When it came time to select a new e-mail system, I didn’t desire “good enough.” I needed something better– something developed for growth, smarter monetization, and a smoother experience in general. After virtually a years helping others with e-mail marketing (and two years running my own e-newsletter), I wasn’t trying to find just a tool– I was searching for a proper companion What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and MailerLite.
And that’s just how Beehiiv went into the picture.
Currently, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t Beehiiv just an additional Substack choice?” I thought that too initially. Yet after three months of kicking the tires and diving deep, I’ve obtained a whole lot to say– both the success and the weird peculiarities. If you’re attempting to determine whether Beehiiv is the appropriate system for you, settle in. You’re about to obtain the whole story.
Why I Left My Old Email Tool Behind
Let’s be honest– most email provider (ESPs) are built like they’re still embeded 2013. I needed a device that can in fact assist grow my list and make some cash while I went to it. My old ESP simply had not been sufficing any longer.
So I began comparing choices. Beehiiv, Substack, Kit … the normal suspects. Each had its perks, yet I was looking at 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 Great Until You Look Closer
Substack was my first quit. It’s brightened. It’s easy. And yeah, it’s preferred.
Yet dig a little deeper, and fractures start revealing. The most significant one? You don’t in fact possess your followers.
That “adhere to” switch you see on Substack? It’s primarily smoke and mirrors. Those followers live behind a wall– inside the Substack application or on their website. You can not email them straight. Can’t export them. You’re generally renting out a target market you can never completely reach.
It’s like performing on a stage where the lights only turn on if the venue makes a decision to let the group see you. Doesn’t feel excellent.
And afterwards there’s the cash side. Substack takes 10% off your paid memberships. Stripe takes an additional 3%. That’s 13% of your income– gone. You would certainly believe they were running a bar, not an email platform.
So yeah, Substack? A no for me.
Beehiiv Looked Promising, But Was It As well Great to Be Real?
So what made Beehiiv stand apart?
Initially, it was the pledge of creator-first features– like better monetization, smarter listing development tools, and no platform fees (other than the normal Stripe cut). Yet guarantees are simple. Execution? That’s where it obtains real.
Still, the evaluations were motivating. The Reddit threads didn’t sound like robots or brand plants. And the onboarding? Remarkably smooth.
I figured, “Why not?” and took the leap.
Readying Up on Beehiiv
Let me inform you– migrating to a new system generally feels like pulling teeth. But Beehiiv? Remarkably pain-free.
Importing my listing? Smooth. Establishing kinds? No meltdowns. Attaching my custom-made domain name? A few minor missteps, however absolutely nothing that needed swearing at the display.
One thing I actually valued was the “domain warming” feature. Beehiiv gradually presents your domain to inbox service providers, piggybacking off their own sending domain name. Translation? Less spam folder nightmares.
Also, their assistance material– videos, aid docs, and walkthroughs– in fact really felt human. Like someone took a seat and claimed, “Let’s not discourage the hell out of our individuals today.” Refreshing.
Automation on Beehiiv: What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and MailerLite
Now right here’s where points got a little … interesting.
Beehiiv’s automation system is decent, however do not anticipate it to compete with heavyweight platforms like ActiveCampaign or ConvertKit. For example, each kind can just be connected to a solitary automation. That makes it difficult to personalize welcome series based on exactly how someone subscribed.
I wound up going full investigative setting– dabbling with segments, utilizing separate landing pages, reading unknown Reddit strings– simply to build a couple of tailored workflows.
Is it practical? Absolutely. But if you’re utilized to drag-and-drop flowcharts with conditional logic, this may seem like going back a bit.
Email Builder: Primarily Fantastic, However Not Perfect
I’ve got a bit of a love-hate connection with Beehiiv’s email builder.
Visually? It’s glossy. Drag, go down, layout, preview– it feels like it was developed by someone who’s actually written a newsletter or 2.
Yet default templates took a couple of tweaks to solve. And right here’s a curveball: Beehiiv e-mails can obtain large. Like, Gmail-clipping-at-102kb large.
That implies your perfectly crafted message could get chopped in half if you’re not careful. I learned this the hard way– then dropped a bunny opening of testing tools to optimize HTML dimension and stay clear of that feared clipping.
My go-to strategy?
- Downloading and install examination e-mails from Gmail and examining dimension
- Running the HTML with Parcel.io’s e-mail audience
- Confirming with Aboutmy.email for deliverability and structure
Little a hand-operated process, however it functions. I even connected to Beehiiv regarding including better size cautions. Fingers went across.
The Stuff That Actually Actions the Needle
Alright, let’s enter the meat of it– what’s made a tangible distinction because switching over to Beehiiv?
Target market Development
In just three months, I added over 160 brand-new clients to a quite specific niche e-newsletter. That has to do with 60% more than what I was seeing in the past– and I had not been even running paid advertisements.
The majority of that growth came from Beehiiv’s built-in devices: the referral program, Boosts (think newsletter cross-promotions), and natural reach. You can actually track what’s working 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 due to the fact that for a lot of creators, it matters.
Beehiiv does not take a cut from your paid memberships. Simply Stripe’s cost. That’s it. That alone makes it 10% better than Substack (essentially).
However there’s more: their ad network is instinctive and passive. Within 3 months, I was already fielding interest from marketers. Beehiiv’s partner network links creators with brand names in such a way that does not really feel disgusting or forced. It’s integrated earnings potential, simple and easy What Is The Difference Between Beehiiv and MailerLite.
And when I prepare to launch a premium membership? I know exactly what cut I’ll obtain: all of it (minus Stripe).
Built-in Growth Tools
What actually establishes Beehiiv apart is that growth isn’t an afterthought– it’s baked in.
You’ve obtained adjustable referral programs. Boosts for e-newsletter cross-promotion. Several landing pages for tracking lead sources. You can transform your readers right into supporters without dangling uncomfortable swag or single tricks.
I’ll say this: Beehiiv feels like a system that desires you to do well. Not one that just wants an item of your pie.
Things I ‘d Still Like to See Improve
No platform is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got its traits.
Assistance can be slow-moving when you struck a weird insect or require deep assistance.
Some automations still really feel too fundamental.
Email size surveillance needs far better in-app alerts (please and thank you).
No built-in countdown timers (sad face if you enjoy FOMO e-mails).
Ecommerce integrations? Generally nonexistent.
So if you’re selling physical products or desire abandoned cart circulations, Beehiiv possibly isn’t your best bet.
Conclusion
If you’re a creator who’s serious about newsletters– whether you’re monetizing, growing a list, or simply tired of outdated platforms– Beehiiv’s a solid option.
You’ll like it if:
You want full possession of your target market
You’re looking to expand quickly without paying system tax
You desire something that really feels developed by developers, for developers
Will it address every problem? No. Yet in three months, it’s helped me expand much faster, make extra, and anxiety less regarding the little things.
So, should you attempt Beehiiv?
If you’re ready to stop resolving and actually range your newsletter with real devices that respect your work and target market– yeah, I think it’s time.
Go on. Offer it a spin. You just might fall in love like I did.