When it came time to select a brand-new email system, I really did not want “good enough.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t searching for just a tool– I was hunting for a correct partner Beehiiv Vs Buttondown.
Which’s how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Now, I know what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack choice?” I believed that as well at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to claim– both the wins and the strange traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, settle in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are developed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I required a tool that could in fact assist grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t cutting it any longer.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its advantages, however I was taking a look at this with the lens of a person who takes email seriously– and who wanted complete control over my target market and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Good Till You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin revealing. The largest one? You do not really possess your followers.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s primarily 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’t export them. You’re primarily leasing an audience you can never ever totally get to.
It resembles doing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue decides to let the group see you. Does not feel fantastic.
And then there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d think 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 apart?
At first, it was the guarantee of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and zero system costs (besides the typical Stripe cut). Yet assurances are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit strings didn’t seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the jump.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– moving to a new system typically feels like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my list? Smooth. Setting up types? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain name? A few small missteps, yet absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their assistance content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone sat down and claimed, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our customers today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Beehiiv Vs Buttondown
Currently right here’s where things obtained a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each form can only be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it tricky to customize welcome sequences based on just how somebody registered.
I ended up going complete investigator mode– playing with sections, using separate landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– just to develop a few customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. Yet if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional reasoning, this could seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Excellent, However 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, layout, preview– it seems like it was designed by a person who’s really written a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That means your magnificently crafted message could get sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then decreased a bunny opening of testing devices to enhance HTML dimension and stay clear of that dreadful clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a hand-operated process, however it works. I even reached out to Beehiiv concerning adding much better size cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That Really Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a substantial distinction because changing to Beehiiv?
Audience Growth
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 brand-new clients to a pretty niche e-newsletter. That’s about 60% greater than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid ads.
A lot of that development came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a great deal less complicated.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s speak cash because for the majority of designers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s even more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network links creators with brand names in a manner that does not really feel icky or forced. It’s built-in earnings capacity, simple and simple Beehiiv Vs Buttondown.
And when I prepare to introduce a costs membership? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What really sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve got personalized referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Numerous landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your visitors into supporters without hanging unpleasant boodle or single tricks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow-moving when you struck an unusual bug or need deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email size monitoring needs far better in-app notifies (please and thanks).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv probably isn’t your best option.
Verdict
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re seeking to grow quickly without paying system tax
You want something that feels built by developers, for developers
Will it solve every issue? No. But in three months, it’s assisted me grow faster, make a lot more, and anxiety much less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you prepare to stop settling and really range your e-newsletter with real devices that appreciate your job and target market– yeah, I assume it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.