I have made use of a great deal of different email list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and owning your own system. Because of that (and the outstanding features), I have been making use of Is Beehiiv Worth It.
So, it is without a doubt 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 testimonial, I wish to go over why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to address the problem of digital sovereignty while using the system and I ‘d also like to resolve why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Huge Change In Technique, I talked about just how and why I determined to transform my motor home blog site into largely an e-newsletter. I chose that was business design I intended to go after with that property.
But, to deliberately pursue it as an e-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, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. Much more on that in a little bit.
As I said in that problem of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with tools developed right into it details to my function. Things such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog) and send out the email simultaneously without having it be 2 different actions.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promo in other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-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 generally run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The system was actually developed by the individuals who accumulated the technology for Morning Mixture. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I ended off with this:.
I may without a doubt be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv too. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. In fact, I just went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s own property to make sure that I can grow it more intentionally also.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown individually. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Morning WP (previously The Side) was buried in a sea of things here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will obviously constantly be carefully connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, however does not have to belong of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv since it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a difference in between a newsletter system and just an email list.
You can organize your e-mail checklist just about anywhere you want and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of publishing implies that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your email clients at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that internet site. Yet, you are additionally sending to all customers at the same time. The web site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With many e-mail platforms, any type of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is constructed totally individually from your site. So, as an example, you may release a post to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to separately develop and send an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are then two different collections of archives and two separate activities because article and your emails are not naturally linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress right into a true e-newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name since it basically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and enables them to be the very same point. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong alternative if I intended to continue to self-host whatever. However, you would certainly lose the growth devices that include a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter inherently includes a different set of needs than a normal e-mail listing.
You don’t generally require much marketing automation. You do not usually need autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO requirement, though, is one smooth publishing experience and development devices to assist you build your subscriber base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my subscribers that I was going to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the truth that I chose to select BeeHiiv, that does not suggest I think Substack draws. In fact, due to the fact that Substack has been around much longer, it is elder and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple things that initially obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is essentially built by the very same folks who developed the technology behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, doesn’t matter. But, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I want here.
- That branding and differentiation likewise means that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brands and big publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo creators. Once again, it simply tells me the customer character difference between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter through FluentCRM really did not exactly suck. The only reason I would contemplate trembling points up is if I thought I could GROW the list much faster. And BeeHiiv talked specifically to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I actually don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight competitors.
Yet, let’s dive much deeper than simply the placing here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv appears like it was constructed by individuals who comprehending email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored toward creators.
As an example, BeeHiiv provides customized areas on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still fairly minimal in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. However, improvements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to brand-new actions, such as changing custom areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I began making use of the platform. For example:
- Capability to set off automations based upon which details embed form they came in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and manage individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do fundamental conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can not do this since the target market of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it comes to composing your e-newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is just a lot more tailored toward newsletters. In fact, it actually has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I find it to be more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating interface behaves and tidy, however it would certainly be a lot more comparable to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This distinction is greater than simply form. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Section” and afterwards placed anything you desire in it. After that, you can put Visibility options on that particular section to reveal it just to paid customers, conceal it from e-mail, conceal from customers, show only to subscribers, etc. Substack supplies nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a costs subscription model, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of earnings. As a matter of fact, you literally attach approximately your own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your earnings. Depending upon the amount of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the month-to-month cost of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, yet what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv deal with the outside making use of devices 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 extra developed towards genuine email marketing. It was constructed by individuals that “get it”. Even 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 want to see BeeHiiv include, I like the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack placements itself toward “creators” greater than e-mail marketing professionals and e-newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some things geared much more towards individuals who simply believe in regards to content production.
For example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are treated quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … awesome for people that may need it.
Substack additionally has even more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a conversation function to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. On the whole, Substack is established to be extra like a social media network which supports long-form content.
On the whole, Substack is additionally more … minimal. You either look after that or don’t. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works pretty well.
However, I’ll be clear right here …
When it comes to real marketing, I don’t believe there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for even more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a hard time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are usually through to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the exact same target market and have comparable abilities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at developers (like Substack), but it is a lot more highly satisfying individuals that do it for organization. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation structure, it’s very own business system, and a lot more. ConvertKit is an actually nice platform.
I’m not going to bore you with a full feature-by-feature malfunction here. ConvertKit is popular already. But, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more versatility when it comes to it’s automations. I will certainly also claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit a lot more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports labeling. This is simply a fundamental function of email listings that allows segmentation in a much more flexible means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain labeling eventually soon, honestly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Is Beehiiv Worth It.
ConvertKit does currently supply the ability to offer things through their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly constantly choose an extra straight choice anyway. For me, I favor to use my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about much longer and for that reason has way much more integration alternatives. Lots of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is rather effective. As an example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated material in addition to auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Fundamentally, this a lot more closely places ConvertKit into straight competition by having you be able to release to your website and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is seriously lacking in these kinds of third-party integrations presently. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic dealing with the growth tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, 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 additionally pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are actually awesome features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you know ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this suggests for the platform going forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Is Beehiiv Worth It
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise implies that they are quickly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have observed almost regular launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … however huge features that are quite crucial. Their speed of advancement now has been impressive.
I additionally significantly value exactly how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their product news concerning some design improvements to the website design features really consisted of a tiny trouble with the web content width. I just responded to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly got a reply directly from the CEO:.
That same day, the problem was repaired.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional tip …
Sure enough, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to trigger automations based on the embed type used was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct involvement of the group is something I really appreciate.
An additional major factor of distinction here is the price. Both platforms offer free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses much more capacity and even more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise FAR more positive. ConvertKit seems more affordable in the beginning glance because their pricing page reveals lower numbers, nevertheless the client limitations are much reduced and your rate quickly raises as your list expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That exact same dimension list is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally utilize), you can grow your listing approximately 100,000. A checklist of that size would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in a completely various league when it concerns pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately raise rates? They may as time goes on. But, I’m presuming people like myself that are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how things proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the things you certainly need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do seem to evolve instead swiftly and make brand-new product news somewhat frequently, however there are some basic features I really want they had that I need to simply await.
One is that they need to have a setting on membership types where I can choose an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be AWESOME for numerous reasons. Currently, membership forms look OK, yet there’s extremely little setups for them to assist in segmentation.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the client level. This would be effective.
I think webhooks ought to be part of automations to make integrated automations simpler and lower reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management interface changes that would certainly come in handy. For example:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to mass edit articles (for instance, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of basic fields as common on customers (like the name).
- Some even more personalization alternatives for the website (such as more adaptable shade options, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I wish they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t ideal and definitely not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It most likely never ever will be, either. As I stated, the objective is various so it would not a lot a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation platform. I think you never ever understand, though.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv fairly a great deal. Sufficient where I chose to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the platform despite my personal preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own platform.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing version especially, I saw sufficient value in their system to call for the adjustment.
Remember, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my exclusive e-mail listing. I use BeeHiiv of what it is proficient at, yet I purposefully have points establish so that I also maintain my listing “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is just a great insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack right now, I ‘d absolutely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and different needs. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the button ought to be quite straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d most likely stay unless you have a big e-mail checklist and are consequently being fleeced with their high regular monthly bill. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating promptly. There’s additionally a pretty good possibility you’re not also making use of a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might quickly be a better and much more affordable fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very deliberate concerning growing a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is among the very best video games around today. This is the platform to see.
BeeHiiv offers 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 totally free account to be fairly feature rich.