You’ve made a decision to create a newsletter– or possibly you currently have one. No matter, the huge inquiry in front of you is: What device should you use to grow, and probably generate income from, your newsletter?
And yeah … it’s overwhelming. There’s no scarcity of choices available. Some are also complex. Others are too standard. And afterwards there are two names that maintain turning up in your research: Phil Plait Beehiiv
They both appear strong. They’re both e-mail systems. They both let you create, send out, and (with any luck) make money. But when it boils down to picking one, the distinctions start to matter– a whole lot.
If you’re trying to determine which one is really the better suitable for you, you remain in the right location. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack is like the digital version of an author’s cozy corner. It’s a minimalist system developed with authors in mind– believe blog site fulfills newsletter. You create, you publish, you struck send. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the newer, shinier youngster that’s clearly been constructed for growth. It was born out of the Morning Brew group (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s designed to aid newsletter makers not just write and send emails– however scale like crazy.
Ease of Use: Simplicity vs Strategy
Let’s be sincere– you don’t intend to invest hours learning a brand-new dashboard. You intend 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 diversions. No fuss, no templates. Just you and your words. It’s oddly reassuring. Like journaling.
There’s a reason so many authors enjoy it– it gets out of the way.
Beehiiv? Still easy– yet with more under the hood.
You obtain a classic, clean editor plus the ability to brand your newsletter with custom templates (though these are only readily available on paid plans). You can modify your article setups, change format, and also select author bylines. So while it’s still user-friendly, it’s certainly more robust.
Verdict:
If you want pure simpleness, select Substack.
If you’re all right with a couple of extra buttons for even more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Money making: Who Helps You Really Make Money?
This set’s vital– especially if you’re not simply composing for enjoyable.
Substack’s version is straightforward: it’s totally free to make use of, once you turn on paid subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus deal costs. It’s plug-and-play for sure, however that chunk of earnings loss can sting as you expand.
And if you want to run ads? Well, you’re basically by yourself. There’s no indigenous ad network. You’ll have to manually handle enrollers, repayment terms, and putting the advertisements on your own.
Beehiiv goes a various path.
It’s free to start, however if you desire access to money making features (like their ad network), you’ll need a paid plan. That claimed, they do not take a cut of your subscription income (except Stripe’s common processing fees). So while you pay regular monthly upfront, you maintain more as you expand.
Oh– and the money making devices? Way extra contemporary:
- Lifetime subscriptions
- ” Pay What You Want” alternatives
- Integrated referral programs
- An indigenous advertisement network to assist you land sponsors without the back-and-forth
Decision:
If you’re intending to grow and truly monetize, Beehiiv blows Substack out of the water.
Community & Interaction: Phil Plait Beehiiv
E-newsletters aren’t almost sending out stuff out. They have to do with pulling people in.
Substack leans right into community hard.
You’ve obtained remarks, likes, responds, personal messages, conversation threads– even a “Notes” section that imitates Twitter-lite. It’s slowly becoming a social system of its very own. Some individuals enjoy that. Others? Not a lot.
However it’s a beautiful environment if you wish to develop discussions around your material. It does not hurt that Substack individuals can discover you using the built-in network, and you can send out viewers to various other writers.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They have actually lately included comments and likes, however it’s not as community-driven (yet). People usually just reply to your e-mails. That’s not a poor point– it keeps your inbox cleaner, and your content extra direct.
Yet where Beehiiv truly beams remains in development mechanics:
- Integrated referral programs
- Paid referrals
- Cross-promotion devices to feature various other e-newsletters
Decision:
Wish to produce a buzzing, social area around your newsletter? Substack has the side.
Trying to find built-in growth engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Style & Versatility: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s speak visuals. How much liberty do you get to develop your e-newsletter?
Substack maintains it marginal.
You can include a logo design. Fine-tune a shade. That’s about it. Emails all have the same structure, and your Substack homepage? It appears like a blog site. Clean, but not incredibly customizable.
Beehiiv offers a little bit more adaptability.
There’s a “Style Laboratory” where you can set typefaces, styles, and history colors. In the editor, you can add tables, pictures, switches, embeds– the basics. It’s not Mailchimp-level modification, yet it lets you create an e-newsletter that really feels more like your very own brand name.
Verdict:
Substack is much better if you desire uniformity without believing too hard.
Beehiiv gives you the devices to make your newsletter feel you– without overdoing it.
Audience Insights & Analytics: What Do You Really Know About Your Visitors?
This component matters method more than you think.
Substack gives you the fundamentals.
Opens, clicks, readers by gadget. There’s a top-level sight of where subscribers originated from– yet it’s not granular. You don’t actually get detailed audience information, that makes it tough to understand what’s functioning.
Beehiiv goes much deeper.
Open up and click prices? Check. Yet also– the number of people originated from X, Instagram, or your internet site. You can also see involvement by section, area, or habits. It’s the type of data that helps you in fact expand.
Decision:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if data matters to you (and it ought to).
Checklist Monitoring & Automations: Can You Personalize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You write a newsletter, and every person gets it. There’s no division, no tags, no automations. It’s a one-size-fits-all model. Straightforward, yes. Adaptable, not a lot.
Beehiiv, though?
You can sector your checklist based upon interaction, signup source, behavior– you name it. Wish to send a welcome sequence to new visitors? You can. Wish to mark customers based upon survey actions? Yeah, that as well.
Decision:
Beehiiv is an online marketer’s desire. Substack is an author’s note pad.
Pricing
Substack is practically cost-free … up until you earn money. After that they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan allows you test the waters with as much as 2,500 subscribers. However to open money making, you’ll require to update:
Scale Plan starts at $49/month.
Boost based upon your client matter.
Higher tiers use innovative automations, referral boosts, and customized domain names.
Yet once again– Beehiiv does not take a percentage of your earnings. That’s a big deal.
Verdict:
Substack is great if you want to check the waters and do not mind surrendering 10%.
Beehiiv is better if you plan to scale– and maintain even more of what you earn.
Which One’s Actually Better?
If you’re still unsure, below’s the no-BS feedback:.
Usage Substack if you’re a solitary author who intends to send standard emails, connect with a community, and does not respect style, data, or money making Phil Plait Beehiiv.
Select Beehiiv if you wish to treat your e-newsletter like a service. It’s much better for significant development, money making, automation, and division. It’s generally what you would certainly get if ConvertKit and Substack had an infant– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Final Thoughts
There’s no wrong answer here – just devices that serve different goals.
Yet if you’re taking into consideration the long video game? Want more than just a place to strike “release”? Desire the freedom to construct, generate income from, and make use of data to choose?
Beehiiv is your finest alternative.
It’s contemporary, built for designers and offers you the liberty to expand your list just how you select. So if you’re serious about your newsletter journey, Beehiiv isn’t simply a platform, it’s your establishing factor.