As an online entrepreneur and content creator, I have to explore various email marketing tools to run my online business. However, there are so many options available, and finding an ideal email marketing service that would meet my ever-changing needs is often challenging.
In this Beehiiv review article, I want to share my experience with using Beehiiv, how it works, and its benefits for content creators who are looking for a newsletter platform.
Before we dive into my review of Beehiiv, let me introduce you to the platform.
Beehiiv is an email marketing software designed to help content creators grow their email lists, drive engagement, and monetize their content.
With its intuitive interface and robust features, Beehiiv offers a comprehensive solution for content marketing and monetization.
If you create newsletters or want to start one, make sure to try out beehiiv.
Now, let’s dive in!
What is Beehiiv?
Beehiiv is an email newsletter platform designed by content creators, for content creators.
Launched in 2021 by a team comprising three former Morning Brew employees – Tyler Denk (CEO), Benjamin Hargett, and Jacob Hurd – along with technical advisor Andrew Platkin (CTO) who passed away on April 2022.
According to Crunchbase, the company raised its first funds on September 30th, 2021, securing a $2.6 million seed round led by Social Leverage.
This relatively new platform aims to facilitate the effortless creation, expansion, and monetization of your newsletters.
The founders are steadfast in their assertion that Beehiiv’s primary objective is to provide you with the tools to seamlessly construct, amplify, and capitalize on your newsletters.
For content creators who adeptly curate compelling content, Beehiiv offers an exceptional avenue to cultivate and profit from their personal online brands.
Despite being relatively young, Beehiiv already functions as a decent newsletter platform that has the potential to become a market giant one day.
My Experience with Beehiiv
In May 2023, I signed up for Beehiiv to test its features, and determine if it’s better than ConvertKit or Getresponse for my email list, and now is the right time to share my Beehiiv review with my readers.
I have been using Beehiiv for a while now, and my experience has been nothing short of amazing.
The platform is easy to use and offers all the tools I need to manage and grow my email list. The customer support has been fantastic and responsive, resolving any issues I’ve had in a timely manner.
In my opinion, Beehiiv is an outstanding newsletter platform for anyone interested in starting an online business.
Many of their important features are available for free, enabling content creators to experience the platform before considering an upgrade to the premium plan.
Also, Beehiiv does more than regular newsletter software. It helps you create landing pages, write blogs, and make money from your content.
Beehiiv Monetization Opportunities
Beehiiv offers several ways to monetize your email list.
Let me share with you how you can monetize your email list and make money with Beehiiv.
1. Beehiiv Partner Program.
This is Beehiiv’s affiliate program, where you can earn a commission for every new user you refer to Beehiiv.
All you have to do is follow this simple process to make money with Beehiiv’s affiliate program.
- Register as a Beehiiv partner
- Promote Beehiiv among your target audience
- Earn 50% commission from every sale during the first year for referring new paid customers to Beehiiv
2. Boosts.
Boosts are a way to speed up the growth of your email list and make extra money.
If you want to expand your email list quickly, Beehiiv gives you the chance to promote your newsletter to a large number of interested Beehiiv readers who match your target audience. On Beehiiv’s Boosts page, they mention that it costs about $1.63, on average, to get a new active subscriber through this.
If you’re interested in making money with your newsletter on Beehiiv, you can apply to promote other newsletters and get paid for each new subscriber you bring in.
Just remember, you’ll need to create a Stripe account to receive your Boost earnings.
To understand more about how you can earn money through Boosts, you can watch this informative video.
3. Beehiiv Ad Network:
The Beehiiv ad network offers newsletter creators the opportunity to collaborate with top-tier brands and earn money by featuring ads in their emails. This network connects brands with newsletters based on reader demographics such as age and interests, ensuring targeted advertisements.
To join the Beehiiv ad network, you need over 1,000 subscribers and to actively send emails through Beehiiv.
