I have used a great deal of various email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and owning your own platform. Because of that (and the amazing features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Multiple Newsletters.
So, it is certainly a strange move for me to determine to use 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 discuss why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to resolve the problem of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d additionally such as to resolve why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Big Change In Strategy, I talked about how and why I determined to transform my RV blog site into largely an e-newsletter. I determined that was the business version I intended to go after keeping that residential property.
Yet, to purposefully seek it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail list for Gladly recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. More on that in a little bit.
As I stated because issue of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with devices built into it specific to my objective. Things such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send the e-mail at the same time without having it be two different actions.
- Built in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are generally one-click subscription links. Great for promo in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, though, so there are ways to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I choose to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features aimed at growth. The platform was literally built by the people who accumulated the technology for Early morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the objective of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I may certainly be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv also. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. Actually, I simply went for it. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s own home so that I can grow it more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded independently. Gladly motor home was young, so simple to change. Yet, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was buried in a sea of stuff right here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will obviously always be very closely linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, but does not need to belong of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv because it was constructed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Regular Email Listing
There’s a difference in between an e-newsletter platform and just an e-mail list.
You can host your e-mail listing everywhere 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 primary difference is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of publishing means that it is going to your internet site and to your email subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are publishing to that website. But, you are also dispatching to all subscribers at the same time. The internet site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes management of the system much easier.
With many e-mail systems, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed totally independently from your web site. So, for example, you may release an article to WordPress yet after that you would certainly need to separately construct and send out an email to your checklist to send it to subscribers. These are then two separate collections of archives and 2 different activities because post and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name because it practically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress posts and allows them to be the exact same point. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid choice if I intended to continue to self-host every little thing. Nonetheless, you would certainly lose the development devices that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter naturally features a various set of needs than a normal e-mail checklist.
You don’t typically need much marketing automation. You do not usually need autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO need, though, is one smooth posting experience and growth tools to assist you develop your customer base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was going to switch 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 fact that I chose to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I assume Substack sucks. Actually, since Substack has been around much longer, it is elder and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that at first got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to e-newsletter publishers. Actually, it is actually built by the very same folks who built the modern technology behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, does not matter. However, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more common positioning of being a “maker”. Development is what I want right here.
- That branding and differentiation also implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and huge magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is intended more at solo makers. Once more, it just informs me the customer avatar distinction in between the two firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not exactly suck. The only reason I would certainly contemplate drinking points up is if I assumed I might GROW the list much faster. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I really do not see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various type of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct rivals.
But, let’s dive much deeper than simply the placing right here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv feels like it was constructed by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more tailored towards developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv provides customized areas on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, 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 action is the ability to send out an email. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers as well as brand-new activities, such as changing customized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply since I began utilizing the platform. As an example:
- Capacity to activate automations based upon which specific embed form they came in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and handle individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do fundamental conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can not do this because the target audience of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it concerns composing your e-newsletters, the creating interface of BeeHiiv is just more tailored toward e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in how it functions. I find it to be much more intuitive, directly.
Substack’s creating interface is nice and clean, but it would certainly be much more comparable to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is greater than just form. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and afterwards placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Visibility alternatives on that area to reveal it only to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from customers, show only to customers, etc. Substack supplies nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a premium membership version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any type of earnings. As a matter of fact, you actually link approximately your own Stripe account and it bills straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Depending on the number of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more money than the month-to-month price of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear unpopular, but what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside utilizing devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Generally, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra built toward real e-mail marketing. It was built by individuals who “get it”. Also the opt-in kinds and the landing page makes appear much better developed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv include, 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 toward “creators” greater than email marketing experts and newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some points geared much more toward individuals that just think in regards to content production.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are treated rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … amazing for people that may need it.
Substack also has even more social capability built-in. For example, it has a conversation feature to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” feature which functions type of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you read. Fascinating. Overall, Substack is set up to be much more like a social network which sustains long-form content.
