I have utilized a lot of different e-mail list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a big proponent of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own platform. Because of that (and the incredible features), I have actually been utilizing Beehiiv Vs Kajabi.
So, it is undoubtedly an odd move for me to determine to make use of BeeHiiv. Besides, it is an organized application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I intend to discuss why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I wish to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I ‘d additionally such as to deal with why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Large Shift In Technique, I talked about just how and why I chose to transform my RV blog site right into largely a newsletter. I determined that was business design I wished to pursue keeping that home.
However, to purposefully pursue it as an e-newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the e-mail checklist for Gladly RV, but FluentCRM is not a newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, utilizing it for e-newsletters is a little a waste. More on that in a bit.
As I said in that issue of the e-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 email all at once without having it be two different actions.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capability to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promotion in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Capability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I choose to generate income from with ads in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features focused on growth. The system was literally developed by the individuals that built up the modern technology for Early morning Mixture. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the purpose of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various objective.
And I ended off with this:.
I might without a doubt be moving The Side over to BeeHiiv also. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went for it. And as a matter of fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s very own property so that I can expand it much more deliberately as well.
The goal is that each newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s own media entity and expanded separately. Happily motor home was young, so easy to transition. However, The Morning WP (formerly The Side) was buried in a sea of things below at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will obviously always be carefully tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet does not need to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv because it was constructed for this function. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Regular Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between a newsletter platform and just an e-mail listing.
You can hold your email list everywhere you desire and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary distinction is that, with a newsletter system, the act of publishing indicates that it is mosting likely to your site and to your email clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. But, you are likewise dispatching to all clients at the same time. The internet site and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much less complex.
With the majority of e-mail systems, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built totally independently from your web site. So, for example, you could release a short article to WordPress however then you would need to independently construct and send out an e-mail to your checklist to send it to clients. These are after that two separate collections of archives and two separate actions because article and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress into a true e-newsletter platform is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it pretty much “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and allows them to be the exact same thing. Absolutely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I wished to continue to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the growth tools that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently includes a different set of demands than a normal email listing.
You do not typically require much marketing automation. You do not usually require autoresponder sequences, event monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, however, is one smooth posting experience and development tools to help you build your customer base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my customers that I was mosting likely 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 truth that I picked to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I believe Substack draws. As a matter of fact, because Substack has been about much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that initially obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly tailored to e-newsletter authors. As a matter of fact, it is literally built by the same individuals who constructed the innovation behind Early morning Mixture. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. Yet, the evident positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter growth called me out over the even more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and distinction additionally suggests that BeeHiiv has some rather big brand names and big magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo developers. Again, it just tells me the consumer character difference between the two firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter using FluentCRM really did not precisely suck. The only reason I would consider shaking points up is if I thought I could GROW the list quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that objective.
As a result of the targeting, I in fact do not see 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 much more direct rivals.
But, let’s dive much deeper than simply the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by people who recognizing email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more tailored toward makers.
For instance, BeeHiiv uses custom fields on customers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv supplies Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a lot like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation performance is still early-phase. It is still fairly restricted in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send out an email. However, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will have new triggers along with brand-new actions, such as changing customized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just given that I began using the system. For example:
- Capability to cause automations based on which certain embed type they was available in on.
- Capacity to immediately do re-engagement (and handle people based on opens and non-opens).
- Capability to do basic conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can not do this since the target audience of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an email marketer.
When it concerns creating your e-newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply a lot more geared towards newsletters. In fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I find it to be more intuitive, directly.
Substack’s creating interface is nice and tidy, but it would be a lot more comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is greater than just kind. For example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and then placed anything you want in it. Then, you can put Exposure alternatives on that section to show it just to paid clients, hide it from e-mail, hide from clients, show only to clients, etc. Substack offers nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a costs registration version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any kind of revenue. In fact, you essentially attach up to your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Depending upon the number of customers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This could appear nerdy, yet what it implies is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv deal with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
On the whole, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was more developed toward actual email marketing. It was developed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page creates appear far better developed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv include, I like 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” more than email online marketers and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some points geared more towards individuals who simply believe in regards to web content production.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support numerous publications, they are dealt with fairly separately. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I require, however … cool for individuals that could need it.
