Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Ghost – Your Comprehensive Guide!

So, you have actually been dabbling the idea of transforming your e-mail listing right into an earnings stream, however you’re bewildered by all the alternatives out there. Audio familiar? You’re not the only one. If you’ve been making use of a basic email service and scratching your head concerning sponsorships, advertisements, and paid memberships, it may be time to take a look at beehiiv. In this guide, I’ll stroll you via whatever you require to know about using beehiiv to transform your newsletter into cash– all from my own experience. Ready? Let’s dive in Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Ghost

Why You May be Stuck with Your Present Email System

You’ve possibly tried the normal suspects: Mailchimp, ConvertKit (now Kit), Substack, or something similar. And if you resemble most small-scale content developers, below’s what likely occurred:

• Minimal Monetization Alternatives

You have a handful of devoted customers– perhaps 500 to 1,000 people– however no simple method to make money. Sponsorships seem like an international language, and you’re not keen on cold-emailing brands on a monthly basis.

• Do It Yourself Automation Headaches

You wish to drip campaign brand-new customers, send out a welcome series, and segment individuals for targeted emails … but setting up those automations seems like you need a computer science level.

• System Fees Draw

Whenever you consider paid memberships, the platform takes a huge chunk, and the repayment configuration is more complex than it’s worth.

• Development Delays

Development hacks appear to work for every person else– but except you. You desire there was a very easy way to find new customers without by hand chasing them down.

I remained in your shoes at the start of 2024. I ‘d been utilizing Kit (previously ConvertKit), however it seemed like a stumbling block for money making. Do not get me wrong– Kit is great for developing funnels and setting up standard automations. However when it involved making a few hundred bucks a month from a small list, there had not been an apparent “on” switch.

Get in beehiiv.

My Switch over to beehiiv: A Truth Inspect

In January 2024, I lastly pulled the trigger and moved my newsletter from Kit to beehiiv. Here’s the honest truth: I didn’t have time to hound sponsors, bargain prices, or develop complicated paid funnels. I run a SEO writing organization full time, so my newsletter was always mosting likely to be a side project. I needed something that almost ran itself.

The “Sell Me” Moment

What marketed me on beehiiv was simple:

• Integrated Monetization: Right from the start, beehiiv shouts, “Hey, you can make money here!” It wasn’t an afterthought or a third-party add-on.
• Low-Effort Sponsorships: Instead of me combing LinkedIn for sponsors, beehiiv brings deals straight to my dashboard. All I have to do is click “approve,” decrease in the advertisement duplicate, and struck send out.
• Passive Revenue Boosts: By promoting other newsletters in my regular email, I make $1–$ 3 per referred client. No hefty training, no challenging analytics– simply constant, step-by-step income.

Spoiler alert: It settled. In my initial full year on beehiiv (2024 ), I pulled in $940 from ad sponsorships and boosts alone– on a listing that never topped 1,000 subscribers. I really did not develop a paid course. I really did not release an item and I simply let beehiiv do its point.

My Partner Program Windfall

As if that had not been enough, I additionally joined the beehiiv Partner Program– generally an affiliate program. By writing about beehiiv on my blog and sharing my experience with buddies, I swiped $5,108 in referral compensations with the end of 2024. Yep, you check out that right: over five grand, just by talking about the platform.

So if you’re wondering whether beehiiv is worth it for small creators or newbies, take my word: It’s a game-changer. But, of course, it isn’t flawless. Let’s break down the excellent, the bad, and the cool stuff you need to recognize.

