Sayani Hazra
Customer Engagement Platform Fit
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9/10
(Sprout Score)
Product is rated as #2 in category Newsletter Tools
Substack is a popular online platform that enables writers and content creators to publish and monetize their work through newsletters.
PROS:
- Easy Publishing
- Monetization Opportunities
- Direct Relationship with Subscribers
- Customization and Branding
- Discoverability
CONS:
- Limited Design Options
- Dependency on Substack Platform
- Revenue Sharing
- Limited Audience Reach
- Potential Oversaturation
Details about Substack
Substack is a popular online platform that enables writers and content creators to publish and monetize their work through newsletters. It has gained significant attention in recent years as a platform that empowers individual writers to connect directly with their audience and build a loyal subscriber base.
With Substack, writers can create and distribute their content easily, offering a range of subscription options to readers who are interested in their work. This platform provides a seamless experience for both writers and subscribers, fostering a direct and personal relationship between them.
One of the key advantages of Substack is its user-friendly interface, which allows writers to focus on their content creation without the need for technical expertise. Platform handles the logistics of managing subscriptions, payments, and email delivery, simplifying the process for writers and freeing up their time to concentrate on producing high-quality content.
Substack offers a range of features to enhance the publishing experience. Writers can customize their newsletters, engage with their subscribers through comments and discussions, and even offer exclusive content or perks to premium subscribers. This flexibility allows writers to tailor their offerings and build a sustainable income stream from their writing. For creators looking for alternatives with more advanced email features, MailerLite is worth exploring.
Additionally, Substack provides a discoverability element, making it easier for readers to find and subscribe to newsletters that align with their interests. Platform curates content in various categories, enabling readers to explore and discover new writers and topics they care about. In comparison, platforms like Ghost are often chosen by writers who want more control over branding and hosting.
Substack has emerged as a powerful platform that empowers writers to monetize their content and connect directly with their audience. It offers a straightforward and intuitive publishing experience while providing readers with access to valuable, curated content. Whether you’re a writer looking to monetize your work or a reader seeking insightful newsletters, Substack presents an exciting opportunity to engage with meaningful content in a personalized and convenient manner. Some businesses, however, may find that Kit offers a more integrated approach when advanced automation and ecommerce features are required.
Substack provides a comprehensive platform for writers to publish, monetize, and engage with their audience through newsletters. It offers a range of features and tools that empower writers to build a dedicated subscriber base, monetize their content, and establish their presence in the online publishing landscape.
Pros of Using Substack
What I have always appreciated about Substack is how incredibly easy it is to just start writing. Unlike Ghost, which gives you more control but demands a bit of setup, Substack feels like opening a blank notebook, you just begin. I remember signing up one evening, and within 20 minutes I had my first post sent out. No plugins, no wrestling with templates, no tech headaches.
Another real advantage is the direct relationship you form with readers. When I compare this to my experiments with MailerLite, which is excellent for small business marketing automation, Substack is stripped down, it is about you, your writing, and the inbox. That simplicity is powerful if your primary goal is building trust with subscribers rather than juggling advanced funnels.
Monetization is built-in, which is a nice touch. Ghost and Beehiiv also offer ways to gate content or monetize, but Substack’s native subscription model feels more organic. When I turned on paid options, I didn’t need extra integrations; it just worked. For creators, especially solo writers or podcasters, that seamlessness matters.
Discoverability is another underrated perk. Substack recommendation engine has surprised me, half of my early growth came from other writers recommending my work. Contrast that with platforms like Kit, which is great for managing segmented lists but does not have that organic writer-to-writer referral ecosystem. Substack encourages collaboration instead of competition, and I have benefited from that network effect more than once.
Email delivery is outstanding. I have tested campaigns across multiple providers, including Mailchimp and MailerLite, but Substack consistently lands in inboxes. That reliability is critical, what is the point of writing if your work ends up in spam?
Cons of Using Substack
That said, Substack is not without frustrations. Biggest for me has been design limitations. Coming from Ghost, where I could tweak every pixel, Substack feels restrictive. Emails look clean, but they also look nearly identical to every other Substack in my inbox. If you’re design-conscious or running a branded business, this can be a dealbreaker.
Another drawback is dependency. With Ghost or Podia, I own my infrastructure and can customize how my business runs. On Substack, I play by their rules. Their terms of service can shift, and at the end of the day, I’m still building on “rented land.” That unease is real, especially after seeing peers lose access to their accounts due to compliance issues.
