I have utilized a lot of various email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I have actually been a huge proponent of digital sovereignty and having your very own platform. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have been utilizing Beehiiv Website Builder.
So, it is certainly an unusual move for me to determine to make use of BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is an organized application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I want to review why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I would certainly additionally such as to address why I chose to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For E-newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Huge Shift In Technique, I spoke about how and why I decided to transform my motor home blog site into primarily a newsletter. I determined that was business design I wished to seek with that said home.
However, to intentionally pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Happily RV, but FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, using it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. More on that in a little bit.
As I stated in that issue of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools constructed right into it certain to my function. Points such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog site) and send the e-mail simultaneously without having it be 2 separate actions.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would certainly have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click membership links. Great for promotion in other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to generate income from with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium e-newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter authors with features focused on development. The system was actually developed by the people who developed the modern technology for Morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point below. BeeHiiv is constructed from the ground up for the objective of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I finished off with this:.
I may indeed be relocating The Side over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Early morning WP, triggered as it’s very own residential property to ensure that I can grow it a lot more deliberately too.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown separately. Gladly RV was young, so very easy to shift. However, The Morning WP (previously The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s very own. It will undoubtedly constantly be closely linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, however does not need to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv since it was developed for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Checklist
There’s a distinction between a newsletter system and just an email listing.
You can host your email listing anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted options like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The key distinction is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of posting suggests that it is going to your site and to your email clients concurrently.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. However, you are additionally sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The internet site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes monitoring of the system much less complex.
With the majority of e-mail systems, any e-newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built totally individually from your internet site. So, for instance, you may release a short article to WordPress but then you would need to individually develop and send out an email to your list to send it to subscribers. These are then 2 different sets of archives and 2 separate actions due to the fact that blog posts and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest thing that turns WordPress right into a real newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress messages and enables them to be the very same point. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid choice if I wished to remain to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the development devices that feature a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally includes a different collection of requirements than a normal e-mail listing.
You don’t usually require much marketing automation. You do not usually need autoresponder series, event tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, however, is one seamless publishing experience and growth devices to assist you construct your subscriber base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my clients that I was going to switch the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I picked to go with BeeHiiv, that does not indicate I believe Substack sucks. Actually, since Substack has actually been about much longer, it is more mature and has more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a couple points that originally obtained my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter authors. In fact, it is literally built by the very same folks who developed the modern technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, does not matter. But, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and differentiation also means that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brands and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is intended even more at solo developers. Once again, it simply tells me the client character distinction between the two companies.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not exactly draw. The only factor I would contemplate trembling points up is if I assumed I might expand the checklist much faster. And BeeHiiv talked precisely to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I actually do not watch BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different kind of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
Yet, let’s dive much deeper than just the placing here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by people that understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems extra geared towards makers.
For instance, BeeHiiv uses personalized fields on clients. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a great deal like what we have within FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still rather minimal in triggers and the only activity is the capability to send out an e-mail. Nevertheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to brand-new actions, such as changing customized fields, sending webhooks, etc. I’ve already seen enhancements to their automations just given that I began using the platform. As an example:
- Capability to activate automations based on which particular embed type they was available in on.
- Capability to instantly do re-engagement (and manage people based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do fundamental conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations such as this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can’t do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it comes to writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is just much more geared towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I find it to be more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s composing interface behaves and tidy, but it would certainly be extra comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This distinction is more than simply type. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Section” and then placed anything you want in it. Then, you can place Visibility choices on that section to reveal it only to paid subscribers, hide it from email, hide from subscribers, show just to clients, etc. Substack uses nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium registration model, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any revenue. As a matter of fact, you actually connect approximately your very own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your earnings. Depending on the amount of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit even more money than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This might seem nerdy, however what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv deal with the outdoors utilizing tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations in any way.
Overall, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was more built towards real e-mail marketing. It was constructed by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page develops seem better constructed for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv include, I such as the direction it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack positions itself towards “creators” more than e-mail marketing professionals and newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some points tailored a lot more towards individuals that just assume in regards to content development.
As an example, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does support numerous publications, they are dealt with quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to numerous publications at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … awesome for people that could require it.
Substack also has more social functionality built-in. For instance, it has a chat function to host chats with subscribers. 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’re reading. Fascinating. In general, Substack is established to be extra like a social media which sustains long-form material.
