I have actually used a great deal of various e-mail list systems over the years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a huge supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your very own system. For that reason (and the awesome features), I have been making use of Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack.
So, it is certainly an odd move for me to make a decision to make use of BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, it is a hosted application and I am paying regular monthly for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I want to review why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I intend to resolve the concern of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I would certainly likewise like to address why I selected to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Built For Newsletters
In Concern # 435 of my newsletter called My Pastime + A Large Shift In Technique, I talked about just how and why I decided to turn my recreational vehicle blog right into primarily a newsletter. I decided that was the business design I wished to go after keeping that residential property.
But, to intentionally pursue it as a newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was using FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Gladly motor home, yet FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, honestly, utilizing it for newsletters is a bit of a waste. Extra on that particular in a bit.
As I stated in that problem of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices developed right into it particular to my purpose. Points such as:
- Ability to publish (to the blog site) and send the email simultaneously without having it be two different activities.
- Constructed in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would have needed a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Built-in capacity to do cross-promotions with various other newsletters on the BeeHiiv system.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are primarily one-click registration links. Great for promo in various other e-newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, though, so there are means to do that.
- Capability 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 e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in ability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and generally run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features aimed at development. The platform was actually constructed by the people who developed the innovation for Morning Brew. They know what they’re doing.
That is the point here. BeeHiiv is constructed from scratch for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a different purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I might without a doubt be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv also. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. As a matter of fact, I simply went all out. And actually, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s own residential property to make sure that I can grow it extra intentionally also.
The goal is that each newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s own media entity and grown individually. Gladly motor home was young, so very easy to transition. Yet, The Early morning WP (formerly The Side) was buried in a sea of things here at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s own. It will certainly constantly be carefully tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, but does not have to be a part of it.
I changed to BeeHiiv since it was constructed for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email List
There’s a difference in between a newsletter system and simply an email listing.
You can hold your email listing everywhere you desire and there are a number 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 publishing implies that it is going to your site and to your e-mail clients all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a website. You are releasing to that internet site. But, you are also dispatching to all subscribers at the same time. The site and it’s subscribers are done in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much simpler.
With a lot of e-mail platforms, any kind of e-newsletter you set up is done as an e-mail campaign. It is developed completely independently from your site. So, for instance, you may publish a post to WordPress yet after that you would require to separately develop and send an e-mail to your listing to send it to subscribers. These are after that two different collections of archives and two separate activities due to the fact that post and your e-mails are not naturally connected.
The closest point that transforms WordPress right into a real newsletter platform is E-newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it practically “glues” your newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and enables them to be the exact same point. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid option if I intended to continue to self-host everything. Nonetheless, you would certainly shed the growth tools that feature a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing an e-newsletter inherently includes a various collection of needs than a typical e-mail list.
You do not normally need much marketing automation. You don’t normally require autoresponder series, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO demand, though, is one smooth posting experience and development tools to help you develop your customer base that are specific to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was going to switch over the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, also besides the reality that I picked to select BeeHiiv, that does not imply I believe Substack sucks. Actually, since Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that at first got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to newsletter authors. Actually, it is actually developed by the same people who developed the innovation behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, doesn’t matter. However, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter growth called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “creator”. Development is what I have an interest in right here.
- That branding and differentiation additionally indicates that BeeHiiv has some relatively large brand names and large publications using it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo makers. Once again, it simply informs me the customer avatar distinction in between the two firms.
Sending our my e-newsletter by means of FluentCRM didn’t exactly draw. The only factor I would certainly contemplate trembling points up is if I assumed I could GROW the list faster. And BeeHiiv spoke specifically to that objective.
As a result of the targeting, I actually do not view BeeHiiv and Substack as direct competitors. I assume BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more direct rivals.
Yet, allow’s dive much deeper than just the placing right here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was built by people that understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears extra geared towards creators.
As an example, BeeHiiv offers personalized fields on customers. Now, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. Yet, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv offers Automations. As a matter of fact, it is an aesthetic 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 fairly limited in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send out an email. Nonetheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers along with new activities, such as modifying customized fields, sending out webhooks, etc. I’ve currently seen enhancements to their automations simply given that I started using the platform. For instance:
- Capacity to cause automations based upon which details embed kind they was available in on.
- Ability to immediately do re-engagement (and handle people based on opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations similar to this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can not do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an e-mail marketer.
When it pertains to creating your e-newsletters, the writing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply more tailored toward newsletters. As a matter of fact, it really has similarities to the WordPress block builder in exactly how it works. I discover it to be a lot more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s composing user interface is nice and tidy, but it would certainly be more equivalent to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This difference is more than just type. For instance, with BeeHiiv you can insert a “Area” and after that placed anything you want in it. Then, you can place Exposure alternatives on that area to show it only to paid customers, conceal it from e-mail, conceal from subscribers, show just to customers, etc. Substack offers nothing similar to this.
And when/if the time comes that I start a costs membership model, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any profits. As a matter of fact, you literally link as much as your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your income. Depending upon the number of clients you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Last but not least, BeeHiiv has an API. This could seem nerdy, yet what it means is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can really make BeeHiiv deal with the outside using tools like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations at all.
Overall, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was much more built toward actual email marketing. It was built by individuals who “get it”. Even the opt-in kinds and the landing page develops appear much better built for conversions. Growth is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I would love 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 stated, Substack placements itself towards “makers” greater than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter owners. Therefore, you see some points tailored much more toward people who just assume in regards to content production.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Likewise, while BeeHiiv does sustain several publications, they are treated rather individually. Whereas Substack does have the capability to cross-post to numerous magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, but … great for people that could require it.
