I have made use of a great deal of different e-mail list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a significant supporter of digital sovereignty and having your very own system. For that reason (and the awesome features), I have been using Beehiiv Hiring.
So, it is indeed a weird move for me to decide to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is a hosted application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I wish to go over why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while using the system and I would certainly additionally like to address why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Huge Shift In Approach, I talked about just how and why I decided to turn my motor home blog site into mostly a newsletter. I chose that was business version I wished to pursue keeping that residential property.
But, to intentionally seek it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Happily RV, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a little bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a little bit.
As I claimed in that concern of the e-newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices developed right into it particular to my function. Points such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog) and send out the e-mail simultaneously without having it be two separate actions.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are primarily one-click registration web links. Great for promo in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and essentially run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features aimed at growth. The platform was actually constructed by the individuals who developed the innovation for Morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is built from the ground up for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I finished off with this:.
I might undoubtedly be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv too. At least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. Actually, I simply went for it. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own property to make sure that I can grow it a lot more purposefully too.
The goal is that each newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded independently. Happily motor home was young, so very easy to transition. However, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will undoubtedly constantly be closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, but does not need to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between a newsletter system and simply an email listing.
You can host your e-mail list everywhere you desire and there are a number of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The main distinction is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of publishing means that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your e-mail customers concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that internet site. Yet, you are additionally dispatching to all clients at the same time. The website and it’s clients are done in one. This makes monitoring of the system much simpler.
With most email systems, any newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed totally individually from your site. So, for example, you could release a post to WordPress yet then you would need to separately develop and send out an email to your list to send it to clients. These are after that 2 separate sets of archives and two separate actions because blog posts and your emails are not naturally linked.
The closest point that turns WordPress right into a real newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it basically “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress posts and permits them to be the exact same thing. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong choice if I wanted to remain to self-host everything. However, you would certainly shed the development devices that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently includes a various set of demands than a regular e-mail listing.
You do not generally require much marketing automation. You don’t normally require autoresponder series, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, however, is one smooth publishing experience and growth devices to aid you develop your client base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was mosting likely to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the fact that I picked to go with BeeHiiv, that doesn’t imply I assume Substack sucks. Actually, due to the fact that Substack has actually been around much longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that initially got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to e-newsletter publishers. Actually, it is literally constructed by the exact same folks who constructed the modern technology behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. Yet, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the more common positioning of being a “creator”. Development is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally indicates that BeeHiiv has some rather huge brand names and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo developers. Again, it simply informs me the customer avatar difference in between both companies.
Sending our my newsletter through FluentCRM really did not precisely suck. The only reason I would certainly consider trembling things up is if I assumed I might expand the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I in fact don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of customer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight competitors.
However, allow’s dive deeper than simply the placing here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears much more geared toward designers.
For instance, BeeHiiv provides custom fields on clients. Now, it isn’t as created as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still quite restricted in triggers and the only action is the ability to send an e-mail. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers as well as new actions, such as customizing custom fields, sending out webhooks, and so on. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just considering that I began utilizing the platform. For instance:
- Capability to activate automations based upon which particular embed type they was available in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and deal with individuals based on opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this because the target audience of Substack just wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it concerns creating your newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more geared toward e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it actually has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I locate it to be a lot more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s composing user interface behaves and clean, but it would certainly be more equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is greater than just form. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Section” and after that placed anything you want in it. After that, you can place Visibility alternatives on that particular section to show it just to paid subscribers, hide it from email, hide from customers, show only to customers, and so on. Substack provides nothing such as this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs membership design, BeeHiiv does not take any kind of earnings. As a matter of fact, you literally attach as much as your own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Relying on the number of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the month-to-month price of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem nerdy, however what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv work with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … absolutely nothing. No integrations at all.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built towards real email marketing. It was developed by individuals who “get it”. Also the opt-in forms and the landing page creates appear much better built for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have claimed, Substack placements itself towards “developers” greater than email online marketers and newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some things geared a lot more towards individuals who just assume in terms of content development.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support several magazines, they are dealt with rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … amazing for individuals that could require it.
Substack additionally has more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host talks with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which functions sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. Generally, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social media network which supports long-form content.
Overall, Substack is also much more … minimal. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions rather well.
Yet, I’ll be clear here …
When it pertains to real marketing, I don’t assume there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better matched. I searched for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, but frankly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently with to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at creators (like Substack), but it is far more highly catering to individuals who do it for company. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation building, it’s own commerce system, and more. ConvertKit is a truly wonderful system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a full feature-by-feature malfunction here. ConvertKit is popular currently. However, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has much more adaptability when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly also state that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains tagging. This is just a fundamental function of email lists that enables segmentation in an even more versatile method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain marking at some time quickly, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Hiring.
ConvertKit does now provide the capacity to market things by means of their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is essential to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly always select a much more straight option anyhow. For me, I like to use my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and because of that has way a lot more integration options. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. For example, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content along with auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this much more very closely puts ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you have the ability to release to your site and your email listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly lacking in these type of third-party integrations right now. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even hectic taking on the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with benefits, however you can also pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your listing. These are actually amazing features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most popular viral promotion systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface wherefore this implies for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Hiring
BeeHiiv is much earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it likewise suggests that they are quickly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually experienced virtually weekly launch of new features into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … however big features that are quite important. Their rate of development at this point has actually gone over.
I also significantly value how responsive they are. In fact, among their product news concerning some design improvements to the web design features in fact had a small trouble with the content size. I merely replied to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly got a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That same day, the issue was dealt with.
Few days later, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to trigger automations based upon the embed type utilized was included in the system.
That type of responsiveness and direct participation of the team is something I actually appreciate.
Another major factor of distinction below is the price. Both platforms use complimentary plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses much more ability and even more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also much more favorable. ConvertKit appears cheaper at first glimpse due to the fact that their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, nevertheless the client restrictions are much lower and your price rapidly increases as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 clients. That very same size checklist is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I directly utilize), you can expand your checklist as much as 100,000. A listing of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in a totally various league when it concerns pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point boost rates? They may as time takes place. However, I’m guessing individuals like myself that are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the important things you certainly need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to evolve rather swiftly and make brand-new item announcements rather usually, however there are some fundamental features I really desire they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they need to have a setting on subscription forms where I can select an automation to run right at the form degree. That would certainly be outstanding for so many reasons. Already, membership types look OK, yet there’s very little setups for them to assist in division.
It would certainly behave to have marking at the customer degree. This would be powerful.
I think webhooks must become part of automations to make built-in automations less complicated and decrease dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some small management interface adjustments that would come in handy. For example:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to mass edit blog posts (for example, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental fields as common on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification choices for the site (such as more flexible shade selections, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I wish they do with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t best and definitely not nearly as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM item.
It probably never ever will be, either. As I claimed, the function is different so it would not much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a full marketing automation system. I guess you never know, though.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I such as BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Sufficient where I determined to switch my very own newsletters over to the platform in spite of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and having my very own system.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing version particularly, I saw sufficient value in their platform to warrant the adjustment.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email list. I utilize BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, however I purposefully have things establish to ensure that I also maintain my listing “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the exact same. It is simply a good insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full 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 viewpoint, if you are making use of Substack today, I ‘d most definitely consider switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be much more business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be rather straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely stay unless you have a large email listing and are therefore being wooled with their high month-to-month expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are iterating swiftly. There’s also a pretty good possibility you’re not also utilizing a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv could quickly be a much better and a lot more economical fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely intentional about growing an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and maintain and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is designed to be, it is one of the very best video games in town today. This is the system to watch.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth taking a look at on your own. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be quite feature rich.