Generally, Substack is likewise much more … minimalist. You either take care of that or do not. Directly, I do not. However, if the objective is simplicity of interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works quite well.
However, I’ll be clear here …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better matched. I tried to find even more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, but honestly … I have a difficult time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are commonly via to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer opponents. Both are going after the same target audience and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at developers (like Substack), however it is a lot more strongly accommodating people that do it for service. ConvertKit has great aesthetic automation building, it’s very own business platform, and extra. ConvertKit is a really nice platform.
I’m not going to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature malfunction here. ConvertKit is popular currently. Yet, here’s how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has a lot more flexibility when it involves it’s automations. I will certainly additionally claim that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is just a basic feature of email listings that makes it possible for segmentation in a far more flexible method than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support labeling at some time quickly, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Beehiiv Website Builder.
ConvertKit does currently supply the ability to sell things through their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always pick a much more direct option anyhow. For me, I favor to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about a lot longer and for that reason has way more integration options. Lots of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is rather powerful. As an example, their plugin now also sustains member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your website. Basically, this more closely places ConvertKit right into straight competitors by having you be able to publish to your website and your email list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is badly lacking in these type of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even active taking on the development devices of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your e-newsletter with perks, yet you can also pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are truly awesome features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you understand ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most popular viral promo systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the creating on the wall surface of what this means for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Beehiiv Website Builder
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. Nevertheless, it additionally means that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually witnessed almost once a week release of brand-new features into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … however big features that are rather important. Their speed of advancement now has actually been impressive.
I likewise very much value how responsive they are. As a matter of fact, among their product statements concerning some design improvements to the website design features in fact included a small problem with the material size. I just replied to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply directly from the CEO:.
That very same day, the problem was repaired.
Few days later, I gave them an additional tip …
Sure enough, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to activate automations based upon the embed type utilized was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the group is something I truly appreciate.
An additional significant point of differentiation right here is the price. Both platforms offer free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan uses more ability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
As soon as you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also even more favorable. ConvertKit seems less expensive initially look due to the fact that their pricing web page shows lower numbers, nevertheless the customer limitations are FAR reduced and your cost promptly boosts as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 customers. That same dimension checklist 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 directly use), you can expand your listing up to 100,000. A checklist of that dimension would 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 each year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different league when it comes to pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately increase prices? They may as time takes place. Yet, I’m presuming people like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how points proceed.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the important things you most definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to advance instead promptly and make new product statements somewhat typically, yet there are some standard features I really desire they had that I need to simply await.
One is that they require to have a setting on subscription kinds where I could pick an automation to run right at the type level. That would be incredible for so many reasons. Currently, subscription types look OK, yet there’s really little settings for them to aid in division.
It would certainly be nice to have tagging at the client degree. This would be powerful.
I think webhooks ought to belong to automations to make integrated automations less complicated and decrease reliance on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are also some minor administrative interface modifications that would come in handy. For example:
- Ability to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to bulk edit messages (for example, to mark a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few basic areas as typical on customers (like the name).
- Some even more customization choices for the website (such as even more flexible shade selections, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, however it isn’t perfect and definitely not virtually as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It possibly never ever will certainly be, either. As I said, the objective is different so it wouldn’t a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to end up being a complete marketing automation system. I guess you never ever know, however.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I like BeeHiiv quite a whole lot. Sufficient where I decided to change my own newsletters over to the system despite my individual preference for digital sovereignty and possessing my very own platform.
Put simply, for the newsletter publishing model particularly, I saw adequate worth in their platform to necessitate the change.
Keep in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my exclusive email listing. I utilize BeeHiiv of what it is good at, however I deliberately have points establish so that I likewise keep my listing “in house” inside of FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is simply a great insurance coverage, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your checklist will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation system and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the question is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d certainly consider 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 must be rather simple.
If you are on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably stay unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are as a result being fleeced with their high regular monthly costs. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are repeating swiftly. There’s likewise a pretty good opportunity you’re not also utilizing several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might quickly be a far better and much more economical fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely intentional regarding growing an e-newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE system to consider and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is developed to be, it is among the most effective video games in town right now. This is the platform to watch.
BeeHiiv uses a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It is worth having a look at on your own. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the totally free account to be fairly feature abundant.