I have actually used a lot of various e-mail list systems throughout the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your very own platform. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv New Pricing.
So, it is certainly an unusual move for me to choose to use BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I wish to attend to the problem of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I would certainly additionally like to attend to 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 Leisure activity + A Huge Shift In Strategy, I discussed just how and why I decided to transform my RV blog right into mostly a newsletter. I determined that was business design I wanted to pursue keeping that home.
Yet, to intentionally pursue it as a newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email checklist for Happily recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, truthfully, utilizing it for newsletters is a little a waste. Extra on that particular in a bit.
As I stated because issue of the newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools constructed right into it particular to my objective. Things such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog site) and send the e-mail concurrently without having it be two separate activities.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click registration links. Great for promo in other e-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.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and essentially run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features targeted at growth. The platform was literally built by the individuals who built up the modern technology for Early morning Brew. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the objective of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I ended off with this:.
I may indeed be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv too. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went for it. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s very own residential property to make sure that I can expand it more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown separately. Happily motor home was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Morning WP (previously The Side) was buried in a sea of things below at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will certainly constantly be very closely tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was built for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between an e-newsletter platform and simply an e-mail listing.
You can hold your email listing anyplace you want and there are a number of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary distinction is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of publishing implies that it is mosting likely to your site and to your email subscribers concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. But, you are also sending to all subscribers at the same time. The web site and it’s customers are all in one. This makes management of the platform much less complex.
With most email platforms, any type of newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built entirely independently from your web site. So, for instance, you might release a post to WordPress yet then you would certainly need to separately develop and send an e-mail to your list to send it to clients. These are then two different sets of archives and two separate activities since post and your e-mails are not naturally linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress into a real newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name due to the fact that it basically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and enables them to be the exact same thing. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid option if I intended to remain to self-host everything. However, you ‘d shed the growth tools that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a various set of requirements than a normal e-mail list.
You do not normally require much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one smooth posting experience and development devices to aid you build your customer base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my clients that I was going to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the truth that I chose to go with BeeHiiv, that doesn’t suggest I believe Substack draws. As a matter of fact, since Substack has actually been around longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically tailored to newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is actually constructed by the very same people that built the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. However, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter development called me out over the even more generic positioning of being a “maker”. Development is what I’m interested in here.
- That branding and differentiation likewise suggests that BeeHiiv has some rather big brand names and huge publications using it. Whereas SubStack is intended more at solo creators. Once again, it just informs me the consumer avatar difference between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter via FluentCRM really did not exactly draw. The only reason I would ponder drinking points up is if I believed I might expand the listing much faster. And BeeHiiv talked specifically to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I really do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as straight rivals. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a different kind of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more direct competitors.
But, let’s dive much deeper than just the placing below.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears a lot more tailored toward developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers custom-made areas on customers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. In fact, it is an aesthetic 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 restricted in triggers and the only action is the capacity to send an email. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will have new triggers as well as new activities, such as customizing customized areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I’ve already seen enhancements to their automations just because I began using the system. For instance:
- Capacity to cause automations based on which details embed kind they came in on.
- Ability to immediately do re-engagement (and manage people based upon opens and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can not do this since the target audience of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an email marketing professional.
When it involves composing your e-newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more tailored towards e-newsletters. Actually, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in just how it functions. I find it to be extra instinctive, personally.
Substack’s creating interface is nice and tidy, but it would be extra equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is greater than just type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and afterwards put anything you want in it. Then, you can put Visibility options on that area to show it just to paid subscribers, hide it from email, hide from customers, show just to subscribers, etc. Substack offers absolutely nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium membership version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of earnings. In fact, you actually attach as much as your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your profits. Depending upon how many subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the regular monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may seem unpopular, yet what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv deal with the outdoors making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was more built towards genuine email marketing. It was developed by individuals that “get it”. Also the opt-in types and the landing page makes seem much better developed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack placements itself towards “developers” greater than e-mail marketing experts and newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some things tailored much more towards people that simply believe in terms of web content production.
For example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous publications, they are dealt with rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, but … great for people that could need it.
