I have made use of a great deal of various email list systems throughout the years. In the last couple of years, I’ve been a significant supporter of digital sovereignty and owning your own platform. Because of that (and the awesome features), I have actually been using The Stories Beehiiv.
So, it is undoubtedly an odd move for me to make a decision to utilize BeeHiiv. Nevertheless, 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 switch to BeeHiiv for my e-newsletters. I wish to address the problem of digital sovereignty while making use of the system and I would certainly likewise like to address why I chose to utilize it over Substack.
Allow’s dive in …
BeeHiiv: Constructed For Newsletters
In Issue # 435 of my e-newsletter called My Leisure activity + A Huge Change In Method, I talked about exactly how and why I determined to transform my recreational vehicle blog right into primarily an e-newsletter. I decided that was business model I wanted to go after with that said home.
Yet, to deliberately seek it as an e-newsletter, I desired a platform that was purpose-built for that. I was making use of FluentCRM for the e-mail listing for Happily motor home, however FluentCRM is not an e-newsletter platform. It is developed to be a CRM and marketing automation tool and, frankly, using it for newsletters is a little bit of a waste. Extra on that in a bit.
As I stated in that problem of the newsletter …
Put simply, BeeHiiv is a platform with devices constructed into it specific to my function. Things such as:
- Capability to publish (to the blog site) and send the email at the same time without having it be 2 different actions.
- Built in newsletter referral program. FluentCRM does not have that and I would require a third-party device like Sparkloop.
- Integrated capability to do cross-promotions with various other e-newsletters on the BeeHiiv platform.
- ” Magic Links”, which are basically one-click registration web links. Great for promo in various other newsletters. FluentCRM has Smart Links, however, so there are means to do that.
- Capacity to do paid “boosts” on the BeeHiiv network to advertise your e-newsletter.
- Integrated ad network, if I choose to monetize with ads in the newsletter. And I may.
- Integrated capacity to run a paid newsletter upgrade and basically run a premium newsletter. And BeeHiiv doesn’t take a cut.
Primarily, BeeHiiv is purpose-built for e-newsletter publishers with features focused on development. The platform was actually developed by the individuals who built up the innovation for Morning Mixture. They recognize what they’re doing.
That is the factor here. BeeHiiv is built from scratch for the purpose of running a newsletter. FluentCRM has a various function.
And I finished off with this:.
I might undoubtedly be moving The Edge over to BeeHiiv as well. At least, I’m strongly considering it.
Well, I really did not consider it for long. In fact, I simply went for it. And in fact, The side was re-branded over to The Morning WP, set off as it’s very own residential or commercial property to make sure that I can expand it a lot more intentionally as well.
The objective is that each newsletter has the ability to be branded as it’s very own media entity and expanded separately. Gladly motor home was young, so very easy to transition. However, The Early morning WP (previously The Edge) 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 very own. It will certainly always be very closely connected with the Blog site Marketing Academy, yet does not need to belong of it.
I switched to BeeHiiv due to the fact that it was constructed for this objective. FluentCRM was not.
Newsletters Versus Just A Typical Email Listing
There’s a distinction in between an e-newsletter system and simply an email listing.
You can hold your email list everywhere you desire and there are a number of them around, from Aweber, ActiveCampaign, Drip, ConvertKit … over to self-hosted alternatives like GroundHogg and FluentCRM.
What’s the distinction?
The primary distinction is that, with an e-newsletter system, the act of posting implies that it is going to your web site and to your email subscribers all at once.
With both BeeHiiv and Substack, you have a site. You are publishing to that internet site. Yet, you are likewise sending off to all subscribers at the same time. The website and it’s clients are done in one. This makes monitoring of the platform much simpler.
With the majority of email systems, any type of e-newsletter you established is done as an e-mail campaign. It is built totally individually from your website. So, as an example, you could publish a short article to WordPress but after that you would certainly need to independently build and send an e-mail to your list to send it to customers. These are after that 2 separate sets of archives and 2 different activities because blog posts and your emails are not inherently linked.
The closest point that transforms WordPress into a real e-newsletter system is Newsletter Glue.
It is a fitting name since it basically “glues” your e-newsletter to your WordPress blog posts and enables them to be the exact same thing. Definitely, something like Newsletter Glue would certainly be a solid alternative if I intended to remain to self-host whatever. However, you ‘d lose the growth tools that come with a platform like BeeHiiv.
Publishing a newsletter naturally includes a various set of needs than a common email checklist.
