When it came time to select a brand-new e-mail platform, I didn’t want “sufficient.” I required something better– something developed for development, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade helping others with email marketing (and two years running my very own newsletter), I wasn’t seeking just a device– I was searching for a proper companion Ghost Vs Substack Vs Beehiiv.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I recognize what you’re assuming: “Isn’t Beehiiv just one more Substack choice?” I believed that as well in the beginning. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a whole lot to state– both the success and the weird quirks. If you’re attempting to make a decision whether Beehiiv is the right system for you, resolve in. You will obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be sincere– most email company (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can really help grow my checklist and make some cash while I was at it. My old ESP simply wasn’t sufficing anymore.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who wanted full control over my target market and material.
The Substack Issue: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial quit. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
However dig a little deeper, and fractures start showing. The largest one? You don’t in fact have your followers.
That “follow” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall– inside the Substack app or on their site. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re generally renting a target market you can never completely reach.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights only activate if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Doesn’t really feel fantastic.
And then there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your earnings– gone. You would certainly assume they were running a nightclub, not an e-mail system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Too Great to Be True?
So what made Beehiiv stick out?
In the beginning, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and zero platform costs (apart from the common Stripe cut). However guarantees are very easy. Execution? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the testimonials were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not sound like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new platform generally seems like pulling teeth. Yet Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Setting up kinds? No disasters. Connecting my personalized domain? A few minor hiccups, however nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I actually appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv progressively introduces your domain name to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Additionally, their support content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really felt human. Like a person took a seat and stated, “Let’s not frustrate the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: Ghost Vs Substack Vs Beehiiv
Currently right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is respectable, but do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For instance, each form can only be connected to a single automation. That makes it complicated to individualize welcome sequences based on just how a person joined.
I ended up going full investigative mode– playing with sectors, making use of different landing pages, checking out unknown Reddit threads– simply to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re used to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this could seem like going back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Wonderful, But Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s slick. Drag, go down, style, preview– it feels like it was created by somebody who’s actually created an e-newsletter or more.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain huge. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your perfectly crafted message may obtain sliced in half if you’re not cautious. I discovered this by hand– then decreased a bunny hole of screening devices to optimize HTML size and prevent that dreadful clipping.
My best technique?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a manual process, yet it functions. I even reached out to Beehiiv regarding including far better dimension cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Relocations the Needle
Alright, let’s enter into the meat of it– what’s made a tangible difference considering that switching to Beehiiv?
Audience Development
In simply 3 months, I added over 160 new customers to a quite particular niche newsletter. That’s about 60% more than what I was seeing before– and I had not been also running paid ads.
The majority of that development originated from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can in fact track what’s functioning and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot much easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s chat money since for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid registrations. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (actually).
But there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding rate of interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network attaches makers with brands in a manner that doesn’t really feel icky or compelled. It’s built-in income possibility, simple and straightforward Ghost Vs Substack Vs Beehiiv.
And when I prepare to release a premium subscription? I understand precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Development Devices
What actually sets Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers into supporters without dangling awkward swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll claim this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply 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 sluggish when you struck an odd pest or need deep help.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email dimension monitoring needs much better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you love FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about e-newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a strong selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire full ownership of your audience
You’re seeking to grow fast without paying platform tax
You want something that feels developed by makers, for designers
Will it address every issue? No. Yet in three months, it’s aided me expand quicker, earn a lot more, and stress and anxiety less about the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you prepare to quit resolving and really scale your e-newsletter with real devices that value your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Take place. Offer it a spin. You just could fall in love like I did.