Revenue sharing also stings. Substack takes 10% of paid subscriptions, plus Stripe fees. It may sound minor, but once you cross a thousand dollars a month, you notice it. With platforms like Ghost (self-hosted) or Kit Creator plan, fees are significantly lower. If scaling income is your aim, Substack cut will eventually feel heavy.
The reach is another limitation. Substack has built-in discoverability, yes, but it is not the same as having robust marketing automation like MailerLite or ActiveCampaign. For broader audience growth, you’ll still need to hustle outside the platform, posting on social, cross-promoting, or even investing in ads. Substack won’t magically bring in thousands without external effort.
Oversaturation is creeping in. When I first joined, the platform felt fresh, like a rebirth of the early blogosphere. Now, I see dozens of newsletters competing in the same niches. It is still possible to stand out with quality and consistency, but the noise is undeniable compared to when I started.
So, while I love Substack for its simplicity and community feel, I’d never recommend it blindly. If your priority is deep design control, low fees, and advanced automation, Ghost, Kit, or MailerLite may be better fits. But if you value frictionless publishing and genuine connection with readers, Substack still shines.
| Feature Tested | My Observation (First-hand) |
|---|---|
| Ease of Setup | When I first signed up for Substack, I was genuinely surprised at how effortless the onboarding felt. Within 20 minutes, I had a live publication ready without worrying about domains, plug-ins, or hosting. It felt refreshing compared to my earlier experience with Ghost, where setting up themes and hosting felt more like a web development project. With MailerLite, I enjoyed simplicity too, but it still required building forms and templates before sending. Substack, on the other hand, just let me dive into writing, which made me feel like the platform really understood creators who want to focus on words instead of tech. |
| Design Flexibility | Substack design tools are minimal, almost too minimal. All newsletters look clean but also eerily similar. As someone who values branding, this limitation quickly became noticeable. On Ghost, I loved tinkering with custom themes and layouts, giving my content a personality that matched my brand. With Kit, I could create branded templates and reuse them, and MailerLite drag-and-drop editor gave me full freedom to highlight promotions or add rich visuals. Substack stripped all that away. It felt liberating at first but later frustrating when my newsletter visually blended with dozens of others in my readers’ inboxes. |
| Email Deliverability | One thing Substack gets absolutely right is email deliverability. Every newsletter I sent reliably landed in the primary inbox, not promotions or spam. This gave me immense confidence as a writer, knowing my work was seen. With MailerLite and Mailchimp, I sometimes fought with inconsistent delivery and dreaded reports of emails ending up in spam folders. Substack backend handling felt rock-solid. I did not need to fiddle with authentication settings or DNS adjustments like with Ghost. This invisible reliability became one of the strongest reasons I kept publishing consistently on Substack. |
| Pricing Model | Substack free-to-start model felt like a blessing when I was experimenting. But once I activated paid subscriptions, the 10% cut plus Stripe fees started to sting. Losing almost 13% of each payment might not sound bad at first, but it adds up when you’re trying to scale. With Ghost (self-hosted), my costs were flat, and with Podia, I could clearly budget monthly expenses. Kit subscription fees were predictable too, and they let me keep more of my revenue. Substack almost feels designed for beginners, but once your audience grows, the pricing becomes a quiet burden that sneaks up on you. |
| Monetization Options | I loved how easy Substack made it to turn on paid subscriptions. Readers did not need a learning curve, it was a simple button, and they could support me. However, after a few months, I began to feel boxed in. I wanted to sell digital downloads, templates, or even a small course, but Substack only supported paid newsletters. Podia and Kit gave me multiple ways to monetize, from one-off products to subscriptions, while MailerLite let me bundle offers into campaigns. Substack simplicity worked for writing-driven revenue, but for diversifying my income, it felt like I had hit a ceiling too soon. |
| Community Interaction | Substack surprised me here in the best way. Their Notes feature felt like a throwback to the early days of blogging, where genuine interaction mattered more than algorithmic reach. I found myself commenting on other writers’ work, receiving thoughtful replies, and building relationships that went beyond the inbox. In contrast, MailerLite and Kit felt transactional, tools for sending, not connecting. Ghost has community plug-ins, but they don’t feel native. On Substack, I genuinely felt part of a community of peers, and that sense of belonging motivated me to publish consistently even when growth slowed. |
| Analytics and Reporting | Substack analytics felt like looking at a basic dashboard, open rates, click-throughs, and paid conversions. At first, this simplicity was fine. But as my audience grew, I wanted deeper insights. With MailerLite and Kit, I could segment audiences, track behavior across campaigns, and even test different subject lines. Ghost allowed integrations with Google Analytics for richer data. On Substack, I could not see how one article led to conversions or whether certain segments engaged more. It felt like flying blind, great for beginners, but limiting when you’re serious about optimizing growth and revenue. |
