Substack

Substack is a publishing platform that lets anyone start a newsletter, blog, or podcast for free. There are no subscriber limits, no send caps, and no setup complexity. You write, you hit publish, and it goes out.

Why Writers Choose Substack

Substack is the simplest way to start a newsletter. There is no editor to learn, no templates to configure, no automation to set up. You write in a clean text editor, hit publish, and your subscribers get an email. Your archive becomes a blog. Readers can find you through the Substack app and network.

What You Get for Free

• Unlimited subscribers and sends - No caps of any kind for free newsletters
• Publication website - Your newsletter automatically has a web archive
• Podcast hosting - Publish audio alongside written content
• Community features - Chat, threads, and direct messaging with readers
• Live streaming - Go live with your audience
• Mobile app - Readers get a dedicated app experience
• Post scheduling - Write ahead and schedule publishing

The Trade-offs

Substack offers almost no customization. Your newsletter looks like every other Substack publication. There is no automation, no segmentation, no A/B testing, and no advanced analytics. If you enable paid subscriptions, Substack takes 10% of revenue plus Stripe processing fees. And critically, if you leave Substack, you can export your subscriber emails but not their payment relationships, meaning paid subscribers would need to re-subscribe on your new platform.