I have actually used a great deal of different email list systems over the years. In the last number of years, I have actually been a substantial advocate of digital sovereignty and owning your own system. Because of that (and the outstanding features), I have been using Prompt Warrior Beehiiv.
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 testimonial, I want to discuss why I made the switch to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I intend to deal with the issue of digital sovereignty while utilizing the platform and I would certainly likewise such as to resolve why I selected to use it over Substack.
Let’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Developed For Newsletters
In Problem # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Big Shift In Technique, I discussed exactly how and why I made a decision to transform my recreational vehicle blog site into largely an e-newsletter. I determined that was business model I intended to pursue keeping that residential or commercial property.
However, to purposefully pursue it as an e-newsletter, I desired a system that was purpose-built for that. I was utilizing FluentCRM for the email listing for Gladly recreational vehicle, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation device and, truthfully, using it for e-newsletters is a bit of a waste. Extra on that particular in a bit.
As I claimed because concern of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a system with devices constructed right into it particular to my purpose. Points such as:
- Capacity to publish (to the blog) and send the e-mail simultaneously without having it be two separate activities.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM doesn’t have that and I would require a third-party tool like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capacity to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are generally one-click subscription links. Great for promo in other 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 newsletter.
- Integrated advertisement network, if I choose to monetize with advertisements in the e-newsletter. And I may.
- Built-in capability to run a paid e-newsletter upgrade and essentially run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Generally, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for newsletter publishers with features targeted at growth. The system was literally constructed by the people who accumulated the modern technology for Early morning Brew. They understand what they’re doing.
That is the factor below. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the function of running an e-newsletter. FluentCRM has a various purpose.
And I finished off with this:.
I may certainly be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv too. A minimum of, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went all out. And actually, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s own residential property to ensure that I can grow it a lot more purposefully also.
The goal is that each e-newsletter has the capability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and grown separately. Gladly recreational vehicle was young, so simple to transition. However, The Early morning WP (formerly The Edge) was hidden in a sea of things below at the Blog Marketing Academy. By dividing it off, I can do what I can to grow it on it’s own. It will undoubtedly constantly be closely connected with the Blog Marketing Academy, but doesn’t need to be a part of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv since it was developed for this purpose. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Simply A Typical Email Listing
There’s a difference between a newsletter system and simply an email list.
You can hold your email list everywhere 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 difference?
The main distinction is that, with a newsletter platform, the act of posting suggests that it is going to your website and to your e-mail subscribers simultaneously.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a web site. You are publishing to that website. However, you are additionally sending off to all clients at the same time. The internet site and it’s customers are done in one. This makes management of the platform much less complex.
With a lot of e-mail platforms, any kind of e-newsletter you established is done as an email campaign. It is developed completely independently from your website. So, for instance, you may publish a post to WordPress however after that you would require to individually develop and send an e-mail to your list to send it to clients. These are then 2 different collections of archives and 2 different actions because article and your e-mails are not naturally linked.
The closest thing that transforms WordPress into a true newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name because it pretty much “adhesives” your newsletter to your WordPress articles and enables them to be the very same thing. Definitely, something like E-newsletter Glue would be a solid choice if I wished to remain to self-host whatever. Nonetheless, you would certainly shed the development devices that feature a system like BeeHiiv.
Posting a newsletter naturally features a different set of needs than a regular email list.
You do not usually require much marketing automation. You don’t normally need autoresponder sequences, occasion monitoring, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation platform.
What you DO need, though, is one seamless posting experience and development devices to aid you construct your customer base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I announced to my customers that I was mosting likely to switch over the e-newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had lots of people ask me why I was picking it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I selected to go with BeeHiiv, that does not imply I think Substack sucks. In fact, because Substack has been around longer, it is elder and has more features.
Despite the fact that BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair things that initially obtained my interest:.
- BeeHiiv is particularly customized to newsletter publishers. As a matter of fact, it is essentially constructed by the same folks who constructed the innovation behind Morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real life, does not matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv toward newsletter development called me out over the more generic positioning of being a “designer”. Development is what I’m interested in below.
- That branding and distinction likewise implies that BeeHiiv has some relatively huge brands and large magazines utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Again, it simply informs me the client character distinction between both business.
Sending our my e-newsletter using FluentCRM really did not specifically suck. The only reason I would contemplate trembling points up is if I thought I can GROW the checklist quicker. And BeeHiiv talked exactly to that goal.
As a result of the targeting, I actually don’t check out BeeHiiv and Substack as direct rivals. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various kind of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being more straight rivals.
