When it came time to pick a new email platform, I really did not want “good enough.” I required something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a years assisting others with email marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Beehiiv Max Plan.
And that’s just how Beehiiv entered the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack alternative?” I assumed that also at first. But after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to claim– both the victories and the weird quirks. If you’re trying to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, work out in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be straightforward– most email company (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might actually aid grow my list and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing anymore.
So I started contrasting choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, however I was considering this via the lens of somebody who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and web content.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s prominent.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The biggest one? You don’t in fact possess your fans.
That “comply with” 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 not email them directly. Can not export them. You’re basically renting out an audience you can never fully get to.
It resembles doing on a phase where the lights just switch on if the location decides to allow the group see you. Doesn’t feel wonderful.
And after that 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 believe they were running a club, not an e-mail platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Excellent to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
In the beginning, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter checklist development devices, and zero system costs (aside from the normal Stripe cut). However pledges are simple. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads didn’t seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new system typically seems like drawing teeth. However Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing forms? No crises. Linking my personalized domain? A few small missteps, but nothing that required swearing at the display.
Something I really valued was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox carriers, piggybacking off their very own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder headaches.
Likewise, their assistance web content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like somebody took a seat and stated, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Max Plan
Now here’s where things got a little … intriguing.
Beehiiv’s automation system is suitable, yet don’t expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to individualize welcome series based upon exactly how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigative mode– dabbling with sectors, making use of separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit strings– just to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. Yet if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, Yet Not Perfect
I have actually obtained a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, format, sneak peek– it feels like it was designed by someone who’s actually written an e-newsletter or 2.
However default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your perfectly crafted message could get cut in half if you’re not mindful. I discovered this by hand– after that decreased a rabbit hole of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to approach?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little bit of a hand-operated process, however it works. I also reached out to Beehiiv concerning including better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Really Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference because switching over to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new subscribers to a quite specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can in fact track what’s working and where clients are originating from. Makes tweaking your strategy a lot less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat cash because for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Just Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
But there’s even more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that doesn’t feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in revenue capacity, simple and basic Beehiiv Max Plan.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium subscription? I recognize exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can turn your viewers right into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that wants you to succeed. Not one that just desires a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s got its peculiarities.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual insect or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel too basic.
Email dimension surveillance requires better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (sad face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Basically nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Final Thought
If you’re a designer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, expanding a list, or just tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid choice.
You’ll like it if:
You want full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying system tax
You want something that feels constructed by designers, for creators
Will it fix every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me grow quicker, gain more, and tension less about the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit settling and really scale your e-newsletter with genuine tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Provide it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.