Selecting the right platform for your creations is an essential decision. In this blog post, we will dive deep into the comparison between Beehiiv and Substack, two popular options for creators looking to monetize their content.
Beehiiv offers an all-in-one solution with various features designed specifically for creators while Substack focuses on newsletter-based content distribution. We’ll explore the advantages of Beehiiv and Substack, including their features and pricing plans, to help you make an informed decision.
In addition, our comprehensive analysis will highlight similarities and differences between Beehiiv and Substack so that you can choose the one that best aligns with your needs as a creator. Finally, we’ll discuss key considerations when selecting a platform along with potential benefits of using both platforms in tandem.
Table of Contents:
- Beehiiv Overview
- Substack Overview
- Comparing Beehiiv and Substack
- Pricing Comparison for Beehiiv and Substack
- Final Thoughts on Choosing Between Beehiiv and Substack
- Final Thoughts on Choosing Between Beehiiv and Substack
- Frequently Asked Questions Beehiiv vs Substack
- Conclusion
1. Beehiiv Overview
In this section, we will provide an overview of the features and benefits of Beehiiv, a newsletter platform designed for content creators. We’ll also discuss its pros and cons compared to other platforms like Substack.
What is Beehiiv?
Beehiiv is a modern newsletter software that helps content creators build, grow, and monetize their email lists with ease. It offers various tools to create visually appealing newsletters, automate email campaigns, segment subscribers based on interests or behavior, and track performance metrics such as open rates and click-through rates.
Beehiiv is a comprehensive newsletter software that offers content creators plenty of features and tools to create engaging newsletters. However, Substack also provides many similar features for creating newsletters, so let’s take a look at what it has to offer.
Beehiiv is a newsletter platform designed for content creators that offers tools to create visually appealing newsletters, automate email campaigns, segment subscribers based on interests or behavior, and track performance metrics. It has an intuitive user interface and advanced segmentation capabilities but lacks the additional features of Substack like built-in blog and podcast hosting.
2. Substack Overview
In this section, we will delve into the world of Substack, a popular newsletter platform for content creators. We’ll discuss its features, pros and cons, and how it compares to other platforms like Beehiiv.
What is Substack?
Substack is a platform that enables writers and content creators to publish newsletters directly to their readers’ inboxes with ease. Founded in 2017, Substack has quickly gained popularity among independent journalists, bloggers, podcasters, and more who are looking for a simple way to monetize their work through paid subscriptions or free newsletters.
Features of Substack
- Email Newsletters: Easily create beautiful email newsletters using the built-in editor with support for rich text formatting, images, videos, audio files & more.
- Paid Subscriptions: Offer premium content behind a paywall by setting up monthly or annual subscription plans for your readers.
- Mailing List Management: Manage your subscriber list effortlessly with automatic sign-ups from landing pages & easy import/export options.
- Landing Pages:Create custom landing pages showcasing your newsletter’s unique value proposition & enticing visitors to subscribe.
- Analytics Dashboard:Gather insights on key metrics such as open rates & click-through rates (CTR) via the analytics dashboard provided by Substack. Let ‘s take a look at some advantages and disadvantages associated with using Substack as your newsletter platform:
Pros
- User-friendly Interface:Substack offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for content creators to get started quickly.
- Built-in Monetization Options:Easily set up paid subscriptions to generate revenue from your newsletters without needing third-party tools or integrations.
Substack is a powerful newsletter software that offers content creators many features and benefits. However, it’s important to compare Substack with other similar platforms such as Beehiiv in order to determine which one best suits your needs.
Substack is a tool that allows users to craft and disseminate email newsletters to their readership with ease. Its features include email newsletters, paid subscriptions, mailing list management, landing pages, and analytics dashboard. While Substack offers a user-friendly interface with built-in monetization options and community features, it has limited customization options for newsletter design and layout compared to other platforms like Beehiiv.
3. Why you should choose beehiiv over Substack
1) If you have a paid subscription you’ll likely save money
Back in 2020 I built a Substack newsletter to over 100 subscribers paying $49/m. As such I was paying Substack 10% or over $500/m.
I’m currently on the on the top beehiiv plan* called Scale which is just $99/m right up to 100K subscribers (free or paid).
2) beehiiv is pro ads
I totally respect that Substack is all about paid subscriptions for the new creator economy.
But for me at least, paid subscriptions in 2023 don’t work as well as they did.
Before moving to beehiiv I tried once more with paid subscriptions on Substack with a similar sized list, similar audience and similar offer. It bombed.
As a newsletter creator I really feel you need to embrace all the revenue streams you can, from your own one-off products, to affiliate income and sponsorships.
beehiiv has its own ad network with premium sponsors, where it can pay you as much per click as some newsletters on Sparkloop will pay for a new subscriber.
3) You can run paid ads
In beehiiv, you can create segments based on UTM source. This enables me to account for new subscribers I’m paying for using Swapstack:
4) Remove unengaged subscribers
In beehiiv you can create dynamic segments of your list who have not opened or clicked within a set period of time. This is mine:
And with one click you can add them to an automation, asking them to click or they will be unsubscribed:
This keeps your open rates, click rates and email deliverability high.
