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In my capacity as an independent writer, I have found this platform to be an extremely beneficial experience. It is important to note that the 10% transaction fee can be quite substantial, particularly for publishers of a larger scale. My own personal experience has led me to investigate a number of different newsletter platforms that have been influenced by the success of Substack. These alternatives provide features that are specifically designed to empower independent writers and bloggers, enabling them to maximise their earnings without falling into the trap of incurring expensive fees.
The commitment of Substack to enabling creators to establish a distinctive brand around their newsletters is what sets it apart from a large number of other platforms that I have encountered in my personal journey. Furthermore, it gives them the ability to charge readers for access to their content, which is probably the most important benefit.
Not only does Substack make it easier to create a paid email list, but it also offers a variety of tools that can be used to create landing pages, host podcasts, provide content that is based on subscriptions, and even provide fundamental community engagement features. This versatility has been a significant contributor to my positive experience on the platform, as it has enabled me to cultivate my writing brand while exploring a variety of revenue streams.
Best Substack Alternatives Comparison Table
Substack has established itself as a newsletter platform that anyone can use to monetize their content through paid subscriptions over the course of the three years that have passed since its inception. It is not the only content membership platform available, and there are many alternatives to Substack that provide features and services that are comparable to, or even superior to, those offered by Substack for you and your readers.
Purpose | Main Function | Target Audience | Integrations | User Interface | Customization | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mighty Networks | Community building | Community management | Online communities and courses | Numerous third-party integrations | User-friendly, focused on community engagement | Custom branding and theming |
ConvertKit | Email marketing | Email campaigns | Bloggers and marketers | Integrates with various tools | Simple and intuitive | Limited customization |
Ghost | Blogging platform | Content creation and hosting | Bloggers and publishers | Limited third-party apps | Clean and minimalistic | Highly customizable themes |
ClickUp | Project management | Task and project management | Teams and businesses | Wide range of integrations | Modern and collaborative | Customizable workflows |
Moosend | Email marketing | Email campaigns | Marketers and businesses | Integrates with other tools | User-friendly and intuitive | Limited customization options |
Best Substack Alternatives
Substack presents creators with a number of intriguing advantages, but it also presents them with a number of significant challenges when it comes to developing a digital business that is sustainable. This article will provide you with an explanation of the reasoning behind Substack, a comparison of the benefits and drawbacks of building on Substack, and an introduction to some other feasible alternatives.
Mighty Networks

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Community Building | Create branded communities for your audience |
Content Hosting | Host and organize various types of content |
Events | Schedule and manage events for your community |
Memberships | Offer different membership levels with perks |
Analytics | Track engagement and performance with analytics |
Visit Website |
My time with Mighty Networks has been nothing less than life-changing. As a creator, the platform has given me the tools to not only build my own successful online community, but also to curate it and run it. In this space, I easily create online courses, host live events, and build membership websites, all in one central hub. It’s more than just a toolbox. Mighty Networks is my go-to, all-in-one solution that helps me connect with my audience in a real way, which lets me build a strong community around shared interests.
The Good
- Robust community-building tools
- Diverse content hosting options
- Versatile event management
- Flexible membership capabilities
- Comprehensive analytics for insights
The Bad
- Learning curve for beginners
- Limited customization options for aesthetics
ConvertKit

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Email Marketing | Powerful tools for creating and managing emails |
Automation | Set up automated workflows for personalized communication |
Landing Pages | Design and publish customized landing pages |
Forms | Easily create and embed forms for lead generation |
Analytics | Track email and form performance with analytics |
As someone who writes content, I’ve found ConvertKit to be a reliable email marketing partner. Its easy-to-use interface, which was made just for creators, speeds up my work. The powerful automation features have helped me build relationships with my subscribers. ConvertKit is more than just an email marketing tool; it’s a way for me to easily get leads, send highly targeted messages, and see right away how my efforts are working. It’s more than just an email marketing platform; it’s a powerful tool for creators to build relationships.
The Good
- User-friendly email marketing
- Effective automation features
- Simple yet customizable landing pages
- Seamless form integration
- Insightful analytics for email campaigns
The Bad
- Limited advanced automation compared to some competitors
- Basic design options for landing pages
Ghost

