You’ve decided to create an e-newsletter– or maybe you already have one. No matter, the big question before you is: What device should you utilize to expand, and perhaps monetize, your newsletter?
And yeah … it’s overwhelming. There’s no scarcity of options out there. Some are too complicated. Others are as well fundamental. And then there are two names that maintain popping up in your research: Beehiiv VAT
They both seem solid. They’re both email platforms. They both let you create, send out, and (ideally) earn money. Yet when it comes down to choosing one, the distinctions start to matter– a whole lot.
If you’re trying to figure out which one is actually the far better fit for you, you’re in the right place. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack is like the digital variation of a writer’s cozy corner. It’s a minimal system developed with authors in mind– believe blog fulfills newsletter. You create, you publish, you hit send out. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the more recent, shinier kid that’s plainly been developed for growth. It was born out of the Morning Brew team (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s made to aid e-newsletter developers not only write and send out emails– yet scale like crazy.
Alleviate of Use: Simplicity vs Strategy
Let’s be honest– you do not intend to spend hours learning a brand-new control panel. You wish to open up the thing, write your piece, and send it off.
Substack nails this.
You open up the editor, and it seems like a Google Doc with fewer distractions. No fuss, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s unusually calming. Like journaling.
There’s a factor so many authors like it– it finishes.
Beehiiv? Still straightforward– but with even more under the hood.
You obtain a traditional, tidy editor plus the ability to brand name your e-newsletter with custom-made templates (though these are only offered on paid plans). You can tweak your article settings, adjust format, and also select author bylines. So while it’s still user-friendly, it’s absolutely more robust.
Verdict:
If you desire pure simplicity, go with Substack.
If you’re fine with a few added buttons in exchange for even more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Monetization: Who Assists You In Fact Earn Money?
This one’s essential– particularly if you’re not just creating for enjoyable.
Substack’s model is straightforward: it’s complimentary to utilize, but once you turn on paid subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus purchase fees. It’s plug-and-play without a doubt, however that portion of earnings loss can sting as you grow.
And if you intend to run ads? Well, you’re pretty much on your own. There’s no native advertisement network. You’ll have to manually take care of enrollers, repayment terms, and putting the advertisements yourself.
Beehiiv goes a different course.
It’s totally free to get started, but if you desire accessibility to monetization features (like their ad network), you’ll require a paid plan. That claimed, they don’t take a cut of your membership revenue (other than Stripe’s conventional processing costs). So while you pay month-to-month upfront, you maintain much more as you expand.
Oh– and the monetization devices? Method a lot more modern:
- Life time memberships
- ” Pay What You Want” choices
- Integrated referral programs
- An indigenous ad network to help you land enrollers without the back-and-forth
Judgment:
If you’re planning to grow and really generate income from, Beehiiv strikes Substack out of the water.
Community & Involvement: Beehiiv VAT
E-newsletters aren’t nearly sending things out. They’re about pulling people in.
Substack leans right into community hard.
You have actually got remarks, likes, replies, personal messages, discussion strings– also a “Notes” section that imitates Twitter-lite. It’s slowly turning into a social platform of its very own. Some people enjoy that. Others? Not so much.
However it’s a beautiful ecological community if you intend to build conversations around your material. It doesn’t injure that Substack customers can uncover you via the built-in network, and you can send out readers to other authors.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They’ve just recently included remarks and suches as, however it’s not as community-driven (yet). People generally simply respond to your e-mails. That’s not a negative point– it maintains your inbox cleaner, and your content much more straight.
However where Beehiiv truly shines remains in growth mechanics:
- Integrated referral programs
- Paid suggestions
- Cross-promotion tools to feature other newsletters
Judgment:
Want to create a humming, social area around your newsletter? Substack has the edge.
Looking for built-in growth engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Design & Flexibility: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s talk visuals. Just how much flexibility do you get to make your newsletter?
Substack keeps it very little.
You can add a logo. Modify a color. That’s about it. Emails all have the very same structure, and your Substack homepage? It resembles a blog site. Tidy, but not very adjustable.
Beehiiv offers a little bit much more versatility.
There’s a “Style Laboratory” where you can set fonts, designs, and background shades. In the editor, you can add tables, photos, switches, installs– the fundamentals. It’s not Mailchimp-level modification, however it lets you produce an e-newsletter that really feels even more like your very own brand name.
Decision:
Substack is much better if you desire consistency without assuming also hard.
Beehiiv provides you the devices to make your e-newsletter feel you– without going overboard.
Audience Insights & Analytics: What Do You In fact Find Out About Your Visitors?
This part matters way greater than you think.
Substack gives you the fundamentals.
Opens, clicks, viewers by gadget. There’s a high-level view of where clients came from– but it’s not granular. You don’t really get detailed target market data, which makes it hard to know what’s functioning.
Beehiiv goes much deeper.
Open and click rates? Inspect. However additionally– how many people originated from X, Instagram, or your website. You can also see interaction by section, area, or actions. It’s the kind of data that aids you in fact grow.
Verdict:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if data matters to you (and it should).
Listing Management & Automations: Can You Individualize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You compose a newsletter, and every person gets it. There’s no division, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all design. Straightforward, yes. Versatile, not so much.
Beehiiv, though?
You can sector your list based upon interaction, signup resource, habits– you name it. Intend to send a welcome sequence to new viewers? You can. Want to label clients based on survey actions? Yep, that also.
Judgment:
Beehiiv is an online marketer’s desire. Substack is an author’s notebook.
Pricing
Substack is practically complimentary … until you generate income. Then they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan lets you evaluate the waters with up to 2,500 clients. However to open monetization, you’ll need to upgrade:
Scale Plan begins at $49/month.
Boost based on your subscriber count.
Greater tiers provide advanced automations, referral boosts, and custom-made domains.
However once more– Beehiiv does not take a percentage of your profits. That’s a big deal.
Decision:
Substack is great if you intend to examine the waters and don’t mind quiting 10%.
Beehiiv is much better if you plan to scale– and keep even more of what you gain.
Which One’s In fact Much better?
If you’re still uncertain, below’s the no-BS reaction:.
Usage Substack if you’re a single author who wishes to send standard e-mails, connect with a community, and does not appreciate design, information, or money making Beehiiv VAT.
Pick Beehiiv if you intend to treat your e-newsletter like an organization. It’s better for severe growth, money making, automation, and division. It’s essentially what you would certainly get if ConvertKit and Substack had an infant– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Last Ideas
There’s no incorrect response right here – just devices that offer various goals.
Yet if you’re considering the long game? Want greater than simply an area to hit “release”? Desire the flexibility to construct, monetize, and make use of information to make decisions?
Beehiiv is your ideal alternative.
It’s contemporary, developed for creators and gives you the flexibility to grow your checklist exactly how you select. So if you’re serious about your newsletter experience, Beehiiv isn’t simply a system, it’s your introducing point.