I have made use of a lot of various email list systems over the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and having your very own platform. Because of that (and the incredible features), I have been making use of Beehiiv Integrate with Wix.
So, it is indeed a strange move for me to choose to utilize BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a hosted application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv evaluation, I wish to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while using the system and I would certainly also like to deal with why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Huge Change In Strategy, I spoke about how and why I decided to turn my recreational vehicle blog into primarily an e-newsletter. I decided that was the business design I intended to seek with that said property.
However, to deliberately seek it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email listing for Gladly motor home, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. More on that particular in a little bit.
As I claimed in that concern of the newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools developed right into it certain to my objective. Points such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog site) and send the email all at once without having it be two different activities.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are ways 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 monetize with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally 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 platform was actually built by the people that developed the technology for Morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I ended off with this:.
I may certainly be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv as well. A minimum of, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. In fact, I simply went all out. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s own residential or commercial property to ensure that I can expand it much more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown individually. Gladly motor home was young, so simple to change. But, The Morning WP (previously The Side) was buried in a sea of things below at the Blog Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will undoubtedly always be closely tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv since it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Listing
There’s a difference between an e-newsletter platform and simply an e-mail listing.
You can organize your email checklist anyplace you want 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 distinction?
The key difference is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of posting suggests that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your email clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are publishing to that website. But, you are likewise sending off to all customers at the same time. The site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes management of the system much less complex.
With most e-mail platforms, any newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is developed completely independently from your website. So, as an example, you could publish a post to WordPress however after that you would certainly need to individually build and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to customers. These are after that two separate sets of archives and 2 separate actions due to the fact that blog posts and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress into a real newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it practically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress articles and enables them to be the very same thing. Absolutely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a strong option if I wished to continue to self-host whatever. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the development devices that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently includes a various set of requirements than a common email listing.
You do not typically require much marketing automation. You don’t usually need autoresponder sequences, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, however, is one smooth publishing experience and growth tools to assist you develop your client base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my customers that I was going to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals 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 indicate I think Substack sucks. In fact, due to the fact that Substack has been around longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that at first got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to e-newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is essentially developed by the very same folks who constructed the modern technology behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real life, doesn’t matter. But, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter development called me out over the more common positioning of being a “maker”. Growth is what I want below.
- That branding and differentiation additionally means that BeeHiiv has some rather big brands and huge publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo designers. Once again, it simply tells me the consumer avatar difference in between both companies.
Sending our my e-newsletter using FluentCRM didn’t exactly draw. The only factor I would certainly contemplate drinking things up is if I assumed I can GROW the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I really do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of consumer. As a matter of fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight rivals.
However, let’s dive deeper than just the positioning right here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv looks like it was constructed by individuals who recognizing email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more tailored toward creators.
As an example, BeeHiiv provides custom-made areas on customers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still fairly restricted in triggers and the only action is the ability to send an email. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have brand-new triggers along with new actions, such as modifying custom-made areas, sending out webhooks, and so on. I’ve already seen enhancements to their automations just since I started using the system. As an example:
- Ability to cause automations based upon which specific embed type they can be found in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and manage individuals based on opens and non-opens).
- Capability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can’t do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack just would not believe to approach this like an email online marketer.
When it pertains to composing your newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is just a lot more tailored towards e-newsletters. In fact, it actually has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I find it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s composing user interface behaves and clean, yet it would be a lot more equivalent to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is greater than just kind. For example, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Section” and afterwards put anything you desire in it. After that, you can place Visibility choices on that particular section to reveal it just to paid clients, conceal it from email, hide from clients, reveal only to customers, and so on. Substack supplies absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs membership model, BeeHiiv does not take any type of revenue. As a matter of fact, you essentially connect as much as your very own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your income. Depending upon the number of clients you get, that 10% can be quite a bit even more cash than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem unpopular, but what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv deal with the outdoors making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations at all.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built toward real email marketing. It was constructed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page creates appear better developed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack settings itself toward “designers” greater than email online marketers and e-newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some points geared more towards individuals that just believe in terms of web content production.
