I have used a lot of different email list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a substantial supporter of digital sovereignty and having your own platform. Therefore (and the awesome features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Subscriber Management.
So, it is undoubtedly a weird move for me to decide to make use of BeeHiiv. After all, it is a held application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv evaluation, I wish to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I wish to deal with the problem of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I ‘d also such as to address why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Big Shift In Approach, I talked about how and why I made a decision to turn my recreational vehicle blog site into largely a newsletter. I made a decision that was the business version I intended to pursue with that said home.
Yet, to intentionally pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the email list for Happily motor home, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, truthfully, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. Much more on that in a little bit.
As I claimed in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with tools developed right into it particular to my objective. Points such as:
- Ability to publish (to the blog) and send the e-mail all at once without having it be two different actions.
- Integrated in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are essentially one-click subscription links. Great for promotion in other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Built-in advertisement network, if I pick to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The system was essentially constructed by the people who developed the modern technology for Early morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different function.
And I ended off with this:.
I may certainly be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv also. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went for it. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own home to make sure that I can grow it much more deliberately as well.
The goal is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown independently. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to shift. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Side) was hidden in a sea of stuff here 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 constantly be carefully linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, yet does not need to belong of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was developed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Normal Email Checklist
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter platform and simply an email list.
You can organize your e-mail checklist anyplace 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 difference?
The key difference is that, with a newsletter system, the act of posting indicates that it is going to your site and to your email customers all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have an internet site. You are publishing to that site. However, you are also sending to all customers at the same time. The site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes monitoring of the system much easier.
With the majority of email systems, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is constructed completely individually from your internet site. So, for example, you might release a post to WordPress however then you would require to independently develop and send an e-mail to your list to send it to customers. These are then 2 separate sets of archives and 2 separate activities since article and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it basically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and permits them to be the exact same point. Absolutely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid option if I intended to continue to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you would certainly shed the growth tools that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally includes a various set of demands than a common e-mail list.
You do not normally require much marketing automation. You do not usually need autoresponder sequences, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO requirement, though, is one seamless publishing experience and growth devices to aid you construct your subscriber base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my clients that I was mosting likely to change the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to opt for BeeHiiv, that doesn’t mean I assume Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, since Substack has actually been around longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple points that initially obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to newsletter publishers. Actually, it is literally developed by the same folks that developed the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, does not matter. But, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more common positioning of being a “developer”. Development is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and differentiation also suggests that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo makers. Once more, it simply tells me the client avatar distinction between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not specifically draw. The only reason I would certainly contemplate trembling points up is if I assumed I might GROW the checklist faster. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that objective.
Due to the targeting, I actually do not watch BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a different kind of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more straight rivals.
But, allow’s dive much deeper than just the placing right here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by people that understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears much more tailored toward creators.
For example, BeeHiiv offers custom fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as created as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that works a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still quite minimal in triggers and the only activity is the capacity to send out an email. However, improvements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have brand-new triggers as well as new actions, such as changing custom areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen enhancements to their automations simply given that I began utilizing the system. For instance:
- Capacity to set off automations based on which specific embed type they came in on.
- Ability to instantly do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based on opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do basic conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can not do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it involves creating your newsletters, the writing interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra tailored toward e-newsletters. In fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I discover it to be extra user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s creating interface behaves and clean, yet it would be a lot more equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is greater than just type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Area” and then put anything you want in it. After that, you can place Presence options on that area to reveal it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from subscribers, reveal only to subscribers, and so on. Substack uses nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs subscription model, BeeHiiv does not take any earnings. In fact, you actually attach as much as your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your earnings. Depending on the amount of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit even more cash than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear unpopular, but what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outdoors making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations at all.
Overall, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built towards real email marketing. It was constructed by individuals that “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page makes seem better developed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Despite the fact that there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack settings itself towards “makers” greater than email marketing experts and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some points geared more toward individuals that simply believe in terms of material production.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support multiple publications, they are dealt with fairly separately. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … awesome for individuals that may need it.
