When it came time to pick a brand-new email system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something much better– something built for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience on the whole. After almost a decade assisting others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I had not been looking for just a tool– I was hunting for an appropriate companion Ghost Vs Beehiiv.
And that’s exactly how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply another Substack alternative?” I believed that also at first. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a great deal to state– both the victories and the unusual traits. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, settle in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email service providers (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that might really aid grow my checklist and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I started comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the usual suspects. Each had its benefits, but I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who wanted full control over my audience and content.
The Substack Problem: Looks Excellent Till You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s polished. It’s basic. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little much deeper, and fractures begin showing. The largest one? You don’t really possess your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them straight. Can not export them. You’re essentially leasing a target market you can never ever totally get to.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights just turn on if the place makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel wonderful.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes one more 3%. That’s 13% of your revenue– gone. You ‘d think they were running a nightclub, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, Yet Was It Also Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the assurance of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing development devices, and zero platform fees (apart from the common Stripe cut). But promises are easy. Implementation? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were motivating. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand name plants. And the onboarding? Surprisingly smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me tell you– migrating to a brand-new system usually feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly painless.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No crises. Linking my custom domain? A few small missteps, however absolutely nothing that called for swearing at the display.
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. Translation? Fewer spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance content– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like somebody sat down and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the hell out of our users today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Ghost Vs Beehiiv
Currently here’s where things got a little … fascinating.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, but do not expect it to take on heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be linked to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome series based upon exactly how somebody registered.
I wound up going full detective mode– dabbling with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, reviewing odd Reddit strings– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it achievable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mostly Great, However Not Perfect
I’ve obtained a bit of a love-hate partnership with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was created by somebody who’s really created an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That suggests your magnificently crafted message could obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I learned this by hand– then dropped a bunny opening of testing tools to maximize HTML size and avoid that dreaded clipping.
My best strategy?
- Downloading examination e-mails from Gmail and examining size
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail viewer
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little bit of a hand-operated process, yet it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv about including much better dimension cautions. Fingers crossed.
The Stuff That In Fact Steps the Needle
Alright, let’s get into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In simply 3 months, I included over 160 new clients to a pretty specific niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I wasn’t even running paid advertisements.
A lot of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can really track what’s working and where clients are coming from. Makes tweaking your approach a lot simpler.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk money because for many developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (essentially).
But there’s more: their ad network is intuitive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s companion network connects developers with brands in a manner that does not really feel sickening or forced. It’s built-in income capacity, plain and straightforward Ghost Vs Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to introduce a premium membership? I recognize exactly what reduced I’ll get: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained customizable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can turn your viewers into supporters without dangling unpleasant boodle or one-time gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv feels like a system 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 perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its quirks.
Support can be slow when you struck an odd bug or need deep help.
Some automations still feel too fundamental.
Email dimension surveillance needs better in-app signals (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re marketing physical products or want abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best option.
Conclusion
If you’re a developer who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a listing, or simply tired of out-of-date platforms– Beehiiv’s a strong choice.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full possession of your target market
You’re looking to grow fast without paying platform tax obligation
You desire something that really feels built by makers, for creators
Will it fix every issue? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me grow faster, gain much more, and tension less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop settling and in fact range your newsletter with genuine tools that appreciate your work and audience– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just may fall in love like I did.