I have actually used a great deal of various email list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your very own system. For that reason (and the amazing features), I have actually been making use of Beehiiv Tiers.
So, it is certainly a weird move for me to make a decision to use BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a hosted application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv evaluation, I want to discuss why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to attend to the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly likewise such as to deal with why I chose to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Huge Shift In Approach, I spoke about how and why I determined to turn my motor home blog site into largely an e-newsletter. I made a decision that was business version I wanted to pursue with 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 e-mail listing for Happily recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a little bit.
As I stated in that issue of the newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools built into it specific to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capacity to release (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail at the same time without having it be 2 separate actions.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Integrated ability to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I choose to monetize with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capacity to run a paid newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features targeted at development. The platform was essentially constructed by the people who built up the innovation for Early morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the point right here. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I may undoubtedly be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv too. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. Actually, I simply went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, set off as it’s own building so that I can expand it extra deliberately too.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown independently. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so very easy to shift. Yet, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will obviously constantly be carefully tied with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was built for this function. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a difference in between a newsletter system and simply an e-mail listing.
You can host your e-mail listing anywhere you desire 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 distinction?
The primary distinction 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 concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are publishing to that website. But, you are likewise sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The website and it’s customers are all in one. This makes management of the platform much less complex.
With most email platforms, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is constructed entirely independently from your website. So, for example, you may publish a short article to WordPress yet then you would certainly require to separately build and send out an email to your checklist to send it to customers. These are then two different sets of archives and two separate activities due to the fact that post and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a true e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it pretty much “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and enables them to be the same thing. Absolutely, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I wished to continue to self-host everything. Nevertheless, you ‘d lose the growth devices that feature a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter inherently comes with a different set of demands than a normal e-mail listing.
You do not usually need much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, however, is one seamless publishing experience and development tools to assist you construct your subscriber base that are specific to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I revealed to my clients that I was mosting likely to switch over the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I chose to opt for BeeHiiv, that doesn’t suggest I believe Substack sucks. In fact, because Substack has actually been around much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair points that originally obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to e-newsletter authors. Actually, it is literally constructed by the very same folks that constructed the technology behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real life, does not matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the even 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 relatively big brands and large magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is intended more at solo makers. Once again, it simply tells me the customer avatar difference between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t specifically draw. The only reason I would ponder drinking things up is if I assumed I can expand the listing much faster. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually don’t view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various type of consumer. In fact, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being a lot more direct competitors.
But, let’s dive much deeper than just the positioning below.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv looks like it was built by people who recognizing email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra tailored toward developers.
For instance, BeeHiiv offers personalized areas on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv supplies Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still fairly limited in triggers and the only activity is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have new triggers along with brand-new actions, such as customizing custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I’ve currently seen improvements to their automations simply given that I started utilizing the platform. For example:
- Capability to trigger automations based on which certain embed form they came in on.
- Capacity to immediately do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do basic conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can not do this since the target audience of Substack simply would not believe to approach this like an e-mail online marketer.
When it pertains to writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is just more tailored towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it actually has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I locate it to be much more intuitive, personally.
Substack’s writing interface is nice and clean, but it would certainly be a lot more equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than just form. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and then put anything you desire in it. After that, you can put Visibility alternatives on that particular section to show it just to paid subscribers, hide it from e-mail, conceal from clients, reveal just to clients, and so on. Substack provides absolutely nothing like this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs membership version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of profits. In fact, you essentially connect up to your very own Stripe account and it charges directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your earnings. Depending upon the amount of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, however 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 essentially has … nothing. No integrations at all.
On the whole, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was much more constructed towards actual e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page makes appear far better developed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I would like to see BeeHiiv add, I such as the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack placements itself toward “designers” more than email online marketers and newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some things tailored more towards individuals that simply assume in terms of content development.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support numerous magazines, they are dealt with quite separately. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … awesome for individuals who may need it.
Substack additionally has more social performance built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host talks with subscribers. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. In general, Substack is established to be extra like a social network which supports long-form web content.
In general, Substack is additionally a lot more … minimalist. You either take care of that or don’t. Personally, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the goal is simpleness of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it pertains to real marketing, I don’t believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better matched. I searched for even more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however frankly … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly with to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is likewise placed at creators (like Substack), yet it is a lot more highly dealing with individuals who do it for service. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation structure, it’s own business system, and much more. ConvertKit is a truly nice platform.
I’m not mosting likely to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature malfunction right here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, here’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has more versatility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will additionally state that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports marking. This is simply a basic feature of e-mail lists that enables division in a much more adaptable means than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support identifying at some point quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Tiers.
ConvertKit does currently offer the ability to market things by means of their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would always pick a more straight alternative anyway. For me, I favor to utilize my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around a lot longer and for that reason has way more integration alternatives. Lots of online devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. As an example, their plugin currently also sustains member-gated material as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Fundamentally, this more carefully puts ConvertKit right into straight competition by having you have the ability to release to your site and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is significantly doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also active taking on the growth devices of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not only incentivize people to share your e-newsletter with rewards, however you can likewise pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your list. These are really amazing features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit acquired 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 composing on the wall wherefore this suggests for the system moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Tiers
BeeHiiv is much earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means much less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nevertheless, it also suggests that they are swiftly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed virtually weekly release of new features right into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … but large features that are fairly essential. Their rate of growth now has gone over.
I additionally significantly appreciate just how receptive they are. Actually, one of their item statements regarding some layout improvements to the website design features really consisted of a tiny problem with the content size. I just replied to that email to tell them. I swiftly got a reply directly from the chief executive officer:.
That very same day, the concern was taken care of.
Few days later on, I provided another suggestion …
Certainly, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to set off automations based on the embed kind used was included in the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I truly value.
One more significant point of differentiation right here is the rate. Both platforms offer complimentary plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides much more ability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise FAR more positive. ConvertKit appears less expensive initially glimpse due to the fact that their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber restrictions are much reduced and your cost rapidly increases as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 subscribers. That very same size checklist is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their finest plan and the one I directly make use of), you can expand your checklist up to 100,000. A checklist of that size would certainly run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, also. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv remains in a totally various league when it involves pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point enhance prices? They might as time takes place. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
Among the important things you most definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do appear to evolve rather swiftly and make brand-new product announcements rather often, but there are some basic features I really wish they had that I require to just wait for.
One is that they require to have a setting on subscription forms where I could select an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would be remarkable for so many factors. As of now, membership types look OK, yet there’s extremely little setups for them to aid in division.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the subscriber level. This would certainly be effective.
I assume webhooks must belong to automations to make integrated automations much easier and decrease dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management user interface changes that would certainly be handy. For instance:
- Capacity to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to bulk edit posts (for instance, to identify a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard fields as common on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more modification choices for the web site (such as more versatile shade options, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t perfect and definitely not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It possibly never ever will certainly be, either. As I stated, the purpose is various so it would not a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a full marketing automation system. I guess you never recognize, however.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv quite a great deal. Enough where I determined to switch my own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my individual preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my own system.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing design particularly, I saw sufficient value in their platform to warrant the change.
Bear in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my unique email checklist. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is efficient, yet I purposefully have points set up to ensure that I likewise maintain my checklist “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is simply a good insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the question is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack today, I ‘d certainly consider changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and various demands. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import tools for Substack, so the switch should be pretty simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably stay put unless you have a huge email list and are as a result being wooled with their high monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are repeating quickly. There’s also a pretty good chance you’re not also making use of a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even need them. Because of that, BeeHiiv can quickly be a better and more cost effective fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely deliberate concerning growing an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and maintain and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is developed to be, it is one of the very best games in the area right now. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth having a look at for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be fairly feature rich.