You’ve decided to create a newsletter– or probably you currently have one. No matter, the huge inquiry before you is: What device should you utilize to grow, and possibly generate income from, your newsletter?
And yeah … it’s frustrating. There’s no scarcity of options around. Some are also complicated. Others are also basic. And afterwards there are two names that maintain appearing in your study: Beehiiv Custom CSS
They both seem strong. They’re both email platforms. They both let you write, send, and (with any luck) earn money. But when it comes down to selecting one, the distinctions start to matter– a great deal.
If you’re attempting to determine which one is actually the far better suitable for you, you’re in the appropriate location. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack resembles the digital version of a writer’s relaxing corner. It’s a minimalist platform developed with authors in mind– assume blog fulfills e-newsletter. You write, you publish, you struck send out. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the more recent, shinier youngster that’s clearly been developed for development. It was born out of the Morning Brew team (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s designed to help newsletter developers not just compose and send out e-mails– but range like crazy.
Relieve of Use: Simpleness vs Method
Let’s be truthful– you don’t intend to invest hours learning a brand-new dashboard. You intend to open up the important things, write your piece, and send it off.
Substack nails this.
You open the editor, and it feels like a Google Doc with less interruptions. No fuss, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s unusually calming. Like journaling.
There’s a reason so many authors enjoy it– it gets out of the way.
Beehiiv? Still easy– however with even more under the hood.
You obtain a classic, tidy editor plus the capacity to brand name your e-newsletter with personalized templates (though these are just available on paid plans). You can tweak your blog post settings, adjust format, and also select author bylines. So while it’s still straightforward, it’s definitely much more durable.
Verdict:
If you desire pure simpleness, select Substack.
If you’re alright with a couple of added switches in exchange for more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Money making: Who Helps You Actually Generate Income?
This set’s essential– especially if you’re not simply creating for enjoyable.
Substack’s design is simple: it’s totally free to make use of, but once you activate paid memberships, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus purchase charges. It’s plug-and-play for sure, yet that chunk of revenue loss can sting as you grow.
And if you wish to run ads? Well, you’re virtually by yourself. There’s no indigenous ad network. You’ll need to manually deal with sponsors, repayment terms, and putting the advertisements on your own.
Beehiiv goes a various route.
It’s cost-free to get going, yet if you want access to monetization features (like their ad network), you’ll need a paid plan. That stated, they don’t take a cut of your registration income (other than Stripe’s typical handling fees). So while you pay monthly upfront, you maintain more as you grow.
Oh– and the monetization devices? Way a lot more contemporary:
- Lifetime memberships
- ” Pay What You Want” alternatives
- Integrated referral programs
- A native ad network to assist you land enrollers without the back-and-forth
Judgment:
If you’re intending to grow and actually monetize, Beehiiv blows Substack out of the water.
Community & Engagement: Beehiiv Custom CSS
Newsletters aren’t nearly sending out things out. They have to do with drawing individuals in.
Substack leans into community hard.
You have actually obtained remarks, likes, responds, personal messages, conversation strings– also a “Notes” section that acts like Twitter-lite. It’s slowly becoming a social platform of its own. Some individuals enjoy that. Others? Not so much.
However it’s a beautiful ecological community if you intend to construct discussions around your web content. It doesn’t harm that Substack users can find you using the built-in network, and you can send out readers to other writers.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They have actually just recently included remarks and likes, but it’s not as community-driven (yet). Individuals commonly just respond to your e-mails. That’s not a negative point– it keeps your inbox cleaner, and your material much more direct.
But where Beehiiv really radiates remains in development mechanics:
- Integrated referral programs
- Paid referrals
- Cross-promotion tools to feature other newsletters
Judgment:
Intend to develop a humming, social area around your e-newsletter? Substack has the side.
Searching for integrated growth engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Layout & Flexibility: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s talk visuals. How much flexibility do you reach make your e-newsletter?
Substack keeps it marginal.
You can include a logo design. Modify a color. That’s about it. Emails all have the same framework, and your Substack homepage? It appears like a blog site. Tidy, however not super adjustable.
Beehiiv offers a little bit more versatility.
There’s a “Style Lab” where you can set font styles, designs, and history shades. In the editor, you can include tables, pictures, buttons, embeds– the essentials. It’s not Mailchimp-level customization, yet it lets you produce an e-newsletter that really feels even more like your very own brand.
Judgment:
Substack is much better if you want uniformity without thinking too hard.
Beehiiv provides you the devices to make your newsletter feel you– without overdoing.
Audience Insights & Analytics: What Do You Actually Know About Your Readers?
This component matters means more than you believe.
Substack offers you the essentials.
Opens, clicks, visitors by tool. There’s a high-level sight of where customers came from– however it’s not granular. You don’t truly get detailed target market information, which makes it challenging to understand what’s functioning.
Beehiiv goes deeper.
Open up and click rates? Check. Yet also– how many people came from X, Instagram, or your website. You can also see involvement by segment, location, or behavior. It’s the sort of information that helps you really expand.
Verdict:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if information issues to you (and it need to).
Listing Administration & Automations: Can You Personalize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You write an e-newsletter, and everybody gets it. There’s no segmentation, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all model. Straightforward, yes. Flexible, not so much.
Beehiiv, though?
You can segment your checklist based on interaction, signup resource, habits– you name it. Want to send out a welcome sequence to new viewers? You can. Wish to mark subscribers based on study actions? Yep, that too.
Verdict:
Beehiiv is a marketer’s desire. Substack is an author’s notebook.
Pricing
Substack is practically cost-free … up until you generate income. Then they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan allows you check the waters with as much as 2,500 customers. But to open monetization, you’ll require to upgrade:
Scale Plan starts at $49/month.
Costs increase based on your client count.
Higher tiers use advanced automations, referral boosts, and customized domains.
Yet again– Beehiiv does not take a percentage of your revenue. That’s a big deal.
Decision:
Substack is terrific if you wish to evaluate the waters and do not mind giving up 10%.
Beehiiv is much better if you plan to range– and keep more of what you earn.
Which One’s In fact Much better?
If you’re still uncertain, below’s the no-BS action:.
Use Substack if you’re a single writer who wants to send out fundamental e-mails, interact with a community, and does not appreciate style, data, or money making Beehiiv Custom CSS.
Pick Beehiiv if you want to treat your e-newsletter like an organization. It’s far better for severe growth, money making, automation, and division. It’s primarily what you ‘d get if ConvertKit and Substack had a baby– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Last Thoughts
There’s no wrong answer here – just devices that offer various goals.
However if you’re considering the lengthy video game? Desire greater than just a location to strike “release”? Want the flexibility to construct, generate income from, and utilize information to choose?
Beehiiv is your best choice.
It’s contemporary, developed for makers and offers you the liberty to expand your checklist just how you choose. So if you’re serious about your e-newsletter journey, Beehiiv isn’t just a platform, it’s your launching point.