I have actually made use of a great deal of various e-mail list systems for many years. In the last number of years, I’ve been a big proponent of digital sovereignty and having your own platform. Therefore (and the amazing features), I have been using How Much Does Beehiiv Cost.
So, it is certainly an odd move for me to choose to make use of BeeHiiv. Besides, it is a held application and I am paying month-to-month for it.
Why did I do this?
In this BeeHiiv review, I wish to go over why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my newsletters. I want to attend to the issue of digital sovereignty while utilizing the system and I ‘d also like to resolve why I picked to use it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For E-newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Pastime + A Large Change In Approach, I spoke about how and why I chose to turn my recreational vehicle blog site right into primarily an e-newsletter. I determined that was business model I wished to seek with that said residential or commercial property.
However, to deliberately seek it as a newsletter, I wanted a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the email checklist for Gladly RV, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter system. It is built to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, utilizing it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. A lot more on that particular in a bit.
As I said in that issue of the e-newsletter …
Basically, BeeHiiv is a platform with tools developed into it particular to my objective. Points such as:
- Capability to release (to the blog) and send the email at the same time without having it be 2 separate actions.
- Integrated in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would have needed a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with other newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Hyperlinks”, which are essentially one-click subscription web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are methods to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to promote your newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I select to generate income from with advertisements in the newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capacity to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and primarily run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features targeted at growth. The system was essentially built by the individuals that accumulated the technology for Morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the point below. BeeHiiv is developed from the ground up for the objective of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I ended off with this:.
I might undoubtedly be relocating The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At the very least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I didn’t consider it for long. Actually, I just went all out. And as a matter of fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, triggered as it’s very own building so that I can expand it a lot more purposefully also.
The objective is that each e-newsletter has the capacity to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown independently. Happily RV was young, so simple to change. But, The Early morning WP (formerly The Side) was buried in a sea of things below at the Blog Site Marketing Academy. By separating it off, I can do what I can to expand it on it’s very own. It will clearly constantly be closely tied with the Blog site Marketing Academy, but does not need to belong of it.
I switched over to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was built for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Regular Email List
There’s a distinction in between a newsletter system and just an e-mail list.
You can host your e-mail list just about anywhere you want and there are a variety of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted choices like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the difference?
The primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter platform, the act of posting implies that it is going to your web site and to your e-mail clients at the same time.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are releasing to that website. However, you are likewise dispatching to all subscribers at the same time. The site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes administration of the platform much easier.
With many e-mail platforms, any kind of newsletter you set up is done as an email campaign. It is constructed entirely separately from your web site. So, for instance, you could release an article to WordPress however after that you would certainly need to individually build and send an email to your checklist to send it to clients. These are after that 2 separate collections of archives and 2 different actions 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 system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it practically “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress messages and permits them to be the very same point. Certainly, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid option if I wanted to remain to self-host everything. However, you ‘d lose the growth tools that include a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally includes a different collection of requirements than a common email listing.
You do not normally require much marketing automation. You do not normally require autoresponder series, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless publishing experience and growth devices to aid you develop your customer 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 individuals ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the reality that I picked to choose BeeHiiv, that doesn’t indicate I think Substack draws. As a matter of fact, due to the fact that Substack has been about much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a couple things that at first got my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to e-newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is actually developed by the exact same people that constructed the modern technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, does not matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards e-newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “maker”. Development is what I’m interested in here.
- That branding and differentiation also suggests that BeeHiiv has some rather big brand names and large publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed even more at solo developers. Once again, it just tells me the customer character distinction between both firms.
Sending our my newsletter by means of FluentCRM really did not exactly draw. The only factor I would certainly consider shaking points up is if I believed I could GROW the list much faster. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I actually don’t see BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a different sort of consumer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being extra direct rivals.
Yet, let’s dive much deeper than simply the positioning below.
Points That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
On the whole, BeeHiiv feels like it was developed by individuals who understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack appears more geared toward makers.
For example, BeeHiiv provides custom areas on subscribers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv provides 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 capability is still early-phase. It is still quite restricted in triggers and the only activity is the capacity to send out an e-mail. Nonetheless, enhancements are coming. Quickly sufficient, automations will certainly have brand-new triggers in addition to new actions, such as customizing custom areas, sending out webhooks, etc. I have actually currently seen improvements to their automations just because I began utilizing the platform. For instance:
- Capacity to cause automations based upon which particular embed kind they came in on.
- Capacity to automatically do re-engagement (and take care of individuals based upon opens up and non-opens).
- Capacity to do standard conditional reasoning branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never ever will. Substack simply can’t do this due to the fact that the target market of Substack simply wouldn’t believe to approach this like an email online marketer.
When it concerns composing your newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is simply a lot more geared toward e-newsletters. In fact, it in fact has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in just how it works. I find it to be much more instinctive, personally.
Substack’s creating user interface is nice and clean, but it would be extra comparable to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar at the top.
This difference is more than simply form. For example, with BeeHiiv you can put a “Area” and then put anything you desire in it. Then, you can put Exposure choices on that particular section to reveal it just to paid subscribers, hide it from e-mail, conceal from subscribers, show just to clients, etc. Substack offers nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I begin a premium subscription model, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any profits. As a matter of fact, you actually link as much as your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your income. Relying on the amount of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit more money than the month-to-month price of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may appear nerdy, however what it suggests 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 literally has … nothing. No integrations in all.
Generally, I simply seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built toward actual email marketing. It was developed by people that “get it”. Also the opt-in types and the landing page develops appear far better built for conversions. Development is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I would love to see BeeHiiv add, I like the direction it is going more than Substack.