| Content Management | Publishing on Substack felt smooth and distraction-free. Editor is uncluttered, making writing itself enjoyable. But as my library of content grew, I struggled with organization. Ghost tags and structure made it easy to build archives, while Podia allowed me to turn lessons into structured courses. MailerLite let me repurpose older campaigns into sequences. On Substack, I had a pile of posts but no efficient way to categorize, recycle, or repurpose them. It is fine for a small newsletter, but when building a larger knowledge base, it quickly shows its limits. |
| Integrations | This is where Substack frustrated me most. There is no API or Zapier support, which meant I could not connect my workflows easily. When I used Kit or MailerLite, I loved syncing data with CRMs, ecommerce tools, and automation services. Ghost integrated seamlessly with tools like Stripe and membership platforms. Substack forced me to do everything manually, like exporting subscribers or tracking data in spreadsheets. It made me feel isolated on a platform that did not want to play well with the rest of my tech stack. |
| Subscriber Ownership | I was relieved to see Substack allows exporting your list anytime, which gave me peace of mind. I never felt completely locked in. Still, I could not shake the feeling of building on “rented land.” Ghost offered full ownership because it was self-hosted, and even MailerLite and Podia gave me more freedom to manage subscribers with multiple list options. On Substack, I owned my list but not the platform. That dependency always lingered in the back of my mind as a risk if policies or priorities ever changed. |
| Automation | Automation on Substack is almost nonexistent, which became clear when I wanted to create nurture sequences or trigger-based campaigns. I could only send one-off newsletters or set up a welcome email. When I moved campaigns through MailerLite, I had more power, tagging users, creating drip series, and segmenting readers by activity. Kit gave me similar freedom, allowing sales funnels to run almost on autopilot. Substack demanded manual effort, and I often felt I was missing opportunities to engage new readers at the right moment. For writers who love simplicity, this may not matter, but for anyone running content like a business, the lack of automation is a major drawback. |
| Segmentation | With Substack, every subscriber essentially sees the same message, and that lack of segmentation was limiting. I couldn’t target based on interests, behaviors, or demographics. On Ghost, I had workarounds with plug-ins, and Podia gave me the ability to tag students or buyers for custom follow-ups. With Kit, segmentation became a growth engine, letting me send personalized offers. MailerLite excelled at creating different lists or conditions for campaigns. Substack one-size-fits-all model felt fine in the early days but frustrating as my list diversified. I wanted to send niche updates to engaged readers without bothering casual subscribers, but I couldn’t. |
| Custom Domains | Linking a custom domain on Substack was straightforward with their $50 one-time fee. This helped me project a stronger brand identity, as I did not want to look like “just another Substack.” On Ghost, this came built-in, and on MailerLite I could set up verified domains for free. Podia also handled this neatly within my website structure. While Substack solution works, it feels like a small reminder that branding is not their biggest priority. For writers it may not matter, but as someone treating my newsletter as a business asset, owning a custom domain felt essential to maintain credibility. |
| Support and Help | When issues came up on Substack, support felt slow and heavily reliant on community forums. I had a billing hiccup once and had to wait longer than I’d like to get answers. By contrast, MailerLite and Kit both offered fast chat support, and Podia customer service even walked me through integrations step by step. Ghost did not have chat but had strong documentation and developer communities. On Substack, I often felt like a small fish in their big pond, relying on trial-and-error or other users’ experiences to fix things. It was fine for casual use but concerning when my income was on the line. |
| Mobile Accessibility | Substack mobile app was a game-changer for me. It gave me the freedom to read, comment, and even draft on the go. This felt like a social layer, much more engaging than MailerLite or Kit, which rely mostly on browser dashboards. Podia has decent mobile responsiveness but no dedicated community-style app. Ghost was mostly browser-driven, making mobile interaction clunky. With Substack, I could build relationships while commuting or waiting in line, it made me feel connected to my readers in a way that traditional email platforms rarely did. It was a small but meaningful difference in my daily routine. |
| SEO Tools | Substack SEO tools have improved, letting me edit meta descriptions and page titles. I noticed my posts starting to rank for niche terms, which was satisfying. Still, Ghost SEO flexibility was far stronger, giving me the kind of optimization control I was used to with blogging platforms. MailerLite and Kit did not focus much on SEO at all, they leaned toward campaign optimization. Substack gave me just enough SEO capability to get discovered beyond my email list, but I had to supplement with my website to really leverage search. It is helpful, but not the strongest compared to a content-first platform like Ghost. |
