When it came time to choose a new e-mail system, I really did not desire “good enough.” I required something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was searching for a correct partner Beehiiv Vs TinyLetter.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I thought that also in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that could in fact assist expand my checklist and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Till You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s brightened. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t actually possess your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially renting an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights just activate if the place chooses to let the group see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d 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 Good to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter list development devices, and no system costs (besides the common Stripe cut). But assurances are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings didn’t sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a brand-new system usually feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No crises. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A few small hiccups, however nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One point I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance material– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like a person sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs TinyLetter
Now below’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each kind can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it challenging to customize welcome series based on exactly how someone registered.
I ended up going full detective mode– dabbling with sectors, using different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Wonderful, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually got a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– then decreased a rabbit hole of testing devices to maximize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated procedure, yet it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction given that switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where subscribers are coming from. Makes tweaking your method a whole lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash due to the fact that for many designers, 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).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links designers with brand names in a way that does not feel icky or required. It’s integrated income possibility, simple and basic Beehiiv Vs TinyLetter.
And when I’m ready to release a costs subscription? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers into advocates without hanging awkward boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to prosper. Not one that simply wants an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its peculiarities.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an unusual bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size monitoring requires far better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand quick without paying platform tax
You want something that feels built by designers, for designers
Will it resolve every trouble? No. However in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, gain a lot more, and stress and anxiety less regarding the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and in fact range your e-newsletter with genuine tools that respect your job and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.