You do not generally need much marketing automation. You don’t usually need autoresponder sequences, occasion tracking, and all the bells and whistles of a marketing automation system.
What you DO demand, however, is one seamless publishing experience and development tools to assist you construct your subscriber base that specify to e-newsletters.
BeeHiiv vs Substack
When I introduced to my customers that I was going to change the newsletter over to BeeHiiv, I had many individuals ask me why I was selecting it over Substack.
To be clear, even besides the truth that I picked to select BeeHiiv, that does not mean I assume Substack draws. Actually, because Substack has been around much longer, it is elder and has even more features.
Even though BeeHiiv is more youthful, there are a pair points that originally got my attention:.
- BeeHiiv is especially customized to newsletter publishers. In fact, it is literally built by the same people who built the modern technology behind Early morning Brew. On the other hand, SubStack targets authors. In the real world, doesn’t matter. Yet, the noticeable positioning of BeeHiiv towards newsletter growth called me out over the more common positioning of being a “maker”. Growth is what I have an interest in below.
- That branding and differentiation likewise suggests that BeeHiiv has some fairly large brands and huge publications utilizing it. Whereas SubStack is aimed more at solo developers. Again, it just informs me the customer character distinction in between the two firms.
Sending our my newsletter via FluentCRM didn’t precisely draw. The only reason I would certainly ponder trembling things up is if I assumed I could GROW the listing quicker. And BeeHiiv talked specifically to that goal.
Due to the targeting, I really do not check out BeeHiiv and Substack as straight competitors. I believe BeeHiiv is targeting a various sort of customer. Actually, if anything, I see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being much more straight competitors.
However, allow’s dive much deeper than just the placing right here.
Things That Make BeeHiiv Better Than Substack
In general, BeeHiiv appears like it was constructed by individuals that understanding e-mail marketing. On the other hand, SubStack seems more geared toward creators.
For instance, BeeHiiv offers custom fields on subscribers. Now, it isn’t as developed as something like FluentCRM. However, it has it. Substack does not.
BeeHiiv supplies Automations. Actually, it is a visual 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 quite limited in triggers and the only activity is the ability to send an email. Nonetheless, improvements are coming. Quickly enough, automations will certainly have new triggers in addition to brand-new activities, such as changing personalized areas, sending out webhooks, and so on. I have actually already seen enhancements to their automations just considering that I began utilizing the system. For example:
- Capability to cause automations based on which certain embed form they can be found in on.
- Capacity to immediately do re-engagement (and handle people based upon opens and non-opens).
- Ability to do standard conditional logic branches.
Substack does not have automations like this. Likely, it never will. Substack simply can’t do this due to the fact that the target audience of Substack just wouldn’t think to approach this like an email marketing expert.
When it comes to composing your e-newsletters, the creating user interface of BeeHiiv is just more geared towards e-newsletters. Actually, it in fact has similarities to the WordPress block builder in how it works. I locate it to be more user-friendly, personally.
Substack’s composing interface is nice and clean, however it would certainly be extra equal to the classic editor for WordPress. Toolbar on top.
This distinction is greater than just type. For example, with BeeHiiv you can place a “Area” and afterwards placed anything you desire in it. Then, you can place Presence options on that particular area to reveal it just to paid customers, conceal it from e-mail, conceal from subscribers, show just to customers, etc. Substack provides absolutely nothing such as this.
And when/if the moment comes that I start a premium registration model, BeeHiiv does not take any profits. In fact, you literally attach up to your very own Stripe account and it bills directly to it. With Substack, they will certainly take 10% of your revenue. Depending on the number of subscribers you get, that 10% can be a fair bit even more cash than the regular monthly cost of BeeHiiv.
Finally, BeeHiiv has an API. This might appear unpopular, yet what it suggests is that there are integrations with BeeHiiv. You can actually make BeeHiiv deal with the outside using devices like Zapier or Make.com. This is HUGE. Substack actually has … absolutely nothing. No integrations at all.
Generally, I just seemed like BeeHiiv was a lot more built toward actual e-mail marketing. It was constructed by people that “get it”. Even the opt-in forms and the landing page develops seem far better constructed for conversions. Growth is the name of the game with BeeHiiv.
Although there are still features I wish to see BeeHiiv include, I like the instructions it is going greater than Substack.
Points That Make Substack Better Than BeeHiiv
As I have actually said, Substack settings itself towards “makers” greater than email marketing professionals and e-newsletter proprietors. Because of that, you see some points tailored a lot more toward people that just think in terms of material creation.
