When it came time to pick a brand-new email platform, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade aiding others with email marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was hunting for a proper companion Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs ConvertKit.
Which’s just how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I believed that as well at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a great deal to claim– both the wins and the odd traits. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact aid expand my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this through the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and splits begin showing. The biggest one? You don’t really own your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out a target market you can never ever totally get to.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the location makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not really feel wonderful.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It As well Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and zero system charges (other than the usual Stripe cut). But promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a brand-new platform usually feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Connecting my personalized domain name? A couple of small missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox companies, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs ConvertKit
Currently here’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, yet do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it complicated to personalize welcome series based upon exactly how a person registered.
I ended up going full investigator mode– tinkering with segments, using different landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– just to develop a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it achievable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, sneak peek– it feels like it was made by someone who’s in fact written an e-newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That means your magnificently crafted message might get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this the hard way– then dropped a bunny hole of screening tools to maximize HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading and install examination emails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning including far better size warnings. Fingers went across.
Right Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction considering that switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a rather particular niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot much easier.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brands in such a way that doesn’t feel nasty or compelled. It’s integrated income possibility, ordinary and simple Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs ConvertKit.
And when I’m ready to release a costs membership? I know precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your visitors right into advocates without dangling unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to do well. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be slow when you struck an unusual bug or require deep assistance.
Some automations still feel as well standard.
Email size surveillance needs much better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quickly without paying platform tax
You want something that really feels built by makers, for designers
Will it resolve every problem? No. Yet in 3 months, it’s aided me grow quicker, gain much more, and anxiety less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.