I have utilized a great deal of different email list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a substantial supporter of digital sovereignty and possessing your very own platform. Therefore (and the remarkable features), I have actually been utilizing Best Newsletters on Beehiiv.
So, it is certainly a strange move for me to choose to utilize BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a hosted 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 switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to resolve the problem of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I would certainly additionally like to attend to why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For E-newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my newsletter called My Hobby + A Large Change In Technique, I discussed exactly how and why I determined to turn my motor home blog site right into mainly a newsletter. I decided that was business version I wanted to go after keeping that home.
But, to deliberately pursue it as a newsletter, I wanted a system that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Gladly RV, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little a waste. More on that particular in a little bit.
As I stated because issue of the newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a system with devices built into it certain to my function. Points such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog site) and send out the e-mail at the same time without having it be two separate activities.
- Constructed in e-newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capability to do cross-promotions with other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are primarily one-click membership links. Great for promo in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Hyperlinks, however, so there are ways to do that.
- Ability to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your e-newsletter.
- Built-in ad network, if I select to monetize with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated ability to run a paid newsletter upgrade and primarily run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv does not take a cut.
Basically, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was literally constructed by the individuals that developed the innovation for Early morning Mixture. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the purpose of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different function.
And I ended off with this:.
I may certainly be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I just went for it. And in fact, The EDGE was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own property to make sure that I can grow it more intentionally too.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded individually. Gladly RV was young, so easy to change. Yet, The Early morning WP (formerly The Side) was hidden in a sea of stuff 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 undoubtedly always be closely connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet does not have to be a part of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was developed for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Listing
There’s a difference in between an e-newsletter system and just an e-mail list.
You can host your email list just about anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them out there, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The key distinction is that, with an e-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 releasing to that site. But, you are likewise dispatching to all customers at the same time. The website and it’s subscribers are all in one. This makes administration of the system much easier.
With many e-mail systems, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is developed totally independently from your website. So, for example, you may publish a short article to WordPress yet after that you would certainly require to individually build and send an email to your list to send it to customers. These are then 2 separate collections of archives and two separate actions because blog posts and your e-mails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a true e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name because it basically “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and permits them to be the very same thing. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I wished to continue to self-host every little thing. Nevertheless, you ‘d shed the development tools that come with a system like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter inherently comes with a various set of needs than a common email list.
You do not usually require much marketing automation. You don’t generally need autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO requirement, however, is one smooth publishing experience and development devices to help you construct your client base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was going to switch the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many people ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the fact that I selected to select BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I assume Substack sucks. In fact, due to the fact that Substack has actually been about longer, it is more mature and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is younger, there are a pair points that initially got my focus:.
- BeeHiiv is specifically customized to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is essentially built by the exact same folks who built the modern technology behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, doesn’t matter. But, the apparent positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Growth is what I have an interest in here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally suggests that BeeHiiv has some relatively big brand names and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo creators. Once again, it simply informs me the customer character distinction between the two companies.
Sending our my e-newsletter through FluentCRM really did not exactly suck. The only factor I would certainly consider drinking points up is if I assumed I can GROW the list quicker. And BeeHiiv spoke precisely to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I actually do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra straight rivals.
Yet, allow’s dive deeper than just the placing here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by people that recognizing email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems a lot more tailored toward developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv uses personalized areas on customers. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv uses Automations. In fact, it is a visual automation builder that works a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still fairly limited in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send an e-mail. However, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers along with new activities, such as changing custom fields, sending webhooks, and so on. I have actually currently seen improvements to their automations just considering that I began using the system. For example:
- Capability to cause automations based upon which details embed type they can be found in on.
- Capability to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never will. Substack just can not do this because the target market of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email marketer.
When it concerns writing your e-newsletters, the composing interface of BeeHiiv is simply a lot more geared towards e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I find it to be much more intuitive, personally.
Substack’s composing user interface behaves and clean, but it would be much more equal to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than just type. As an example, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Section” and then put anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Visibility alternatives on that area to show it only to paid customers, conceal it from e-mail, hide from customers, show only to subscribers, and so on. Substack uses nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium membership version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any profits. In fact, you essentially link up to your own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your profits. Depending upon how many customers you obtain, that 10% can be quite a bit more cash than the regular monthly price of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear nerdy, yet what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv collaborate with the outdoors making use of tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … absolutely nothing. No integrations in all.
