I have made use of a great deal of various e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a substantial advocate of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own system. Therefore (and the awesome features), I have actually been using Does Beehiiv Have An App.
So, it is certainly an odd move for me to decide to use BeeHiiv. After all, it is an organized application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I wish to discuss why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I want to deal with the problem of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I would certainly additionally like to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For E-newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Large Shift In Method, I talked about exactly how and why I made a decision to turn my motor home blog site right into mainly an e-newsletter. I decided that was business model I intended to go after with that residential property.
But, to deliberately pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email checklist for Happily motor home, but FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I claimed because issue of the e-newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a system with tools constructed right into it details to my function. Things such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog site) and send out the email at the same time without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are generally one-click registration web links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are methods to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick to generate income from with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was literally built by the people who accumulated the technology for Morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point right here. BeeHiiv is developed from scratch for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I might indeed be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went for it. And as a matter of fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s own building to ensure that I can grow it extra intentionally as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown individually. Gladly motor home was young, so easy to change. However, The Early morning WP (previously 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 grow it on it’s very own. It will obviously always be carefully connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, yet does not have to belong of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv since it was constructed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between a newsletter platform and just an e-mail listing.
You can host your email list everywhere you desire and there are a number of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting suggests that it is going to your site and to your e-mail subscribers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are publishing to that web site. However, you are also sending off to all clients at the same time. The site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes management of the platform much easier.
With many email platforms, any newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is developed entirely individually from your website. So, for instance, you could publish a post to WordPress however then you would require to individually develop and send out an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are after that 2 different sets of archives and 2 different activities due to the fact that article and your e-mails are not naturally connected.
The closest thing that turns WordPress right into a true newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name due to the fact that it virtually “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and allows them to be the exact same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong option if I wished to continue to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you would certainly lose the development tools that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently includes a different set of needs than a regular email checklist.
You do not usually need much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, though, is one seamless posting experience and growth tools to assist you build your customer base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my subscribers that I was mosting likely to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the fact that I selected to go with BeeHiiv, that doesn’t suggest I think Substack draws. Actually, since Substack has actually been around much longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple things that originally got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to e-newsletter publishers. In fact, it is actually built by the very same folks who developed the modern technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real life, does not matter. Yet, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the even more common positioning of being a “creator”. Growth is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and distinction also implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brands and big magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo creators. Once more, it simply informs me the client avatar difference between both firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not exactly suck. The only factor I would ponder trembling points up is if I believed I might expand the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a various type of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more direct rivals.
Yet, allow’s dive much deeper than just the placing below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by individuals that understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears much more tailored towards makers.
For instance, BeeHiiv provides personalized fields on customers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv supplies Automations. In fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still fairly minimal in triggers and the only activity is the capacity to send out an email. However, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to brand-new activities, such as modifying customized fields, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just since I began using the platform. As an example:
- Capacity to activate automations based on which details embed kind they was available in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do fundamental conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply would not think to approach this like an e-mail marketing professional.
When it pertains to writing your newsletters, the writing interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra geared towards newsletters. As a matter of fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it functions. I locate it to be a lot more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s composing user interface is nice and tidy, but it would be more comparable to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is greater than simply form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Section” and after that put anything you desire in it. After that, you can put Presence choices on that particular section to show it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from customers, reveal only to clients, and so on. Substack uses absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a costs registration model, BeeHiiv does not take any type of income. Actually, you literally link as much as your very own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the number of customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit more cash than the regular monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This may seem unpopular, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was a lot more developed towards actual e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page makes appear far better constructed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv add, I like the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually stated, Substack settings itself towards “makers” greater than email online marketers and newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some points geared a lot more towards people that simply assume in terms of content development.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support multiple publications, they are treated rather individually. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, yet … trendy for individuals who may require it.
Substack likewise has even more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a conversation feature to host talks with clients. It additionally has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is set up to be extra like a social media which supports long-form material.
Overall, Substack is likewise extra … minimal. You either look after that or do not. Directly, I don’t. However, if the objective is simplicity of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it involves real marketing, I don’t assume there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better suited. I tried to find more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a hard time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually with to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are pursuing the same target market and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is also positioned at developers (like Substack), however it is much more highly satisfying individuals who do it for organization. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation building, it’s own commerce system, and extra. ConvertKit is an actually wonderful system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly also say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports identifying. This is just a basic function of e-mail lists that enables segmentation in a much more flexible way than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain marking at some point soon, honestly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Does Beehiiv Have An App.
ConvertKit does now offer the ability to sell points through their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is essential to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would constantly choose an extra straight choice anyhow. For me, I favor to use my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about a lot longer and because of that has way much more integration options. Lots of online tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For instance, their plugin currently even sustains member-gated web content along with auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this more carefully puts ConvertKit into straight competition by having you be able to publish to your website and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations right now. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic tackling the growth 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 advantages, however you can also pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are really amazing features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you recognize ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most well known viral promotion systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface of what this implies for the system moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Does Beehiiv Have An App
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means much less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it likewise indicates that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed practically once a week launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … however huge features that are fairly important. Their speed of advancement at this moment has been impressive.
I likewise quite value just how receptive they are. Actually, one of their item announcements regarding some design enhancements to the web design features actually had a tiny problem with the material size. I merely responded to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That exact same day, the concern was taken care of.
Couple of days later, I gave them one more recommendation …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to activate automations based on the embed kind made use of was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I truly value.
Another significant factor of distinction below is the rate. Both systems supply cost-free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more capability and even more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also FAR more positive. ConvertKit appears more affordable at first look because their pricing web page reveals lower numbers, however the customer limits are FAR lower and your rate rapidly enhances as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That exact same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally utilize), you can grow your checklist as much as 100,000. A checklist of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, also, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in an entirely different league when it concerns pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point enhance prices? They may as time goes on. But, I’m presuming individuals like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to advance rather rapidly and make brand-new item news rather usually, yet there are some standard features I actually want they had that I require to just wait on.
One is that they need to have a setting on membership kinds where I might pick an automation to run right at the type degree. That would certainly be remarkable for so many reasons. Currently, subscription types look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to aid in division.
It would be nice to have marking at the subscriber degree. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks must be part of automations to make built-in automations less complicated and lower reliance on outside tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management user interface adjustments that would certainly come in handy. For example:
- Capability to mass edit/remove clients.
- Capability to bulk edit posts (for example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard areas as common on clients (like the name).
- Some even more personalization options for the web site (such as more adaptable color selections, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Things I wish they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, however it isn’t perfect and absolutely not almost as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I claimed, the objective is different so it would not a lot a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never ever recognize, though.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv fairly a lot. Sufficient where I determined to change my own newsletters over to the platform despite my individual choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my own system.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing version particularly, I saw adequate worth in their platform to call for the adjustment.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email list. I use BeeHiiv for what it is good at, however I purposefully have things set up to ensure that I also maintain my checklist “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is just an excellent insurance coverage, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the concern is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are making use of Substack now, I ‘d absolutely consider changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the switch ought to be rather uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a big e-mail listing and are for that reason being wooled with their high month-to-month costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating quickly. There’s likewise a respectable chance you’re not also making use of some of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv could conveniently be a much better and a lot more cost effective fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be very intentional concerning growing a newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is designed to be, it is just one of the best video games in the area today. This is the system to view.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth having 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 abundant.