When it came time to pick a brand-new e-mail platform, I really did not desire “sufficient.” I needed something much better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After virtually a decade aiding others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own newsletter), I wasn’t searching for simply a device– I was hunting for a correct partner Is Beehiiv Better Than Mailchimp.
Which’s exactly how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re believing: “Isn’t Beehiiv simply an additional Substack alternative?” I assumed that too initially. Yet after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually got a great deal to say– both the success and the weird quirks. If you’re trying to choose whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, clear up in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are constructed like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that can really assist expand my listing and make some money while I was at it. My old ESP simply had not been cutting it anymore.
So I began contrasting options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its perks, however I was checking out this with the lens of someone who takes email seriously– and who desired full control over my audience and material.
The Substack Trouble: Looks Excellent Until You Look Closer
Substack was my initial stop. It’s polished. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s prominent.
But dig a little much deeper, and cracks begin showing. The largest one? You do not in fact have your fans.
That “comply with” switch you see on Substack? It’s mostly smoke and mirrors. Those fans live behind a wall surface– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can not export them. You’re basically leasing a target market you can never ever totally reach.
It resembles performing on a phase where the lights only turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the crowd see you. Does not feel excellent.
And after that there’s the money side. Substack takes 10% off your paid registrations. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You ‘d believe they were running a club, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, However Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the promise of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter listing growth devices, and absolutely no platform charges (besides the common Stripe cut). However promises are very easy. Implementation? That’s where it gets real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit strings really did not seem like bots or brand name 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 usually feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Surprisingly pain-free.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing types? No meltdowns. Attaching my customized domain? A few minor hiccups, but nothing that needed swearing at the display.
Something I truly appreciated was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending out domain. Translation? Fewer spam folder nightmares.
Likewise, their support web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– really really felt human. Like somebody took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not irritate the hell out of our customers today.” Revitalizing.
Automation on Beehiiv: Is Beehiiv Better Than Mailchimp
Currently right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, yet do not expect it to compete with heavyweight systems like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. As an example, each type can just be attached to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to customize welcome sequences based on just how a person signed up.
I ended up going full investigator setting– tinkering with sectors, utilizing separate landing pages, checking out obscure Reddit threads– simply to build a couple of customized workflows.
Is it doable? Absolutely. However 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 Terrific, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Aesthetically? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it seems like it was made by someone who’s really written a newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can get big. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb big.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might get chopped 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 stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to technique?
- Downloading and install test e-mails from Gmail and inspecting size
- Running the HTML through Parcel.io’s email visitor
- Ascertaining with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and framework
Little a hand-operated procedure, but it functions. I also reached out to Beehiiv regarding including much better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Moves the Needle
Alright, let’s get involved in the meat of it– what’s made a concrete distinction since switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I included over 160 new subscribers to a rather specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% greater than what I was seeing previously– and I had not been also running paid advertisements.
Most of that development came from Beehiiv’s integrated devices: the referral program, Boosts (believe e-newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s functioning and where customers are coming from. Makes tweaking your strategy a great deal less complicated.
Money Making That Doesn’t Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash since for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv doesn’t take a cut from your paid subscriptions. Simply Stripe’s charge. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% far better than Substack (literally).
Yet there’s even more: their advertisement network is user-friendly and passive. Within 3 months, I was currently fielding passion from advertisers. Beehiiv’s companion network attaches creators with brand names in a manner that does not really feel nasty or forced. It’s built-in revenue possibility, simple and simple Is Beehiiv Better Than Mailchimp.
And when I’m ready to launch a costs membership? I know precisely what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Integrated Growth Tools
What truly sets Beehiiv apart is that development isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually obtained personalized referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Multiple landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your viewers into supporters without dangling uncomfortable boodle or one-time tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply desires an item of your pie.
Points I would certainly Still Like to See Improve
No system is ideal, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be sluggish when you struck a strange insect or need deep assistance.
Some automations still feel also fundamental.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app signals (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical products or want deserted cart circulations, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, expanding a checklist, or just tired of out-of-date systems– Beehiiv’s a solid selection.
You’ll like it if:
You desire complete ownership of your audience
You’re wanting to grow quickly without paying platform tax obligation
You want something that really feels built by developers, for developers
Will it solve every problem? No. However in 3 months, it’s aided me grow much faster, earn a lot more, and tension much less concerning the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and actually scale your newsletter with actual tools that value your job and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.