Things That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have stated, Substack settings itself toward “makers” more than e-mail online marketers and e-newsletter owners. For that reason, you see some points geared a lot more towards individuals that just believe in terms of web content production.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain numerous publications, they are treated rather independently. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to several magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I call for, but … cool for people that could require it.
Substack likewise has more social functionality built-in. As an example, it has a chat function to host chats with clients. It also has a “Notes” function which functions sort of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from various other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. Generally, Substack is established to be extra like a social media which supports long-form web content.
On the whole, Substack is likewise a lot more … minimalist. You either look after that or don’t. Directly, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the goal is simplicity of interface and, honestly, features … Substack works pretty well.
Yet, I’ll be clear below …
When it pertains to real marketing, I do not assume there’s much uncertainty that BeeHiiv is better matched. I looked for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a tough time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are typically via to be the closest rivals, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the exact same target market and have similar capabilities.
ConvertKit is additionally positioned at makers (like Substack), but it is a lot more strongly satisfying individuals that do it for business. ConvertKit has great visual automation building, it’s very own commerce platform, and extra. ConvertKit is a truly wonderful system.
I’m not going to bore you with a complete feature-by-feature failure right here. ConvertKit is popular currently. But, here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit contrast …
Things ConvertKit Is Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has extra versatility when it concerns it’s automations. I will likewise state that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit much more instinctive than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains identifying. This is simply a fundamental feature of email lists that makes it possible for segmentation in a far more versatile means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to support labeling at some point quickly, frankly. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on How Much Does Beehiiv Cost.
ConvertKit does currently provide the ability to sell points via their very own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it may be a big deal for you. For me, nonetheless, I would certainly always select a much more direct option anyway. For me, I favor to utilize my own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been around much longer and for that reason has way much more integration choices. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins integrate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit even has their very own WordPress plugin that is fairly powerful. As an example, their plugin now even supports member-gated content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this a lot more very closely puts ConvertKit into straight competitors by having you be able to publish to your website and your e-mail listing at the same time.
BeeHiiv is severely lacking in these sort of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is also hectic dealing with the development devices of BeeHiiv. For instance, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Suggestion Engine where you can not just incentivize people to share your newsletter with perks, but you can likewise pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are truly awesome features of BeeHiiv. However …
Did you know ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is just one of the most popular viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall surface for what this suggests for the platform going forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … How Much Does Beehiiv Cost
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that implies much less features and less integrations, which is all-natural for this phase of the cycle. Nonetheless, it likewise suggests that they are quickly developing.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually seen nearly regular launch of new features right into the platform. And these aren’t weak little features … but huge features that are quite vital. Their speed of growth at this moment has been impressive.
I likewise very much appreciate how receptive they are. In fact, one of their item statements about some layout improvements to the website design features actually contained a little trouble with the web content width. I merely responded to that e-mail to tell them. I swiftly obtained a reply directly from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the concern was repaired.
Few days later on, I gave them one more idea …
Sure enough, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the capability to cause automations based on the embed form used was included in the system.
That sort of responsiveness and direct involvement of the team is something I actually value.
Another major point of distinction here is the rate. Both platforms use totally free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan offers extra ability and even more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you most likely to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is also FAR more favorable. ConvertKit seems more affordable in the beginning glance because their pricing web page shows reduced numbers, however the client limits are much reduced and your price swiftly raises as your listing grows.
With BeeHiiv, your first degree paid plan begins at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 customers. That exact same dimension checklist is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their best plan and the one I directly use), you can expand your list as much as 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, also. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay yearly.
BeeHiiv is in a totally different organization when it pertains to pricing (in a great way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase rates? They may as time takes place. But, I’m presuming individuals like myself that are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see how things proceed.
Points I Would Certainly Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you certainly require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to evolve rather swiftly and make new product news rather typically, but there are some basic features I really desire they had that I need to just wait on.
One is that they need to have a setting on registration types where I might choose an automation to run right at the type degree. That would be incredible for many factors. Currently, registration forms look OK, but there’s extremely little setups for them to help in segmentation.
It would certainly behave to have tagging at the subscriber degree. This would be effective.
I think webhooks should become part of automations to make built-in automations easier and reduce dependence on outside tools like Zapier.
There are additionally some minor management interface adjustments that would come in handy. For instance:
- Capability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capability to mass edit messages (for instance, to mark a lot of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of standard fields as standard on subscribers (like the name).
- Some even more modification options for the web site (such as even more adaptable color selections, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some shortcomings. Points I hope they perform with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is respectable, yet it isn’t best and absolutely not almost as created as something like FluentCRM or any other real CRM product.
It most likely never will certainly be, either. As I claimed, the function is various so it would not a lot a lot of sense for BeeHiiv to come to be a full marketing automation system. I presume you never recognize, however.
Last Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv rather a lot. Enough where I decided to switch my own newsletters over to the system regardless of my personal preference for digital sovereignty and owning my own system.
Basically, for the e-newsletter posting design specifically, I saw enough value in their system to warrant the modification.
Remember, I do not use BeeHiiv as my unique email listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is efficient, but I deliberately have points establish so that I also maintain my checklist “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you utilize BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is just a good insurance plan, for one. However, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your list will certainly be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will certainly be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU make use of BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are utilizing Substack now, I ‘d absolutely take into consideration switching over to BeeHiiv. It will simply be extra business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and various requirements. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be pretty simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d probably sit tight unless you have a huge e-mail listing and are consequently being wooled with their high regular monthly bill. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, however they are iterating promptly. There’s likewise a pretty good chance you’re not also using some of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you do not even require them. Therefore, BeeHiiv can easily be a far better and much more economical fit.
Last but not least, if you plan to be really intentional concerning expanding a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to think about and maintain and eye on for you.
If you use BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is created to be, it is among the most effective games in town right now. This is the system to enjoy.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves checking out for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the cost-free account to be rather feature rich.