Once accepted, you’ll start receiving ad offers from Beehiiv, which you can accept or decline. For placing ads that generate revenue, you’ll earn a portion.
This is an excellent way to monetize your newsletter and reach a wider audience. Beehiiv manages ad placement and reporting, eliminating that concern for you.
4. Subscriptions:
Beehiiv offers content creators an opportunity to generate consistent revenue through paid email subscriptions.
You can create premium content and offer it to your subscribers for a monthly or annual fee.
Unlike other platforms, Beehiiv doesn’t charge any fees for hosting paid newsletters. Instead, it incurs only a nominal processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30, facilitated through Stripe, its trusted payment processor.
Through Beehiiv’s subscription model, you gain the ability to:
- Set up a paywall to protect your exclusive content (premium content).
- Provide a range of pricing plans tailored to your audience.
- Offer monthly and yearly plans
- Create custom offers and free trials directly on the platform
- Effectively monitor your subscription-based earnings.
- Promote your paid newsletter
Let’s consider the potential annual earnings from Beehiiv’s paid subscriptions. Imagine having a subscriber base of 200 individuals, each subscribing at $4.99 per month.
However, making money from an email list can be tough, even for experienced creators. Therefore, it’s best to try different monetization options offered by Beehiiv and see what suits you best.
Beehiiv pricing
Even though Beehiiv offers free features, advanced functionalities like monetization options are exclusive to users of the Grow, Scale, and Enterprise plans.
Beehiiv offers four pricing plans:
1. Launch: For those just getting started
2. Scale: For those serious about growth
3. Max: For the world’s top newsletters
4. Enterprise: You’re a newsletter powerhouse and have no intention of slowing down
I’ve designed the following table to provide you with a clearer grasp of the features included in each Beehiiv plan and to assist you in determining the plan that best aligns with your needs.
| Plan | Launch | Scale | Max | Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $0 (No commitment) | $39/month (Billed monthly) | $99/month (Billed monthly) | Custom pricing |
| Subscriber Limit | Up to 2,500 subscribers | Up to 1,000 subscribers | Up to 1,000 subscribers | Custom (100k+ subscriber limits) |
| Includes | – Custom Website | – Everything in Launch + | – Everything in Scale + | – Everything in Max + |
| – Custom Newsletters | – Ad Network | – Remove Branding | – Concierge Onboarding | |
| – Campaign Analytics | – Boost Network | – Teams (Unlimited Seats) | – Designated Account Manager | |
| – Unlimited Email Sends | – Paid Subscriptions | – Up to 10 Publications | – Dedicated IP Addresses | |
| – Up to 3 Publications | – Email Automations | – Priority Live Support | – Infinite Subscribers | |
| – Recommendation Network | – Referral Program | – Audio Newsletter | ||
| – Optimized Deliverability | – 3D Analytics | – RSS to Send (New) | ||
| – Subscriber Tagging | – Beehiv AI | – NewsletterXP Course | ||
| – Audience Segmentation | – Survey Forms & Polls | |||
| – Custom Domains | – Teams (3 Seats) | |||
| – API Access | – Slack Community Access | |||
| – Webhooks | ||||
| – Live Support |
How do I create a landing page on Beehiiv?
For newcomers to this platform, you might be curious about how to create a landing page on Beehiiv. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
- Navigate to Settings > Publication > General to create a dedicated landing page for your target audience.
- Filling in the required information, uploading images, and indicating the response email takes a few minutes.
If you decide to go for the Grow plan ($49 per month), you can have your own special website address (Custom Domain). With the free plan, you’re limited to making just one landing page, which Beehiiv names a “Publication.”
If you want to have multiple publications, you’ll need the Scale plan, priced at $99 per month.
The customization options for publications are a bit restricted. Nevertheless, the clean and tidy design ensures that your visitors focus mainly on the most crucial thing – the sign-up form.
Here’s an example of what my publication looks like on Beehiiv. I’m using the free plan.
