I have actually used a lot of different email list systems over the years. In the last number of years, I have actually been a huge advocate of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own platform. Because of that (and the amazing features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv Landing Page.
So, it is without a doubt a weird move for me to make a decision to utilize BeeHiiv. After all, it is a held 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 button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to resolve the issue of digital sovereignty while using the platform and I would certainly additionally like to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Huge Change In Method, I spoke about just how and why I made a decision to transform my RV blog site right into mostly an e-newsletter. I decided that was the business version I wanted to go after keeping that building.
But, to deliberately seek it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email checklist for Happily motor home, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, truthfully, using it for newsletters is a little a waste. More on that in a bit.
As I stated in that concern of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices developed into it particular to my objective. Points such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail concurrently without having it be two different actions.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click subscription web links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, though, so there are ways to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I pick to monetize with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and primarily run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features aimed at development. The platform was literally developed by the individuals that accumulated the technology for Early morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I might indeed be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv too. A minimum of, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. Actually, I just went for it. And as a matter of fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s very own residential or commercial property to make sure that I can expand it extra intentionally too.
The goal is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to shift. But, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of stuff below at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will undoubtedly constantly be very closely connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet does not need to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email List
There’s a distinction between a newsletter system and just an e-mail list.
You can hold your email checklist just about anywhere you want and there are a number of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary difference is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of publishing means that it is mosting likely to your internet site and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are publishing to that website. But, you are additionally sending to all subscribers at the same time. The site and it’s customers are all in one. This makes monitoring of the system much easier.
With the majority of e-mail platforms, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is constructed entirely independently from your site. So, for instance, you could publish a write-up to WordPress yet then you would need to individually develop and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to clients. These are then 2 different collections of archives and two separate actions because blog posts and your e-mails are not inherently connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a real e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it virtually “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress messages and enables them to be the same point. Certainly, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong option if I intended to continue to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the development tools that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally comes with a various set of demands than a regular e-mail list.
You don’t generally require much marketing automation. You do not generally require autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless posting experience and growth devices to aid you build your subscriber base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my customers that I was mosting likely to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to opt for BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I believe Substack draws. As a matter of fact, because Substack has actually been around much longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that initially obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is actually constructed by the same individuals that developed the technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, does not matter. However, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I’m interested in here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally suggests that BeeHiiv has some rather huge brands and huge magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Once again, it just informs me the consumer character distinction between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter via FluentCRM really did not exactly draw. The only reason I would certainly ponder drinking points up is if I thought I might GROW the checklist faster. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that objective.
Because of the targeting, I in fact don’t check out BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more straight competitors.
However, allow’s dive much deeper than simply the placing here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv seems like it was built by individuals who comprehending e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more geared towards creators.
For instance, BeeHiiv uses personalized areas on customers. Now, it isn’t as created as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is a visual automation builder that functions a lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still quite restricted in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send an e-mail. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Soon sufficient, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers in addition to new activities, such as modifying customized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually already seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I began utilizing the system. For example:
- Capacity to set off automations based on which details embed type they came in on.
- Capacity to instantly do re-engagement (and take care of 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 due to the fact that the target market of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an e-mail marketing professional.
When it pertains to composing your newsletters, the creating user interface of BeeHiiv is just a lot more tailored towards newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I find it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing interface is nice and tidy, yet it would certainly be extra equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than simply type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Section” and then placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Exposure options on that section to show it just to paid customers, conceal it from e-mail, hide from subscribers, show only to customers, etc. Substack supplies nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a costs subscription design, BeeHiiv does not take any revenue. In fact, you actually link up to your very own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the number of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear nerdy, yet what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outside utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in all.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more constructed toward genuine email marketing. It was constructed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page develops appear better constructed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the direction it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack settings itself towards “creators” greater than e-mail marketers and newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some things geared more towards individuals that simply assume in terms of web content production.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does support multiple magazines, they are treated quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, yet … trendy for individuals that may need it.
Substack likewise has more social performance built-in. For example, it has a chat 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 other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. In general, Substack is set up to be extra like a social network which supports long-form web content.
Generally, Substack is also a lot more … minimalist. You either look after that or do not. Personally, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it pertains to actual marketing, I do not think there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I looked for even more points that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a difficult time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently through to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the exact same target market and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at creators (like Substack), yet it is much more strongly satisfying people who do it for organization. ConvertKit has good visual automation building, it’s very own commerce system, and much more. ConvertKit is an actually nice system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a full feature-by-feature break down right here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has a lot more flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will also claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit a lot more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports tagging. This is simply a standard feature of e-mail checklists that enables segmentation in a far more versatile method than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain labeling eventually soon, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Landing Page.
ConvertKit does currently provide the ability to sell points using their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is essential to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would constantly choose a much 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 therefore has way extra integration alternatives. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated material along with auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Fundamentally, this much more closely places ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to release to your website and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations right now. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy dealing with the development tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with perks, yet you can also pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your checklist. These are truly amazing features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most well known viral promo systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall surface for what this indicates for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Landing Page
BeeHiiv is much earlier in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it additionally indicates that they are rapidly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually witnessed almost once a week release of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … but large features that are rather essential. Their speed of advancement now has actually been impressive.
I likewise very much value exactly how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their item news about some layout improvements to the web design features in fact consisted of a little trouble with the content width. I just responded to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly obtained a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the issue was taken care of.
Couple of days later on, I provided another suggestion …
Certainly, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to trigger automations based on the embed type made use of was added to the system.
That type of responsiveness and direct involvement of the group is something I truly value.
One more major factor of distinction here is the rate. Both systems provide cost-free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses extra capability and more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise much more positive. ConvertKit seems less costly initially look due to the fact that their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, however the client limits are FAR reduced and your cost swiftly increases as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your initial degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly utilize), you can grow your list up to 100,000. A listing of that size would 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 each year, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely different organization when it involves pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise costs? They might as time takes place. But, I’m presuming people like myself who are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points continue.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the things you definitely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to develop instead rapidly and make brand-new product news somewhat commonly, but there are some basic features I really want they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setting on subscription kinds where I can select an automation to run right at the form level. That would certainly be amazing for a lot of factors. Currently, registration forms look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to aid in division.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the customer level. This would be powerful.
I believe webhooks should be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and reduce dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor management interface adjustments that would come in handy. For instance:
- Ability to mass edit/remove customers.
- Capability to mass edit articles (for instance, to identify a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of basic areas as common on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more modification alternatives for the web site (such as more versatile color options, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Things I hope they do with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, but it isn’t best and absolutely not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I stated, the objective is different so it would not a lot a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation system. I think you never ever know, however.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Review
I like BeeHiiv quite a whole lot. Enough where I determined to change my very own newsletters over to the system regardless of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my own platform.
Basically, for the newsletter posting version especially, I saw adequate worth in their platform to call for the change.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my special e-mail listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, however I purposefully have points set up to make sure that I also maintain my listing “in house” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply a good insurance policy, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the concern is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are making use of Substack right now, I ‘d certainly consider switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be much more business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch needs to be quite simple.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d possibly stay put unless you have a big email list and are therefore being wooled with their high monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are repeating rapidly. There’s likewise a respectable chance you’re not also making use of several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. Therefore, BeeHiiv might quickly be a far better and extra cost effective fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely deliberate concerning expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to consider and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is created to be, it is just one of the most effective games around today. This is the system to see.
BeeHiiv supplies 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 locate the free account to be fairly feature abundant.