The Advantage of Using beehiiv

1. Monetization Made Unbelievably Simple

What I like ideal regarding beehiiv is just how simple it is to earn money on autopilot. You do not need a significant target market. Below’s how it works:

• Advertisement Network Sponsorships: Once you strike just 1,000 energetic subscribers, brand names start aligning. You get 3– 6 ad demands monthly usually. You pick the ones you like, insert the duplicate, and you’re done. They ppc or see– no complicated invoicing. And because beehiiv matches you with relevant brands, your customers are more likely to click.
• Boosts Referral Revenue: Don’t have enrollers yet? Not a problem. Promote various other developer newsletters for $1–$ 3 per subscriber. It resembles Amazon’s affiliate program, but for e-mail lists. I gained several hundred bucks this way without breaking a sweat.
• Paid Subscriptions (When You prepare): Down the line, if you choose to bill for exceptional material, beehiiv takes a marginal cost (2.9% + $0.30 per deal through Stripe). You can set up several pricing tiers, run cost-free trials, and even let subscribers “call their cost.”.
• Partner Program Compensations: Not in it for the brief haul? Register for the affiliate program. Make 60% commission on beehiiv’s month-to-month or annual plans when someone register with your code. It’s literally extra money for sharing something you currently like.

In other words, beehiiv turns money making right into an integrated feature, instead of a job you fear.

2. Analytics That Do Not Make Your Head Explode

If you’ve ever before stared at a dashboard thinking, “What does any of this actually imply?”, you’ll appreciate beehiiv’s approach:.

• Clear Client Growth Charts: See precisely how many brand-new individuals joined, the amount of left, and why your checklist diminished (a lot more on that in a sec).
• Open and Click Prices: Beehiiv breaks down efficiency over the last one month, so you can spot trends today. For example, I kept an eye on my open rate (hovering around 64%– okay) and my click-through (around 3.5%). If either statistics dips, I modify my subject lines or calls-to-action.
• Monetization Dashboards: Sponsorship earnings, boosts income, partner referral earnings– you get the picture. Earnings streams are nicely divided so nothing obtains lost in the shuffle.

It resembles having a sidekick who informs you, “Hey, your January email eliminated it– below’s why,” or “Uh oh, your February open rates are tanking– let’s repair this.”.

3. Expanding Your Listing Without Selling Your Soul

Many e-newsletter systems will certainly bill you for every single additional customer after a threshold. Not so with beehiiv– for as much as 2,500 clients, it’s cost-free. You get:.

• Endless e-mail sends out.
• Accessibility to the boosts network (grow your audience by advertising your e-newsletter on other beehiiv newsletters).
• Basic analytics and types.

If you’re a newbie or have a small audience, this is significant. You can try out subject lines, send out regularity, and various lead magnets without stressing over striking a paywall.

4. Built-In Site & Custom-made Pages

Visualize dropping WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace altogether since your e-newsletter platform doubles as a website builder. That’s beehiiv in a nutshell:.

• E-newsletter Archive Pages: All your past emails survive a blog-like page that’s instantly SEO-optimized.
• Custom Landing Pages: Required a lead magnet page? A thank-you page? A page to sell a product? You can construct it right in beehiiv’s website builder.
• Mobile-Friendly Templates: Whatever looks terrific on phones– important since a lots of folks check out emails on mobile.

Certain, you will not obtain every elegant drag-and-drop that a dedicated website builder uses, however, for a lot of creators, it’s sufficient.

5. Referral Program to Turbo Charge Development

Beehiiv’s referral program is awesome if you intend to take advantage of a community of similar creators. When your customer clicks “Recommend This E-newsletter” and signs up with, both you and the referring developer obtain credit scores. It’s a clever method to grow your list without spamming.

The Downsides: What to Look out for

No item is best– and beehiiv has its missteps. Before you dive in, right here’s what could trip you up:.

Feature Overload at First

When you visit, there are so many options– Kinds, Boosts, Ads, Partner Program, Analytics, Website Builder– that it can really feel overwhelming. If you’ve only made use of a simple service that sends out one-off e-mails, you might require a couple of days to get comfortable.

Unimportant Ad Requests

Often the sponsors beehiiv matches you with have nothing to do with your specific niche. A gaming newsletter may obtain used a code-review device for developers. Make sure to decline anything that does not jive with your audience, or you’ll storage tank your click-throughs.

