When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After nearly a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a tool– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Vs Campaign Monitor.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply one more Substack alternative?” I thought that also at first. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the wins and the odd peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can actually aid expand my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was checking out this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits begin showing. The greatest one? You don’t really own your followers.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re basically leasing an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like doing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place decides to allow the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It As well Excellent to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and absolutely no system costs (other than the common Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new system usually seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my customized domain? A couple of small hiccups, yet nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One point I truly valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs Campaign Monitor
Now below’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome series based upon exactly how a person signed up.
I wound up going complete detective mode– tinkering with sections, using separate landing pages, reading obscure Reddit threads– simply to develop a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I have actually got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, style, preview– it feels like it was designed by somebody who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your beautifully crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of testing tools to enhance HTML size and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Bit of a hand-operated procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding better size warnings. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That Actually Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I added over 160 new clients to a rather niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Money Making That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for the majority of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (actually).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches designers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel sickening or required. It’s built-in revenue possibility, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Vs Campaign Monitor.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I know precisely what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel as well fundamental.
Email size surveillance requires better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a list, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your audience
You’re aiming to expand quick without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by creators, for makers
Will it address every issue? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, make extra, and stress and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit settling and in fact range your newsletter with real tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.