When I started my first newsletter in 2018, I figured choosing a platform would be the easy part.

Big mistake.

One Google search turned into hours of Reddit threads, comparison blogs, and feature charts that all screamed, “We’re the best for creators!” I tried Mailchimp. Dabbled in ConvertKit. Read endless Substack breakdowns. Then… I paused. For years.

It wasn’t until October 2024 that I got serious again, this time, with a real plan. I launched my newsletter and committed to showing up every week. As of today, I’m 23 weeks in and still on a roll.

What changed? I stopped obsessing over features and started thinking like a business owner.

Your email platform isn’t just a publishing tool. It affects:

• How fast you grow

• How much do you earn

• How long can you sustain the grind

I eventually landed on beehiiv, and honestly, it’s the only one that didn’t break as I scaled.

This isn’t a feature-by-feature rundown. I’ll walk you through:

• What actually matters when picking a platform

• What tripped me up on others

• Why beehiiv is the only tool built for serious newsletter growth

Let’s get into it.

Why Choosing the Right Platform Matters

You’re not just sending emails.

You’re building a content engine.

Email tools used to be about sending pretty messages. Now they’re about:

• Growth loops (referrals, partner Boosts)

• Subscriber-level analytics (how each person behaves over time)

• Automations (welcome flows, cart drops, upsells)

• Monetization (ads, paid subs, affiliate programs)

Pick the wrong platform, and you’ll outgrow it—or worse, stall out.

What shocked me most? The experience gap between platforms. Some were clunky and corporate. Others nailed simplicity but couldn’t scale.

If you’re building a newsletter that actually grows, you need more than a template library.

Platforms I’ve Tested for Sending Newsletters

Mailchimp – Reliable, but Slowly Aging

Mailchimp has history. It has features. It has… frustration.

What works:

• Visual email builder is great

• Solid e-commerce integrations

• Basic automations like cart abandonment

What breaks:

• Pricing gets expensive fast (especially with unsubscribed contacts counted)

• Segmentation tools feel clunky

• UI is bloated and hard to navigate

• User ratings are consistently poor

Verdict: Fine for Shopify stores and CRM-heavy stacks. But for modern creators? It’s often overkill.

🐝 beehiiv – Built for Creators Who Want to Scale

Use case: I launched my newsletter on beehiiv when looking for better analytics, referral growth, and automation that didn’t require Zapier or duct tape.

Here’s what changed instantly:

• Speed: I built and sent a newsletter in 12 minutes flat. The editor is built for writing, not just designing.

• Automation: I created a 3-part welcome flow, a segmentation-triggered upsell sequence, and a referral reward drip—all in a few clicks.

• Growth: with the referral program, I grew my newsletter to 100 subscribers in the first 30 days,

Favorite features:

• Dynamic segmentation (auto-updating segments like “clicked in last 7 days but hasn’t upgraded”)

• Clean, mobile-friendly templates

• Referral program + built-in monetization

• Visual analytics dashboard with subscriber-level tracking

Trade-offs:

• If you need Shopify-specific workflows or enterprise integrations, it may require a workaround

• Not built for heavily image-based designs (more writing-focused)

Verdict: If you’re writing to grow a business, beehiiv is the most focused, scalable tool I’ve used.

🧠 ConvertKit – Flexible But Feels Like a Tool, Not a System

Use case: I tested ConvertKit for a personal brand offering a free email course.

What worked:

• Tagging and visual automation workflows are intuitive

• Lead magnet delivery was seamless

• Integrations with Stripe and WordPress were helpful

Where it broke down:

• Design felt limited—emails were mostly text-based

• Managing multiple newsletters on one account was tricky

• Learning curve if you’re not used to building logic flows

Verdict: Great for solo creators who want control over their list behavior. But if you’re writing content for scale, it lacks the built-in growth engine beehiiv offers.

✍️ Substack – The Simplest Option, Until It’s Not

Use case: Used Substack to spin up a side project newsletter for fun.

What worked:

• Start writing immediately—no setup needed

• Paid subscriptions are built-in

• Social discovery from other Substack users drove early subs

What didn’t:

• No segmentation, automations, or welcome flows

• Limited control over design or layout

• Hard to build a standalone brand (Substack’s ecosystem > yours)

Verdict: Excellent for casual writing or early monetization. But limited if you’re thinking long-term.

📬 Constant Contact – Great Support, Legacy Feel

Use case: Managed an older client’s email list for a community organization.

What worked:

• Lots of templates

• Excellent support (live chat + phone)

• Integrates with event management and CRM tools

What didn’t:

• UI is clunky and slow

• Automation feels outdated

• Reporting lacked depth (especially for engagement)

Verdict: Works for nonprofits or local businesses, not for modern creators.

Comparing Features Across Platforms

Let’s go beyond the marketing sites and talk real-world usage.

📬 Templates and Customization

⚙️ Automation Capabilities

📊 Analytics & Reporting

My Recommendations for Different Needs

✅ Best for Beginners

Mailchimp – Easy templates, large knowledge base, good enough to get started.

✍️ Best for Writers Who Just Want to Publish

Substack – Minimal setup, instant monetization.

🚀 Best for Creators & Media Companies

beehiiv – Built-in growth tools, referrals, monetization, segmentation.

🧩 Best for Advanced Automations

ConvertKit – Visual workflows and tagging logic.

Tips for Maximizing Newsletter Success

1. Master Deliverability

• Use a custom domain (beehiiv makes it easy)

• Avoid spammy words

• Send consistently and warm your IP

• Safelist your sending domain

2. Automate Onboarding

• Welcome flow → Introduce your brand

• Triggered sequence → Upsell or reward based on clicks

• beehiiv Campaigns made this ridiculously easy

3. Run A/B Tests That Matter

• Subject line vs. CTA button

• Timing (weekday AM vs PM)

• Layout length (text-only vs. hybrid)

4. Segment Like a Pro

• Create “high intent” segments (clicked 2+ promos in 14 days)

• Use auto-updating conditions to keep segments fresh

• Target power users with referrals or upsells

Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Platform for Your Needs

Here’s the truth:

No platform is perfect. But some are perfect for where you are now.

If you’re just getting started and want design freedom → Mailchimp

If you just want to write and get paid → Substack

If you’re building a real business from your newsletter → beehiiv

More Creators Who Switched to beehiiv

Pure Procurement by Joël Collin-Demers

Joël left Substack for beehiiv because he needed more than a blog. He wanted a content ecosystem, not just a place to post. beehiiv gave him tools to grow, monetize, and scale—plus a culture that actually listens to creators.

Laughing Squid by Scott Beale

Scott moved his newsletter to beehiiv to tap into the Ad Network. The integration was seamless, and he diversified revenue without killing his workflow.

Trinita Wine by Nick Trimmer

Nick left ConvertKit for beehiiv because he didn’t just want to “send emails.” He wanted to build a community. beehiiv delivered with robust analytics, referral tools, and subscriber-level insights.

And if you’re serious about growth, segmentation, automation, and monetization?

👉 Sign up for beehiiv and get started for free.

You’ll thank yourself when you’re scaling your audience—and your revenue.