When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I didn’t want “good enough.” I required something much better– something constructed for development, smarter money making, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own newsletter), I had not been trying to find just a device– I was searching for an appropriate partner Is Beehiiv Better Than Substack.
And that’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack option?” I believed that too in the beginning. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the victories and the strange traits. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the best system for you, settle in. You will get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a device that can really aid expand my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP just wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting alternatives. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, but I was taking a look at this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s simple. And yeah, it’s popular.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The largest one? You do not really own your fans.
That “adhere to” 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 website. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never fully reach.
It resembles carrying out on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel wonderful.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes another 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d assume they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist growth devices, and no system fees (other than the typical Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new platform typically seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Connecting my custom domain name? A couple of small missteps, but nothing that needed swearing at the screen.
One thing I truly valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually really felt human. Like a person sat down and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Is Beehiiv Better Than Substack
Now here’s where points obtained a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but do not anticipate it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can only be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome sequences based upon how a person joined.
I wound up going complete detective setting– playing with sections, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– simply to construct a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Definitely. But if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this might seem like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, drop, style, preview– it seems like it was developed by somebody who’s in fact created a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your beautifully crafted message may get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of testing tools to enhance HTML size and avoid that feared clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading examination emails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s email customer
- Verifying with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a manual procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding adding much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in 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 new clients to a rather particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
Most of that growth originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot simpler.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for most creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
Yet there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects makers with brand names in a manner that doesn’t really feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and straightforward Is Beehiiv Better Than Substack.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I recognize specifically what cut I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to prosper. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No platform is best, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you hit an odd insect or need deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also basic.
Email dimension monitoring requires far better in-app informs (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Essentially nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best option.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of obsolete systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your audience
You’re aiming to grow quick without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels developed by designers, for developers
Will it address every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s aided me grow much faster, gain a lot more, and tension less concerning the little things.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit resolving and in fact scale your e-newsletter with actual devices that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Give it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.