You’ve made a decision to create an e-newsletter– or probably you already have one. Regardless, the big question before you is: What device should you make use of to expand, and possibly generate income from, your e-newsletter?
And yeah … it’s overwhelming. There’s no scarcity of choices available. Some are as well complex. Others are as well fundamental. And then there are two names that maintain popping up in your research: Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton
They both seem strong. They’re both e-mail platforms. They both let you write, send out, and (hopefully) earn money. However when it boils down to choosing one, the distinctions begin to matter– a great deal.
If you’re trying to determine which one is really the much better fit for you, you remain in the appropriate location. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack is like the digital version of a writer’s comfortable corner. It’s a minimalist system created with authors in mind– assume blog meets newsletter. You compose, you publish, you struck send. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the more recent, shinier kid that’s plainly been constructed for development. It was substantiated of the Morning Brew group (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s designed to aid newsletter developers not only create and send out emails– yet scale like crazy.
Reduce of Use: Simplicity vs Approach
Let’s be honest– you do not want to spend hours learning a new dashboard. You want to open up the thing, compose your piece, and send it off.
Substack nails this.
You open up the editor, and it seems like a Google Doc with less distractions. No frills, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s strangely comforting. Like journaling.
There’s a factor numerous writers like it– it gets out of the way.
Beehiiv? Still simple– yet with more under the hood.
You get a classic, tidy editor plus the ability to brand your newsletter with custom-made templates (though these are only available on paid plans). You can modify your post setups, readjust format, and also choose author bylines. So while it’s still easy to use, it’s most definitely more durable.
Judgment:
If you want pure simpleness, select Substack.
If you’re all right with a couple of added buttons for more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Monetization: Who Aids You In Fact Make Money?
This’s vital– particularly if you’re not just writing for fun.
Substack’s model is basic: it’s totally free to utilize, but once you switch on paid registrations, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus deal charges. It’s plug-and-play for certain, however that chunk of earnings loss can hurt as you grow.
And if you wish to run ads? Well, you’re virtually on your own. There’s no indigenous ad network. You’ll have to manually deal with enrollers, settlement terms, and placing the advertisements on your own.
Beehiiv goes a various course.
It’s totally free to begin, however if you desire 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 membership revenue (except Stripe’s common processing fees). So while you pay monthly upfront, you maintain more as you expand.
Oh– and the money making tools? Means a lot more modern-day:
- Lifetime memberships
- ” Pay What You Want” alternatives
- Integrated referral programs
- An indigenous ad network to help you land sponsors without the back-and-forth
Judgment:
If you’re planning to grow and actually generate income from, Beehiiv strikes Substack out of the water.
Community & Interaction: Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton
E-newsletters aren’t nearly sending out things out. They have to do with pulling individuals in.
Substack leans into community hard.
You’ve obtained remarks, suches as, responds, private messages, conversation strings– also a “Notes” section that imitates Twitter-lite. It’s gradually becoming a social platform of its very own. Some people love that. Others? Not a lot.
Nonetheless it’s a lovely environment if you intend to develop discussions around your content. It does not harm that Substack customers can discover you via the integrated network, and you can send out readers to various other authors.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They’ve lately added remarks and suches as, however it’s not as community-driven (yet). Individuals typically just reply to your e-mails. That’s not a poor thing– it keeps your inbox cleaner, and your material more straight.
However where Beehiiv really shines is in development technicians:
- Integrated referral programs
- Paid recommendations
- Cross-promotion devices to feature various other e-newsletters
Decision:
Want to develop a buzzing, social area around your e-newsletter? Substack has the side.
Seeking built-in growth engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Layout & Versatility: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s speak visuals. Just how much liberty do you get to make your newsletter?
Substack maintains it very little.
You can add a logo design. Tweak a color. That’s about it. E-mails all have the same framework, and your Substack homepage? It looks like a blog. Clean, yet not extremely personalized.
Beehiiv provides a little bit much more flexibility.
There’s a “Style Laboratory” where you can establish typefaces, designs, and history shades. In the editor, you can add tables, pictures, buttons, installs– the basics. It’s not Mailchimp-level modification, yet it lets you create an e-newsletter that really feels more like your own brand name.
Judgment:
Substack is much better if you want consistency without believing too hard.
Beehiiv offers you the tools to make your newsletter feel you– without going overboard.
Audience Insights & Analytics: What Do You Actually Find Out About Your Viewers?
This part matters way more than you assume.
Substack provides you the fundamentals.
Opens, clicks, readers by tool. There’s a top-level sight of where clients came from– yet it’s not granular. You don’t truly get detailed target market information, that makes it tough to recognize what’s working.
Beehiiv goes much deeper.
Open and click rates? Check. But likewise– the amount of people came from X, Instagram, or your web site. You can even see engagement by segment, area, or habits. It’s the kind of data that aids you actually grow.
Verdict:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if information issues to you (and it need to).
Checklist Monitoring & Automations: Can You Customize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You create a newsletter, and every person gets it. There’s no division, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all design. Simple, yes. Adaptable, not so much.
Beehiiv, though?
You can sector your checklist based on engagement, signup source, habits– you name it. Intend to send out a welcome series to brand-new viewers? You can. Intend to mark clients based upon study actions? Yep, that too.
Verdict:
Beehiiv is a marketer’s dream. Substack is an author’s note pad.
Pricing
Substack is technically cost-free … until you generate income. After that they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan allows you evaluate the waters with up to 2,500 clients. Yet to open money making, you’ll need to update:
Scale Plan begins at $49/month.
Boost based on your client count.
Higher tiers provide sophisticated automations, referral boosts, and customized domains.
Yet once more– Beehiiv does not take a percent of your earnings. That’s a big deal.
Judgment:
Substack is terrific if you wish to examine the waters and do not mind giving up 10%.
Beehiiv is better if you plan to range– and maintain more of what you make.
Which One’s Actually Much better?
If you’re still undecided, here’s the no-BS feedback:.
Usage Substack if you’re a solitary writer who wishes to send fundamental e-mails, interact with a community, and doesn’t respect design, information, or money making Beehiiv Dr. Jen Ashton.
Pick Beehiiv if you wish to treat your newsletter like an organization. It’s better for serious 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 Ideas
There’s no wrong answer here – simply tools that serve different goals.
But if you’re taking into consideration the long video game? Desire more than just an area to hit “publish”? Want the freedom to build, monetize, and make use of information to make decisions?
Beehiiv is your ideal alternative.
It’s modern, constructed for creators and provides you the liberty to expand your checklist exactly how you choose. So if you’re serious about your newsletter adventure, Beehiiv isn’t just a platform, it’s your introducing factor.