I have actually utilized a lot of different e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a big advocate of digital sovereignty and having your very own platform. For that reason (and the outstanding features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Gating Pop Ups.
So, it is without a doubt an odd move for me to choose to use BeeHiiv. After all, it is a held application and I am paying 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 deal with the concern of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d additionally like to resolve why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Large Shift In Strategy, I spoke about how and why I chose to turn my RV blog site into largely a newsletter. I chose that was business version I wanted to pursue keeping that residential property.
However, to deliberately pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Gladly recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, frankly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. More on that in a little bit.
As I stated in that problem of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with devices constructed into it specific to my function. Things such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send out the email all at once without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click registration 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 promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I pick to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and primarily run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features aimed at development. The system was essentially developed by the people that built up the technology for Morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I may without a doubt be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv also. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went for it. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own home to make sure that I can expand it a lot more deliberately also.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s own media entity and expanded separately. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Morning WP (formerly The Edge) was buried in a sea of stuff here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will clearly constantly be carefully tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not have to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv because it was developed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter system and just an email listing.
You can organize your e-mail checklist anyplace you desire and there are a number of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The main distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting implies that it is going to your website and to your email clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that site. Yet, you are additionally sending off to all clients at the same time. The web site and it’s clients are done in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much easier.
With the majority of e-mail platforms, any newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is built entirely individually from your website. So, for instance, you might publish a post to WordPress however then you would certainly require to individually build and send out an e-mail to your list to send it to clients. These are then two separate collections of archives and 2 separate activities due to the fact that blog posts and your e-mails are not naturally linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress right into a real e-newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name since it practically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress articles and enables them to be the same point. Absolutely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong choice if I intended to continue to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you would certainly lose the growth devices that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter naturally includes a different set of requirements than a regular email list.
You don’t generally require much marketing automation. You do not typically require autoresponder sequences, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless posting experience and development devices to help you develop your customer base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my customers that I was mosting likely to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to choose BeeHiiv, that doesn’t mean I believe Substack draws. In fact, due to the fact that Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is especially tailored to newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is actually developed by the very same people that developed the technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “creator”. Development is what I have an interest in below.
- That branding and differentiation additionally suggests that BeeHiiv has some fairly big brands and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo makers. Again, it just tells me the client avatar difference between the two business.
Sending our my newsletter through FluentCRM really did not specifically draw. The only reason I would certainly contemplate shaking things up is if I assumed I can GROW the listing much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke exactly to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I in fact do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight competitors.
However, let’s dive much deeper than simply the placing below.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv feels like it was developed by people that comprehending email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra geared towards developers.
For example, BeeHiiv offers personalized fields on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as created 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 whole lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still quite minimal in triggers and the only action is the ability to send out an email. However, enhancements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers as well as new activities, such as changing personalized areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I’ve currently seen improvements to their automations just given that I began using the system. For example:
- Capacity to cause automations based on which details embed form they was available in on.
- Capacity to instantly do re-engagement (and manage people based on opens and non-opens).
- Capability to do fundamental conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can’t do this since the target audience of Substack just wouldn’t believe to approach this like an e-mail marketer.
When it concerns creating your newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is just a lot more geared towards newsletters. Actually, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I discover it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s composing user interface is nice and tidy, but it would be much more comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than just kind. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Area” and afterwards put anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Presence alternatives on that particular section to show it just to paid clients, hide it from e-mail, hide from subscribers, reveal only to customers, and so on. Substack provides nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs registration version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of earnings. As a matter of fact, you literally attach up to your very own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the number of customers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may seem nerdy, yet what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact 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 seemed like BeeHiiv was more constructed toward actual e-mail marketing. It was built by individuals who “get it”. Also the opt-in kinds and the landing page makes seem better constructed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv add, I like the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack positions itself toward “creators” more than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some points geared a lot more toward individuals who just assume in terms of web content creation.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain several magazines, they are treated quite separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, but … awesome for individuals who may need it.
Substack also has more social capability built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host chats with customers. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Intriguing. In general, Substack is established to be a lot more like a social media which sustains long-form content.
On the whole, Substack is also much more … minimalist. You either care for that or don’t. Directly, I don’t. Nevertheless, if the goal is simplicity of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions rather well.
However, I’ll be clear right here …
When it involves actual marketing, I do not believe there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for even more factors that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, but frankly … I have a difficult time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly via to be the closest competitors, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are pursuing the exact same target audience and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at developers (like Substack), but it is much more strongly satisfying people that do it for service. ConvertKit has good aesthetic automation structure, it’s own business platform, and more. ConvertKit is a truly good system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature break down here. ConvertKit is popular currently. But, below’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more versatility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally say that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit a lot more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is just a basic function of e-mail listings that makes it possible for segmentation in an even more flexible method than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain marking at some time soon, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Gating Pop Ups.
ConvertKit does now provide the capacity to sell points by means of their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always pick a much more straight alternative anyway. For me, I prefer to use my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and therefore has way more integration alternatives. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. For example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Essentially, this much more closely places ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you have the ability to publish to your website and your e-mail list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll get there. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy taking on 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 benefits, but you can likewise pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are truly awesome features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most popular viral promotion systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this suggests for the system going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Gating Pop Ups
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates much less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise indicates that they are swiftly developing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed practically regular launch of new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … however huge features that are quite vital. Their rate of growth at this point has actually been impressive.
I additionally quite appreciate just how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their product announcements concerning some layout enhancements to the website design features really included a little trouble with the web content size. I just replied to that email to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That same day, the problem was dealt with.
Couple of days later on, I gave them another tip …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based on the embed type utilized was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct involvement of the team is something I really appreciate.
Another major point of distinction below is the cost. Both systems offer complimentary plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan offers more capacity and more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more favorable. ConvertKit appears cheaper at first glance since their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber restrictions are FAR lower and your cost quickly boosts as your list expands.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That very same size list is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I personally use), you can grow your list up to 100,000. A checklist of that size would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, as well, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay every year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv is in an entirely different league when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They may as time takes place. However, I’m presuming people like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of things you most definitely require to remember is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do appear to progress rather quickly and make new product news somewhat usually, but there are some basic features I really want they had that I require to just await.
One is that they need to have a setting on membership types where I could pick an automation to run right at the form degree. That would be outstanding for many factors. As of now, subscription forms look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to help in division.
It would certainly behave to have identifying at the customer level. This would be powerful.
I think webhooks need to become part of automations to make built-in automations much easier and minimize reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor administrative user interface adjustments that would certainly be handy. For example:
- Capability to bulk edit/remove customers.
- Capacity to mass edit posts (for example, to identify a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard areas as standard on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification alternatives for the website (such as even more flexible color choices, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t ideal and absolutely not almost as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It possibly never will be, either. As I said, the purpose is different 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 ever recognize, however.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Testimonial
I such as BeeHiiv quite a whole lot. Sufficient where I made a decision to change my very own newsletters over to the system in spite of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Basically, for the newsletter publishing model specifically, I saw enough value in their platform to necessitate the adjustment.
Bear in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my special email checklist. I utilize BeeHiiv for what it is good at, yet I intentionally have things set up so that I likewise keep my list “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is just an excellent insurance coverage, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list 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 question is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d absolutely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be more business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and different demands. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the button should be rather simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d possibly stay unless you have a large e-mail checklist and are as a result being fleeced with their high monthly costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating quickly. There’s likewise a respectable possibility you’re not also utilizing a few of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a better and a lot more economical fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be extremely intentional regarding expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is made to be, it is among the best games around now. This is the system to watch.
BeeHiiv provides a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll locate the free account to be fairly feature abundant.