Generally, Substack is also much more … minimalist. You either care for that or do not. Directly, I don’t. However, if the goal is simpleness of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works quite well.
However, I’ll be clear below …
When it involves real marketing, I do not assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I searched for even more factors that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, but honestly … I have a tough time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often via to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the exact same target market and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at creators (like Substack), however it is much more strongly dealing with individuals who do it for company. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation structure, it’s own business platform, and much more. ConvertKit is a really nice system.
I’m not going to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown right here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, here’s exactly how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has much more versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly likewise state that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit much more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports identifying. This is simply a basic function of e-mail lists that makes it possible for segmentation in an even more adaptable means than BeeHiiv presently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to support labeling at some point quickly, truthfully. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Multiple Newsletters.
ConvertKit does currently supply the capability to offer points using their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always choose a much more direct alternative anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my very own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been around much longer and for that reason has way a lot more integration choices. Lots of online tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For instance, their plugin currently even supports member-gated web content in addition to auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. In essence, this extra carefully places ConvertKit right into straight competitors by having you be able to release to your website and your e-mail list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is seriously doing not have in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy tackling the growth tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with benefits, but you can additionally pay per lead within the interior advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your listing. These are truly outstanding features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most well known viral promo platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall surface of what this suggests for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Multiple Newsletters
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase 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 actually witnessed practically weekly launch of brand-new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … but large features that are rather vital. Their speed of development at this moment has been impressive.
I likewise significantly value exactly how receptive they are. In fact, among their item statements regarding some style enhancements to the website design features in fact had a tiny problem with the material size. I just responded to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly got a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That exact same day, the issue was fixed.
Few days later on, I gave them one more pointer …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to set off automations based on the embed type utilized was contributed to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight involvement of the team is something I actually appreciate.
Another major point of differentiation below is the price. Both platforms supply cost-free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more ability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally even more favorable. ConvertKit appears more affordable initially glance since their pricing page shows reduced numbers, nevertheless the customer restrictions are much lower and your price quickly increases as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 clients. 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 ideal plan and the one I personally use), you can grow your checklist approximately 100,000. A checklist of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely various league when it pertains to pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually enhance rates? They might as time goes on. Yet, I’m thinking people like myself that are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see just how things proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among things you absolutely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do appear to progress rather swiftly and make new product news somewhat commonly, yet there are some standard features I really want they had that I require to simply wait for.
One is that they need to have a setup on registration kinds where I can choose an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would certainly be amazing for so many factors. As of now, registration forms look OK, but there’s really little settings for them to assist in segmentation.
It would certainly behave to have identifying at the customer level. This would certainly be effective.
I believe webhooks must belong to automations to make integrated automations easier and lower dependence on outside tools like Zapier.
There are also some minor management user interface adjustments that would certainly be handy. For instance:
- Capability to mass edit/remove customers.
- Ability to mass edit blog posts (as an example, to label a number of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as conventional on clients (like the name).
- Some more personalization choices for the web site (such as more flexible shade selections, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Things I hope they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, however it isn’t ideal and absolutely not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It possibly never will be, either. As I claimed, the function is various so it wouldn’t much a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a complete marketing automation system. I presume you never ever know, however.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a lot. Sufficient where I chose to switch my own e-newsletters over to the system despite my personal choice for digital sovereignty and owning my very own platform.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter publishing model particularly, I saw enough worth in their platform to necessitate the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail listing. I utilize BeeHiiv wherefore it is proficient at, however I deliberately have points establish to make sure that I likewise keep my list “in home” inside of FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is just a good insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will certainly 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 making use of Substack today, I ‘d most definitely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be more business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and various needs. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button ought to be quite straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely sit tight unless you have a big email list and are consequently being fleeced with their high month-to-month costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating quickly. There’s additionally a pretty good opportunity you’re not also utilizing several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv can quickly be a far better and extra budget friendly fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really deliberate concerning growing an e-newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is designed to be, it is one of the very best video games in the area today. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth checking out on your own. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be fairly feature rich.