I have utilized a great deal of various e-mail list systems for many years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a substantial supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your very own platform. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have actually been using Convert To Beehiiv Kit.
So, it is certainly a weird move for me to choose to make use of BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a held application and I am paying monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv testimonial, I wish to look at why I made the button to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to attend to the problem of digital sovereignty while making use of the platform and I would certainly additionally like to attend to why I chose to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For Newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Hobby + A Huge Shift In Approach, I talked about just how and why I made a decision to transform my RV blog into mainly an e-newsletter. I decided that was business design I wished to pursue with that property.
However, to intentionally pursue it as an e-newsletter, I wanted a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email list for Happily RV, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is constructed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, honestly, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I stated because concern of the e-newsletter …
Simply put, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices constructed into it certain to my objective. Points such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog) and send out the e-mail concurrently without having it be 2 different activities.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would certainly require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Built-in ability to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are basically one-click registration links. Great for promotion in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are ways to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I pick to monetize with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Essentially, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features targeted at development. The platform was essentially constructed by the people that developed the innovation for Early morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the factor right here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the purpose of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a different objective.
And I finished off with this:.
I might without a doubt be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At the very least, I’m highly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went for it. And actually, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own residential or commercial property so that I can grow it more intentionally too.
The goal is that each newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown independently. Gladly motor home was young, so simple to change. But, The Morning WP (formerly The Side) was buried in a sea of stuff right here at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will certainly constantly be very closely linked with the Blog Marketing Academy, however doesn’t need to belong of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv because it was developed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
E-newsletters Versus Simply A Normal Email Checklist
There’s a difference in between a newsletter system and simply an e-mail checklist.
You can hold your email list just about anywhere you desire and there are a variety of them available, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary difference is that, with a newsletter system, the act of posting indicates that it is going to your website and to your e-mail customers at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are publishing to that internet site. However, you are also dispatching to all clients at the same time. The internet site and it’s clients are all in one. This makes management of the system much easier.
With a lot of e-mail platforms, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is constructed completely individually from your internet site. So, for instance, you may publish a short article to WordPress yet after that you would require to separately build and send an e-mail to your checklist to send it to customers. These are after that 2 different sets of archives and 2 different activities because post and your emails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that turns WordPress right into a real e-newsletter system is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a suitable name due to the fact that it pretty much “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and allows them to be the same thing. Absolutely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a strong choice if I wished to continue to self-host every little thing. Nevertheless, you would certainly shed the growth devices that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting an e-newsletter inherently includes a various collection of requirements than a typical email checklist.
You don’t normally require much marketing automation. You don’t usually require autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO demand, however, is one seamless posting experience and development tools to assist you build your subscriber base that specify to newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my subscribers that I was going to switch the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was choosing it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I picked to opt for BeeHiiv, that does not suggest I think Substack sucks. As a matter of fact, due to the fact that Substack has actually been about much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Although BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple points that originally obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to e-newsletter publishers. Actually, it is actually built by the very same people who built the technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets writers. In the real world, doesn’t matter. But, the obvious positioning of BeeHiiv toward e-newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I’m interested in right here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively big brand names and large magazines using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Once again, it just tells me the client avatar distinction in between the two business.
Sending our my e-newsletter via FluentCRM really did not exactly suck. The only factor I would certainly consider shaking points up is if I assumed I can GROW the listing faster. And BeeHiiv spoke exactly to that goal.
Because of the targeting, I actually do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a different type of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct competitors.
But, allow’s dive deeper than simply the positioning here.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Overall, BeeHiiv seems like it was constructed by people that understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears a lot more geared towards developers.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers personalized areas on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv uses Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a great deal like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation capability is still early-phase. It is still rather limited in triggers and the only action is the capacity to send an email. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will have brand-new triggers along with new actions, such as customizing custom-made areas, sending webhooks, etc. I have actually already seen improvements to their automations just considering that I began making use of the platform. For example:
- Capacity to trigger automations based upon which details embed form they can be found in on.
- Ability to automatically do re-engagement (and deal with individuals based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack just can’t do this since the target market of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email marketing expert.
When it involves writing your e-newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more geared toward e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it actually has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it functions. I locate it to be much more instinctive, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface behaves and tidy, but it would certainly be extra equal to the timeless editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This distinction is greater than just type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and then placed anything you want in it. After that, you can place Exposure alternatives on that area to show it only to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from customers, reveal only to customers, etc. Substack uses absolutely nothing such as this.
And when/if the time comes that I begin a premium membership design, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any income. Actually, you literally connect up to your very own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your income. Depending upon the amount of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the monthly expense of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, but what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv work with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack literally has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
In general, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was much more constructed toward actual e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people who “get it”. Even the opt-in types and the landing page creates seem far better constructed for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I like the instructions it is going more than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack settings itself towards “designers” greater than e-mail marketing professionals and e-newsletter proprietors. For that reason, you see some points tailored a lot more towards people who simply believe in terms of web content production.
