I have actually utilized a lot of different email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and having your very own system. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium.
So, it is indeed a weird move for me to choose to use BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I want to discuss why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to attend to the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly likewise like to deal with why I chose to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For E-newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Huge Shift In Strategy, I discussed exactly how and why I determined to turn my RV blog right into primarily an e-newsletter. I determined that was the business version I wished to go after with that said building.
Yet, to purposefully 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 checklist for Gladly motor home, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I said because concern of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices built into it certain to my purpose. Things such as:
- Ability to release (to the blog) and send the e-mail concurrently without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Built in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are primarily one-click membership links. Great for promotion in various other 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.
- Built-in ad network, if I select to generate income from with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and essentially run a costs e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features targeted at development. The platform was literally built by the individuals who built up the innovation for Early morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I may certainly be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv too. 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 all out. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s very own home to ensure that I can grow it a lot more intentionally too.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown separately. Happily RV was young, so very easy to shift. Yet, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was buried in a sea of things below at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will clearly constantly be very closely tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, but does not have to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email Checklist
There’s a difference in between a newsletter platform and simply an e-mail checklist.
You can organize your email checklist anyplace 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 main distinction is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of publishing implies that it is going to your web site and to your e-mail clients at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are publishing to that website. Yet, you are likewise sending off to all customers at the same time. The internet site and it’s clients are done in one. This makes management of the platform much simpler.
With the majority of email systems, any type of newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is developed totally separately from your web site. So, as an example, you may release a write-up to WordPress however after that you would certainly require to independently develop and send out an email to your list to send it to clients. These are then two different sets of archives and 2 different actions since post and your e-mails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress into a true e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it pretty much “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress articles and enables them to be the very same point. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong choice if I wished to remain to self-host whatever. However, you would certainly shed the growth tools that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally comes with a various collection of needs than a common e-mail listing.
You don’t usually need much marketing automation. You do not usually need autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, however, is one seamless posting experience and growth tools to aid you construct your client base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my customers that I was mosting likely to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the truth that I picked to choose BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I assume Substack sucks. In fact, since Substack has actually been around much longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that originally obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically tailored to e-newsletter authors. In fact, it is literally developed by the same folks who built the innovation behind Morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. However, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter development called me out over the even more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and distinction additionally indicates that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brand names and large magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo developers. Once again, it simply informs me the customer avatar distinction between both companies.
Sending our my newsletter via FluentCRM really did not specifically suck. The only factor I would certainly consider shaking things up is if I believed I could expand the list quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I really don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more straight competitors.
Yet, allow’s dive much deeper than just the positioning below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv looks like it was built by people who comprehending email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra geared towards designers.
As an example, BeeHiiv supplies custom-made fields on clients. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. In fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still fairly restricted in triggers and the only activity is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will have brand-new triggers in addition to new actions, such as modifying customized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I’ve currently seen enhancements to their automations just since I began using the platform. For instance:
- Capacity to set off automations based upon which details embed form they can be found in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and deal with people based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can not do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it involves creating your newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra tailored toward e-newsletters. Actually, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I find it to be a lot more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s creating interface is nice and tidy, yet it would certainly be a lot more comparable to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than just form. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Section” and afterwards placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Visibility options on that particular area to reveal it just to paid customers, hide it from e-mail, conceal from clients, show only to clients, etc. Substack supplies absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a premium subscription model, BeeHiiv does not take any type of earnings. As a matter of fact, you essentially connect up to your very own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your earnings. Depending upon the number of clients you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the month-to-month cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, however what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside making use of devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
Generally, I just felt like BeeHiiv was a lot more built toward real e-mail marketing. It was developed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page develops appear far better developed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv include, I such as the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack placements itself toward “designers” more than email online marketers and newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some things tailored more toward individuals who just think in regards to content development.
For instance, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple magazines, they are dealt with quite separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … trendy for individuals who could require it.
Substack likewise has even more social performance built-in. For example, it has a conversation feature to host talks with subscribers. It likewise has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is established to be a lot more like a social media which sustains long-form content.
In general, Substack is also a lot more … minimalist. You either look after that or don’t. Directly, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions quite well.
However, I’ll be clear here …
When it pertains to real marketing, I do not assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better suited. I looked for more factors that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a tough time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently via to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the very same target audience and have similar capacities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at developers (like Substack), however it is much more strongly accommodating individuals that do it for organization. ConvertKit has nice aesthetic automation structure, it’s own business platform, and much more. ConvertKit is a truly great platform.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature break down here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, here’s exactly how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly also say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains tagging. This is just a basic feature of email checklists that enables segmentation in an even more versatile means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain labeling eventually quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium.
ConvertKit does currently offer the capability to sell points using their very 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 certainly always pick a more direct option anyway. For me, I prefer to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been around a lot longer and therefore has way a lot more integration options. Tons of online tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For instance, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Basically, this more carefully puts ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to release to your site and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is significantly lacking in these type of third-party integrations right now. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy tackling the development devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with benefits, however you can also pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are truly amazing features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you know ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most popular viral promotion platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this means for the system moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Medium
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it additionally indicates that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced almost once a week launch of new features right into the platform. And these aren’t undersized little features … but large features that are quite crucial. Their rate of advancement now has been impressive.
I likewise significantly appreciate exactly how responsive they are. Actually, among their product statements about some design enhancements to the website design features really consisted of a tiny problem with the web content width. I just replied to that email to tell them. I promptly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was taken care of.
Few days later, I gave them another pointer …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to activate automations based on the embed kind made use of was added to the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I actually value.
Another significant point of differentiation here is the cost. Both platforms provide totally free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies a lot more 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 FAR more desirable. ConvertKit seems less expensive in the beginning glimpse since their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, nevertheless the customer limits are FAR reduced and your price promptly boosts as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid annually), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same size checklist is mosting likely 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 grow your list approximately 100,000. A listing of that dimension 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 each year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a completely various organization when it comes to pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point boost costs? They could as time takes place. However, I’m guessing individuals like myself that are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Things I Would 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 announcements somewhat typically, but there are some fundamental features I really desire they had that I require to just wait for.
One is that they need to have a setup on registration forms where I could pick an automation to run right at the kind level. That would certainly be AWESOME for many reasons. As of now, membership types look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to aid in segmentation.
It would be nice to have identifying at the subscriber level. This would be effective.
I think webhooks ought to be part of automations to make integrated automations much easier and minimize dependence on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor administrative interface changes that would come in handy. For instance:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to mass edit blog posts (as an example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic areas as basic on clients (like the name).
- Some even more customization options for the site (such as even more adaptable shade choices, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I wish they make with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t best and certainly not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It most likely never will certainly be, either. As I stated, the function is various so it wouldn’t much a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to end up being a full marketing automation platform. I guess you never know, however.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv rather a lot. Enough where I made a decision to change my very own newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my own platform.
Basically, for the e-newsletter publishing version particularly, I saw enough worth in their platform to require the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail listing. I use BeeHiiv for what it is proficient at, yet I purposefully have points establish to make sure that I also keep my list “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is simply an excellent insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the question is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are utilizing Substack now, I ‘d definitely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and different needs. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button must be rather uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d possibly stay unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are for that reason being fleeced with their high monthly costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are repeating swiftly. There’s likewise a respectable chance you’re not also using a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not also require them. Therefore, BeeHiiv can quickly be a far better and extra cost effective fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very intentional concerning expanding an e-newsletter, I assume 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 concerning what it is created to be, it is among the very best video games in town today. This is the platform to watch.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth taking a look at for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll discover the totally free account to be rather feature abundant.