Substack
by Substack Inc.
Start a newsletter. Build your community. Make money from subscriptions.
7.1
/ 10
Overall Score
Substack scores 7.1/10 overall. Start a newsletter. Build your community. Make money from subscriptions.. Best for: Writers who want the simplest possible setup. Free to start. Last verified Mar 20, 2026.
Score Breakdown
How we score →Scores are editorial assessments on a 1–10 scale. Overall score uses a weighted formula: Value (25%), Power (20%), Transparency (20%), Ease (15%), Setup (10%), Migration (10%). Full methodology
Switching Intelligence
Sasanova ExclusiveMigration Difficulty
Implementation Complexity
LowWhat triggers people to switch AWAY
- Need custom branding
- Need automation
- 10% revenue cut
- Need analytics depth
What blocks people from leaving
- Built-in subscriber network
- Substack app readers
- Community features
Data Export & Portability
Subscriber list CSV export
Switching from Substack?
Planning to switch? Read our migration guides:
Best For
- Writers who want the simplest possible setup
- People who value Substack's built-in network and recommendations
- Writers focused on paid subscriptions
Avoid If
- You want full control over your brand and domain
- You need advanced segmentation or automation
- You don't want to give up 10% of revenue
Features
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Billing | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Free | flat | Unlimited subscribers, unlimited sends, 10% of paid subscription revenue |
Free tier: Free to use; Substack takes 10% cut of paid subscriptions + Stripe fees
Pricing Calculator
Estimate your monthly cost for Substack. Click a plan to select it.
Estimates based on published pricing. Usage-based plans are approximated. Verify with vendor for exact quotes.
Integrations
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Ghost wins for full ownership and no revenue cut. Substack wins for simplicity and built-in network discovery.
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Kit offers visual automations, landing pages, and digital product sales with a free tier for 10K subscribers. Substack is simpler with zero setup but takes a 10% cut of paid subscription revenue and offers no automation.
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Brevo is a full marketing platform with transactional email, SMS, WhatsApp, and CRM charging by emails sent. Substack is a simple newsletter platform for writers who want paid subscriptions with zero technical setup.
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ActiveCampaign is an enterprise-grade email automation platform with CRM and predictive sending starting at $15/mo. Substack is a free-to-start newsletter platform for writers monetizing through paid subscriptions with a 10% revenue cut.
Substack vs Buttondown
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