For instance, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous publications, they are treated rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to multiple publications at the same time. This isn’t something I need, however … awesome for people who may need it.
Substack also has even more social capability built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. In general, Substack is established to be more like a social media network which supports long-form content.
In general, Substack is likewise much more … minimalist. You either care for that or don’t. Directly, I don’t. However, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack works pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear here …
When it concerns actual marketing, I don’t think there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better fit. I tried to find even more points that make Substack far better than BeeHiiv, but frankly … I have a hard time discovering them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically via to be the closest competitors, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are going after the same target audience and have comparable abilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at makers (like Substack), but it is much more highly catering to people that do it for business. ConvertKit has nice aesthetic automation building, it’s own commerce platform, and more. ConvertKit is an actually good platform.
I’m not going to bore you with a full feature-by-feature failure right here. ConvertKit is well known already. However, right here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has a lot more versatility when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly also say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra intuitive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is just a fundamental function of email lists that allows division in an even more versatile means than BeeHiiv presently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support identifying at some time quickly, truthfully. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Convert To Beehiiv Kit.
ConvertKit does currently provide the capability to sell points through their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is essential to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would certainly always pick a more straight alternative anyway. For me, I prefer to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about much longer and for that reason has way a lot more integration options. Tons of online tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For example, their plugin now also supports member-gated content along with auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this extra very closely places ConvertKit right into direct competitors by having you have the ability to release to your website and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is drastically doing not have in these sort of third-party integrations currently. It’ll arrive. But, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic tackling the development devices of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not only incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with rewards, but you can likewise pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are truly awesome features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most well known viral promotion systems for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall for what this indicates for the system moving forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Better At … Convert To Beehiiv Kit
BeeHiiv is much previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that means less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. Nevertheless, it also suggests 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 new features into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … yet huge features that are fairly important. Their rate of growth at this point has gone over.
I additionally significantly value just how receptive they are. Actually, among their product announcements regarding some layout improvements to the web design features in fact had a little issue with the content width. I just responded to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply directly from the CEO:.
That same day, the concern was repaired.
Few days later on, I gave them another suggestion …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to set off automations based on the embed form used was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and direct involvement of the group is something I actually appreciate.
Another significant factor of differentiation here is the rate. Both systems use cost-free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan offers a lot more capability and more customers (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise even more positive. ConvertKit appears less costly at first glimpse because their pricing page reveals reduced numbers, nevertheless the customer limitations are much reduced and your price quickly boosts as your list grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 clients. That same size list 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 personally use), you can expand your list approximately 100,000. A list of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you want their referral network, too, that places you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay yearly, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for just $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a completely different organization when it pertains to pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually boost prices? They may as time takes place. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself that are currently in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of things you certainly need to remember is that BeeHiiv is reasonably young. They do seem to evolve rather quickly and make new item statements somewhat frequently, however there are some basic features I truly want they had that I need to simply wait for.
One is that they require to have a setup on subscription kinds where I can choose an automation to run right at the type degree. That would certainly be remarkable for many reasons. Already, membership kinds look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to help in division.
It would be nice to have marking at the client level. This would be powerful.
I think webhooks ought to become part of automations to make integrated automations simpler and lower reliance on outdoors tools like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor administrative interface modifications that would certainly come in handy. For example:
- Capacity to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to bulk edit articles (for example, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental areas as conventional on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more personalization choices for the web site (such as more adaptable color selections, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some imperfections. Points I hope they make with it in the future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t best and absolutely not virtually as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM item.
It most likely never ever will certainly be, either. As I stated, the purpose is various so it would not much a great deal of sense for BeeHiiv to become a full marketing automation platform. I think you never know, though.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv fairly a whole lot. Sufficient where I determined to change my very own newsletters over to the system in spite of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and having my very own system.
Basically, for the e-newsletter publishing version especially, I saw enough worth in their system to call for the change.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my special email listing. I use BeeHiiv for what it is efficient, yet I purposefully have things establish so that I additionally keep my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the same. It is simply a great insurance plan, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your listing will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform 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 making use of Substack today, I ‘d most definitely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting different abilities and various needs. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the button ought to be quite simple.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d probably stay unless you have a big e-mail listing and are therefore being fleeced with their high regular monthly expense. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are repeating rapidly. There’s additionally a respectable opportunity you’re not even making use of several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t also require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv can quickly be a better and a lot more inexpensive fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely willful regarding expanding a newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open concerning what it is created to be, it is one of the most effective games in the area right now. This is the system to watch.
BeeHiiv supplies a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves checking out for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll find the totally free account to be quite feature rich.