Substack also has even more social performance built-in. As an example, it has a conversation function to host chats with clients. It likewise has a “Notes” feature which works sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. On the whole, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social media network which sustains long-form web content.
On the whole, Substack is likewise much more … minimalist. You either care for that or do not. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
However, I’ll be clear here …
When it concerns actual marketing, I do not believe there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better suited. I tried to find more points that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, yet frankly … I have a hard time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly through to be the closest rivals, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the very same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is also positioned at designers (like Substack), yet it is a lot more highly accommodating individuals that do it for business. ConvertKit has nice visual automation structure, it’s very own commerce platform, and extra. ConvertKit is a truly great platform.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature break down below. ConvertKit is well known currently. Yet, here’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has more adaptability when it involves it’s automations. I will certainly additionally claim that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is just a standard feature of e-mail listings that allows division in a much more versatile method than BeeHiiv presently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to support labeling at some point soon, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv New Pricing.
ConvertKit does currently offer the ability to market things via their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would constantly choose an extra straight option anyway. For me, I choose to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and for that reason has way extra integration alternatives. Tons of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. For example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated content as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Fundamentally, this much more closely puts ConvertKit into direct competition by having you be able to publish to your website and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely lacking in these sort of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy tackling the development tools of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not only incentivize people to share your newsletter with perks, but you can likewise pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your list. These are truly outstanding features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of one of the most well known viral promotion platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall wherefore this suggests for the system going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv New Pricing
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies much less features and much less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it additionally indicates that they are rapidly developing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have observed virtually regular release of new features into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … yet huge features that are fairly crucial. Their rate of growth at this point has actually been impressive.
I likewise quite appreciate just how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their item announcements regarding some design enhancements to the web design features really consisted of a tiny issue with the web content width. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I swiftly obtained a reply straight from the CEO:.
That very same day, the problem was taken care of.
Couple of days later, I gave them an additional suggestion …
Certainly, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to activate automations based on the embed kind used was added to the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct participation of the team is something I really appreciate.
One more major point of distinction here is the rate. Both systems offer complimentary plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies more ability and even more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise FAR more beneficial. ConvertKit seems less expensive at first look since their pricing page shows lower numbers, nonetheless the client restrictions are much reduced and your cost promptly enhances as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That exact 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 utilize), you can expand your listing approximately 100,000. A list of that size would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, also, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in an entirely different organization when it comes to pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately enhance prices? They may as time takes place. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you most definitely need to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to develop instead rapidly and make new item announcements somewhat often, yet there are some standard features I really wish they had that I require to simply wait for.
One is that they require to have a setting on membership kinds where I could pick an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be outstanding for many factors. Already, registration types look OK, however there’s very little settings for them to help in division.
It would certainly behave to have marking at the client level. This would certainly be effective.
I assume webhooks must be part of automations to make integrated automations less complicated and minimize reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor management user interface adjustments that would come in handy. For instance:
- Capacity to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to mass edit blog posts (for example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as typical on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more personalization alternatives for the web site (such as even more adaptable color 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, yet it isn’t perfect and definitely not almost as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It most likely never will certainly be, either. As I claimed, the purpose is different so it would not much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation platform. I presume you never ever understand, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Sufficient where I decided to change my very own e-newsletters over to the platform regardless of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and having my own system.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing model particularly, I saw adequate worth in their system to call for the change.
Remember, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my exclusive e-mail checklist. I utilize BeeHiiv wherefore it is good at, but I purposefully have things set up to ensure that I additionally keep my list “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the very same. It is simply a good insurance policy, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are utilizing Substack right now, I ‘d most definitely take into consideration switching to BeeHiiv. It will just be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button ought to be pretty simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d possibly stay put unless you have a large e-mail listing and are for that reason being fleeced with their high month-to-month expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are repeating quickly. There’s likewise a respectable possibility you’re not also using several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a better and more budget-friendly fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be very willful about growing an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE platform to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is made to be, it is just one of the best video games around right now. This is the platform to view.
BeeHiiv provides a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at on your own. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the totally free account to be fairly feature abundant.