For instance, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are dealt with quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … awesome for individuals who may require it.
Substack also has more social functionality built-in. For instance, it has a conversation function to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” feature which functions sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Fascinating. In general, Substack is established to be more like a social media network which sustains long-form material.
Overall, Substack is likewise extra … minimalist. You either care for that or don’t. Personally, I do not. However, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear here …
When it concerns actual marketing, I don’t believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better matched. I searched for even more points that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a difficult time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically via to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at designers (like Substack), however it is far more strongly catering to people that do it for company. ConvertKit has nice aesthetic automation structure, it’s very own business system, and more. ConvertKit is an actually nice platform.
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 how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has much more adaptability when it comes to it’s automations. I will certainly likewise say that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit much more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports identifying. This is simply a fundamental function of e-mail checklists that makes it possible for segmentation in an even more versatile method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support identifying at some point quickly, frankly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Integrate with Wix.
ConvertKit does currently provide the ability to market points through their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly constantly pick a much more straight option anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and therefore has way much more integration choices. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For instance, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. In essence, this much more carefully places ConvertKit into straight competition by having you be able to release to your site and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is seriously doing not have in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic dealing with the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with benefits, but you can additionally pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are truly outstanding features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you recognize ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most popular viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface wherefore this implies for the system going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Integrate with Wix
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it additionally indicates that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have observed nearly once a week launch of new features into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … however huge features that are fairly crucial. Their rate of growth at this point has actually gone over.
I also significantly appreciate just how receptive they are. In fact, one of their item announcements concerning some style enhancements to the web design features really consisted of a small issue with the material width. I merely replied to that email to tell them. I promptly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was repaired.
Couple of days later on, I gave them another tip …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to activate automations based on the embed type used was added to the system.
That type of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I truly appreciate.
An additional major point of differentiation here is the cost. Both platforms use complimentary plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan supplies extra capability and more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally even more desirable. ConvertKit appears more affordable in the beginning glimpse due to the fact that their pricing page shows lower numbers, nevertheless the customer limits are FAR lower and your price quickly raises as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), however you can have up to 10,000 clients. That exact same size list is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally make use of), you can grow your list as much as 100,000. A checklist of that size would 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 get all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in an entirely different league when it involves pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point raise costs? They might as time goes on. Yet, I’m thinking individuals like myself that are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of things you definitely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to progress rather promptly and make new item announcements somewhat frequently, yet there are some basic features I actually desire they had that I require to simply await.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership kinds where I might choose an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would be AWESOME for many reasons. Already, subscription kinds look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to help in division.
It would be nice to have identifying at the client level. This would certainly be effective.
I assume webhooks must be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and decrease dependence on outside tools like Zapier.
There are also some minor management user interface modifications that would be handy. As an example:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capability to mass edit messages (for example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard areas as conventional on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more modification alternatives for the web site (such as more versatile shade choices, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they do with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, but it isn’t perfect and certainly not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It possibly never will be, either. As I said, the function is different so it wouldn’t much a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never recognize, however.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Review
I like BeeHiiv fairly a great deal. Enough where I made a decision to change my own e-newsletters over to the system despite my individual preference for digital sovereignty and having my own system.
Basically, for the e-newsletter publishing design especially, I saw enough worth in their system to warrant the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my exclusive email list. I utilize BeeHiiv for what it is good at, but I intentionally have points establish to make sure that I additionally maintain my list “in residence” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the very same. It is just a great insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are utilizing Substack today, I ‘d definitely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be more business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and different demands. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button should be pretty uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d possibly stay put unless you have a huge e-mail list and are as a result being fleeced with their high monthly costs. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating swiftly. There’s likewise a pretty good chance you’re not even making use of a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not also require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv could quickly be a better and more budget-friendly fit.
Finally, if you plan to be really willful concerning expanding an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE platform to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is developed to be, it is among the very best games in town right now. This is the platform to see.
BeeHiiv provides a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth having a look at for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be quite feature abundant.