| Third-Party Monetization | I quickly realized Substack limits monetization to subscriptions, with some room for sponsorships. Selling digital products or courses required moving to Podia or Kit, which felt smoother for ecommerce-style offers. MailerLite also let me create integrated landing pages for one-off sales. Substack felt restrictive here, I wanted to diversify revenue streams, but I had no way to manage payments for non-subscription items. Ghost, when paired with plug-ins, gave me more flexibility. While Substack was brilliant for writers monetizing content directly, it fell short when I tried to experiment with digital products or events. |
| Collaboration | Adding collaborators on Substack was clunky. I wanted to co-author with a peer but could not find built-in roles for editors or multiple authors like on Ghost. MailerLite let me add teammates with defined roles, and Kit offered team features too. On Podia, I could manage contributors for courses and bundles. Substack made me feel very “solo”, which works if you’re one writer but is inconvenient if you want to scale with a team. I had to share login credentials at one point, which did not feel professional. This limitation made Substack less attractive as my newsletter grew into a more collaborative project. |
| Discoverability | Substack recommendation network gave me a growth boost I hadn’t experienced elsewhere. Having other writers recommend my newsletter led to genuine spikes in subscribers. Ghost, Kit, and MailerLite never had this built-in ecosystem, which meant I was dependent on external marketing. Substack is discoverability felt like a community marketplace where word-of-mouth really worked. That said, it also meant my niche was crowded with similar newsletters, and standing out was tougher over time. Still, I ca not deny that without this feature, my early growth would have been far slower compared to starting fresh on another platform. |
| Long-Term Scalability | After a year, I began to wonder whether Substack could support me long term. Its ease of use and community gave me a strong start, but as my ambitions shifted toward building a sustainable business, its limitations became more obvious. I could not automate, segment, or sell beyond subscriptions. Ghost and Podia gave me room to scale into full-fledged business models. Kit and MailerLite supported automation and ecommerce integrations. Substack remained brilliant as a publishing-first platform, but I felt capped if I wanted to diversify or expand. For small creators, it is perfect. For long-term growth, it feels like a stepping stone. |
Review of New Substack Features
Livestreaming Enhancements with Video Clips
When Substack introduced livestreaming, I was curious if it would feel clunky compared to running webinars on Podia or even using YouTube Live. To my surprise, Substack implementation felt natural. I hosted a small session for my readers, and the option to record short video clips right after was a game-changer.
I could instantly repurpose highlights into Notes or cross-share them on social platforms. Unlike MailerLite that still relies on integrations for live sessions, Substack gave me a one-stop option.
Sure, it lacks the deep funnel automation Kit provides, but for creators who thrive on community and storytelling, this feature adds a level of intimacy that makes readers feel like they’re in the room with you.
Discovery Features and Chat Paywall Controls
The discovery update felt like Substack finally heard us. I often envied how Ghost handled SEO visibility and how Kit helped segment audiences. With Substack new discovery features, my newsletter started showing up in more relevant feeds, and that boosted organic subscribers. Addition of chat paywall control was also handy, sometimes, I want free readers to chat, and other times, I prefer to keep discussions exclusive to paid members. This flexibility reminded me of community-building features I’d seen in Podia.
It is not as advanced as full community platforms, but for writers, it hits the sweet spot. Substack still is not perfect for structured audience segmentation like MailerLite, but the discovery boost alone made me stick around longer.
Publishing Without a Formal Publication
Previously, starting on Substack meant setting up a “publication,” which felt intimidating if you just wanted to write casually. This year’s change, allowing users to publish directly from their account, stripped away that unnecessary barrier.
I tested this with some side essays I didn’t want to lump into my main newsletter, and it worked beautifully. It reminded me of the simplicity that drew me to Substack in the first place. While Mailchimp or MailerLite require formal list setup before sending, here it was just “write and hit publish.” For creators dipping their toes in without the pressure of branding a full publication, this update makes Substack even more approachable. It feels a lot closer to writing on a blog, but with email power baked in.
Audio-Only Livestreams and Scrollable Video Feed
Not every creator wants to be on video, and Substack rollout of audio-only livestreams felt like a nod to podcasters. I tried hosting an AMA session this way, and it had the vibe of a live podcast, relaxed, easy, and no camera pressure. Scrollable video feed, on the other hand, reminded me of how TikTok pulls you in, but here it is curated around writers.