5) You get great analytics
On a paid beehiiv plan you get access to their 3D analytics which shows you exactly how well you are doing. This is for this newsletter:
6) More ways to create calls to action
If you have your own products, rather than just using a button, you can custom design your own call to action using the beehiiv blockquotes variants.
7) One click recommendations
With beehiiv, you can recommend other people’s, or your other newsletters, within emails, where people will automatically be subscribed with one click:
8) You can embed links
I can’t understate how useful this one is. With beehiiv, you’re able to embed external links within posts, which makes curating content more fun and looks way better. You can also use this feature to embed your own products.
9) In-built referral engine
With beehiiv’s own referral program, you can motivate your subscribers to refer others to your newsletter through rewards based on milestones. Here’s mine for my Digital Asset Investor newsletter:
10) Customized subscribe flow (including surveys)
When I saw that you could not only add your own thank you page in beehiiv but also direct subscribers through a customized flow I had to jump my Substack ship. This is mine for my Digital Asset Investor newsletter where I embed my product on the thank you page.
I can also add a survey into the flow, although I’m currently delivering this through an automation:
11) Boosts – a way to monetize and grow
Rather than mess around with paid social campaigns, like on Twitter where you pay per click even for conversions, with Boosts you can simply set your CPA and then have other newsletters on the platform apply to send you subscribers at that exact rate.
You also only pay for engaged subscribers:
It’d be like if you were using Facebook ads to grow, but Facebook refunded you for any subscriber who wasn’t actively engaging with your newsletter.
This truly is transformational – beehiiv just created not only the best traffic channel to grow your subscriber base (with real engaged subscribers), but also a way for every newsletter on the platform to monetize.
Similarities between the two platforms
- Email newsletters: Both Beehiiv and Substack allow users to create and send email newsletters to their subscribers with ease.
- Paid subscriptions: Both platforms offer a way for content creators to monetize their work through paid subscriptions from readers.
- User-friendly interface: Both services provide intuitive interfaces that make it easy for even beginners to get started with creating newsletters.
- Analytics tools: Content creators on both platforms have access to analytics data that helps them track subscriber growth, open rates, click-through rates, etc., enabling them to optimize their content strategy accordingly.
Differences between the two platforms
- Built-in community features: Beehiiv offers built-in community features like forums where subscribers can interact with each other as well as engage in discussions around specific topics or articles. This feature is not available on Substack at present.-
Overall, Beehiiv and Substack offer different features that cater to the needs of content creators. This article offers a thorough assessment of the pricing plans for Beehiiv and Substack, making it an ideal resource for those seeking to make a comparison between them.
4. Pricing Comparison for Beehiiv and Substack
In this section, we will delve into the pricing plans offered by both Beehiiv and Substack, providing you with a detailed comparison to help you make an informed decision when choosing a newsletter platform.
Pricing Plans for Beehiiv
Beehiiv offers three different pricing tiers designed to cater to various content creators’ needs:
- Free Plan: This plan allows users access to basic features such as email sending, subscriber management, and limited analytics. It is suitable for beginners who are just starting their newsletter journey.
- Growth Plan ($15/month): The Growth plan includes all Free plan features plus additional perks like advanced analytics, priority support, custom domains, and more. This option is ideal for creators looking to expand their audience reach.
- Premium Plan ($30/month): The Premium tier provides everything in the Growth plan along with added benefits such as team collaboration tools, white-labeling options, API access and integration capabilities. This choice caters best to established businesses or larger teams that require advanced functionality.
You can find more information on Beehiiv’s pricing plans on their official website: Beehiiv Pricing Page.
Pricing Plans for Substack
The primary difference between Substack’s pricing model compared to other platforms like Beehiiv lies in its revenue-sharing approach rather than fixed monthly fees:
- No Monthly Fees: Unlike many other platforms, Substack does not charge a fixed monthly fee for using its services. Instead, it takes a percentage of the revenue generated from paid subscribers.
- Revenue Share (10%): Substack charges content creators 10% of their subscription earnings as well as an additional payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). This means that if you earn more through your newsletter, Substack’s fees will increase proportionally.
To learn more about how Substack’s pricing works, visit their official website: Substack Pricing Page.
Differences between the two platforms’ pricing models:
Beehiiv and Substack have distinct approaches to pricing:
- Beehiiv uses tiered monthly plans with varying features based on users’ needs while offering a free plan for beginners.
- Substack operates on a revenue-sharing model without any upfront costs or monthly fees but takes a percentage of earnings made from paid subscriptions.
This difference in pricing structure is crucial when deciding which platform best suits your financial preferences and growth potential as a content creator.
When comparing the pricing plans of Beehiiv and Substack, it is important to consider your budget as well as the features each platform offers. Considering the differences between Beehiiv and Substack, let’s explore what to take into account when selecting one of these services for content production.
