I have made use of a great deal of various email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a massive proponent of digital sovereignty and owning your own system. Because of that (and the awesome features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Enterprise Plan.
So, it is certainly a weird move for me to make a decision to use BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I want to go over why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to attend to the problem of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I would certainly additionally like to deal with why I chose to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Technique, I spoke about just how and why I decided to turn my motor home blog site right into mainly an e-newsletter. I decided that was the business version I wanted to go after with that said residential or commercial property.
But, to deliberately pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email list for Gladly recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a little a waste. More on that particular in a bit.
As I stated because issue of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices constructed into it certain to my objective. Things such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send the e-mail concurrently without having it be two different activities.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick to monetize with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capacity to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and primarily run a costs e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features focused on growth. The system was literally developed by the people who built up the modern technology for Early morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point below. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I may certainly be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. Actually, I simply went all out. And in fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own property to make sure that I can expand it extra intentionally as well.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s own media entity and expanded separately. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to shift. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Side) was hidden in a sea of things here 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 always be very closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, but does not have to belong of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email Listing
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter platform and simply an e-mail checklist.
You can hold your email list anyplace you want and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The key distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting indicates that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your e-mail customers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that internet site. But, you are also dispatching to all clients at the same time. The website and it’s subscribers are done in one. This makes administration of the platform much easier.
With the majority of e-mail platforms, any e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built entirely individually from your web site. So, for example, you may publish a post to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to separately build and send out an email to your listing to send it to customers. These are after that 2 separate sets of archives and two separate actions due to the fact that article and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name since it pretty much “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and allows them to be the same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid option if I wished to continue to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you ‘d lose the growth devices that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally comes with a various collection of requirements than a common e-mail list.
You do not normally need much marketing automation. You don’t normally require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless publishing experience and growth tools to aid you build your customer base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was mosting likely to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I chose to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I believe Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, since Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple points that originally obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically tailored to newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is actually built by the same folks that developed the technology behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “developer”. Development is what I’m interested in right here.
- That branding and distinction likewise implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively big brands and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo developers. Once again, it just informs me the client avatar difference in between the two companies.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t specifically suck. The only factor I would certainly ponder drinking things up is if I believed I can expand the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I really do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight competitors.
Yet, allow’s dive much deeper than simply the placing here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by individuals who comprehending e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems extra geared toward developers.
For instance, BeeHiiv provides custom-made fields on clients. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv uses Automations. Actually, it is a visual automation builder that works a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still rather limited in triggers and the only activity is the capacity to send out an email. Nonetheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers along with brand-new actions, such as customizing custom areas, sending webhooks, etc. I’ve already seen improvements to their automations simply considering that I began using the platform. For instance:
- Ability to trigger automations based on which details embed kind they can be found in on.
- Capacity to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can’t do this since the target market of Substack just would not believe to approach this like an email marketing expert.
When it comes to writing your newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra tailored toward newsletters. In fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I discover it to be more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and clean, yet it would be more equal to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than just form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and afterwards placed anything you desire in it. After that, you can put Presence choices on that section to reveal it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from e-mail, hide from clients, reveal just to subscribers, etc. Substack uses nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a premium registration design, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any type of revenue. As a matter of fact, you literally link as much as your very own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your profits. Depending upon the amount of subscribers you get, that 10% can be quite a bit more cash than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear unpopular, however what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in all.
Generally, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra built toward real e-mail marketing. It was constructed by individuals that “get it”. Also the opt-in kinds and the landing page makes appear better built for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack settings itself toward “creators” greater than e-mail marketing professionals and e-newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some things geared more toward individuals who just assume in terms of web content development.
For instance, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous magazines, they are treated quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, however … trendy for individuals that might require it.
Substack also has even more social performance built-in. For instance, it has a chat function to host talks with subscribers. It also has a “Notes” feature which works kind of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. Generally, Substack is established to be extra like a social media network which sustains long-form material.
Overall, Substack is additionally much more … minimalist. You either care for that or don’t. Directly, I do not. However, if the goal is simpleness of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
However, I’ll be clear below …
When it involves real marketing, I do not think there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better suited. I searched for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however honestly … I have a hard time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically via to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the exact same target audience and have similar abilities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at developers (like Substack), but it is much more highly satisfying individuals who do it for business. ConvertKit has nice visual automation building, it’s own commerce platform, and a lot more. ConvertKit is a truly wonderful system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, right here’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has a lot more versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will also say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports labeling. This is just a fundamental feature of email listings that makes it possible for division in an even more flexible means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain identifying eventually soon, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Enterprise Plan.
ConvertKit does currently offer the capacity to offer things by means of their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would constantly select a more straight alternative anyway. For me, I choose to use my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about much longer and for that reason has way more integration options. Lots of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. For example, their plugin currently also sustains member-gated content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. In essence, this much more closely puts ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you be able to release to your site and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even active taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with rewards, yet you can also pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are truly remarkable features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most popular viral promotion platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall for what this means for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Enterprise Plan
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it additionally suggests that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually experienced virtually regular release of new features into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … yet big features that are fairly essential. Their speed of development now has actually gone over.
I additionally significantly value just how receptive they are. As a matter of fact, one of their item statements about some design improvements to the web design features actually contained a little trouble with the content width. I merely replied to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was taken care of.
Couple of days later on, I provided one more tip …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to cause automations based upon the embed kind used was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I actually appreciate.
One more significant point of differentiation here is the cost. Both platforms offer totally free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses extra ability and more clients (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 appears more affordable in the beginning glance since their pricing page reveals lower numbers, nevertheless the client limits are much lower and your cost promptly boosts as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That exact same dimension list is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I personally make use of), you can expand your checklist as much as 100,000. A listing of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally various league when it involves pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately raise rates? They may as time goes on. However, I’m presuming people like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you definitely need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to develop rather swiftly and make new item news somewhat usually, yet there are some standard features I truly want they had that I require to just await.
One is that they need to have a setup on subscription forms where I can select an automation to run right at the type degree. That would certainly be outstanding for many factors. Already, membership kinds look OK, yet there’s really little setups for them to assist in division.
It would behave to have labeling at the customer level. This would be effective.
I think webhooks need to become part of automations to make built-in automations much easier and decrease reliance on outside tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management interface adjustments that would certainly be handy. For example:
- Capability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to bulk edit messages (for example, to mark a number of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic fields as standard on customers (like the name).
- Some more customization options for the website (such as more flexible shade choices, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t excellent and definitely not virtually as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM item.
It probably never ever will be, either. As I stated, the function is various so it would not a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never ever know, though.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv rather a great deal. Enough where I made a decision to switch my very own newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and having my own system.
Simply put, for the newsletter publishing version particularly, I saw adequate worth in their platform to require the change.
Keep in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my exclusive e-mail listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, however I purposefully have points establish to ensure that I additionally keep my listing “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is just a great insurance coverage, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your list will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system 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 utilizing Substack right now, I ‘d certainly take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be pretty straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely stay put unless you have a large e-mail checklist and are for that reason being fleeced with their high regular monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are iterating rapidly. There’s likewise a pretty good opportunity you’re not also utilizing several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might easily be a far better and more economical fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very intentional concerning expanding an e-newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to consider and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is made to be, it is just one of the very best games in the area right now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves 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 fairly feature abundant.