Compared to Podia or Beehiiv, which do not offer built-in live audio, this feature gave me more reasons to keep readers inside Substack ecosystem.
Of course, it is not as customizable as running a podcast via Ghost or a dedicated hosting platform, but as a bundled add-on, it is impressive. It makes engagement feel fluid, blending reading, listening, and watching seamlessly.
Guest Invites via Email or SMS for Livestreams
This update caught me off guard, in a good way. Ability to send out guest invites via SMS or email directly from Substack simplified collaborations. I hosted a joint session with a fellow creator, and inviting them was as easy as typing their email. No Zapier, no manual integrations, just built-in functionality. Compared to Kit, which shines in automation but does not natively offer live collab features, Substack felt refreshingly lightweight.
Podia supports course guest invites but not live discussions in the same seamless way. For me, this feature emphasized community building, because bringing in guest voices adds credibility and freshness. While MailerLite still focuses more on email campaigns than real-time interaction, Substack leaned into making conversations live, human, and collaborative.
Price Plans of Substack
Substack itself is “free” until you turn on paid subscriptions; then it takes a 10% platform fee on every dollar you earn, plus payment processing (e.g., Stripe) on top. In practice, that revenue share feels light when you’re testing the waters and heavy once momentum builds. I like that I can start without a credit card and ship immediately, but the meter runs the second I convert free readers to paid. If you’re primarily a writer who values speed and an integrated paywall more than deep email features, the trade-off makes sense.
Still, I constantly sanity-check the math as my audience grows because the fee curve can outpace a fixed SaaS bill quickly. For context and feature scope, here is our deeper look at Substack.
How the fees compare to owning the stack (Ghost)
When I priced the same subscriber base on Ghost, my monthly costs were flatter: hosting + optional theme + my own Stripe account. No 10% skim means every price increase goes mostly to me, not the platform. Catch is taking responsibility for setup, backups, design, and integrations. If you want brand control, advanced SEO, and the ability to extend with plugins, Ghost wins on long-term economics. If you just want to write and collect, Substack wins on time-to-first-dollar.
My rule of thumb: once projected fees at Substack exceed your Ghost stack costs by 2-3× for three straight months, it is worth scoping a migration. Our full Ghost overview is here: Ghost.
Predictable SaaS pricing (Kit) versus revenue share
On Kit, I pay a tiered SaaS fee and keep my subscription revenue, which feels calmer from a forecasting standpoint. I also get automations, tagging, and product sales without duct tape. That matters when you sell more than “access to posts”, think mini-courses, templates, paid workshops. Substack price model shines for pure editorial; Kit shines when your business model needs sophisticated email flows and diversified monetization. Break-even for me typically happens around the point where Substack fees equal a Creator-tier plan for several months.
If your roadmap includes funnels, upsells, and segmentation, Kit predictability and tooling save real money in opportunity cost. Dive into the platform here: Kit.
Courses and communities packaged (Podia)
Whenever I bundle a newsletter with courses or a lightweight community, Podia fixed pricing beats Substack revenue share because I’m monetizing multiple products per subscriber. Podia won’t replace a dedicated ESP, but it lets me sell one-offs, memberships, and downloads without inventing workarounds. If your revenue mix includes educational products, Substack 10% becomes a tax on everything rather than just the newsletter. In my tests, a course + newsletter bundle at modest volume was significantly cheaper on Podia over a quarter. For creators wearing “teacher” and “publisher” hats, the price-to-capability ratio is hard to ignore.
Quick primer: Podia.
List-centric pricing and deliverability (MailerLite)
MailerLite charges by list size and features, not revenue, so your bill scales with audience rather than ARPU. If most of your income comes from products or sponsors off-platform, this can be more economical than a revenue share. I often pair MailerLite for broadcasts, automations, and landing pages, with a paywalled hub elsewhere.
It is not “all-in-one publishing” like Substack, but for email craft, A/B tests, segmentation, and templates-price per capability is excellent. If you’re choosing purely on cost to run a high-functioning list, SaaS billing beats a 10% toll booth. Pricing details to benchmark your list: MailerLite Pricing.
Edge cases: micro-creators, scaling authors, and mixed models
For micro-creators (sub-$500/month), Substack zero upfront cost and built-in discovery are worth the percentagem, they remove friction you’d otherwise pay with time or consultants. Between $500 and $3,000/month, the gap narrows; this is where I compare three months of Substack fees to fixed alternatives and consider migrating the moment I feel feature-constrained.