Yet, let’s dive deeper than simply the positioning here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
Generally, BeeHiiv seems like it was developed by individuals that understanding email marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems more geared toward creators.
For instance, BeeHiiv offers personalized fields on customers. Currently, it isn’t as established as something like FluentCRM. But, it has it. Substack doesn’t.
BeeHiiv provides Automations. Actually, it is an aesthetic automation builder that functions a whole lot like what we have inside of FluentCRM.
To be clear, the automation functionality is still early-phase. It is still fairly restricted in triggers and the only activity is the capability to send an email. Nevertheless, improvements are coming. Soon enough, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to new activities, such as changing custom-made areas, sending webhooks, and so on. I’ve currently seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I started utilizing the platform. For example:
- Capacity to cause automations based on which particular embed kind they was available in on.
- Capacity to automatically do re-engagement (and manage individuals based on opens and non-opens).
- Capacity to do basic conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can’t do this since the target market of Substack just would not think to approach this like an e-mail marketing expert.
When it concerns composing your newsletters, the composing user interface of BeeHiiv is just much more tailored toward e-newsletters. As a matter of fact, it actually has resemblances to the WordPress block builder in just how it functions. I discover it to be much more user-friendly, directly.
Substack’s writing user interface is nice and clean, yet it would certainly be a lot more equal to the traditional editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is more than just type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Section” and after that placed anything you want in it. Then, you can put Presence choices on that particular area to reveal it just to paid subscribers, conceal it from email, conceal from subscribers, show just to clients, etc. Substack supplies nothing similar to this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a costs subscription version, BeeHiiv doesn’t take any earnings. As a matter of fact, you literally attach approximately your own Stripe account and it charges straight to it. With Substack, they will take 10% of your revenue. Depending upon the amount of subscribers you obtain, that 10% can be a fair bit more cash than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Lastly, BeeHiiv has an API. This may seem nerdy, however what it indicates is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can in fact make BeeHiiv work with the outdoors using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … nothing. No integrations whatsoever.
Generally, I just felt like BeeHiiv was extra constructed towards genuine e-mail marketing. It was built by individuals who “get it”. Also the opt-in types and the landing page creates seem far better developed for conversions. Development is nitty-gritty with BeeHiiv.
Even though there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv add, 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 “designers” greater than e-mail marketing experts and newsletter proprietors. Therefore, you see some things geared much more toward individuals that simply think in terms of web content development.
For instance, Substack supports podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Also, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple publications, they are treated quite individually. Whereas Substack does have the capacity to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I need, but … awesome for people that could require it.
Substack also has more social capability built-in. As an example, it has a chat feature to host chats with clients. It likewise has a “Notes” feature which functions type of like a social media sites newsfeed where you can share points from other “Stacks” you’re reading. Interesting. On the whole, Substack is set up to be extra like a social media which sustains long-form web content.
Overall, Substack is also much more … minimal. You either take care of that or don’t. Directly, I do not. Nevertheless, if the objective is simplicity of user interface and, frankly, features … Substack works rather well.
But, I’ll be clear below …
When it comes to actual marketing, I don’t assume there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is better fit. I looked for more factors that make Substack much better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a hard time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are often through to be the closest rivals, I really see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are going after the very same target audience and have similar capacities.
ConvertKit is additionally positioned at developers (like Substack), but it is much more highly satisfying people who do it for company. ConvertKit has good visual automation building, it’s own business system, and much more. ConvertKit is a really wonderful system.
I’m not going to bore you with a full feature-by-feature break down right here. ConvertKit is well known currently. Yet, here’s just how I feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Points ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
As of now, ConvertKit has much more adaptability when it pertains to it’s automations. I will certainly additionally say that I find ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a bit extra user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains labeling. This is simply a standard function of e-mail checklists that enables segmentation in a far more versatile means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to support identifying eventually quickly, truthfully. It seems like an oversight that it is missing out on Prompt Warrior Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does now give the capacity to market points by means of their own system. BeeHiiv does not. If that is very important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, nevertheless, I would certainly constantly choose a much more straight alternative anyway. For me, I like to use my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has actually been about a lot longer and for that reason has way extra integration options. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is rather effective. As an example, their plugin currently even supports member-gated content along with auto-embed of your e-newsletter archives right into your site. Basically, this extra carefully puts ConvertKit right into straight competitors by having you have the ability to publish to your website and your e-mail list at the same time.
