Substack
The home for great writing.
Overview
Substack is a platform designed for writers to create and distribute newsletters directly to their audience. It provides the tools for publishing content, managing subscribers, and processing payments for paid subscriptions. This model empowers writers to build a direct relationship with their readers and monetize their work without relying on advertising revenue, championing a subscription-first approach.
✨ Key Features
- Email newsletter publishing
- Paid subscription and payment processing
- Website for your publication
- Community features (comments, threads)
- Podcast hosting and distribution
- Custom domains
🎯 Key Differentiators
- Simple, all-in-one solution for paid newsletters
- Writer-centric business model (writers own their content and mailing list)
- Focus on building a direct author-to-reader relationship
Unique Value: Makes it incredibly simple for writers to launch a professional newsletter and earn a living from their work.
🎯 Use Cases (5)
✅ Best For
- Independent journalists building a subscription business
- Niche experts sharing deep-dive analysis with a dedicated audience
- Authors connecting with their readers between book releases
💡 Check With Vendor
Verify these considerations match your specific requirements:
- Complex, multi-author enterprise blogs
- Omnichannel content delivery
- Sales content management
🏆 Alternatives
Easier to set up and monetize than Ghost or a self-hosted WordPress site. More focused on long-form content and subscriptions than Mailchimp.
💻 Platforms
🛟 Support Options
- ✓ Email Support
🔒 Compliance & Security
💰 Pricing
Free tier: Free to publish free newsletters. Substack takes a 10% cut of revenue from paid subscriptions.
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