As an example, Substack sustains podcasts. BeeHiiv does not.
Additionally, while BeeHiiv does sustain multiple magazines, they are treated rather individually. Whereas Substack does have the ability to cross-post to multiple magazines at the same time. This isn’t something I require, however … awesome for people who may require it.
Substack also has even more social performance built-in. For example, it has a conversation function to host talks with subscribers. It additionally has a “Notes” feature which functions type of like a social networks newsfeed where you can share things from various other “Stacks” you read. Intriguing. On the whole, Substack is set up to be much more like a social media network which supports long-form content.
Overall, Substack is additionally extra … minimalist. You either look after that or do not. Personally, I don’t. Nonetheless, if the goal is simpleness of user interface and, truthfully, features … Substack works quite well.
Yet, I’ll be clear below …
When it concerns actual marketing, I don’t believe there’s much doubt that BeeHiiv is much better suited. I looked for more factors that make Substack better than BeeHiiv, however truthfully … I have a difficult time locating them.
BeeHiiv Vs ConvertKit
While BeeHiiv and Substack are frequently through to be the closest competitors, I in fact see BeeHiiv and ConvertKit being the closer competitors. Both are pursuing the exact same target audience and have comparable capacities.
ConvertKit is additionally placed at designers (like Substack), but it is a lot more highly satisfying people that do it for organization. ConvertKit has good visual automation building, it’s very own business system, and more. ConvertKit is a truly good system.
I’m not going to birthed you with a full feature-by-feature failure here. ConvertKit is popular already. However, right here’s exactly how I really feel BeeHiiv and ConvertKit compare …
Things ConvertKit Is Much Better At …
Currently, ConvertKit has much more flexibility when it concerns it’s automations. I will certainly also claim that I locate ConvertKit’s automation builder to be a little bit extra user-friendly than that of BeeHiiv.
ConvertKit sustains marking. This is just a fundamental function of email listings that allows segmentation in a far more versatile means than BeeHiiv currently does. I anticipate BeeHiiv to sustain marking eventually soon, frankly. It feels like an oversight that it is missing The Stories Beehiiv.
ConvertKit does currently provide the ability to sell points via their own platform. BeeHiiv does not. If that’s important to you, it might be a big deal for you. For me, however, I would constantly select a much more straight choice anyhow. For me, I choose to utilize my very own platform powered by WooCommerce.
ConvertKit has been around much longer and because of that has way a lot more integration alternatives. Tons of web-based tools and WordPress plugins incorporate with ConvertKit. ConvertKit also has their own WordPress plugin that is quite powerful. For instance, their plugin currently also supports member-gated content as well as auto-embed of your newsletter archives right into your website. Fundamentally, this extra closely places 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 seriously doing not have in these kinds of third-party integrations at the moment. It’ll get there. However, we’re not there yet with it.
ConvertKit is even busy dealing with the development tools of BeeHiiv. For example, BeeHiiv has the referral program and the Referral Engine where you can not just incentivize individuals to share your newsletter with rewards, however you can additionally pay per lead within the inner ad network of BeeHiiv to grow your listing. These are really outstanding features of BeeHiiv. Yet …
Did you understand ConvertKit got Sparkloop? Sparkloop is one of one of the most well known viral promo platforms for newsletters … and ConvertKit bought it. You can see the writing on the wall wherefore this means for the platform going forward.
Things BeeHiiv Is Much Better At … The Stories Beehiiv
BeeHiiv is a lot earlier in it’s product cycle than ConvertKit. Part of that suggests much less features and much less integrations, which is all-natural for this stage of the cycle. Nonetheless, it also suggests that they are swiftly developing.
In the short time that I have actually been a customer of BeeHiiv, I have experienced practically once a week launch of new features right into the platform. And these aren’t puny little features … but huge features that are fairly crucial. Their rate of advancement at this point has gone over.
I also significantly value exactly how receptive they are. In fact, among their product statements regarding some layout enhancements to the web design features actually contained a little problem with the material size. I merely responded to that email to tell them. I promptly got a reply straight from the CEO:.
That exact same day, the problem was taken care of.
Couple of days later on, I provided another pointer …
Indeed, in a bit over a week of that exchange, the ability to cause automations based upon the embed form made use of was included in the system.
That sort of responsiveness and straight participation of the group is something I actually appreciate.
One more major point of differentiation here is the price. Both platforms supply cost-free plans, however the BeeHiiv free plan provides much more capability and more clients (2,500 vs 1,000) than ConvertKit.