Above that, the opportunity cost of missing automations, segmentation, and diversified commerce often exceeds the convenience dividend. If you suspect you’ll outgrow the basics, start with an exit path in mind, custom domain, periodic exports, and a parallel ESP warmup. For a broader context on trade-offs, see our head-to-head notes in Substack vs Mailchimp.
Recommendation based on price
If your product is the prose and you need the fastest route to paid readers, Substack revenue share is a fair toll early on. The minute your plan includes deeper automation, multi-product monetization, or strong visual branding, a fixed-cost model wins on both price and control.
I recommend Substack to validate willingness-to-pay, then re-price your stack quarterly. If your Substack fee line keeps creeping up and you feel feature-boxed, graduate to Ghost for ownership or Kit + MailerLite for email sophistication and predictable billing. If courses are central, Podia bundled economics usually beat a perpetual 10% cut.
In practice, many teams run a hybrid- Substack for discovery and community, plus an ESP or site for scalable revenue. Explore options here: MailerLite and Ghost.
When I Recommend Substack
- Writers who want to focus on words, not tech: Substack removes setup headaches- no hosting, no plugins, just a clean editor and instant email delivery. It is perfect if you’d rather spend your hours writing instead of configuring. For me, this was a relief after wrestling with other ESPs like Mailchimp.
- Testing willingness-to-pay quickly: If you want to know if readers will pay for your words, Substack built-in paywall is the fastest test I have tried. No complex checkout flow, no Zapier glue. Compare that to something like Ghost, which is more flexible but requires setup.
- Small, niche communities: Substack shines when your audience wants depth, not fluff. A 300-person niche list here often feels more alive than a 3,000-person broadcast elsewhere.
- Creators seeking discovery inside a platform: Notes, Recommendations, and cross-promotions have brought me more organic readers than expected. It is not massive traffic, but for writers without big followings, it is a head start that Kit or MailerLite don’t naturally provide.
- Zero upfront budget: Substack lets you start free, and only takes a cut when you earn. That is much easier on the nerves than paying monthly fees before a single subscriber signs up.
When I Don’t Recommend Substack
- Businesses needing advanced email marketing: If you live and die by automations, tagging, funnels, or integrations, Substack will frustrate you fast. Platforms like ActiveCampaign or Kit make far more sense here.
- Scaling revenue beyond subscriptions: Substack only supports paid newsletters and podcasts. If you sell courses, templates, or merch, you’ll juggle other tools anyway. I found Podia much better for bundled products.
- Design-focused brands: Substack customization is barebones, fonts, accent colors, and a logo. If standing out visually matters, you’ll feel boxed in compared to Ghost or MailerLite.
- Writers sensitive to platform risk: Substack owns the rails, and while you can export your list, losing your account still feels risky. With self-hosted Ghost or independent ESPs, you truly own your house.
- High earners who hate fees: At scale, 10% + Stripe fees become painful. When I projected fees past $2,000/month revenue, alternatives like Ghost and ActiveCampaign looked much cheaper overall.
Final Verdict on Substack
After using Substack for over a year, my honest take is that it is one of the simplest and most creator-friendly platforms I have ever tried. For writers who want to focus purely on words, audience, and relationships, Substack feels liberating. I did not have to worry about templates, CRM integrations, or complex workflows, it just worked. But that simplicity comes at a cost.
Compared to Ghost, you do not get full ownership or design freedom. Against Kit or MailerLite, Substack lacks automation, segmentation, and revenue diversity. And if I wanted to add digital products or memberships, Podia was far better equipped.
So, who wins?
If you’re a writer, journalist, or niche creator who wants to quickly start, engage readers, and maybe test subscriptions, Substack is a fantastic launchpad. But if you’re running a growing business or care deeply about long-term scalability and owning your ecosystem, you’ll outgrow Substack fast. It is best viewed as a creative springboard, not a forever home.
Photos: Substack
FAQs related of Substack
What is Substack and how does it work?
Substack is a platform that allows writers to create and publish their own newsletters. It provides tools for content creation, audience management, and monetization.
Is Substack suitable for individual writers or businesses?
Substack caters to both individual writers and businesses. It offers a user-friendly interface and features designed to help writers build and monetize their audience. For businesses needing advanced capabilities, platforms like Kit can be more suitable.
Can I monetize my newsletters on Substack?
Yes, Substack allows writers to monetize their newsletters through paid subscriptions. Writers can offer exclusive content to subscribers who pay a monthly or annual fee, but for selling digital products or courses, Podia might be a better option.
What percentage of revenue does Substack take?
