Are you after the ultimate email marketing platform? Well, look no further because today we’re diving headfirst into the ultimate showdown: CovertKit vs. Beehiiv.
We’ll do a breakdown of their strengths, weaknesses, and unique features. So, get ready to discover which one will fit your needs like a glove.
Rest assured that by the end of this post, you’ll have a clear winner in mind. Let’s get to it!
A Brief History of ConvertKit
In 2013, blogger and creator Nathan Barry set out to find the optimal way to connect with his audience and sell his books and courses.
Frustrated with generic tools, he teamed up, took the plunge, and created ConvertKit.
Although their initial goal of reaching $5,000 in monthly recurring revenue fell short, they didn’t give up.
With the encouragement of Hiten Shah, co-founder of CrazyEgg and KISSmetrics, ConvertKit doubled down on its mission in 2014.
They invested $50,000 focused on marketing to professional bloggers and adopted a direct sales approach.
And it paid off.
In 2017, they redesigned their platform, introducing visual automation and user-friendly features.
Today, ConvertKit runs as an independent company, with its focus still set on empowering creators.
A Brief History of Beehiiv
Co-founders Tyler Denk and Benjamin Hargett, alongside the engineering whiz Jake Hurd, got their hands dirty at Morning Brew. They honed their skills in growing newsletters.
They went all out, implementing stuff like referral programs, SEO optimization, and easy social sharing. Bam! Subscriber counts went from a humble 100k to a jaw-dropping million.
While others struggled to replicate that magic, fumbling with clunky systems and having zero insights about their audience, the trio had a lightbulb moment. That’s when Beehiiv was born.
Enter Andrew Platkin, the tech guru who joined the gang as a technical advisor. Armed with his guidance, Beehiiv levels up even more.
Investors were skeptical, but they managed to secure a whopping $2.6 million in seed funding.
ConverKit vs. Beehiiv: Going Head-to-Head
What better way to test how ConvertKit and Beehiiv stack up against each other than by listing their strengths and weaknesses?
Here we go!
ConvertKit Strengths
Let’s start with ConvertKit, one of the bigger names in this industry.
Simple to Use
If you’re a newbie dipping your toes into the world of newsletters and feeling a bit overwhelmed, don’t worry. ConvertKit has your back, making the whole process seamless.
Here’s a small breakdown:
- Easy-peasy account creation: No fuss, no headaches.
- User-friendly interface: Everything is right where you need it.
- Hassle-free features: You’re up and running in just a few clicks.
Now, I can sense what you’re thinking — “Okay, it’s a decent email marketing tool. It all sounds a bit too generic.”
But let me tell you, ConverKit is a real OG in the newsletter game. Others probably took cues from them, not the other way around.
Let’s talk about the good stuff that creators care about:
- Segmentation: Target your audience like a pro.
- Tagging system: Organize your subscribers with a breeze.
- Automation: Set it and forget it; let ConvertKit do the heavy lifting.
And that’s just scratching the surface. ConvertKit keeps things sleek and straightforward, especially in its text editor.
They call it a ‘broadcast,’ and boy, does it make life easier. The clean layout lets you focus on your content while customizing it effortlessly.
Plus, ConvertKit gives you options. From simple welcome emails to mind-boggling marketing funnels that could launch a rocket, they’ve got it all to help you make that money.
Ok, if you’re sold on testing out ConvertKit here’s my link to get you started (I’m not sure if you get special pricing or not??)
Free Plan
On a tight budget? That’s alright.
One of the reasons why I think ConvertKit is a great choice for new creators is its free plan.
Currently, there are three CK plans, and the free one can accommodate up to 1,000 subscribers.
So, what can you do with this free plan? It includes all the fantastic features that make CK shine, like broadcasts, unlimited landing pages, forms, and even a creator library.
You even have the opportunity to sell digital products, like eBooks! Not many competitors offer that kind of flexibility.
As long as your subscriber count stays below the limit, you can enjoy the free plan as long as you like.
Once you exceed it, the starting price for paid plans is reasonable, considering your growing audience and the money you should be making at that stage.
Flexible Monetization
ConvertKit has awesome monetization features built right into the platform that let you rake in those dollars from your subscribers.
You can sell various digital goodies using CK’s Earn tab. Think newsletters, digital courses, digital assets like eBooks or images, and even consultations and coaching.
It’s super simple to set up.
Just choose the product type, set the price and billing frequency, upload your assets, pick the URL that showcases your offerings, and you’re good to go.
You can jazz up the landing page to match your personal brand.
And ConverKit has this cool feature called the “tip jar.” It works like a real one where your fans can show their support and appreciation for your efforts.