In general, I simply felt like BeeHiiv was more built towards genuine email marketing. It was developed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page creates appear better developed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I want to see BeeHiiv include, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have said, Substack positions itself towards “developers” greater than email marketing experts and e-newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some things tailored extra toward individuals that simply think in terms of web content production.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does support several magazines, they are treated quite independently. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, yet … great for people who may need it.
Substack likewise has even more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a chat function to host chats with customers. It additionally has a “Notes” function which works type of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. In general, Substack is established to be much more like a social network which supports long-form web content.
On the whole, Substack is additionally much more … minimal. You either care for that or do not. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the goal is simplicity of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack functions pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear here …
When it concerns actual marketing, I do not believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I searched for more points that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, yet honestly … I have a hard time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently through to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at developers (like Substack), however it is far more highly catering to people that do it for organization. ConvertKit has good visual automation structure, it’s own business platform, and much more. ConvertKit is a truly good system.
I’m not mosting likely to birthed you with a complete feature-by-feature break down here. ConvertKit is well known currently. But, right here’s exactly how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has extra flexibility when it comes to it’s automations. I will likewise claim that I discover ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit more intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit supports tagging. This is simply a standard function of email listings that makes it possible for division in a much more adaptable method than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain labeling at some time quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Best Newsletters on Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now provide the capability to market things through their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would always pick a much more direct choice anyhow. For me, I choose to use my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and because of that has way a lot more integration options. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is fairly effective. For instance, their plugin now even supports member-gated content along with auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. In essence, this much more very closely places ConvertKit into direct competitors by having you be able to publish to your site and your e-mail checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely doing not have in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll arrive. Yet, 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 Suggestion Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with rewards, however you can also pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are truly amazing features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most well known viral promotion systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall surface for what this indicates for the platform moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Best Newsletters on Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is much earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests much less features and less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it also suggests that they are rapidly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have witnessed virtually once a week launch of brand-new features into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … yet huge features that are fairly vital. Their rate of advancement at this point has been impressive.
I additionally significantly appreciate just how receptive they are. Actually, one of their item statements regarding some style enhancements to the website design features actually consisted of a little trouble with the web content width. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly got a reply directly from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the problem was dealt with.
Couple of days later, I provided an additional suggestion …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to activate automations based upon the embed type made use of was added to the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight involvement of the team is something I actually appreciate.
An additional major factor of differentiation right here is the price. Both systems supply totally free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan offers more capability 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 desirable. ConvertKit seems cheaper in the beginning glimpse since their pricing web page reveals reduced numbers, nonetheless the subscriber limitations are FAR lower and your rate promptly boosts 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 “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I directly utilize), you can grow your checklist approximately 100,000. A list of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, too, that places 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 annually.
BeeHiiv is in a totally various league when it involves pricing (in an excellent way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately raise prices? They could as time goes on. However, I’m guessing people like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Things I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you most definitely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to develop rather swiftly and make new product news rather typically, however there are some fundamental features I truly want they had that I need to just wait for.
One is that they require to have a setup on membership kinds where I might pick an automation to run right at the type level. That would be remarkable for a lot of factors. Already, registration types look OK, yet there’s really little settings for them to help in segmentation.
It would be nice to have marking at the client degree. This would be powerful.
I believe webhooks should belong to automations to make integrated automations simpler and reduce reliance on outside tools like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor management user interface adjustments that would certainly be handy. As an example:
- Ability to mass edit/remove clients.
- Capacity to mass edit posts (for example, to tag a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental fields as conventional on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more modification alternatives for the web site (such as more adaptable shade options, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Things I hope they perform with it in the future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t ideal and definitely not almost as created as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It possibly never ever will be, either. As I stated, the function is various so it would not a lot a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation platform. I presume you never know, however.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv fairly a whole lot. Sufficient where I decided to change my very own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and owning my own system.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing version specifically, I saw enough value in their system to require the modification.
Keep in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique e-mail checklist. I utilize BeeHiiv for what it is efficient, but I deliberately have things set up to ensure that I likewise keep my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply a good insurance coverage, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your list will certainly be of high usage (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the concern is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are utilizing Substack right now, I ‘d certainly consider changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be much more business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various needs. And also, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the switch ought to be quite straightforward.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d possibly sit tight unless you have a large email listing and are therefore being wooled with their high month-to-month bill. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are iterating promptly. There’s additionally a pretty good opportunity you’re not even utilizing some of those fancier features of ConvertKit and you do not also need them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might easily be a much better and a lot more cost effective fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really intentional about growing a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is designed to be, it is among the best games in the area now. This is the platform to watch.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves taking a look at for yourself. And if you end up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll discover the totally free account to be quite feature rich.