When it came time to choose a brand-new email system, I didn’t desire “adequate.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter money making, and a smoother experience overall. After nearly a decade helping others with e-mail marketing (and 2 years running my very own e-newsletter), I had not been looking for simply a tool– I was hunting for a proper companion What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Gumroad.
And that’s how Beehiiv got in the picture.
Now, I understand what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I believed that as well initially. But after 3 months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I have actually obtained a lot to state– both the victories and the weird peculiarities. If you’re trying to decide whether Beehiiv is the ideal platform for you, clear up in. You’re about to get the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Device Behind
Let’s be truthful– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still stuck in 2013. I needed a tool that could in fact assist grow my listing and make some money while I went to it. My old ESP just had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing options. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the typical suspects. Each had its rewards, however I was checking out this via the lens of someone who takes e-mail seriously– and who desired complete control over my target market and web content.
The Substack Issue: Looks Good Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first stop. It’s brightened. It’s straightforward. And yeah, it’s preferred.
But dig a little deeper, and splits start showing. The most significant one? You do not in fact own your fans.
That “adhere to” button you see on Substack? It’s mainly smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their site. You can’t email them directly. Can not export them. You’re generally renting an audience you can never fully get to.
It resembles carrying out on a stage where the lights only switch on if the place makes a decision to allow the crowd see you. Doesn’t feel terrific.
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 would certainly believe they were running a nightclub, not an email system.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It Also Good to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv attract attention?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better money making, smarter checklist development devices, and no system costs (aside from the normal Stripe cut). Yet assurances are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the reviews were encouraging. The Reddit threads really did not seem like crawlers or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Getting Set Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– moving to a new platform generally seems like drawing teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably painless.
Importing my checklist? Smooth. Establishing forms? No disasters. Attaching my custom-made domain? A few minor missteps, but nothing that called for swearing at the screen.
One point I actually appreciated was the “domain name warming” feature. Beehiiv slowly presents your domain to inbox providers, piggybacking off their very own sending domain. Translation? Less spam folder problems.
Also, their assistance web content– video clips, help docs, and walkthroughs– actually felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not annoy the heck out of our individuals today.” Rejuvenating.
Automation on Beehiiv: What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Gumroad
Currently here’s where things obtained a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is good, but don’t anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each form can just be connected to a single automation. That makes it challenging to individualize welcome series based upon exactly how someone registered.
I wound up going complete investigative setting– dabbling with segments, using different landing pages, reviewing unknown Reddit threads– just to construct a couple of customized workflows.
Is it manageable? Absolutely. However if you’re made use of to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this might feel like stepping back a little bit.
Email Builder: Mainly Terrific, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a little a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, style, sneak peek– it feels like it was developed by somebody who’s really written an e-newsletter or two.
Yet default templates took a few tweaks to get right. And below’s a curveball: Beehiiv emails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That indicates your magnificently crafted message might obtain sliced in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– after that dropped a rabbit opening of screening devices to maximize HTML size and avoid that feared clipping.
My go-to method?
- Downloading test e-mails from Gmail and checking dimension
- Running the HTML via Parcel.io’s e-mail visitor
- Double-checking with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Bit of a manual procedure, yet it works. I even connected to Beehiiv about adding better dimension warnings. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That In Fact Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a substantial difference since changing to Beehiiv?
Target market Growth
In simply three 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 wasn’t also running paid advertisements.
A lot of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in tools: the referral program, Boosts (think e-newsletter cross-promotions), and organic reach. You can actually track what’s working and where subscribers are originating from. Makes tweaking your technique a lot easier.
Monetization That Does Not Nickel-and-Dime You
Let’s talk cash because for the majority of developers, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s fee. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% much better than Substack (literally).
However there’s more: their advertisement network is instinctive and passive. Within three months, I was currently fielding interest from advertisers. Beehiiv’s partner network connects developers with brand names in a way that does not feel disgusting or compelled. It’s integrated earnings possibility, simple and straightforward What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and Gumroad.
And when I prepare to launch a premium registration? I recognize specifically what reduced I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Devices
What truly establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You have actually got adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead resources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without hanging uncomfortable swag or single gimmicks.
I’ll state this: Beehiiv seems like a system that desires you to be successful. Not one that simply wants a piece of your pie.
Points I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No system is excellent, and Beehiiv’s obtained its quirks.
Assistance can be slow when you struck a weird bug or require deep aid.
Some automations still really feel also standard.
Email dimension tracking needs much better in-app alerts (please and thanks).
No integrated countdown timers (long face if you like FOMO emails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally missing.
So if you’re offering physical items or want abandoned cart flows, Beehiiv most likely isn’t your best choice.
Final Thought
If you’re a maker who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re generating income from, growing a checklist, or just tired of outdated systems– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your audience
You’re seeking to expand fast without paying system tax obligation
You want something that feels built by developers, for creators
Will it address every problem? No. But in 3 months, it’s assisted me expand much faster, earn more, and anxiety less regarding the little points.
So, should you try Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to quit clearing up and really range your e-newsletter with real tools that respect your job and target market– yeah, I believe it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You simply might fall in love like I did.