BeeHiiv is significantly lacking in these type of third-party integrations presently. It’ll get there. Yet, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even hectic taking on the development tools of BeeHiiv. As an example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Recommendation Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with benefits, yet you can likewise pay per lead within the internal advertisement network of BeeHiiv to expand your checklist. These are truly remarkable features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you recognize ConvertKit acquired Sparkloop? Sparkloop is among the most popular viral promotion platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the composing on the wall surface of what this indicates for the platform moving forward.
Points BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … Prompt Warrior Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot previously in it’s item cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that indicates less features and much less integrations, which is natural for this stage of the cycle. However, it likewise means that they are quickly creating.
In the short time that I have been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have actually observed almost regular launch of brand-new features right into the system. And these aren’t puny little features … but big features that are fairly vital. Their rate of growth at this point has gone over.
I additionally quite appreciate how responsive they are. Actually, among their product statements concerning some layout enhancements to the website design features really included a little issue with the material width. I simply replied to that e-mail to tell them. I quickly obtained a reply directly from the CEO:.
That very same day, the issue was fixed.
Couple of days later on, I provided another recommendation …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to set off automations based on the embed kind made use of was included in the system.
That kind of responsiveness and straight involvement of the team is something I truly appreciate.
One more significant factor of distinction here is the rate. Both platforms provide free plans, nonetheless the BeeHiiv free plan offers much more capacity and more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
When you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is additionally even more desirable. ConvertKit seems more affordable initially glance due to the fact that their pricing page shows reduced numbers, nevertheless the subscriber limitations are FAR lower and your cost rapidly boosts as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your initial level paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid each year), however you can have up to 10,000 customers. 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 use), you can expand your listing as much as 100,000. A listing of that dimension would certainly 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 every year, too. With BeeHiiv, you can get all that for simply $84/month if you pay each year.
BeeHiiv is in an entirely different league when it concerns pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv ultimately boost costs? They might as time goes on. However, I’m presuming individuals like myself that are already in will certainly be locked-in. We’ll see exactly how points proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Include
One of the important things you most definitely require to bear in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to progress rather quickly and make new item news somewhat commonly, yet there are some fundamental features I really wish they had that I require to just wait on.
One is that they need to have a setting on registration kinds where I might choose an automation to run right at the kind degree. That would be incredible for so many factors. Currently, subscription forms look OK, but there’s very little settings for them to assist in segmentation.
It would behave to have tagging at the subscriber level. This would certainly be powerful.
I assume webhooks must be part of automations to make integrated automations easier and reduce dependence on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor administrative user interface adjustments that would be handy. For instance:
- Ability to bulk edit/remove subscribers.
- Capacity to mass edit messages (for example, to mark a bunch of them at the same time).
- Having a few fundamental areas as standard on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more modification options for the web site (such as even more adaptable shade options, heading control, etc).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I wish they finish with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, but it isn’t perfect and definitely not nearly as established as something like FluentCRM or any other actual CRM item.
It possibly never will be, either. As I stated, the function is different so it would not a lot a great deal of feeling for BeeHiiv to become a complete marketing automation platform. I presume you never ever understand, though.
Last Ideas On This BeeHiiv Evaluation
I such as BeeHiiv quite a lot. Enough where I decided to switch my own e-newsletters over to the platform in spite of my personal choice for digital sovereignty and possessing my own system.
Put simply, for the e-newsletter publishing design especially, I saw enough worth in their system to require the modification.
Bear in mind, I do not make use of BeeHiiv as my exclusive email listing. I make use of BeeHiiv wherefore it is efficient, yet I deliberately have points establish to make sure that I additionally maintain my list “in residence” within FluentCRM.
If you make use of BeeHiiv, I recommend you do the same. It is simply a great insurance plan, for one. But, having a full-featured marketing automation system for your checklist will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never will be).
So, the inquiry is … should YOU utilize BeeHiiv?
In my point of view, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d certainly think about changing to BeeHiiv. It will just be much more business-friendly. It is targeting various abilities and different requirements. Plus, BeeHiiv even has import devices for Substack, so the switch must be pretty simple.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely stay unless you have a huge e-mail checklist and are consequently being fleeced with their high regular monthly expense. You will certainly not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, but they are iterating rapidly. There’s likewise a respectable possibility you’re not even utilizing a few of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. Because of that, BeeHiiv might conveniently be a far better and extra budget-friendly fit.
Lastly, if you plan to be extremely willful about expanding an e-newsletter, I believe BeeHiiv is THE system to take into consideration and keep and eye on for you.
If you utilize BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is designed to be, it is one of the very best games around right now. This is the platform to enjoy.
BeeHiiv provides a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves looking into for yourself. And if you wind up not sticking with the paid plan, you’ll find the cost-free account to be quite feature abundant.