The best part? CK only takes a teeny 0.6% cut from your sales (plus the standard credit card fees).
Ad Network
Finding sponsorships and brand deals can open up exciting opportunities for creators with a large audience.
But let’s face it; the aftermath can be a real drag.
I’m talking about endless inquiries, price negotiations, payment follow-ups, and result reporting. It can use up a substantial chunk of your time.
Enter ConvertKit Sponsor Network (CKSN), your secret weapon for staying focused on what you do best: creating awesome content.
CKSN acts as a matchmaker, connecting advertisers with creators like you. They’ll handle all the nitty-gritty tasks that make your head spin.
To join CKSN, you’ll need a subscriber count of at least 10,000. ConvertKit will charge a 20% commission on the total sponsorship revenue, which is a small price to pay for the convenience and extra cash flow they bring your way.
Decent Customization
The look of your content matters. We know it, and so does ConvertKit.
That’s why they have stunning templates for newsletters, landing pages, and forms.
With CK, you can make a visual impact without starting from scratch. You can easily customize elements like font colors, sizes, background colors, and button styles.
ConvertKit even allows you to unleash your creativity with custom CSS.
One feature that creators love is content snippets. These reusable blocks of content are perfect for those repetitive tasks. Create them once and use them forever, streamlining your workflow.
Beehiiv Strengths
Now let’s put Beehiiv under the microscope, a newcomer that aims to dethrone the OGs.
Monetization with 0% Cut
Beehiiv offers a unique advantage when it comes to monetizing your own newsletter. Unlike any other newsletter platform, they don’t take a cut of your revenue from memberships.
So, as your earnings grow, you won’t have to give a bigger potion. The only deductions you’ll see are the standard Stripe fees, typically ranging from 2%-3.5%.
Setting up memberships is a breeze on Beehiiv. Just connect your Stripe account, and you’re ready to roll. No need to fuss with plugins or complicated installations.
Stellar SEO
Creators understand the vital role of SEO in drawing in more visitors and turning them into paying subscribers.
The exciting news is that Beehiiv has a strong focus on SEO, offering features like:
- Custom domain
- XML Sitemap
- Schema markup
- Robots.txt
- Noundex URL
In the early stages of its development, Beehiiv’s SEO features had some drawbacks. However, the team has diligently addressed most of these issues, resulting in a solid SEO foundation available with their higher tiers.
There is room for further improvement, sure, but overall, Beehiiv’s SEO toolkit is commendable.
Ok, if you’re sold on trying out Beehiiv, my link will get you a 20% discount for 3 months.
No Software to Install
When it comes to Behiiv, there’s one thing they absolutely nail: simplicity.
I mean, who wants to struggle through a complicated user experience? Not us, right?
In less than two minutes, you’ll be all set to dive into the world of content creation with Beehiiv. No hassle at all.
You can even import your existing content if you want, or you start creating your very first newsletter.
You don’t have to worry about pesky software updates, either. Beehiiv takes care of all that technical stuff for you.
Hybrid Tool
Beehiv breaks free from the mold of typical newsletter tools, offering you a refreshing hybrid platform.
It’s your website, and newsletter hub rolled into one!
And, of course, you’re in complete control. When it’s time to share your content, Beehiiv gives you the freedom to choose your approach.
You can opt to display it on your website or go the intimate route by sending it straight to the inbox of your dedicated subscribers (or both).
Best of all, it’s a user-friendly experience tailored to direct your focus on what genuinely matters: creating content that resonates with your audience.
Integrations
By seamlessly connecting different tools, you can streamline communication, save time, and enjoy increased flexibility.
With Beehiiv, you can integrate with popular tools like WordPress, Wix, Shopify, and Zapier, expanding your capabilities.
And don’t worry; Beehiiv ensures your data’s security by providing unique API keys for each integration. If you ever decide to end one, simply delete the corresponding key to halt data sharing.
Highly Customizable Emails
When it comes to email aesthetics, Beehiiv knows how to level up your game. It may seem like a minute detail, but trust me; it adds some serious value to your work.
With Beehiiv, you make your emails look exactly how you want, from the font style, color, and size, to the spacing between the elements.
The best part? You don’t need to be a code ninja to do it. Just use the intuitive buttons and sliders, and voila, you can instantly see how your email will look.
Last year, Beehiiv took things up a notch, adding even more creative freedom. They introduced email bylines and custom footers, giving your emails that extra touch of professionalism.
Strong Analytics
You know what could quickly get on your nerves as a creator? Using newsletter tools that lack solid analytics.
Fortunately, Beehiiv is here to save the day with its impressive analytics capabilities.
