I have made use of a great deal of various e-mail list systems over the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a substantial advocate of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own platform. Because of that (and the remarkable features), I have been making use of Beehiiv Survey Forms.
So, it is certainly an unusual move for me to decide to utilize BeeHiiv. Besides, 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 look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while using the system and I would certainly likewise such as to attend to why I picked to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Big Change In Approach, I spoke about how and why I made a decision to transform my RV blog site right into mostly a newsletter. I made a decision that was the business version I wanted to go after with that said home.
Yet, to intentionally pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Gladly recreational vehicle, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a little bit of a waste. Extra on that in a bit.
As I said in that issue of the newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a system with tools developed into it details to my function. Things such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog) and send the email at the same time without having it be two different activities.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are primarily one-click membership web links. Great for promotion in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are means to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I select to generate income from with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and essentially run a costs newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter authors with features focused on growth. The system was literally constructed by the individuals who built up the modern technology for Morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is built from the ground up for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I might certainly be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv too. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. Actually, I just went for it. And actually, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s own residential or commercial property to make sure that I can expand it much more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Happily recreational vehicle was young, so simple to change. But, The Morning WP (formerly The Side) was hidden in a sea of things here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will clearly constantly be carefully tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, however doesn’t need to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was constructed for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Listing
There’s a difference in between an e-newsletter system and simply an email list.
You can host your e-mail checklist everywhere you want and there are a number of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The key difference is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting means that it is going to your web site and to your e-mail clients at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. Yet, you are also dispatching to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s subscribers are done in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With most email platforms, any newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is constructed completely independently from your internet site. So, for example, you may publish a post to WordPress yet after that you would need to individually build and send out an email to your list to send it to subscribers. These are after that 2 different collections of archives and two separate actions since article and your emails are not inherently connected.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a real newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it basically “adhesives” your e-newsletter to your WordPress messages and permits them to be the same point. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would be a strong option if I intended to continue to self-host everything. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the development tools that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a different collection of demands than a typical e-mail checklist.
You don’t normally need much marketing automation. You don’t generally require autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO demand, however, is one smooth publishing experience and development tools to aid you build your customer base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my customers that I was going to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I picked to opt for BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I think Substack draws. In fact, since Substack has been about much longer, it is elder and has more features.
Although BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair points that initially obtained my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to e-newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is essentially constructed by the exact same individuals that constructed the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, does not matter. But, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter growth called me out over the even more generic positioning of being a “creator”. Growth is what I want here.
- That branding and distinction also suggests that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brands and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo designers. Again, it simply tells me the client avatar distinction between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter through FluentCRM didn’t precisely suck. The only reason I would certainly contemplate shaking things up is if I believed I might GROW the list much faster. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that objective.
As a result of the targeting, I in fact don’t watch BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I think BeeHiiv is targeting a various type of customer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more straight rivals.
Yet, let’s dive deeper than just the placing here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv looks like it was developed by people who recognizing e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra geared toward creators.
For example, BeeHiiv provides customized fields on customers. Currently, it isn’t as created 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 works a whole lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still fairly minimal in triggers and the only activity is the capability to send an email. However, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to new activities, such as changing custom-made areas, sending out webhooks, and so on. I’ve already seen enhancements to their automations simply considering that I started utilizing the platform. For example:
- Ability to set off automations based upon which specific embed form they came in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this because the target market of Substack simply wouldn’t think to approach this like an email online marketer.
When it involves creating your newsletters, the composing interface of BeeHiiv is simply extra geared toward newsletters. In fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I find it to be more instinctive, directly.
Substack’s composing user interface behaves and clean, yet it would be a lot more equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This distinction is greater than just kind. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and then put anything you want in it. Then, you can place Visibility alternatives on that particular section to reveal it only to paid customers, conceal it from email, hide from customers, show only to subscribers, and so on. Substack supplies absolutely nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs subscription design, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of earnings. In fact, you literally link up to your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your earnings. Relying on the amount of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more money than the month-to-month expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem unpopular, but what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outside making use of devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack essentially has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Generally, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built toward actual e-mail marketing. It was developed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page makes seem much better built for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv include, I such as the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually claimed, Substack settings itself toward “developers” greater than email marketing experts and newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some points geared extra toward people who just believe in regards to web content production.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support numerous magazines, they are treated fairly individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, but … great for individuals who could need it.