This section compares the pricing plans of Beehiiv and Substack. Beehiiv offers tiered monthly plans with varying features, including a free plan for beginners, while Substack operates on a revenue-sharing model without any upfront costs or monthly fees but takes a percentage of earnings made from paid subscriptions. The difference in pricing structure is crucial when deciding which platform best suits your financial preferences and growth potential as a content creator.
5. Final Thoughts on Choosing Between Beehiiv and Substack
As a content creator, choosing the right newsletter platform is crucial for your success. In this section, we will discuss some important considerations when deciding between Beehiiv and Substack, as well as potential benefits of using both platforms together.
Considerations when Choosing a Platform
- User Experience: The ease of use and overall user experience should be top-of-mind when selecting a newsletter platform. Consider which interface you find more intuitive or visually appealing.
- Pricing: Evaluate the pricing plans offered by each platform to determine which one fits your budget better. Take into account that while certain platforms may require more money in the beginning, they could provide a greater range of features or superior customer service.
- Audience Engagement Tools: Look for features like analytics, personalization options, and automation tools that can help improve audience engagement with your content.
- Email Deliverability: Ensure that the chosen platform has strong email deliverability rates so that your newsletters reach their intended recipients without being marked as spam or ending up in junk folders.
- Credibility & Reputation:: Research online reviews from other users to gauge how reliable each service is before making a decision.
Benefits of Using Both Platforms
If you’re still unsure about whether to choose Beehiiv or Substack exclusively , consider leveraging both platforms simultaneously . This approach offers several advantages :
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- Diversification: By using both platforms , you can diversify your audience and reach more potential subscribers. I’m currently leveraging Substack’s recommendations of my previous 5 newsletter there, and manually import those subscribers into beehiiv.
- Backup & Redundancy: In case of any technical issues or downtime with one platform, having your content available on another ensures that you can continue reaching out to your subscribers without interruption.
- Platform-Specific Features: Each platform may offer unique features that cater specifically to certain types of content creators. By using both, you can take advantage of these specialized tools and resources from each service.
Substack as a platform does have a powerful recommendation engine, this is from one of mine:
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Benefits of Using Both Platforms
If you’re still unsure about which newsletter software to choose after considering all factors mentioned above; there’s always an option to utilize both platforms simultaneously. Here are some potential benefits of using Beehiiv and Substack together:
- Diversify Your Content Strategy: By using both platforms, you can experiment with different content formats and strategies to see what resonates best with your audience. For example, you could use Beehiiv for long-form articles while leveraging Substack’s podcasting feature.
- Expand Your Reach: Having newsletters on two platforms increases the chances of reaching a wider audience who may prefer one platform over another. You can also cross-promote your work between the two platforms to maximize exposure.
- A/B Testing Opportunities: Utilizing both services allows you to test various aspects such as email subject lines, content layouts or even pricing plans in order to optimize engagement and conversions from your subscribers.
In conclusion, choosing between Beehiiv and Substack ultimately depends on factors like user experience, pricing plans, email deliverability, analytics & reporting tools available within each service along with multimedia support options. If none stands out as an obvious choice after careful evaluation; consider utilizing both simultaneously for maximum benefit.
Content creators must consider user experience, pricing plans, email deliverability rates, and online reviews when choosing between Beehiiv and Substack. Leveraging both platforms simultaneously can offer benefits such as diversification of audience, A/B testing, backup & redundancy in case of technical issues or downtime with one platform, and taking advantage of specialized tools from each service. Try different solutions until you discover the one that suits your needs and expectations best
Frequently Asked Questions Beehiiv vs Substack
What is the downside of Substack?
The primary downside of Substack is its limited customization options, which may not suit creators looking for a highly personalized website. Additionally, it lacks advanced analytics and integrations with other tools or platforms. Finally, Substack takes a 10% fee from subscription revenue, which might be unfavorable for some content creators.
What is better than Substack?
Beehiiv can be considered better than Substack for certain users due to its greater customization capabilities and more advanced features like automations and sales funnels. However, the choice between these two platforms ultimately depends on individual preferences and requirements as both have their unique advantages.
Why use Substack instead of a blog?
Substack offers an all-in-one platform that simplifies email newsletter creation, distribution, and monetization through paid subscriptions. This makes it easier for content creators to focus on writing without worrying about technical aspects like hosting or web design compared to managing a traditional blog.
What is the difference between Substack and newsletter?
A Substack account refers to the platform where writers create newsletters while “newsletter” denotes the actual content sent via email by those writers. In short: A newsletter is what you create using your account on platforms such as Beehiiv or.
Conclusion
In conclusion, when it comes to choosing between Beehiiv and Substack for content creators, the decision really depends on your needs. Both platforms offer great features with different pricing plans that can fit any budget. However, if you need more customization options or want a platform that is specifically tailored towards content creation then Beehiiv may be the better choice for you. If you need something user-friendly for newsletters that doesn’t require coding, then Substack could be the right pick. Ultimately both of these services provide great value and should not disappoint regardless of which one you choose in this beehiiv vs substack comparison.
* Most of the beehiiv links in this post are affiliate links – if you sign up I get a commission.
Running Digital Asset Investor newsletter