You can forget about searching for external analytics tools or struggling to gather insights from scattered sources.
With Beehiiv, everything you need is right there on the platform.
As soon as you jump into your dashboard, you’re greeted with a detailed overview of the past 30 days, complete with percentage variations compared to the previous period.
So, what kind of insights can you expect? Well, Beehiiv covers all the essentials. You get a clear view of your active subscriber numbers, average open rate, and average click rate.
Plus, they go the extra mile by providing pertinent subscriber info, recent signups, and a breakdown of your free and paid subscription bases.
But here’s the real game-changer — the click rate.
This mighty metric tells you the percentage of engaged subscribers who click on the links in your newsletters. This will help you measure the effectiveness of your content!
Multiple Newsletters Under a Single Account
Beehiiv understands the diverse needs of creators, which is why they offer the remarkable ability to manage multiple newsletters under one roof! It’s one of the first platforms in the industry to do so.
No more grappling with separate accounts and logins for each newsletter. With Beehiiv, you can streamline your workflow and expand your offerings without the unnecessary “jumping through hoops.”
You can create and oversee newsletters for different categories. Whether you’re curating sports updates, political insights, or health tips, Beehiiv empowers you to handle it all.
But please be advised that this feature is limited to advanced users on a paid plan. It’s a worthwhile investment that will help your business(es) grow, though!
Automation and Segmentation
You can supercharge your email marketing with Beehiiv’s segmentation features, which you can do in two ways:
Static: Manually divide your subscribers into segments during creation, providing a one-time snapshot without updates.
Dynamic: Automatically update your segments daily as new subscribers join or existing members no longer meet the criteria that you’ve set.
And Beehiiv goes beyond segmentation with its email automation capabilities. You can create automated email sequences triggered by subscriber actions, like signing up or upgrading to a premium offering.
ConvertKit Weaknesses
Not Good Enough for Blogging
I know ConvertKit is not a blogging platform, so I can’t judge it as such. However, they have been making strides to incorporate blogging capabilities into their offerings.
But compared to Beehiiv, it’s really obvious that their efforts are in the early stages.
Currently, ConvertKit allows creators to display a feed of their recent newsletters on their creator page.
While it’s not a full-fledged blogging experience, it does provide a way to showcase content and gain online visibility for emails. It’s a step towards bridging the gap between newsletters and blogging.
Limited Testing
ConvertKit’s testing features are pretty basic, as they only offer A/B testing for subject lines. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to test email content, images, or send times.
Beehiiv Weaknesses
Limited Free Plan
Beehiiv’s generous free option allows you to grow your subscriber list up to 2,500, which is higher than most of its competitors.
However, if you’re looking for sophisticated functionalities like SEO, custom domain, paid newsletters, integrations, and more, you’ll need to upgrade to one of their paid plans.
The free plan also doesn’t allow team member access, so if collaboration is important to you, upgrading is a must… and it’s not going to be cheap.
Limited Range of Customization for Websites
Behiiv falls short in terms of site customization, especially when you compare it to its robust newsletter features.
While you can make minor adjustments, such as changing button colors, selecting fonts, and toggling between light or dark modes, the customization options are severely limited beyond these basic changes.
No Code Injection
The absence of code injection means relying on Google Analytics alone. If you’re used to third-party analytics tools, this is a major drawback.
And with the rise of cookie-less analytics platforms like Fathom or Plausible, Beehiiv’s lack of code injection will keep you from getting more detailed user insights.
Plus, the platform restricts the embedding of CSS or JavaScript. This can be frustrating for advanced users looking for more customization options. This also means that there isn’t a native comment system for posts.
Pricing
Pricing is often a crucial metric for creators, especially when they’re first starting out. So, I’ll leave ConverKit’s and Beehiiv’s pricing structures here:
ConvertKit Pricing
- Free (up to 1,000 subscribers)
- Creator ($25/month for 1,000 subscribers)
- Creator Pro ($50/month for 1,000 subscribers)
*Rates are dependent on your number of subscribers. Please use the slider on their pricing page.
Beehiiv Pricing
- Launch (free up to 2,500 subscribers)
- Grow ($42/month up to 10,000 subscribers)
- Scale ($84/month up to 100,000 subscribers)
- Enterprise (contact Beehiiv for rates)
Related Reading: Why I Love Beehiiv – Click Here To Learn More!
Final Thoughts
Ok, it’s time for me to Bee real with you for a second.
I have respect for Convertkit, but…
I actually moved my email newsletter from their platform to Beehiiv a few years back when I was frustrated with how Convertkit handled their annual billing plans.
I won’t go into details, but I made an entire video about it if you’d like to watch.