No Time At All Area– Based Sends Out

If your list is global, you can not instantly arrange e-mails based upon each subscriber’s time zone. All sends out go out at once, so you could get up to reduced open rates if half your listing is asleep.

Custom-made Web Page Builder Isn’t Super Instinctive

Producing a landing page is feasible, but the UI could be smoother. I invested a few hours (and a handy conversation with assistance) obtaining a freebie opt-in web page perfect. If you’re impatient or design-averse, you may find it confusing.

Restricted Integrations

If you utilize Gumroad to offer items, you run out luck– no straight integration yet. You’ll need to use embed codes or a Zapier workaround.

All that stated, beehiiv’s group is regularly rolling out updates– and those cons are gradually yet definitely being addressed.

Who Should Consider beehiiv?

Not everybody needs a fully featured e-newsletter system. Yet if any one of the adhering to defines you, beehiiv may be a match made in heaven:.

1. Absolute Beginners: You’ve never ever sent out an email blast, you do not wish to spend cash upfront, and you require a complimentary, easy way to experiment. Beehiiv allows you start free of charge, send out unlimited e-mails to up to 2,500 customers, and grow naturally with the boosts network.
2. Small-List Creators: If you already have a few hundred or a couple thousand customers yet no idea exactly how to transform that right into earnings, beehiiv’s advertisement and boost programs are tailor-made for you. In my initial 10 months, I was making regarding $92/month with a ~ 1k listing. Tolerable for coffee money, right?
3. Developers Who Despise “Salesy” Things: You don’t want to pitch products continuously or sling digital courses. You prefer to share worth, build trust, and let the cash can be found in on autopilot. Beehiiv’s ad network and boosts let you gain without crafting a four-part sales funnel.
4. Switchers Who Do Not Want to Rebuild Every Little Thing: Perhaps you get on Substack, Ghost, or Mailchimp, and your e-mail automations are a twisted mess. Beehiiv promises a smooth movement from those systems. And also, if you have a large checklist (state 10k+), you can get help from beehiiv’s assistance group to relocate whatever over without losing your automations.

Beginning: A Detailed Walkthrough

Join and Check Out the Control panel

When you create an account, beehiiv drops you into a dashboard where you see your client count, open rates, click-through rates, and any kind of pending advertisement offers. Think of it as your mission control– every little thing you require is just a click away.

Develop Your Very First Subscribe Type

Navigate to Target Market �’ Subscribe Forms �’ Produce Brand-new Form. You’ll need:

• A heading that hooks site visitors
• A short blurb clarifying what your e-newsletter has to do with
• A call-to-action button (e.g., “Join My Newsletter”)
• Your logo or an appropriate picture
• A post-subscribe message or redirect (e.g., “Many thanks for joining! Check your inbox in a sec.”)

You can pick from different kind styles: full-width, fixed-width, slim embed (just the e-mail area), or progressed (with monitoring codes). The modification alternatives are fundamental– shades for buttons and background photos– but it’s remarkably reliable for catching e-mails.

Establish Your Web Site and Custom Pages

If you desire more than simply a form, hop into Style �’ Website Builder �’ Custom-made Pages �’ Internal Web Page. Use this to:

Host your newsletter archive (all previous concerns, searchable and SEO-friendly).

Develop a landing page for a giveaway (e.g., “Download my SEO rip off sheet”).

Construct a thank-you page that goes online after a person subscribes.

I spent a few hours tweaking my first landing page, but once I got the hang of it, I realized how effective it is to have every little thing under one roof covering. As opposed to managing Leadpages, WordPress, and Mailchimp, beehiiv does it all.

Draft Your Very First E-newsletter

Click the huge “Start Writing” switch in the top-right corner. You’ll see a clean, distraction-free editor where you can:

• Create your e-mail duplicate Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Ghost
• Place pictures, headers, and custom-made HTML blocks
• Preview just how it’ll search in inboxes and on your internet site
• Schedule or send out immediately

One catch: Personalization is restricted. Every customer sees “Hello there” as opposed to “Hi [First Name]” If you require hyper-personalization, you might miss out on that. But for the majority of individuals, a pleasant, conversational introductory is enough.