Substack likewise has even more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a conversation feature to host talks with subscribers. It likewise has a “Notes” feature which works sort of like a social media newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you read. Interesting. Overall, Substack is established to be much more like a social media which supports long-form content.
Generally, Substack is also more … minimal. You either care for that or do not. Personally, I do not. Nonetheless, if the objective is simpleness of interface and, honestly, features … Substack works pretty well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it involves actual marketing, I do not assume there’s much question that BeeHiiv is much better matched. I looked for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a hard time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically with to be the closest rivals, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer rivals. Both are pursuing the exact same target market and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is likewise positioned at creators (like Substack), yet it is much more strongly dealing with individuals that do it for company. ConvertKit has wonderful visual automation building, it’s very own commerce platform, and a lot more. ConvertKit is a really great platform.
I’m not going to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature break down below. ConvertKit is well known already. But, below’s just how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Already, ConvertKit has a lot more flexibility when it involves it’s automations. I will likewise state that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is simply a basic function of e-mail checklists that makes it possible for segmentation in an even more versatile way than BeeHiiv currently does. I expect BeeHiiv to support marking at some point quickly, honestly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack.
ConvertKit does now provide the ability to offer points by means of their very own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly constantly choose an extra straight option anyway. For me, I choose to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been about a lot longer and for that reason has way more integration alternatives. Lots of web-based devices and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their very own WordPress plugin that is rather powerful. For example, their plugin currently also supports member-gated web content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Fundamentally, this more closely places ConvertKit right into direct competition by having you have the ability to publish to your site and your email checklist at the same time.
BeeHiiv is significantly lacking in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even hectic dealing with the growth devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your newsletter with advantages, yet you can also pay per lead within the inner advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your listing. These are actually remarkable features of BeeHiiv. But …
Did you recognize ConvertKit obtained Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among one of the most popular viral promo platforms for e-newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface of what this suggests for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and less integrations, which is natural for this phase of the cycle. However, it also implies that they are rapidly establishing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have seen virtually regular launch of new features into the system. And these aren’t undersized little features … however large features that are rather important. Their rate of growth at this point has gone over.
I also very much appreciate just how receptive they are. In fact, one of their product announcements regarding some layout improvements to the web design features in fact included a small issue with the content size. I simply responded to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was taken care of.
Few days later on, I gave them an additional recommendation …
Indeed, in a little bit over a week of that exchange, the capacity to cause automations based on the embed form made use of was included in the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct participation of the team is something I truly appreciate.
An additional significant point of distinction here is the price. Both systems provide totally free plans, nevertheless the BeeHiiv free plan provides extra capacity and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally FAR more positive. ConvertKit seems more affordable in the beginning glimpse because their pricing page shows reduced numbers, nonetheless the customer restrictions are FAR lower and your price quickly boosts as your checklist expands.
With BeeHiiv, your first level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid annually), nonetheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same size listing is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you update to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I personally make use of), you can grow your list up to 100,000. A list of that dimension would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, also, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay each year, as well. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay annually.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely different league when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv eventually raise costs? They may as time goes on. Yet, I’m presuming individuals like myself who are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see how points continue.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Add
One of the important things you absolutely need to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do seem to progress rather swiftly and make brand-new item news somewhat usually, yet there are some basic features I truly wish they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setting on subscription kinds where I can pick an automation to run right at the kind level. That would be amazing for many factors. As of now, subscription types look OK, but there’s really little setups for them to aid in division.
It would certainly behave to have identifying at the customer degree. This would be effective.
I think webhooks need to be part of automations to make built-in automations much easier and decrease dependence on outside devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some small administrative interface adjustments that would certainly be handy. As an example:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to bulk edit messages (for instance, to label a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few standard areas as conventional on customers (like the name).
- Some even more personalization alternatives for the web site (such as even more flexible shade choices, heading control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I hope they make with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, but it isn’t best and certainly not almost as developed as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It most likely never ever will be, either. As I claimed, the purpose is various so it would not much a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation system. I guess you never ever know, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv rather a great deal. Sufficient where I decided to change my own e-newsletters over to the system in spite of my individual choice for digital sovereignty and having my own platform.
Basically, for the newsletter publishing version particularly, I saw enough worth in their system to warrant the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not use BeeHiiv as my special e-mail list. I make use of BeeHiiv for what it is good at, but I purposefully have things set up to ensure that I also maintain my checklist “in home” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the very same. It is simply an excellent insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your list will be of high use (FluentCRM is a full marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the concern is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my opinion, if you are using Substack right now, I ‘d definitely consider changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be extra business-friendly. It is targeting different capabilities and various demands. And also, BeeHiiv even has import tools for Substack, so the button should be rather straightforward.
If you get on ConvertKit currently, I ‘d most likely stay put unless you have a big e-mail list and are consequently being wooled with their high month-to-month costs. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are repeating quickly. There’s likewise a pretty good possibility you’re not even using several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. For that reason, BeeHiiv might easily be a much better and much more affordable fit.
Finally, if you plan to be extremely willful about growing an e-newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open regarding what it is created to be, it is one of the most effective games in the area now. This is the platform to see.
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 totally free account to be fairly feature abundant.