You’ve chosen to produce a newsletter– or perhaps you currently have one. Regardless, the huge question before you is: What tool should you make use of to expand, and perhaps generate income from, your newsletter?
And yeah … it’s overwhelming. There’s no shortage of options around. Some are as well complex. Others are as well fundamental. And after that there are two names that maintain popping up in your research: Axios Beehiiv
They both seem solid. They’re both e-mail platforms. They both let you create, send out, and (with any luck) earn money. However when it boils down to choosing one, the distinctions begin to matter– a whole lot.
If you’re attempting to figure out which one is in fact the much better suitable for you, you’re in the best location. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack is like the digital version of an author’s cozy edge. It’s a minimal platform produced with authors in mind– assume blog meets newsletter. You write, you release, you hit send. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the newer, shinier youngster that’s plainly been built for growth. It was substantiated of the Morning Brew team (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s created to aid newsletter developers not just create and send e-mails– yet range like crazy.
Alleviate of Use: Simpleness vs Strategy
Let’s be honest– you don’t intend to invest hours learning a new control panel. You wish to open the thing, write your item, and send it off.
Substack nails this.
You open up the editor, and it feels like a Google Doc with fewer interruptions. No fuss, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s unusually calming. Like journaling.
There’s a reason numerous authors enjoy it– it gets out of the way.
Beehiiv? Still basic– yet with even more under the hood.
You obtain a classic, clean editor plus the capacity to brand name your e-newsletter with custom templates (though these are just offered on paid plans). You can tweak your post setups, change design, and also select writer bylines. So while it’s still user-friendly, it’s certainly a lot more durable.
Judgment:
If you desire pure simplicity, choose Substack.
If you’re all right with a few additional buttons for even more control, Beehiiv wins right here.
Monetization: Who Aids You Really Earn Money?
This one’s vital– particularly if you’re not simply composing for fun.
Substack’s model is simple: it’s totally free to use, once you switch on paid subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus purchase charges. It’s plug-and-play for certain, however that piece of income loss can sting as you expand.
And if you wish to run advertisements? Well, you’re practically by yourself. There’s no native advertisement network. You’ll have to manually manage sponsors, repayment terms, and putting the advertisements yourself.
Beehiiv goes a different path.
It’s cost-free to begin, however if you desire access to monetization features (like their ad network), you’ll need a paid plan. That stated, they do not take a cut of your membership revenue (other than Stripe’s basic handling costs). So while you pay monthly upfront, you maintain much more as you expand.
Oh– and the monetization devices? Way a lot more modern:
- Life time registrations
- ” Pay What You Want” alternatives
- Integrated referral programs
- An indigenous ad network to aid you land sponsors without the back-and-forth
Judgment:
If you’re preparing to grow and truly generate income from, Beehiiv blows Substack out of the water.
Community & Engagement: Axios Beehiiv
E-newsletters aren’t practically sending out stuff out. They’re about pulling people in.
Substack leans right into community hard.
You’ve obtained comments, suches as, responds, exclusive messages, conversation strings– even a “Notes” area that acts like Twitter-lite. It’s gradually turning into a social platform of its very own. Some individuals like that. Others? Not so much.
However it’s a lovely ecosystem if you wish to develop conversations around your web content. It does not injure that Substack customers can discover you via the built-in network, and you can send visitors to various other authors.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They’ve lately added comments and likes, however it’s not as community-driven (yet). Individuals commonly simply respond to your emails. That’s not a bad point– it maintains your inbox cleaner, and your web content a lot more straight.
Yet where Beehiiv actually shines is in growth technicians:
- Integrated referral programs
- Paid referrals
- Cross-promotion devices to feature other e-newsletters
Judgment:
Wish to create a humming, social area around your newsletter? Substack has the side.
Seeking built-in development engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Layout & Versatility: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s chat visuals. Just how much flexibility do you reach create your newsletter?
Substack keeps it marginal.
You can include a logo. Tweak a shade. That has to do with it. E-mails all have the same structure, and your Substack homepage? It appears like a blog. Clean, however not super personalized.
Beehiiv uses a bit extra adaptability.
There’s a “Style Laboratory” where you can establish fonts, designs, and history shades. In the editor, you can include tables, pictures, switches, embeds– the fundamentals. It’s not Mailchimp-level customization, yet it allows you produce an e-newsletter that feels even more like your very own brand.
Verdict:
Substack is much better if you desire consistency without assuming too hard.
Beehiiv gives you the devices to make your e-newsletter feel you– without going overboard.
Target Market Insights & Analytics: What Do You Actually Understand About Your Readers?
This component matters way more than you think.
Substack gives you the essentials.
Opens, clicks, viewers by gadget. There’s a high-level sight of where customers came from– however it’s not granular. You do not really get detailed audience information, that makes it difficult to recognize what’s working.
Beehiiv goes deeper.
Open up and click rates? Check. Yet likewise– the number of people came from X, Instagram, or your internet site. You can also see involvement by segment, place, or habits. It’s the kind of information that assists you in fact expand.
Verdict:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if information issues to you (and it ought to).
List Management & Automations: Can You Personalize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You create an e-newsletter, and everyone gets it. There’s no division, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all model. Basic, yes. Flexible, not so much.
Beehiiv, though?
You can segment your listing based on interaction, signup source, actions– you call it. Want to send out a welcome sequence to new viewers? You can. Wish to label subscribers based upon survey reactions? Yep, that too.
Judgment:
Beehiiv is a marketing expert’s desire. Substack is an author’s notebook.
Pricing
Substack is practically free … up until you earn money. Then they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan allows you evaluate the waters with up to 2,500 clients. However to unlock money making, you’ll require to upgrade:
Scale Plan begins at $49/month.
Boost based upon your client matter.
Greater rates provide sophisticated automations, referral boosts, and custom-made domains.
However once more– Beehiiv doesn’t take a percent of your revenue. That’s a big deal.
Decision:
Substack is wonderful if you intend to test the waters and do not mind giving up 10%.
Beehiiv is better if you plan to range– and maintain even more of what you make.
Which One’s Actually Much better?
If you’re still unsure, here’s the no-BS response:.
Use Substack if you’re a single author who wants to send basic emails, communicate with a community, and doesn’t appreciate design, data, or money making Axios Beehiiv.
Choose Beehiiv if you want to treat your e-newsletter like a service. It’s much better for significant growth, money making, automation, and division. It’s essentially what you ‘d obtain if ConvertKit and Substack had a child– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Last Thoughts
There’s no wrong response here – just tools that serve different goals.
But if you’re considering the long video game? Want more than just an area to hit “publish”? Desire the freedom to build, generate income from, and utilize information to choose?
Beehiiv is your best choice.
It’s modern-day, constructed for designers and provides you the flexibility to expand your list how you pick. So if you’re serious about your newsletter journey, Beehiiv isn’t simply a platform, it’s your launching factor.