You’ve chosen to develop a newsletter– or possibly you currently have one. No matter, the big question in front of you is: What tool should you utilize to expand, and maybe generate income from, your newsletter?
And yeah … it’s overwhelming. There’s no scarcity of options out there. Some are as well complex. Others are as well fundamental. And after that there are two names that keep turning up in your study: Can You Sell on Beehiiv
They both appear solid. They’re both email platforms. They both let you write, send, and (ideally) earn money. But when it boils down to choosing one, the differences start to matter– a lot.
If you’re trying to find out which one is really the far better fit for you, you’re in the best place. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack resembles the digital variation of an author’s comfortable corner. It’s a minimal platform produced with writers in mind– believe blog satisfies e-newsletter. You compose, you publish, you hit send. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the more recent, shinier kid that’s clearly been developed for development. It was substantiated of the Morning Brew team (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s created to assist newsletter developers not only create and send e-mails– yet range like crazy.
Ease of Use: Simpleness vs Method
Let’s be honest– you don’t intend to spend hours learning a new control panel. You want to open up the thing, compose your item, and send it off.
Substack nails this.
You open the editor, and it feels like a Google Doc with fewer interruptions. No frills, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s unusually calming. Like journaling.
There’s a reason a lot of writers enjoy it– it finishes.
Beehiiv? Still straightforward– however with even more under the hood.
You obtain a classic, clean editor plus the capacity to brand your newsletter with customized templates (though these are only available on paid plans). You can modify your blog post settings, adjust design, and also pick author bylines. So while it’s still straightforward, it’s definitely extra robust.
Decision:
If you want pure simplicity, select Substack.
If you’re okay with a few added buttons in exchange for more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Monetization: Who Aids You In Fact Make Money?
This one’s crucial– especially if you’re not simply composing for fun.
Substack’s design is simple: it’s totally free to make use of, but once you switch on paid subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus transaction costs. It’s plug-and-play for certain, but that piece of revenue loss can sting as you grow.
And if you wish to run ads? Well, you’re virtually on your own. There’s no native ad network. You’ll have to manually handle enrollers, payment terms, and putting the ads on your own.
Beehiiv goes a different path.
It’s free to begin, yet if you want accessibility to money making features (like their ad network), you’ll need a paid plan. That stated, they don’t take a cut of your registration revenue (except Stripe’s standard handling fees). So while you pay monthly upfront, you maintain extra as you grow.
Oh– and the monetization devices? Method extra modern:
- Lifetime memberships
- ” Pay What You Desired” options
- Integrated referral programs
- A native ad network to aid you land sponsors without the back-and-forth
Decision:
If you’re planning to expand and truly generate income from, Beehiiv impacts Substack out of the water.
Community & Interaction: Can You Sell on Beehiiv
Newsletters aren’t just about sending out things out. They have to do with drawing people in.
Substack leans right into community hard.
You’ve got comments, suches as, replies, private messages, conversation threads– also a “Notes” section that acts like Twitter-lite. It’s gradually turning into a social platform of its own. Some individuals like that. Others? Not a lot.
Nevertheless it’s a lovely ecosystem if you wish to develop conversations around your content. It does not injure that Substack customers can find you by means of the built-in network, and you can send out visitors to other authors.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They have actually just recently added comments and likes, but it’s not as community-driven (yet). People generally simply respond to your emails. That’s not a poor point– it keeps your inbox cleaner, and your material much more direct.
Yet where Beehiiv truly radiates remains in development auto mechanics:
- Built-in referral programs
- Paid suggestions
- Cross-promotion devices to feature other newsletters
Decision:
Want to develop a buzzing, social area around your e-newsletter? Substack has the side.
Trying to find integrated growth engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Design & Adaptability: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s speak visuals. How much freedom do you get to develop your e-newsletter?
Substack maintains it marginal.
You can add a logo. Tweak a shade. That has to do with it. Emails all have the same framework, and your Substack homepage? It resembles a blog. Tidy, yet not super customizable.
Beehiiv offers a little bit more flexibility.
There’s a “Design Lab” where you can set font styles, designs, and background colors. In the editor, you can include tables, photos, buttons, embeds– the essentials. It’s not Mailchimp-level personalization, but it lets you produce an e-newsletter that really feels even more like your own brand name.
Decision:
Substack is much better if you want uniformity without believing as well hard.
Beehiiv offers you the tools to make your e-newsletter feel you– without overdoing.
Audience Insights & Analytics: What Do You Really Know About Your Readers?
This part matters means more than you believe.
Substack offers you the basics.
Opens, clicks, visitors by device. There’s a top-level sight of where subscribers came from– however it’s not granular. You don’t really get detailed target market data, that makes it hard to understand what’s working.
Beehiiv goes much deeper.
Open and click prices? Check. But also– how many people came from X, Instagram, or your website. You can also see interaction by sector, location, or habits. It’s the kind of data that assists you actually expand.
Judgment:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if data matters to you (and it need to).
Listing Administration & Automations: Can You Customize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You compose a newsletter, and every person gets it. There’s no segmentation, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all design. Basic, yes. Adaptable, not so much.
Beehiiv, though?
You can section your checklist based upon involvement, signup source, habits– you call it. Want to send a welcome series to new readers? You can. Want to identify subscribers based upon study actions? Yeah, that also.
Decision:
Beehiiv is a marketing expert’s desire. Substack is an author’s note pad.
Pricing
Substack is technically free … till you earn money. After that they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan lets you check the waters with up to 2,500 customers. But to unlock monetization, you’ll need to upgrade:
Scale Plan starts at $49/month.
Costs increase based on your client matter.
Greater tiers use innovative automations, referral boosts, and personalized domain names.
However once more– Beehiiv doesn’t take a percent of your revenue. That’s a big deal.
Judgment:
Substack is great if you want to examine the waters and do not mind surrendering 10%.
Beehiiv is much better if you plan to range– and keep more of what you make.
Which One’s Actually Better?
If you’re still undecided, right here’s the no-BS reaction:.
Usage Substack if you’re a single writer who wishes to send standard e-mails, connect with a community, and does not care about layout, information, or monetization Can You Sell on Beehiiv.
Select Beehiiv if you wish to treat your e-newsletter like a business. It’s far better for major growth, money making, automation, and segmentation. It’s generally what you ‘d obtain if ConvertKit and Substack had a baby– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Final Thoughts
There’s no incorrect solution right here – just tools that serve different goals.
Yet if you’re thinking about the long game? Want greater than simply a location to strike “release”? Want the freedom to develop, generate income from, and make use of data to choose?
Beehiiv is your best option.
It’s contemporary, built for designers and provides you the flexibility to grow your listing just how you select. So if you’re serious about your newsletter journey, Beehiiv isn’t simply a system, it’s your launching factor.