If you’re even remotely into email newsletters, you have actually most likely heard the buzz around Beehiiv recently. And no, it’s not just hype. There’s something different about this platform, something that makes developers like you stop, breathe, and say, “Hold up … could this be the one?” Beehiiv Vs Memberful…
I’ve been precisely where you are. Attempting to pick the best email device. Wondering if I’m making a move I’ll be sorry for in a couple of months. However after virtually one decade of helping people browse e-mail marketing and two years running my very own newsletter, I ultimately took the plunge and provided Beehiiv a correct, genuine test run.
And looter: I really did not just dabble. I moved whatever over. Here’s why you may intend to do the exact same.
Why I Dropped Substack and Why You May Want To?
Let’s be real, Substack isn’t negative. They’re reputable. They have actually got a clean interface and a dedicated community of authors. However when it pertains to money making and target market possession, they falter. Hard.
Let me break it down.
You Don’t Own Your Target Market on Substack
You know that little “adhere to” feature on Substack? It appears awesome theoretically, right? Like, a lot more visibility, more involvement?
Yeah … not specifically.
See, those “fans” aren’t genuine subscribers. They’re secured inside Substack’s little walled garden. They don’t get your e-mails in their inbox. You can not contact them straight. And worst of all? If you ever determine to leave Substack, you can not take them with you.
So generally, you’re building a checklist … that you do not have.
Now contrast that to Beehiiv and even Ghost. When a person subscribes, that e-mail is yours. You can take it with you. You can develop a real connection. That’s how it must be.
The Hidden Price of Comfort
Currently let’s talk money. Every single time a person pays for your newsletter on Substack, you shed 13% right off the top. That’s 10% to Substack and 3% to Stripe.
So your $7 client? You’re swiping simply over $6. Not dreadful … till you scale.
With Beehiiv? No system costs. Just Stripe’s 3%. You keep the rest. That additional cash money accumulates quickly, especially if you’re intending to expand or monetize seriously.
And honestly, if you’re mosting likely to build an organization (even a side one), you require a system that’s not eating into your earnings before you also start.
What It’s In Fact Like Starting on Beehiiv
Alright, so let’s talk configuration. If you’re stressed that moving your listing or establishing automations will certainly be a discomfort … do not be.
I have actually done the whole ESP shuffle prior to. You understand the drill: broken types, ghosted clients, styling headaches. But with Beehiiv, points went remarkably smooth.
Their onboarding? Top-tier. I’m chatting useful video clips, clear walkthroughs, and genuine support when you need it.
Setting Up Your Domain
One thing that blew me away was domain warming. As opposed to just throwing your email domain name right into the wild (and praying you don’t land in spam), Beehiiv slowly presents your domain name using their very own facilities. It’s wise. Like, truly clever.
And importing my list? Smooth. No cool CSV issues. No subscribers disappearing into deep space. Even linking my site was great– okay, the designing took a little bit of effort, yet hey, no system’s ideal.
The Email Builder: Pretty Good (With Some Caveats)
Let’s not sugarcoat it: the email builder isn’t remarkable. Yet it’s excellent. Actually good.
You can drag, drop, design, and preview easily. If you’re refraining anything also design-heavy, you’ll probably like it. Want to decrease in an advertisement block? Done. Need a callout or an enroller area? Easy.
Keep an eye out for the Gmail Trimming Monster
Now, a word of warning: Gmail clips emails over 102KB. And Beehiiv does not always caution you when you’re close to that limitation. So yeah, I’ve had beautifully composed newsletters obtain cut off mid-sentence. Not fun.
Yet I found a workaround: making use of Parcel.io and AboutMy.Email to examine HTML size before sending out. It’s a bit hands-on, sure, once you get the hang of it, you’ll prevent the dreadful clipping issue.
Growing Your Listing with Beehiiv: Ultimately, Some Real Tools
This is where Beehiiv definitely beams.
It’s like they in fact desire you to expand your audience. Surprising, best?
Referral Programs That Work
Beehiiv’s built-in referral program lets your present subscribers bring in brand-new ones– and it in fact works. No janky third-party hacks. Just clean, trackable referrals baked right into the system.
Wish to run a free gift? Deal a bonus offer for signups? Done. Beehiiv makes that easy.
And with their Boosts feature (essentially a paid referral program), you can pay to get in front of various other newsletters’ audiences. Think about it like cross-promotion with steroids.
Money making: Even More Money, Less Frustrations
This was one of the biggest factors I moved to Beehiiv, I intended to monetize smarter, not harder.
No system fees. Tidy integration with Stripe. Plus:.
Built-in advertisement network that attaches you with genuine enrollers.
Personalized paid memberships with full control.
Boosts for purchasing traffic or earning by promoting others.
3 months in, I was currently making more than I ever did on my old system and with less effort.
Your Beehiiv Website: Simple, Sleek, Effective
Let’s be straightforward: a lot of newsletter tools do not care about your landing page. But Beehiiv? They offer you a whole mini-website.
You obtain:
- A tidy, modern homepage
- Archive pages for your past concerns
- Custom kinds, branding and Beehiiv Vs Memberful
It’s not a full-blown CMS, however, for many makers, it’s sufficient. And it simply functions. No unpleasant DNS configs or busted embeds. Simply connect it in and go.
Analytics That In Fact Mean Something
Beehiiv’s analytics are chef’s kiss. You don’t just get open and click rates. You get genuine insights:.
Where clients came from.
Which referral sources are functioning.
How much cash you’ve made.
Who’s clicking what and why.
You can track, modify, and optimize every action of your funnel, from type to open up to acquire. Which type of exposure? Valuable when you’re attempting to expand purposefully.
What Beehiiv Can Improve?
No system is perfect, and Beehiiv’s got area to expand. Right here’s what to look out for:.
The automation system is a little bit inflexible. One form = one automation? Meh.
The e-mail builder’s defaults need some TLC.
You’ll miss out on some e-commerce features if you’re running a store (no Shopify integration or transactional automations).
Support could be faster on the unusual side cases.
But right here’s things, Beehiiv in fact pays attention. I’ve currently seen updates roll out based upon individual responses, and that’s a really excellent indicator.
The Bottom Line: Beehiiv Vs Memberful
If you’re a developer, author, or indie publisher who desires:
- To grow your listing quick,
- To maintain complete ownership of your customers,
- To really make money without platform fines,
- And to not fight with clunky e-mail building contractors …
Then yes, you need to absolutely provide Beehiiv a shot.
Look, it’s not for everybody. If you’re running an ecommerce shop or desire sophisticated CRM automations, maybe look somewhere else. But if you’re constructing a community, an individual brand, or an interest project?
Beehiiv’s obtained your back.
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning
1. Can I move my existing email listing to Beehiiv?
Yes! Movement is smooth and completely supported. No CSV headaches here.
2. Does Beehiiv take a cut of my paid subscriptions?
Nope. Just the basic Stripe 3% cost. The remainder is all yours.
3. Is Beehiiv great for beginners?
Definitely. The onboarding procedure is clear and simple, even if you have actually never set up a newsletter prior to.
4. What makes Beehiiv far better than Substack?
Target market possession, far better monetization tools, no system fees, and extra list-growth alternatives.
5. Can I use my own domain?
Yes. And they’ll also help you heat it up for much better deliverability.
6. Are there integrated monetization tools?
Yes! Boosts, recommendations, advertisement networks and paid registrations are all native features.