When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail system, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I required something much better– something constructed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was searching for an appropriate companion How Much Does Beehiiv Cost.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack option?” I believed that also at first. However after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to state– both the victories and the odd peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, clear up in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email service providers (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that could in fact assist grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been cutting it anymore.
So I began comparing alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, yet I was considering this through the lens of somebody who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted complete control over my audience and material.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Up Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You do not actually possess your fans.
That “follow” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their website. You can not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re primarily renting out an audience you can never ever fully reach.
It’s like performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the place decides to allow the group see you. Does not really feel terrific.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly think they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter list growth devices, and absolutely no platform fees (in addition to the common Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were encouraging. The Reddit strings really did not seem like robots or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a brand-new system typically seems like pulling teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Setting up forms? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain? A few minor missteps, however nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
Something I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly introduces your domain name to inbox suppliers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder headaches.
Also, their assistance material– video clips, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person took a seat and said, “Let’s not discourage the heck out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: How Much Does Beehiiv Cost
Now below’s where points got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, however don’t expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each type can just be linked to a single automation. That makes it tricky to individualize welcome series based upon how a person subscribed.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– tinkering with sectors, making use of different landing pages, reviewing obscure Reddit threads– just to construct a few customized workflows.
Is it workable? Definitely. However if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, drop, format, sneak peek– it seems like it was designed by someone who’s actually created a newsletter or more.
But default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this by hand– after that dropped a rabbit hole of testing tools to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreaded clipping.
My best method?
- Downloading and install test emails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s email audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hands-on procedure, however it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding adding much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a concrete difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 brand-new subscribers to a pretty particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t also running paid ads.
Most of that growth 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 clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a whole lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for a lot of makers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
However there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within three months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches developers with brands in such a way that does not feel nasty or required. It’s built-in earnings potential, ordinary and simple How Much Does Beehiiv Cost.
And when I’m ready to release a premium registration? I recognize 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’ve 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 hanging unpleasant swag or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that simply desires a piece of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you hit an odd insect or require deep help.
Some automations still feel too basic.
Email dimension surveillance needs much better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a checklist, or just tired of obsolete platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You want complete possession of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quick without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels built by developers, for makers
Will it address every trouble? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand quicker, gain extra, and tension much less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit clearing up and actually scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Take place. Provide it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.