Substack also has more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host chats with subscribers. It also has a “Notes” function which works kind of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. In general, Substack is set up to be a lot more like a social media network which supports long-form material.
In general, Substack is additionally more … minimalist. You either look after that or don’t. Personally, I do not. However, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack functions quite well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it concerns actual marketing, I do not believe there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better fit. I looked for more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however frankly … I have a tough time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often through to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target audience and have similar capacities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at makers (like Substack), but it is a lot more strongly accommodating individuals who do it for business. ConvertKit has good aesthetic automation structure, it’s own business system, and a lot more. ConvertKit is an actually good platform.
I’m not going to bore you with a full feature-by-feature malfunction here. ConvertKit is well known currently. However, here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has a lot more versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will likewise claim that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit a lot more user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is simply a fundamental feature of e-mail checklists that allows division in a much more flexible method than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to sustain tagging at some time soon, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Survey Forms.
ConvertKit does now give the capability to sell points by means of their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is necessary to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would certainly always choose an extra direct option anyhow. For me, I favor to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about much longer and because of that has way much more integration choices. Lots of online tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is quite effective. For instance, their plugin now also supports member-gated content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. In essence, this extra closely places ConvertKit into direct competition by having you have the ability to publish to your site and your email listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll arrive. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with perks, yet you can also pay per lead within the internal ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are truly incredible features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most popular viral promo systems for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface for what this implies for the system moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Survey Forms
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it likewise indicates that they are quickly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced practically once a week launch of new features into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … yet huge features that are rather important. Their rate of development at this point has actually been impressive.
I likewise very much appreciate just how responsive they are. Actually, among their product news regarding some layout enhancements to the website design features actually included a little problem with the material width. I simply responded to that email to tell them. I swiftly got a reply straight from the chief executive officer:.
That exact same day, the problem was fixed.
Couple of days later, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to activate automations based upon the embed type made use of was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and straight involvement of the group is something I truly value.
One more major factor of differentiation right here is the cost. Both platforms supply complimentary plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies much more ability and more subscribers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally FAR more desirable. ConvertKit appears less costly initially glimpse due to the fact that their pricing web page reveals lower numbers, nevertheless the client limits are much lower and your cost promptly raises as your list expands.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid annually), however you can have up to 10,000 clients. That very same dimension listing is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly utilize), you can expand your list up to 100,000. A listing of that dimension would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, also, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay every year.
BeeHiiv remains in an entirely different league when it concerns pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They could as time goes on. But, I’m guessing people like myself that are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the important things you certainly require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to develop instead quickly and make new product announcements rather frequently, however there are some fundamental features I actually wish they had that I require to simply wait for.
One is that they need to have a setup on registration types where I could select an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would be incredible for a lot of factors. As of now, membership types look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to assist in segmentation.
It would behave to have labeling at the subscriber level. This would certainly be effective.
I think webhooks should be part of automations to make built-in automations easier and decrease reliance on outside devices like Zapier.
There are also some minor administrative user interface changes that would certainly come in handy. For example:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to bulk edit blog posts (as an example, to tag a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as typical on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more personalization alternatives for the site (such as even more flexible color choices, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Things I wish 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 real CRM item.
It most likely never will be, either. As I said, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t much a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a complete marketing automation platform. I guess you never understand, though.
Final Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a whole lot. Enough where I chose to switch my very own e-newsletters over to the platform despite my individual preference for digital sovereignty and owning my own platform.
Simply put, for the e-newsletter posting version specifically, I saw adequate worth in their system to require the change.
Bear in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique email list. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is good at, however I deliberately have things establish so that I also maintain my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is just an excellent insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the concern is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack right now, I ‘d absolutely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various demands. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the button ought to be quite uncomplicated.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d possibly stay put unless you have a big e-mail listing and are consequently being fleeced 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 even using several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv can quickly be a much better and a lot more cost effective fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really willful concerning growing an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to consider and maintain and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is created to be, it is one of the best video games in town today. This is the system to view.
BeeHiiv offers 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 find the totally free account to be quite feature abundant.