When it came time to choose a new email platform, I really did not want “adequate.” I needed something much better– something built for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After almost a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Vs WordPress.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I assumed that also in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to say– both the wins and the unusual peculiarities. If you’re attempting to choose whether Beehiiv is the right platform for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that can in fact assist expand my checklist and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was checking out this through the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
But dig a little deeper, and cracks start revealing. The biggest one? You don’t really own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting out a target market you can never ever fully get to.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights just activate if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a bar, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
At first, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list development tools, and zero system charges (aside from the normal Stripe cut). However assurances are easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform normally seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Attaching my personalized domain name? A couple of small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance material– videos, assistance docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone sat down and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs WordPress
Currently here’s where points obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome sequences based upon just how somebody registered.
I ended up going full investigative setting– tinkering with sectors, making use of different landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could feel like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Excellent, But Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate relationship with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by a person who’s actually written an e-newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your wonderfully crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of screening tools to enhance HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail customer
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a manual process, yet it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv about including far better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
Right Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In just 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot simpler.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak money because for a lot of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects makers with brand names in a manner that does not really feel icky or required. It’s built-in income possibility, ordinary and straightforward Beehiiv Vs WordPress.
And when I’m ready to release a premium membership? I understand specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Development Tools
What really establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without dangling awkward boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a platform that wants you to be successful. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Support can be sluggish when you struck an unusual insect or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email size surveillance requires far better in-app notifies (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying system tax
You desire something that feels built by designers, for creators
Will it fix every trouble? No. However in three months, it’s assisted me grow much faster, earn a lot more, and stress less regarding the little points.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit working out and in fact scale your e-newsletter with genuine devices that respect your work and audience– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.