Substack additionally has even more social capability built-in. For example, it has a chat feature to host chats with clients. It likewise has a “Notes” function which works sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. Overall, Substack is set up to be much more like a social network which sustains long-form material.
Generally, Substack is also a lot more … minimal. You either care for that or don’t. Directly, I don’t. However, if the objective is simpleness of user interface and, honestly, features … Substack functions rather well.
However, I’ll be clear below …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much question that BeeHiiv is better matched. I looked for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, but honestly … I have a tough time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently via to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are pursuing the same target market and have comparable capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at creators (like Substack), but it is a lot more highly satisfying people that do it for company. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation building, it’s own commerce platform, and more. ConvertKit is a truly good system.
I’m not going to bore you with a full feature-by-feature failure here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, right here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has much more versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will likewise say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is simply a fundamental feature of e-mail checklists that allows segmentation in an even more adaptable means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support tagging at some point soon, honestly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Beehiiv Vs Kajabi.
ConvertKit does now provide the ability to offer points through their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would certainly always select a much more direct choice anyhow. For me, I prefer to utilize my own system powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and therefore has way more integration choices. Lots of web-based devices and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. For instance, their plugin now even supports member-gated material as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this much more closely puts ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you be able to publish to your website and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations presently. It’ll arrive. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic taking on the development devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with benefits, yet you can likewise pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your list. These are truly incredible features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall wherefore this implies for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Beehiiv Vs Kajabi
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means much less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it additionally implies that they are quickly establishing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually witnessed virtually regular release of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … yet huge features that are rather essential. Their speed of growth at this moment has gone over.
I also very much appreciate just how responsive they are. Actually, among their item statements concerning some style improvements to the web design features really consisted of a small problem with the content size. I merely replied to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That same day, the problem was repaired.
Few days later on, I provided an additional idea …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to cause automations based upon the embed form used was contributed to the system.
That type of responsiveness and straight involvement of the group is something I really value.
One more major point of differentiation here is the price. Both platforms provide cost-free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan supplies more ability and even more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise even more desirable. ConvertKit seems less costly initially glimpse since their pricing page reveals lower numbers, however the client limits are FAR reduced and your cost quickly increases as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid every year), however you can have up to 10,000 clients. That very same size listing is going to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Scale” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I directly utilize), you can expand your listing as much as 100,000. A checklist of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, as well, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a totally various organization when it concerns pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise rates? They might as time goes on. But, I’m presuming people like myself who are already in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points continue.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of things you definitely require to remember is that BeeHiiv is relatively young. They do appear to progress instead promptly and make brand-new product statements rather commonly, however there are some standard features I truly want they had that I require to just await.
One is that they require to have a setup on registration types where I could select an automation to run right at the form degree. That would be incredible for a lot of factors. Already, subscription forms look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to help in division.
It would certainly be nice to have marking at the subscriber degree. This would certainly be powerful.
I believe webhooks must belong to automations to make integrated automations less complicated and lower dependence on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management interface adjustments that would certainly come in handy. For instance:
- Capacity to bulk edit/remove clients.
- Ability to mass edit blog posts (as an example, to label a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic fields as common on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more personalization alternatives for the site (such as more versatile shade choices, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I wish they do with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t ideal and certainly not nearly as created as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM product.
It most likely never ever will be, either. As I claimed, the function is various so it wouldn’t a lot a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation system. I guess you never know, though.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv fairly a lot. Enough where I made a decision to switch my own e-newsletters over to the system despite my personal choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own platform.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter posting model particularly, I saw enough worth in their system to require the modification.
Remember, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail list. I use BeeHiiv of what it is proficient at, however I intentionally have things set up to ensure that I additionally keep my listing “in house” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is just a good insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will be).
So, the concern is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are utilizing Substack today, I ‘d certainly think about switching over to BeeHiiv. It will simply be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various demands. Plus, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be pretty simple.
If you get on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are consequently being wooled with their high month-to-month bill. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are repeating rapidly. There’s likewise a pretty good chance you’re not also making use of some of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you don’t also require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a far better and extra inexpensive fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be really intentional regarding expanding a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is created to be, it is just one of the most effective video games in town right now. This is the system to watch.
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 with the paid plan, you’ll discover the complimentary account to be quite feature rich.