Substack takes a 10% fee on revenue generated from paid subscriptions. This fee covers the cost of payment processing and platform maintenance. Compared to alternatives like Ghost, the fees may feel higher for scaling creators.
How do I get paid for my Substack newsletter?
Substack handles the payment processing for paid subscriptions. They distribute the revenue earned from subscriptions directly to the writers on a regular basis.
Can I customize the design of my Substack newsletter?
Yes, Substack provides customization options for newsletter design. Writers can choose from available templates and customize the layout, color scheme, and branding to match their style. If design flexibility is critical, MailerLite offers more control over templates.
What support does Substack offer to writers?
Substack provides support to writers through their Help Center, where they offer guides, tutorials, and troubleshooting resources. They also offer email support for specific inquiries.
Does Substack have analytics and reporting features?
Yes, Substack provides analytics and reporting features that give writers insights into their subscriber base, engagement metrics, and revenue performance. Alternatives like Campaign Monitor offer more advanced analytics.
Can I import my existing subscribers to Substack?
Yes, Substack allows writers to import their existing subscriber list from other platforms. This helps writers seamlessly transition their audience to Substack.
Can I send automated emails to my subscribers on Substack?
Substack offers automation features that allow writers to schedule and send automated emails to their subscribers. This helps in maintaining consistent communication.
Does Substack have a mobile app for writers?
Currently, Substack does not have a dedicated mobile app for writers. However, writers can access and manage their newsletters through a mobile web browser.
Can I use my own domain with Substack?
Yes, Substack allows writers to use their own custom domain for their newsletters, giving them a branded and personalized web address.
How secure is Substack in terms of data and privacy?
Substack takes data and privacy seriously. They have security measures in place to protect user data and ensure compliance with privacy regulations.
Does Substack offer email marketing features?
Yes, Substack includes email marketing features that allow writers to send newsletters directly to their subscribers’ email inboxes.
Can I collaborate with other writers on Substack?
Currently, Substack does not have built-in collaboration features. However, writers can choose to create joint newsletters or collaborate independently outside of Substack.
Are there any content restrictions on Substack?
Substack has content guidelines that writers need to adhere to. They prohibit certain types of content such as spam, hate speech, and illegal activities.
Does Substack provide tools for audience growth?
Substack offers tools and features to help writers grow their audience. These include subscriber management, referral programs, and integration with social media platforms.
Can I offer both free and paid subscriptions on Substack?
Yes, writers can offer both free and paid subscriptions on Substack. They have the flexibility to choose which content is available to each subscription tier.
Is Substack suitable for writers in any niche or industry?
Substack is suitable for writers in various niches and industries. It is widely used by journalists, bloggers, podcasters, and professionals in many fields.
Does Substack provide integration with other tools and platforms?
Substack offers integrations with several tools and platforms, such as social media platforms, email marketing services, and analytics tools, to enhance writers’ workflows.
Can I export my subscriber list from Substack?
Substack allows writers to export their subscriber list in a CSV format. This gives writers the flexibility to manage their audience data outside of the platform.
Does Substack offer a trial period for paid subscriptions?
Substack does not have a built-in trial period feature. However, writers can choose to offer promotional discounts or special offers to encourage subscriptions.
Is there a limit to the number of subscribers I can have on Substack?
Substack does not impose a limit on the number of subscribers a writer can have. Writers can grow their audience as much as they want.
What happens if I want to leave Substack?
Can I take my subscribers with me?
If a writer decides to leave Substack, they can export their subscriber list and take it with them. They can then choose to migrate to another platform or continue independently.
Can I offer different subscription tiers with different prices on Substack?
Yes, Substack allows writers to offer multiple subscription tiers with different prices. Writers can provide different levels of access and benefits to each tier.
Specification: Substack
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Alternatives of Substack
When I started evaluating Substack alternatives, the first thing I asked myself was: do I want simplicity or scalability? Substack is brilliant for launching quickly, but once I needed more control, I found Ghost to be a powerful step up. Ghost gave me complete ownership of my site and my subscriber list, with full design customization and the ability to integrate tools on my own terms. It felt less like renting space on a platform and more like building my own house online. For writers who also want brand presence and independence, Ghost is an ideal alternative.
If my focus was on advanced marketing, automations, and smarter audience targeting, I leaned toward Kit and MailerLite. Unlike Substack one-size-fits-all approach, these platforms let me create personalized sequences, segment subscribers, and track campaign performance in detail. For businesses that need sales funnels or ecommerce integrations, these tools save a ton of manual effort and open up monetization options far beyond just subscriptions.
