When it came time to select a new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “adequate.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a years assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper partner How Many People Use Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I believed that also initially. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to claim– both the victories and the unusual quirks. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the appropriate platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I required a device that can actually assist grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my very first quit. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin showing. The biggest one? You do not actually have your followers.
That “comply with” button you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never ever fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just turn on if the location decides to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel great.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a club, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Excellent 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 growth devices, and absolutely no system costs (besides the common Stripe cut). However promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not sound like bots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system normally seems like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Linking my personalized domain name? A couple of minor missteps, yet nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like somebody sat down and said, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: How Many People Use Beehiiv
Now here’s where things got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, yet don’t anticipate it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can only be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to personalize welcome sequences based on exactly how somebody joined.
I wound up going full investigator setting– playing with sections, using separate landing pages, checking out rare Reddit threads– simply to develop a few tailored workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might seem like stepping back a bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I have actually got a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was created by a person who’s actually written a newsletter or two.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb huge.
That suggests your beautifully crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this the hard way– after that went down a rabbit hole of screening devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreaded clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email viewer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hands-on process, but it works. I also connected to Beehiiv concerning adding much better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply three months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing previously– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
The majority of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for a lot of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid memberships. Just Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches designers with brand names in a way that doesn’t really feel disgusting or required. It’s built-in income potential, ordinary and simple How Many People Use Beehiiv.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I understand exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really sets 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 transform your visitors right into supporters without hanging awkward swag or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a platform that desires you to do well. Not one that just desires an item of your pie.
Things I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is best, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Support can be slow when you hit an unusual bug or need deep aid.
Some automations still feel also basic.
Email dimension tracking requires better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best choice.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong option.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete ownership of your target market
You’re wanting to expand quickly without paying system tax
You want something that really feels developed by developers, for designers
Will it solve every issue? No. However in three months, it’s aided me expand much faster, gain a lot more, and stress much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit working out and actually range your newsletter with genuine devices that value your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.