You have actually made a decision to produce a newsletter– or possibly you currently have one. Regardless, the large question before 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 alternatives around. Some are also complicated. Others are too basic. And then there are two names that keep turning up in your research: The Stories Beehiiv
They both appear strong. They’re both e-mail platforms. They both let you compose, send, and (with any luck) make money. But when it comes down to picking one, the distinctions begin to matter– a whole lot.
If you’re attempting to find out which one is actually the far better suitable for you, you’re in the best area. Let’s dive in.
What Are Beehiiv and Substack?
Substack resembles the digital version of an author’s comfortable corner. It’s a minimal system created with authors in mind– think blog satisfies e-newsletter. You compose, you publish, you struck send out. Boom. Done.
Beehiiv, on the other hand, is the newer, shinier child that’s clearly been constructed for growth. It was substantiated of the Morning Brew group (yes, that Morning Brew), and it’s created to assist e-newsletter designers not just compose and send out e-mails– however scale like crazy.
Relieve of Use: Simpleness vs Strategy
Let’s be honest– you do not intend to spend hours learning a new dashboard. You intend 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 less diversions. No frills, no templates. Simply you and your words. It’s strangely comforting. Like journaling.
There’s a factor so many authors enjoy it– it finishes.
Beehiiv? Still basic– yet with more under the hood.
You obtain a timeless, tidy editor plus the capacity to brand name your newsletter with custom templates (though these are only available on paid plans). You can modify your blog post setups, change design, and also pick writer bylines. So while it’s still straightforward, it’s certainly more robust.
Judgment:
If you desire pure simplicity, choose Substack.
If you’re all right with a few extra buttons for more control, Beehiiv wins below.
Monetization: Who Assists You Really Earn Money?
This’s crucial– particularly if you’re not just writing for fun.
Substack’s version is straightforward: it’s cost-free to make use of, once you turn on paid subscriptions, Substack takes a 10% cut– plus purchase costs. It’s plug-and-play for sure, yet that piece of profits loss can hurt as you expand.
And if you want to run ads? Well, you’re basically on your own. There’s no indigenous ad network. You’ll have to by hand deal with sponsors, settlement terms, and putting the advertisements on your own.
Beehiiv goes a different course.
It’s free to get going, yet if you desire access to monetization features (like their ad network), you’ll require a paid plan. That stated, they do not take a cut of your membership earnings (other than Stripe’s conventional handling charges). So while you pay month-to-month upfront, you keep more as you grow.
Oh– and the money making devices? Means more contemporary:
- Life time subscriptions
- ” Pay What You Desired” options
- Integrated referral programs
- An indigenous ad network to help you land enrollers without the back-and-forth
Judgment:
If you’re preparing to expand and really monetize, Beehiiv blows Substack out of the water.
Community & Engagement: The Stories Beehiiv
Newsletters aren’t almost sending out things out. They’re about pulling people in.
Substack leans into community hard.
You’ve obtained comments, likes, responds, personal messages, discussion threads– even a “Notes” section that acts like Twitter-lite. It’s slowly turning into a social platform of its very own. Some individuals enjoy that. Others? Not so much.
Nonetheless it’s a lovely ecosystem if you wish to construct conversations around your web content. It does not injure that Substack customers can uncover you through the built-in network, and you can send viewers to various other authors.
Beehiiv is … quieter.
They’ve just recently included remarks and likes, but it’s not as community-driven (yet). Individuals usually simply reply to your emails. That’s not a negative point– it maintains your inbox cleaner, and your material more direct.
Yet where Beehiiv truly radiates remains in development auto mechanics:
- Built-in referral programs
- Paid recommendations
- Cross-promotion devices to feature various other e-newsletters
Verdict:
Want to create a buzzing, social space around your e-newsletter? Substack has the side.
Trying to find built-in development engines? Beehiiv takes the lead.
Design & Adaptability: How Much Can You Make It Yours?
Let’s talk visuals. How much freedom do you reach design your e-newsletter?
Substack maintains it minimal.
You can add a logo design. Tweak a color. That has to do with it. Emails all have the same framework, and your Substack homepage? It appears like a blog site. Clean, but not incredibly personalized.
Beehiiv supplies a little bit much more versatility.
There’s a “Design Laboratory” where you can establish fonts, designs, and background colors. In the editor, you can add tables, pictures, switches, installs– the essentials. It’s not Mailchimp-level customization, yet it lets you produce an e-newsletter that really feels more like your own brand.
Verdict:
Substack is better if you want uniformity without assuming too hard.
Beehiiv gives you the tools to make your e-newsletter feel you– without going overboard.
Target Market Insights & Analytics: What Do You Actually Find Out About Your Viewers?
This part matters way more than you believe.
Substack gives you the basics.
Opens, clicks, visitors by tool. There’s a high-level view of where customers came from– however it’s not granular. You don’t truly get detailed target market information, that makes it hard to recognize what’s functioning.
Beehiiv goes much deeper.
Open and click prices? Inspect. But also– the number of people originated from X, Instagram, or your internet site. You can also see interaction by sector, location, or actions. It’s the type of information that aids you actually grow.
Verdict:
Beehiiv wins hands-down if data issues to you (and it need to).
List Monitoring & Automations: Can You Customize the Experience?
Substack is straightforward.
You write 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. Flexible, not a lot.
Beehiiv, though?
You can segment your listing based on interaction, signup source, actions– you call it. Want to send out a welcome series to new visitors? You can. Want to mark customers based upon survey actions? Yes, that as well.
Decision:
Beehiiv is a marketer’s dream. Substack is a writer’s note pad.
Pricing
Substack is practically totally free … until you make money. Then they take 10%.
Beehiiv’s free plan allows you test the waters with as much as 2,500 clients. Yet to unlock money making, you’ll require to update:
Scale Plan starts at $49/month.
Boost based upon your subscriber count.
Greater tiers use sophisticated automations, referral boosts, and personalized domains.
However once more– Beehiiv doesn’t take a percentage of your income. That’s a big deal.
Decision:
Substack is wonderful if you wish to examine the waters and don’t mind quiting 10%.
Beehiiv is better if you plan to range– and maintain more of what you earn.
Which One’s Really Better?
If you’re still undecided, here’s the no-BS response:.
Usage Substack if you’re a solitary writer who wishes to send fundamental e-mails, engage with a community, and doesn’t appreciate design, data, or money making The Stories Beehiiv.
Choose Beehiiv if you want to treat your newsletter like an organization. It’s better for severe growth, money making, automation, and segmentation. It’s primarily what you ‘d obtain if ConvertKit and Substack had a baby– with Morning Brew as the godparent.
Last Thoughts
There’s no incorrect response below – just devices that serve various objectives.
However if you’re considering the long game? Desire greater than just a place to strike “release”? Desire the flexibility to build, generate income from, and make use of information to make decisions?
Beehiiv is your ideal option.
It’s modern, developed for developers and gives you the liberty to grow your list just how you select. So if you’re serious about your e-newsletter experience, Beehiiv isn’t just a system, it’s your establishing point.