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target audience and have comparable abilities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at creators (like Substack), yet it is far more strongly catering to individuals who do it for service. ConvertKit has good aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business system, and more. ConvertKit is an actually nice system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature break down here. ConvertKit is well known already. However, below’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has a lot more versatility when it involves it’s automations. I will certainly likewise claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit a lot more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is simply a basic feature of email checklists that makes it possible for division in a much more adaptable means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain tagging at some point soon, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv GDPR.
ConvertKit does now supply the ability to market things using their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always choose a much more direct option anyway. For me, I prefer to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and because of that has way extra integration alternatives. Lots of online tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also 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 site. In essence, this a lot more very closely places ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to release to your site and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy taking on the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize people to share your newsletter with rewards, however you can additionally pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are truly awesome features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you know ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most popular viral promotion systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall of what this means for the system going forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv GDPR
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests less features and less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it also implies that they are swiftly developing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed practically regular release of new features right into the system. And these aren’t weak little features … but big features that are fairly crucial. Their speed of advancement at this moment has actually been impressive.
I also quite appreciate exactly how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, one of their item news about some design improvements to the web design features in fact had a small trouble with the material width. I just replied to that email to tell them. I rapidly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the problem was dealt with.
Few days later on, I gave them one more recommendation …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to trigger automations based on the embed form used was included in the system.
That type of responsiveness and direct participation of the team is something I actually appreciate.
An additional significant factor of differentiation below is the rate. Both systems use cost-free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides extra capability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally much more positive. ConvertKit seems less expensive at first look since their pricing web page shows lower numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limits are FAR lower and your cost promptly enhances as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That very same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly make use of), you can expand your list approximately 100,000. A checklist of that size would 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 every year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally various organization when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually boost costs? They could as time goes on. Yet, I’m thinking people like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how things continue.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Add
Among things you certainly require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to evolve instead swiftly and make brand-new item announcements rather typically, yet there are some basic features I truly wish they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership types where I can pick an automation to run right at the kind level. That would certainly be amazing for numerous factors. Currently, subscription kinds look OK, however there’s really little setups for them to assist in division.
It would behave to have identifying at the customer level. This would certainly be effective.
I think webhooks should belong to automations to make built-in automations less complicated and minimize reliance on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor administrative user interface adjustments that would come in handy. For instance:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to bulk edit articles (as an example, to mark a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as conventional on clients (like the name).
- Some even more personalization choices for the internet site (such as even more versatile color choices, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I hope they do with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t perfect and absolutely not virtually as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It probably never will be, either. As I said, the function is different so it would not much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation system. I guess you never know, however.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Enough where I determined to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the platform regardless of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and owning my very own platform.
Basically, for the newsletter posting model specifically, I saw adequate worth in their platform to warrant the modification.
Remember, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email listing. I utilize BeeHiiv of what it is efficient, but I deliberately have things establish to ensure that I additionally keep my checklist “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is simply an excellent insurance policy, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d most definitely take into consideration switching over to BeeHiiv. It will just be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and various requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the button should be quite straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably stay unless you have a large e-mail checklist and are consequently being fleeced with their high monthly bill. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating rapidly. There’s also a respectable possibility you’re not even making use of some of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv can conveniently be a better and much more affordable fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be really intentional regarding growing an e-newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is made to be, it is just one of the most effective games in town today. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves taking a look at on your own. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the totally free account to be rather feature rich.