Substack likewise has even more social performance built-in. For instance, it has a chat function to host chats with customers. It likewise has a “Notes” function which functions type of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is established to be a lot more like a social network which sustains long-form content.
Overall, Substack is likewise more … minimal. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I don’t. However, if the goal is simplicity of interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions rather well.
Yet, I’ll be clear right here …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I tried to find more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however frankly … I have a difficult time finding them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently via to be the closest competitors, I actually see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are pursuing the same target audience and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at designers (like Substack), however it is far more highly catering to individuals who do it for organization. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation building, it’s own business platform, and a lot more. ConvertKit is a truly wonderful system.
I’m not going to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature failure right here. ConvertKit is well known already. However, right here’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will additionally claim that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports marking. This is simply a fundamental feature of email listings that makes it possible for division in a much more flexible means than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support tagging at some time soon, honestly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Subscriber Management.
ConvertKit does now give the ability to market things through their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly constantly select an extra straight option anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and for that reason has way a lot more integration choices. Lots of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For example, their plugin currently also sustains member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Basically, this much more carefully puts ConvertKit right into straight competitors by having you be able to release to your website and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly lacking in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll get there. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy dealing with the development devices of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not only incentivize people to share your newsletter with rewards, however you can also pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your listing. These are truly amazing features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most popular viral promo systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall of what this implies for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Subscriber Management
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and much less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it likewise suggests that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced almost once a week release of brand-new features into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … however large features that are quite crucial. Their speed of growth at this point has actually gone over.
I additionally significantly appreciate exactly how responsive they are. In fact, one of their product news regarding some layout enhancements to the website design features in fact included a little problem with the content width. I just replied to that e-mail to tell them. I swiftly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That same day, the issue was dealt with.
Couple of days later on, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to trigger automations based upon the embed kind used was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct involvement of the group is something I really value.
Another significant factor of differentiation below is the cost. Both systems use complimentary plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan offers a lot more 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 desirable. ConvertKit appears less costly at first glance because their pricing page shows lower numbers, nevertheless the customer limitations are much reduced and your cost promptly increases as your listing expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid yearly), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That exact same dimension list is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I directly use), you can expand your list approximately 100,000. A checklist 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 each year, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different league when it concerns pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase costs? They might as time goes on. Yet, I’m presuming people like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how things proceed.
Things I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you definitely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to advance instead swiftly and make new item news rather usually, however there are some fundamental features I truly wish they had that I need to just wait for.
One is that they require to have a setup on subscription types where I might select an automation to run right at the type degree. That would be remarkable for so many factors. As of now, registration kinds look OK, however there’s really little settings for them to aid in division.
It would behave to have marking at the client degree. This would be effective.
I believe webhooks should belong to automations to make integrated automations simpler and decrease dependence on outside tools like Zapier.
There are likewise some small management interface changes that would be handy. For instance:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to bulk edit posts (as an example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard fields as basic on customers (like the name).
- Some more modification options for the site (such as more adaptable color options, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Things I hope they do with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, however it isn’t best and definitely not almost as established as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM product.
It probably never ever will certainly be, either. As I stated, the purpose is various so it would not much a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a complete marketing automation platform. I guess you never understand, though.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv rather a whole lot. Sufficient where I determined to change my very own e-newsletters over to the system despite my personal preference for digital sovereignty and owning my very own platform.
Simply put, for the newsletter publishing model particularly, I saw enough worth in their platform to necessitate the adjustment.
Remember, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique email list. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is proficient at, but I purposefully have things set up to make sure that I also maintain my list “in home” inside of FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is just an excellent insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d certainly consider changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various capacities and various needs. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the button must be pretty simple.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a big e-mail checklist and are therefore being fleeced with their high month-to-month expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating swiftly. There’s also a pretty good chance you’re not also making use of a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv could quickly be a far better and a lot more affordable fit.
Finally, if you plan to be very intentional regarding growing an e-newsletter, I think BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is designed to be, it is one of the very best video games in the area now. This is the platform to view.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves looking into for yourself. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the complimentary account to be quite feature rich.