I have actually made use of a lot of different email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a big advocate of digital sovereignty and having your own platform. Therefore (and the incredible features), I have been using Beehiiv NEA.
So, it is certainly a weird move for me to make a decision to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I wish to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I would certainly additionally such as to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Large Shift In Approach, I discussed exactly how and why I chose to turn my RV blog right into primarily an e-newsletter. I determined that was business design I intended to pursue keeping that residential or commercial property.
Yet, to intentionally seek it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the email list for Gladly recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, using it for newsletters is a little a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I claimed in that concern of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools constructed right into it details to my function. Points such as:
- Ability to release (to the blog site) and send the e-mail all at once without having it be 2 separate activities.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Links”, which are generally one-click subscription web links. Great for promotion in other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are methods to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I select to generate income from with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The system was actually constructed by the people who developed the technology for Morning Mixture. 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 too. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went all out. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s own residential property to make sure that I can expand it a lot more purposefully as well.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s own media entity and expanded independently. Happily motor home was young, so simple to shift. But, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things right here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will clearly constantly be closely linked with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was built for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Listing
There’s a distinction between an e-newsletter platform and just an email list.
You can host your email 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 distinction?
The main difference is that, with a newsletter system, the act of posting suggests that it is mosting likely to your web site and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that site. But, you are also sending to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s clients are done in one. This makes management of the platform much simpler.
With a lot of e-mail systems, any newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is built entirely individually from your website. So, for instance, you may release an article to WordPress but then you would certainly require to independently build and send an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are after that 2 separate sets of archives and 2 different actions since post and your emails are not naturally linked.
The closest point that turns WordPress into a true e-newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and allows them to be the very same thing. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I intended to continue to self-host whatever. Nonetheless, you ‘d shed the development devices that feature a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a various collection of requirements than a normal email listing.
You do not normally need much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, though, is one smooth posting experience and development devices to help you construct your subscriber base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was mosting likely to switch the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people 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 mean I believe Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, since Substack has been about much longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple things that originally got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is actually built by the very same folks that constructed the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. However, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and distinction additionally implies that BeeHiiv has some fairly huge brands and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo designers. Once again, it simply informs me the client character distinction between both business.
Sending our my e-newsletter via FluentCRM didn’t exactly draw. The only reason I would contemplate shaking points up is if I believed I might GROW the checklist quicker. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I actually don’t watch BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a various type of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more direct competitors.
Yet, let’s dive much deeper than simply the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv appears like it was constructed by people who understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems much more tailored toward developers.
For example, BeeHiiv provides customized areas on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is a visual automation builder that functions a whole lot 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 activity is the ability to send out an email. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Soon enough, automations will have new triggers in addition to brand-new activities, such as modifying custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply because I started utilizing the platform. As an example:
- Ability to cause automations based upon which particular embed type they came in on.
- Capability to instantly do re-engagement (and handle individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack simply would not think to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it comes to composing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is just more geared towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I find it to be much more intuitive, personally.
Substack’s composing user interface is nice and tidy, yet it would be extra equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is more than just form. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and after that placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Visibility alternatives on that area to show it just to paid clients, conceal it from email, hide from clients, show only to subscribers, etc. Substack provides absolutely nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs subscription version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any earnings. Actually, you actually connect up to your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Relying on how many clients you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit even more money than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear unpopular, but what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outside utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Generally, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was more developed towards actual email marketing. It was built by people who “get it”. Also the opt-in kinds and the landing page designs appear much better constructed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv include, I like the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually stated, Substack settings itself towards “creators” more than email marketers and e-newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some points geared more towards individuals that simply assume in terms of content development.
For example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does support numerous magazines, they are treated rather separately. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to several publications at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, yet … trendy for individuals that might need it.
Substack additionally has even more social capability built-in. As an example, it has a conversation function to host talks with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you’re reading. Intriguing. Generally, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social media which supports long-form web content.
Generally, Substack is likewise much more … minimal. You either look after that or do not. Personally, I do not. However, if the goal is simpleness of interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions quite well.
However, I’ll be clear right here …
When it concerns actual marketing, I do not believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for more points that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, however honestly … I have a hard time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically through to be the closest rivals, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is also placed at creators (like Substack), yet it is far more highly accommodating individuals who do it for organization. ConvertKit has good aesthetic automation structure, it’s own business platform, and much more. ConvertKit is an actually great system.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a full feature-by-feature breakdown below. ConvertKit is popular currently. However, below’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has extra versatility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will also claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports labeling. This is simply a basic feature of email checklists that allows segmentation in a much more adaptable method than BeeHiiv presently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain marking at some time quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv NEA.
ConvertKit does now supply the ability to sell things via their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly always pick an extra direct alternative anyhow. For me, I favor to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and because of that has way extra integration choices. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. As an example, their plugin now even sustains member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this much more carefully puts ConvertKit right into straight competitors by having you be able to publish to your site and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly lacking in these kinds of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also busy tackling the development tools of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with rewards, yet you can likewise pay per lead within the interior ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your list. These are really awesome features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most well known viral promotion platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall for what this implies for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv NEA
BeeHiiv is much earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates much less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise suggests that they are swiftly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have seen nearly once a week launch of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … however huge features that are fairly vital. Their speed of development now has actually gone over.
I additionally significantly value how responsive they are. Actually, among their product announcements about some style improvements to the web design features in fact consisted of a little trouble with the content size. I just replied to that e-mail to tell them. I rapidly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was taken care of.
Few days later on, I provided another tip …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to set off automations based on the embed form used was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight involvement of the group is something I actually value.
An additional significant factor of differentiation right here is the price. Both systems use cost-free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan offers much more capacity and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally FAR more desirable. ConvertKit seems cheaper in the beginning glimpse because their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limits are FAR reduced and your rate promptly boosts as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same size list is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I personally use), you can grow your checklist approximately 100,000. A listing of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay each year.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally different league when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately enhance costs? They may as time goes on. But, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
Among the things you certainly require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to progress rather rapidly and make brand-new product news rather often, but there are some standard features I really want they had that I need to just wait for.
One is that they need to have a setting on membership types where I could choose an automation to run right at the form level. That would certainly be remarkable for many reasons. Already, registration forms look OK, however there’s really little settings for them to assist in segmentation.
It would behave to have identifying at the subscriber level. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks must be part of automations to make built-in automations simpler and minimize dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some small management user interface changes that would certainly come in handy. For instance:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to bulk edit messages (for instance, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of fundamental fields as standard on customers (like the name).
- Some even more customization options for the web site (such as more flexible color options, headline control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t perfect and certainly not nearly as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It probably never will be, either. As I said, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t much a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation platform. I think you never ever recognize, however.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a lot. Enough where I decided to change my own newsletters over to the platform despite my personal choice for digital sovereignty and having my very own platform.
Basically, for the e-newsletter posting model particularly, I saw enough value in their platform to necessitate the modification.
Remember, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my special email checklist. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is good at, however I purposefully have things set up to ensure that I additionally keep my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is just a great insurance policy, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d certainly take into consideration changing to BeeHiiv. It will simply be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and different needs. And also, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the button ought to be pretty uncomplicated.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a large e-mail checklist and are consequently being fleeced with their high regular monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are repeating rapidly. There’s also a respectable opportunity you’re not also using several of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv could quickly be a far better and extra cost effective fit.
Finally, if you plan to be really deliberate regarding growing an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is developed to be, it is among the best video games around now. This is the system to see.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the complimentary account to be fairly feature rich.