What are Beehiiv alternatives?
While Beehiiv offers a great set of features, there are other email marketing services that you might want to consider:
Mailchimp:
Known for its easy-to-use interface and comprehensive set of features.
ConvertKit:
Popular among bloggers and creators for it’s features.
Coverkit is a more established platform known for its powerful automation capabilities.
It is also a good choice for creators who want to integrate their email marketing with other platforms, such as WordPress and Teachable.
Substack:
Known for its simplicity and focus on writing, making it a great choice for writers and journalists.
How does Beehiiv Compare To Other Platforms?
Beehiiv vs Medium:
Medium and Beehiiv share the fact that both allow you to blog. Medium got better discoverability because they have their own algorithm and newsfeed. But you can’t send out emails with Medium because Medium ain’t an autoresponder.
Beehiiv vs Substack:
Substack is the closest competitor to Beehiiv. Beehiiv has way more autoresponder options than Substack. Substack has better discoverability.
Beehiiv vs ConvertKit:
ConvertKit is an autoresponder per say. Not a blogging platform. ConvertKit will be better if you look for a real autoresponder.
What sets Beehiiv apart from competitors?
Beehiiv stands out from its competitors due to its unique blend of user-friendly design, innovative features, and a focus on fostering meaningful connections between content creators and their audiences.
Its streamlined interface, coupled with advanced customization options, enables creators to craft engaging newsletters easily.
Additionally, Beehiiv’s emphasis on community building and interaction distinguishes it, making it a platform where subscribers can actively engage with creators and fellow readers.
This combination of usability, features, and community engagement sets Beehiiv apart in the competitive newsletter platform landscape.
Can I use Beehiiv for free?
Yes, you can use Beehiiv for free. The platform offers a free plan that provides basic features and functionality for content creators to start and manage their email newsletters. This allows you to get a feel for the platform and its capabilities without any cost.
However, Beehiiv also offers premium plans with additional features and benefits for those who require more advanced tools and customization options.
These premium plans may come with a monthly subscription fee, but they offer enhanced functionality and support for content creators looking to take their newsletters to the next level.
So, while you can use Beehiiv for free, there are options to upgrade to paid plans if you need more advanced features and support.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Beehiiv worth the price?
In my opinion, yes. Given the robust features and monetization opportunities, Beehiiv offers great value for its price.
2. Is Beehiiv easy to use?
Yes. Beehiiv has an intuitive interface that makes it easy to use, even for beginners.
3. Can I switch from another platform to Beehiiv?
Yes. Beehiiv offers a migration tool that makes it easy to import your subscribers from another platform.
4. Is Beehiiv legit?
Yes, Beehiiv is Legit. And with my experience I found Beehiiv to be an excellent email newsletter platform with all the features you need to grow.
5. Can you make money on beehiiv?
Yes, Beehiiv offers content creators an opportunity to create recurring revenue through paid subscriptions. Beehiiv doesn’t charge any fees for paid newsletters, and they only take a 2.9% + $0.30 processing fee from Stripe, their payment processor.
6. What is the difference between Substack and beehiiv?
The main difference between Substack and Beehiiv is that Substack is an email newsletter platform that lets writers create, distribute, and charge for their content. Meanwhile, Beehiiv is an email newsletter platform built with an ad network to help writers grow and monetize their audiences.
7. Does Beehiiv have newsletter templates?
The Beehiiv team says you can customize fonts, colors, spacing, and more. Their newsletters also look good in all email boxes. I couldn’t find how to change their template, but they might add more options later.
Conclusion: Beehiiv Review
I hope this Beehiiv review has been helpful to you by now.
In conclusion, Beehiiv is a robust email marketing platform that offers a host of features and monetization opportunities.
Whether you are a blogger, a creator, or a small business owner, Beehiiv can help you grow your email list and monetize your content.
Have you used Beehiiv yet? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments. Your feedback matters!