Switch on Money making

Once you strike 1,000 active subscribers, beehiiv will certainly invite you to:.

• Join the Advertisement Network: Immediately get sponsorship demands that match your niche. Pick which ones to accept, insert the ad copy into your newsletter, and get paid per click/view.
• Establish Boosts: Relate to advertise other newsletters. If a person signs up with via your link, you make $1–$ 3 per subscriber.

For paid e-newsletters, navigate to Monetization �’ Paid Memberships. You’ll attach your Stripe account (beehiiv does not charge extra fees past Stripe’s processing), set your pricing plans (monthly, annual, or “Name Your Price”), and decide what material goes behind the paywall.

Screen and Maximize

Inspect your analytics weekly. If open prices go down listed below 40%, rethink your subject lines. If a sponsorship gets absolutely no clicks, it could be unnecessary to your target market– decrease comparable future ads. When a boost transforms well, send even more boost requests or fine-tune your offer.

It might seem like a whole lot in the beginning, but I guarantee you’ll get the hang of it within a couple of days. And the rewards– both economic and in regards to your target market’s development– deserve the initial curve.

Deep Dive: beehiiv’s Monetization Options

If you’re serious about turning your newsletter right into a lucrative device, let’s break down each earnings stream carefully.

1. beehiiv Partner Program (Affiliate Incomes)

Think about this as beehiiv’s affiliate program. Below’s the lowdown:.

• How It Works: You enroll in the Partner Program, order your distinct referral link, and share it on your blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, any place. When someone clicks, signs up for a paid plan (Scale or Max), you earn a commission.
• Compensation Rates: As Much As 60% of their first-year payment. If they pay $100, you might see $60. Cha-ching.
• Payment: Beehiiv pays monthly via PayPal. No minimum limit, no hoops to jump via.

In my instance, I published a Medium post walking people through my beehiiv experience (spoiler: this overview right here is part of that initiative). With a combination of blog traffic and word-of-mouth, I made over $5,000 in associate compensations by December 2024. All I did was share my real experience.

2. Boosts: Earn by Assisting Others Grow

Boosts are generally funded promos– beehiiv’s spin on a “send for pay” model. Right here’s the scoop:.

• End Up Being a Boost Sponsor: If you think your newsletter can help others grow, use in the Boosts control panel. You’ll clarify why your target market is a good fit and established a rate you ‘d pay for a new subscriber.
• Relate to Boost Others: If you desire quick subscribers, you can pay to boost your e-newsletter on various other creators’ checklists. But what many little creators enjoy is the opposite: you relate to be a boost partner for other newsletters. When somebody join via your boost, you obtain $1–$ 3
• Limitations:
  • You can send up to 25 boost provides monthly, yet beehiiv just surfaces 3 offers at once to prospective partners.
  • If a boost is carrying out well, other creators will certainly select it up rapidly.

Here’s a fast instance: In October 2024, I advertised a fellow search engine optimization designer’s e-newsletter for $1.75 per client. Over 2 weeks, I generated 200 new customers for them– and gained concerning $350 in the process. Win-win.

3. beehiiv Ad Network (Sponsored Advertisements)

This is where the huge bucks can come in, even if your listing is “small.” Right here’s exactly how it goes:

• Eligibility: You require at the very least 1,000 energetic clients and a consistent send schedule (at the very least one e-mail per month, though regular is ideal).
• Automation: When approved, you’ll begin getting 3– 5 sponsorship demands per month. Beehiiv matches you with brand names based upon your audience’s rate of interests– so a marketing SaaS firm may come close to an SEO-focused e-newsletter, for instance.
• Repayment Design:
  • Price Per Click (CPC): You generate income whenever somebody clicks the advertisement in your e-mail.
  • Cost Per Mille (CPM): You earn based upon a thousand impressions.
• Relieve of Use: You can approve or decline each deal right from your dashboard. Beehiiv handles all the invoicing. All you do is copy-paste the ad right into your e-newsletter.

