I have made use of a lot of different e-mail list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a substantial advocate of digital sovereignty and owning your very own system. Therefore (and the incredible features), I have been using Beehiiv For Blog.
So, it is without a doubt an unusual move for me to choose to make use of BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv evaluation, I want to go over why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to resolve the problem of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly additionally such as to attend to why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Huge Shift In Technique, I talked about how and why I chose to turn my RV blog into primarily an e-newsletter. I made a decision that was the business design I intended to seek with that building.
But, to purposefully pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Gladly recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, truthfully, using it for e-newsletters is a little bit of a waste. More on that particular in a bit.
As I said because issue of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with tools constructed into it specific to my objective. Things such as:
- Ability to publish (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail simultaneously without having it be two different activities.
- Constructed in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in ability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are primarily one-click registration links. Great for promo in other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are means to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I select to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and basically run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter authors with features focused on growth. The platform was actually built by the people that developed the technology for Early morning Mixture. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the objective of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different function.
And I finished off with this:.
I might 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. In fact, I just went all out. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s own residential property to ensure that I can grow it extra purposefully as well.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to shift. But, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will certainly always be carefully connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, however doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email Checklist
There’s a difference between a newsletter platform and simply an email checklist.
You can organize your e-mail checklist anyplace you want 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 difference?
The main difference is that, with a newsletter system, the act of posting implies that it is mosting likely to your website and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. However, you are also sending to all customers at the same time. The internet site and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes administration of the platform much easier.
With a lot of email systems, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed completely separately from your website. So, for instance, you may release a short article to WordPress but then you would require to independently develop and send an email to your checklist to send it to subscribers. These are after that two separate sets of archives and two different actions since post and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress right into a true newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name because it basically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress posts and permits them to be the exact same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong alternative if I wanted to remain to self-host whatever. However, you would certainly shed the growth devices that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally comes with a different set of requirements than a normal e-mail listing.
You don’t usually need much marketing automation. You don’t generally require autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one smooth publishing experience and development devices to aid you construct your subscriber base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was mosting likely to switch the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the truth that I chose to select BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I believe Substack sucks. In fact, due to the fact that Substack has been about much longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair things that initially obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to e-newsletter publishers. In fact, it is essentially built by the very same folks who built the modern technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more common positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and distinction likewise means that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brands and huge magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo creators. Once again, it just tells me the client avatar difference in between the two business.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t precisely suck. The only reason I would consider drinking points up is if I thought I might expand the checklist quicker. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually do not check out BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight competitors.
But, let’s dive deeper than just the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv looks like it was constructed by individuals who comprehending e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more geared towards designers.
For instance, BeeHiiv provides custom fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is a visual automation builder that works a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still rather minimal in triggers and the only action is the capability to send out an e-mail. However, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will have new triggers along with brand-new activities, such as modifying personalized areas, sending out webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations just since I began using the platform. For example:
- Capability to set off automations based on which details embed type they can be found in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional logic 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 just wouldn’t believe to approach this like an e-mail marketer.
When it pertains to writing your newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is just more tailored towards newsletters. In fact, it actually has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I discover it to be more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s writing interface behaves and clean, however it would certainly be a lot more comparable to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is greater than just form. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and after that placed anything you want in it. Then, you can put Presence choices on that area to show it only to paid customers, hide it from e-mail, hide from subscribers, reveal only to clients, etc. Substack offers absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium subscription model, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any earnings. In fact, you literally attach up to your own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your income. Relying on how many customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit even more money than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This may seem unpopular, however what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv work with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in any way.
Overall, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra built towards actual email marketing. It was constructed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page designs appear much better constructed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually stated, Substack settings itself toward “makers” greater than e-mail marketers and newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some things tailored more towards people that simply believe in terms of content creation.
For example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple magazines, they are dealt with rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … cool for individuals who might require it.
Substack additionally has even more social functionality built-in. For instance, it has a chat function to host chats with subscribers. It also has a “Notes” feature which works sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you read. Fascinating. Generally, Substack is established to be much more like a social network which supports long-form web content.
On the whole, Substack is likewise much more … minimal. You either take care of that or don’t. Directly, I don’t. Nevertheless, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions rather well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it pertains to actual marketing, I don’t think there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better suited. I searched for even more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a tough time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often through to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the same target audience and have similar abilities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at developers (like Substack), yet it is far more highly accommodating individuals who do it for company. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation structure, it’s own commerce system, and extra. ConvertKit is an actually great platform.
I’m not going to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is popular currently. Yet, right here’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally state that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is simply a fundamental feature of email listings that enables segmentation in a far more flexible means than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain marking eventually quickly, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv For Blog.
ConvertKit does currently give the capacity to market points by means of their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would always choose an extra direct alternative anyway. For me, I favor to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and because of that has way extra integration options. Lots of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For example, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Essentially, this more very closely puts ConvertKit right into direct competition by having you have the ability to release to your site and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly doing not have in these type of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy tackling the development devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with benefits, however you can also pay per lead within the interior ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are really awesome features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most well known viral promotion systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface for what this means for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv For Blog
BeeHiiv is much previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise indicates that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have seen virtually weekly release of new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … but large features that are fairly crucial. Their speed of growth now has actually gone over.
I also significantly value how receptive they are. In fact, one of their item announcements about some layout enhancements to the website design features really contained a tiny trouble with the web content width. I merely replied to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply straight from the CEO:.
That very same day, the issue was dealt with.
Couple of days later, I gave them one more suggestion …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to activate automations based upon the embed type used was contributed to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct involvement of the team is something I really value.
Another significant factor of distinction here is the price. Both systems use cost-free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan provides extra capacity and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally even more beneficial. ConvertKit appears less costly initially look since their pricing page shows lower numbers, nevertheless the customer restrictions are FAR reduced and your cost swiftly increases as your list expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same dimension checklist is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I directly use), you can grow your listing as much as 100,000. A checklist of that size would certainly 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 yearly, too. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in an entirely different league when it comes to pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately boost prices? They might as time takes place. Yet, I’m thinking individuals like myself that are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see how points proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the important things you certainly require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to progress rather promptly and make brand-new product news somewhat typically, but there are some fundamental features I really want they had that I require to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership types where I might select an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be incredible for numerous factors. Already, registration kinds look OK, however there’s very little settings for them to help in segmentation.
It would certainly be nice to have identifying at the client level. This would certainly be effective.
I believe webhooks ought to belong to automations to make built-in automations easier and lower dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management user interface modifications that would be handy. For instance:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capacity to mass edit posts (as an example, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as common on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification alternatives for the website (such as more versatile color choices, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I hope they do with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, but it isn’t best and certainly not virtually as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It probably never ever will be, either. As I said, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t a lot a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation platform. I guess you never recognize, however.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I like BeeHiiv rather a lot. Sufficient where I determined to change my very own e-newsletters over to the platform regardless of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and owning my own platform.
Basically, for the newsletter publishing model particularly, I saw enough value in their platform to necessitate the change.
Remember, I do not use BeeHiiv as my special e-mail listing. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is proficient at, yet I deliberately have points establish to ensure that I also keep my list “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply a good insurance plan, for one. However, 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 ever will certainly be).
So, the concern is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack right now, I ‘d certainly take into consideration changing to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and different demands. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the switch needs to be rather straightforward.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d possibly stay unless you have a huge e-mail listing and are therefore being wooled with their high regular monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating quickly. There’s likewise a pretty good opportunity you’re not even utilizing some of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv can easily be a far better and much more affordable fit.
Finally, if you plan to be very intentional about growing an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is created to be, it is just one of the most effective video games around today. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv provides 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 to the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be fairly feature rich.