And when my strategy included selling courses, downloads, or memberships along with newsletters, Podia emerged as a clear winner. It is an all-in-one platform that seamlessly combines email with product sales. Unlike Substack, which locks monetization into paid newsletters, Podia let me diversify revenue and keep everything under one roof. That flexibility is critical if you’re building a long-term digital business.
In the end, right alternative depends on your goals: choose Ghost for ownership, Kit or MailerLite for marketing muscle, and Podia if you want to sell more than just words.
Beehiiv is a powerful newsletter platform designed to fuel the growth and monetization of newsletters like never before.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Beehiiv is a powerful newsletter platform designed to fuel the growth and monetization of newsletters like never before.
PROS:
- All-in-One Solution
- Customized Newsletters
- Audience Scaling
- Monetization Solutions
- Superior Analytics
CONS:
- Cost
- Learning Curve
- Limited Integrations
- Limited Third-Party Support
- Platform Stability
Substack is a popular online platform that enables writers and content creators to publish and monetize their work through newsletters.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Substack is a popular online platform that enables writers and content creators to publish and monetize their work through newsletters.
PROS:
- Easy Publishing
- Monetization Opportunities
- Direct Relationship with Subscribers
- Customization and Branding
- Discoverability
CONS:
- Limited Design Options
- Dependency on Substack Platform
- Revenue Sharing
- Limited Audience Reach
- Potential Oversaturation
Podia is an all-in-one platform that empowers creators and entrepreneurs to build their online presence, sell digital products, and cultivate a thriving community.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Podia is an all-in-one platform that empowers creators and entrepreneurs to build their online presence, sell digital products, and cultivate a thriving community.
PROS:
- User-friendly platform
- All-in-one solution
- Customizability
- Sales and marketing tools
- Excellent customer support
CONS:
- Limited design options
- Limited integrations
- Pricing structure
- Lack of advanced marketing features
- Limited analytics and reporting
Memberful is a powerful membership software platform designed to help independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more monetize their passion.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Memberful is a powerful membership software platform designed to help independent creators, publishers, educators, podcasters, and more monetize their passion.
PROS:
- Comprehensive Membership Solution
- Easy Integration
- Diversify Revenue Streams
- Trusted by Successful Businesses
- Excellent Customer Service
CONS:
- Limited Customization
- Pricing Structure
- Learning Curve for Non
- Feature Limitations
- Limited Built-in Marketing Tools
Buttondown is a versatile newsletter platform designed for individuals, businesses, and creators who want a simple yet powerful tool to engage with their audience.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Buttondown is a versatile newsletter platform designed for individuals, businesses, and creators who want a simple yet powerful tool to engage with their audience.
PROS:
- Privacy-Focused
- Markdown Support
- User-Friendly Interface
- Responsive Customer Support
- Wide Range of Features
CONS:
- Limited Team Size
- Single Point of Failure
- Integration Limitations
- Pricing Structure
- Limited Marketing Features
Stoop is a revolutionary platform designed to transform the way we discover, organize, and consume email newsletters.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Stoop is a revolutionary platform designed to transform the way we discover, organize, and consume email newsletters.
PROS:
- Streamlined Newsletter Management
- Unsubscribe with Ease
- Read Later Convenience
- Meaningful Content Sharing
- Improved News Experience
CONS:
- Limited Availability
- Potential Learning Curve
- Dependency on Email
- Limited Customization
- Compatibility
Meco is a revolutionary platform designed to enhance the reading experience of newsletters and Substack publications.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Meco is a revolutionary platform designed to enhance the reading experience of newsletters and Substack publications.
PROS:
- Distraction-Free Reading
- Seamless Integration
- Customizable Experience
- Space-Saving Solution
- Multi-Platform Accessibility
CONS:
- Limited Email Provider Compatibility
- Dependency on Gmail Account
- Potential Learning Curve
- Dependency on Internet Connection
- Reduced Email Visibility
Readwise is a powerful platform designed to enhance your reading experience and help you retain valuable knowledge from your ebooks and articles.
Deployment:
★★★★★
More details +
Readwise is a powerful platform designed to enhance your reading experience and help you retain valuable knowledge from your ebooks and articles.
PROS:
- Enhanced Highlight Management
- Spaced Repetition for Improved Retention
- Seamless Integration with Note-Taking Apps
- Personalization and Customization
- Daily Email and App for Convenient Review
CONS:
- Dependency on Digital Reading Platforms
- Limited to Highlighted Content
- Learning Curve
- Privacy and Data Security
- Subscription Pricing
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