In 2024, I ran 37 sponsored ads, consisting of a few top-level brand names like HubSpot. I made $632 from ads alone, with my top campaign creating $112 from 35 clicks (4.5% click-through). Bear in mind: significance is king. Unnecessary ads storage tank click-through prices, so be discerning.

4. Paid Subscriptions (” Costs Web Content”)

If you develop genuinely one-of-a-kind material– deep dive records, exclusive tutorials, or insider analyses– you could consider a paid rate. Here’s the 101:

• Arrangement: Go to Money Making �’ Paid Subscriptions, attach Stripe, and choose your pricing:
  • Regular monthly
  • Yearly (usually marked down)
  • Single payment (for a solitary overview or course)
  • Name Your Price (your customers select what they can manage)
• Revenue Split: Beehiiv doesn’t bill you a system cost; they just pass Stripe’s processing charge (2.9% + $0.30) on to you.
• Examples: If you have 100 subscribers paying $7/month, that’s $700/month = $8,400/ year (minus Stripe fees). Not bad, best? Obviously, getting to 100 paid clients indicates you need a devoted, engaged base.

Currently, be realistic: Paid memberships are a work. You need regular, high-value content that makes individuals comfortable taking out their wallets. If you’re just beginning, the advertisement network and boosts could be quicker success.

Pricing Plans: What You’ll Pay (and Obtain)

I understand pricing is a big question mark when you’re thinking of changing platforms. Right here’s the breakdown since mid-2025:.

• Free Plan (up to 2,500 clients): Great for pet projects or if you’re checking the waters. You still obtain boosts for listing development, fundamental analytics, and limitless sends out– just no ad network or paid memberships yet.
• Scale ($ 39.20/ month): Suitable if you’re serious about generating income from. You obtain ad network access, boosts, paid memberships, and the AI Composing Aide to speed up your e-newsletter development.
• Max ($ 87.29/ month): If AI devices (image generation, grammar taking care of, translation) issue to you, and you desire priority support, this is the pleasant spot. And also, you can release a mobile app for your clients.
• Enterprise (100k+ subscribers): For brand names and mega-creators who require customized migrations, service-level contracts, and progressed safety and security. Very few tiny designers require this.

My referral? Beginning on the Free plan. Obtain a feel for the control panel, expand your listing to 1,000, then upgrade to Scale once you understand you classifieds earnings and boosts.

Distinct Features Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Ghost

You may be thinking, “Okay, ads and boosts are cool. But what else can beehiiv do that others can not?” Let me highlight a couple of standout features:.

1. Sound Newsletters

Ever before considered transforming your email into a podcast-like experience? Beehiiv’s built-in audio newsletter feature immediately transforms your e-mails into spoken-word sound. No added editing and enhancing software program, no outsourcing to Fiverr– just toggle it on, and your subscribers can pay attention on the move. For active audiences who drive or work out, this is a convenient way to remain connected.

2. Customized Mobile Application for Visitors

A lot of platforms offer you a “mobile-optimized internet site.” Beehiiv goes one step even more: you can release a customized mobile application for your customers. Once they add it to their home display, your e-newsletter comes to be a one-tap experience– no inbox clutter. Visualize awakening and seeing app alerts when you go down a new issue. Discuss interaction.

3. “Call Your Price” Subscriptions

Instead of requiring everyone into $5 or $7 rates, let your most faithful followers decide what to pay. It’s a trust-building step and can result in greater life time value. I haven’t examined this feature directly yet, but for creators who really feel a bit anxious concerning rate points, it’s a wonderful alternative to experiment with.

