When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience generally. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just another Substack alternative?” I believed that as well initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to state– both the wins and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a tool that might actually assist grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I began contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its advantages, yet I was taking a look at this with the lens of a person who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The most significant one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting an audience you can never completely get to.
It resembles executing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the location makes a decision to let the group see you. Does not really feel fantastic.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid subscriptions. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand out?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist growth devices, and absolutely no system costs (other than the typical Stripe cut). But promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system typically feels like drawing teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain? A couple of minor missteps, however nothing that required swearing at the display.
One thing I actually appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance material– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack
Currently below’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based upon just how a person registered.
I ended up going full investigator setting– tinkering with segments, using separate landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit strings– just to build a few customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, Yet Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s e-mail builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by a person who’s actually composed a newsletter or more.
However default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might get chopped in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a bunny opening of screening tools to optimize HTML dimension and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated procedure, however it functions. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better size warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction given that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brand names in such a way that doesn’t really feel icky or required. It’s integrated income capacity, simple and easy Difference Between Beehiiv and Substack.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium registration? I recognize precisely what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your readers right into advocates without dangling unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv seems like a system that wants you to be successful. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit a weird pest or require deep aid.
Some automations still feel also standard.
Email size tracking requires much better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically missing.
So if you’re marketing physical items or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a listing, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete possession of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for creators
Will it address every trouble? No. But in 3 months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain extra, and stress less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.