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Content Management | Publish and manage content with a focus on simplicity |
Membership | Offer premium content and build a subscriber base |
Customization | Highly customizable themes and design options |
SEO Optimization | Tools for optimizing content for search engines |
Collaborative Editing | Collaborate with team members on content creation |
Ghost has become my digital sanctuary, giving me an unmatched blogging experience based on simplicity and elegance. The simple writing interface is a breath of fresh air for me as a writer because it lets me focus on making great content. Ghost is more than just a blogging platform; it’s a safe haven for writers who like to work without being interrupted. Ghost makes it easier to publish my work by giving me access to powerful publishing tools. This makes it a popular choice among writers who value the craft without needing extra features.
The Good
- Clean and intuitive content management
- Membership features for monetization
- Extensive customization capabilities
- SEO-friendly design
- Collaborative editing for teams
The Bad
- Learning curve for beginners
- Limited built-in marketing features
ClickUp

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Project Management | Comprehensive tools for planning and tracking projects |
Collaboration | Real-time collaboration with team members |
Time Tracking | Monitor and manage time spent on tasks |
Integrations | Connect with various third-party apps and tools |
Customization | Tailor the platform to fit your workflow |
With ClickUp, it’s been easy to find my way around project management. It’s not just a platform; it’s a set of flexible tools that I can use for all of my projects, from simple to-do lists to complex business plans. With features like task lists, calendars, and Kanban boards, ClickUp brings order to the chaos. ClickUp has helped me with more than just organization; it’s a complete solution that keeps my team on track and working efficiently, no matter how complicated the project is.
The Good
- All-in-one project management solution
- Seamless collaboration features
- Robust time tracking capabilities
- Extensive integrations with popular tools
- High level of customization for different workflows
The Bad
- Steeper learning curve for new users
- Overwhelming for simple task management needs
Moosend

Feature | Description |
---|---|
Email Marketing | Create and send effective email campaigns |
Automation | Set up automated workflows for targeted messaging |
Landing Pages | Design and publish landing pages for campaigns |
Analytics | Track email and campaign performance with analytics |
Moosend has become my favourite platform for email marketing and automation. It makes things easy for businesses of all sizes. It’s easy to build email lists and keep subscribers interested thanks to the user-friendly interface. Moosend is a complete platform that lets you do more than just email campaigns. It lets you make landing pages, do A/B testing, and more. I’ve finally found a tool that combines effectiveness and ease of use. With Moosend, I can make and send effective email campaigns without having to go through a long learning process.
The Good
- Intuitive email marketing tools
- Powerful automation features
- Easy-to-use landing page builder
- Detailed analytics for campaign assessment
- Competitive pricing
The Bad
- Template options for landing pages can be limited
- Some advanced features may require a learning curve
Why Look for Substack Alternatives
Even though Substack has become popular as a platform for email newsletters and content that people subscribe to, there are a few reasons why people might want to look for other options:
- Fees for subscriptions: When you pay for a subscription, Substack takes a fee, usually around 10%. Instead, creators might look for other options that let them keep more of their earnings or offer better fee structures.
- Not Many Ways to Make Money: Paid subscriptions are the main way that Substack makes money. Creators who want to make money in other ways, like through ads, sponsorships, or different levels of subscriptions, may look into platforms that offer more ways to make money.
- Making changes and branding: Substack gives you a simple, standard template for newsletters, which might make it harder to customise and brand. People who make newsletters and want more control over how they look and how they are branded may look for alternatives that give them more design freedom.
- Owning the audience: Since Substack owns the subscriber list, creators may not have full control over the information about their audience. There are people who like platforms that are more open and give them more control over subscriber information.
- Integration with Outside Tools: For marketing, analytics, or adding more features, creators may need external tools and services to work seamlessly with their work. It’s possible that some alternatives will work better with more third-party tools.
- Features for community and engagement: Substack is mostly about the newsletter format. Creators who want more community and engagement features, like discussion forums or social networking features, may want to look into other platforms that offer these features.
- Types of Content Other Than Newsletters: Substack is made for newsletters. If content creators want to add podcasts, videos, or other formats to their work, they may want to look for platforms that support more content types.
Questions and Answers
What is the bad thing about Substack? There are some problems with Substack that have been well documented by others. It costs a huge 10% of your subscription income before credit card charges. A platform that lets me send over 100,000 emails a month for free is hard to find another one that works for me.
Because their SEO is so good, I recommend Ghost CMS to writers and bloggers who put a lot of effort into their blogs and articles. Also, Ghost lets you customise and make money in more ways than Substack. Creators who want to publish different kinds of content with just one tool should use Substack instead.