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Elena Rodriguez
Staff Writer
Elena Rodriguez, Staff Writer
We rate Substack 4/5. Completely free to start (Substack takes 10% of paid subs), making it especially useful for creators. The main tradeoff: 10% revenue cut on paid subscriptions. The free tier softens this considerably.
About Substack
Substack made newsletter publishing accessible to everyone. Sign up, write, and publish — Substack handles hosting, email delivery, payments, and even provides a mobile reader app. Zero cost to start.
Substack's business model: free to use for free newsletters, and Substack takes 10% of revenue from paid subscriptions (plus Stripe's 2.9% + $0.30). This means you only pay when you earn.
The Substack network is its biggest advantage. Notes (like Twitter), recommendations between publications, and the Substack app create discoverability that standalone newsletter tools can't match. Top Substack writers earn millions annually.
For solo founders, Substack is the zero-friction starting point for newsletter businesses. Write in the simple editor, grow your list, and add paid subscriptions when ready. No design decisions, no hosting to manage, no technical setup.
Substack has expanded into podcasts, video, and community features (Chat). The platform is evolving from a newsletter tool into a media platform.
Limitations: 10% revenue share is expensive at scale (Beehiiv charges 0%), design customization is minimal, no email automation or segmentation, and you're building on Substack's platform (limited portability). For serious newsletter businesses, Ghost or Beehiiv offer more control.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Completely free to start (Substack takes 10% of paid subs)
- +Built-in audience network and discoverability
- +No technical setup required
- +Mobile reader app drives engagement
Cons
- -10% revenue cut on paid subscriptions
- -Very limited design customization
- -No advanced email automation
- -You don't fully own your audience data
Best For
- ▶Newsletter business creation
- ▶Paid content and subscription publishing
- ▶Audience building for writers
- ▶Podcast distribution
- ▶Community building for creators
Key Features
Alternatives to Substack
Newsletter platform with built-in growth and monetization tools.
Email marketing platform built for creators and online businesses.
Professional publishing platform for blogs and newsletters
Compare Substack
How We Evaluate Tools
Our editorial team tests and reviews each tool based on features, pricing, ease of use, integration ecosystem, and real user feedback. Ratings reflect our independent assessment and are not influenced by affiliate partnerships. Learn more about our process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Substack free?
Yes, Substack is completely free to use. Free to use. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe processing: 2.9% + $0.30. Custom domains: free.
What are the best alternatives to Substack?
The best alternatives to Substack include Beehiiv, ConvertKit, Ghost. Each offers similar functionality with different strengths in features, pricing, and ease of use. Visit our alternatives page for detailed comparisons.
What is Substack used for?
Free newsletter platform with built-in paid subscriptions Common use cases include: Newsletter business creation, Paid content and subscription publishing, Audience building for writers, Podcast distribution, Community building for creators.