Once you go to paid plans, the pricing of BeeHiiv is likewise even more desirable. ConvertKit seems cheaper at first glimpse due to the fact that their pricing page shows lower numbers, however the client limitations are much reduced and your cost swiftly boosts as your checklist grows.
With BeeHiiv, your very first degree paid plan starts at $42/mo (paid yearly), nevertheless you can have up to 10,000 customers. That same size list is mosting likely to run you $100/month with ConvertKit.
If you upgrade to the “Range” plan with BeeHiiv (their ideal plan and the one I personally utilize), you can grow your checklist up to 100,000. A checklist of that size would run you $566/month with ConvertKit. If you desire their referral network, too, that puts you at the $733/month plan. That’s if you pay annually, too. With BeeHiiv, you can obtain all that for simply $84/month if you pay each year.
BeeHiiv remains in a completely different league when it involves pricing (in a good way).
Will BeeHiiv at some point increase prices? They may as time takes place. Yet, I’m presuming people like myself that are currently in will be locked-in. We’ll see just how things proceed.
Points I Would Like BeeHiiv To Add
Among the things you certainly require to keep in mind is that BeeHiiv is fairly young. They do appear to develop instead promptly and make brand-new item statements somewhat usually, yet there are some basic features I actually wish they had that I require to just wait on.
One is that they require to have a setting on subscription kinds where I could choose an automation to run right at the type degree. That would certainly be incredible for many factors. Already, registration kinds look OK, yet there’s really little setups for them to help in segmentation.
It would certainly behave to have marking at the customer level. This would be effective.
I assume webhooks ought to belong to automations to make built-in automations much easier and minimize dependence on outdoors devices like Zapier.
There are likewise some minor administrative user interface changes that would be handy. As an example:
- Capability to mass edit/remove subscribers.
- Ability to mass edit messages (for instance, to identify a number of them at the same time).
- Having a couple of basic fields as conventional on subscribers (like the name).
- Some more customization choices for the internet site (such as even more versatile color selections, headline control, and so on).
So, yeah … there are some drawbacks. Points I wish they perform with it in the near future. BeeHiiv is pretty good, yet it isn’t perfect and absolutely not virtually as established as something like FluentCRM or any other genuine CRM product.
It probably never will be, either. As I claimed, the purpose is various so it wouldn’t much a lot of feeling for BeeHiiv to become a full marketing automation system. I guess you never recognize, though.
Final Thoughts On This BeeHiiv Review
I such as BeeHiiv rather a great deal. Sufficient where I made a decision to change my own e-newsletters over to the platform despite my personal preference for digital sovereignty and having my own system.
Simply put, for the newsletter posting design specifically, I saw adequate value in their system to warrant the modification.
Keep in mind, I do not utilize BeeHiiv as my unique email checklist. I use BeeHiiv of what it is efficient, however I deliberately have things set up to ensure that I likewise keep my list “in home” inside of FluentCRM.
If you use BeeHiiv, I suggest you do the exact same. It is simply a good insurance policy, for one. Yet, having a full-featured marketing automation platform for your listing will be of high use (FluentCRM is a complete marketing automation platform and BeeHiiv is not and likely never ever will certainly be).
So, the question is … should YOU use BeeHiiv?
In my viewpoint, if you are using Substack now, I ‘d most definitely think about switching to BeeHiiv. It will merely be a lot more business-friendly. It is targeting various capabilities and different requirements. And also, BeeHiiv also has import devices for Substack, so the switch ought to be quite uncomplicated.
If you are on ConvertKit now, I ‘d most likely sit tight unless you have a huge e-mail listing and are therefore being fleeced with their high regular monthly costs. You will not (yet) have every feature of ConvertKit with BeeHiiv, yet they are iterating rapidly. There’s also a respectable possibility you’re not also utilizing several of those fancier functions of ConvertKit and you don’t even require them. Therefore, BeeHiiv can quickly be a much better and much more inexpensive fit.
Finally, if you plan to be very intentional about growing a newsletter, I assume BeeHiiv is THE platform to take into consideration and maintain and eye on for you.
If you make use of BeeHiiv with eyes wide open about what it is developed to be, it is one of the best video games in the area now. This is the system to see.
BeeHiiv offers a 14-day trial on their paid plans. It deserves having a look at for yourself. And if you end up not sticking to the paid plan, you’ll discover the free account to be quite feature abundant.