4. beehiiv AI Collection

For those on Scale and Max plans, beehiiv’s AI devices are a godsend:

• AI Composing Assistant: Create newsletter drafts based on bullet points or subjects. For days when you’re staring at an empty page, this starts your creativity.
• AI Text Tool: Grammar, spelling, tone checks– no requirement for Grammarly. You get a tidy, polished draft that feels human Beehiiv Vs Substack Vs Ghost.
• AI Image Device: Produce custom header images or pictures without buying stock photos. Simply type a punctual, and voila.
• AI Translator: Intend to send your newsletter in numerous languages? Convert your material into Spanish, French, German, Italian, or Portuguese instantly.

These features can shave hours off content creation and assist you experiment with new styles.

Pro Tips For Prospering on beehiiv

Since you understand what beehiiv can do, right here are some insider hacks to make the most of it:

Clean Your List for Better Performance

In August 2024, I cut my customer count in half (from concerning 2,400 down to 1,200) by eliminating non-active e-mails– individuals who hadn’t opened anything in six months. My open rates jumped from ~ 45% to over 60%, which suggested advertisers paid more per click. It injured to shed subscribers, however a lean, involved listing is worth more than a bloated, easy one.

Explore Subject Lines Like a Pro

Subject lines make or break open rates. Do A/B examinations on tiny sections before sending to your entire list. Short, punchy, question-based subjects (” Ready to increase your traffic?”) frequently outperform common ones (” April Newsletter”).

Be Pickier with Advertisement Offers

If an advertisement doesn’t reverberate with your specific niche, say no. Unnecessary ads irritate viewers and container click metrics. In time, beehiiv’s algorithm will certainly learn what fits your audience– decrease enough off-topic deals, and they’ll quit sending them.

Use Boosts to Evaluate New Audiences

Got a new group you intend to discover? Attempt increasing your newsletter in an associated particular niche. The expense per client standards $1.63– but if those clients stay, it deserves it. I when increased a search engine optimization e-newsletter in a digital marketing audience and obtained an unusual uptick in retention.

Utilize AI for Faster Manufacturing

On evenings when I’m stressed out, I ask the AI Writing Assistant to prepare a rough outline: introduction, 3 main points, verdict. Then I flesh it out with my very own narratives and style tweaks. It’s not perfect, however it’s a solid foundation that conserves me 30– 45 minutes per e-mail.

Take Advantage of the Mobile App

Urge subscribers to mount your newsletter’s mobile app. In your next email, compose a fast “Exactly how to Include Our Newsletter to Your Home Screen” tutorial. More application sets up mean even more exposure, and press notices beat inbox noise.

Deal Periodic Paid-Only Web Content

Instead of making every concern complimentary, tease a “bonus offer record” once a quarter behind a paywall ($ 5–$ 7). Promote it greatly to your list. Even if you just offer 20 duplicates, that’s $100–$ 140 that offsets your monthly beehiiv bill.

Concluding: Is beehiiv Right for You?

If you’ve stuck to me this far, you probably come under among these camps:

• You’ve never ever sent a newsletter, but you’re itching to start– beehiiv’s free plan and instinctive tools are best for learning the ropes.
• You have a little listing (< 2,500) and wish to generate income from without frustrations-- beehiiv's ad network and boosts pay you for doing virtually nothing additional.
• You’re a mid-sized developer (1k+ customers) wanting to scale– beehiiv’s analytics, AI tools, and referral program assist you expand faster and make extra.
• You despise intricate e-mail systems– beehiiv strikes an equilibrium in between effective features and straightforward layout.

Sure, the feature set can really feel discouraging in the beginning, and you may get a couple of pointless ad demands. But consider this: in under a year, I made virtually $1,000 on a tiny checklist and over $5,000 in affiliate payments simply by sharing my experience. I have actually seen sufficient to know that if you invest a little bit of time learning the system, the returns can be substantial.

So, what are you waiting on? Sign up for beehiiv, discover the control panel, and let the money making engines turn. Your future self will certainly thanks when the checks roll in.