Substack

Overview

Substack is a media platform for video, writing, podcasts, and creator-centered communities, all powered by subscriptions. The platform enables independent writers, journalists, and content creators to publish directly to their audiences and monetize their work through paid subscriptions. Unlike traditional blogging platforms that rely on advertising or SEO, Substack focuses on building direct relationships between creators and readers through email newsletters and an integrated social discovery system.

Best For

Substack works particularly well for writers, journalists, and creators who want to build direct relationships with their audiences and monetize through subscriptions rather than advertising. The platform suits those comfortable with a newsletter-first approach and who value simplicity over extensive customization. It's especially popular among independent journalists, essayists, and thought leaders who want to own their subscriber relationships and maintain editorial independence.

Key Features

• Publishing Tools: Substack provides a straightforward publishing interface that supports multiple content formats including written articles, podcasts, and video content. The platform added five-minute video capabilities to the chat function in June 2024, and introduced livestreaming options for creators in September 2024. Writers can create both free and paywalled content, allowing them to offer previews while reserving premium material for paying subscribers.

• Monetization Model: Creators keep 90% of the revenue from their subscriptions, with Substack taking a 10% cut. Additional fees include a credit card processing fee of 2.9% plus $0.30 per transaction and a billing fee of 0.7% for recurring subscriptions. Writers have complete flexibility in setting their own prices, with the most common price point being $5/month or $50/year.

• Community Features: The platform includes built-in commenting systems, reader recommendations, and Substack Notes, a social feature that allows creators and readers to share short-form content and engage with the broader Substack community. These tools help creators build engaged audiences beyond just newsletter subscriptions.

• Integration and Distribution: In April 2024, Substack partnered with Spotify to enable podcasters to distribute episodes on both platforms and added new editing features for podcasts. The platform offers mobile and desktop apps, giving subscribers a dedicated reading experience beyond their email inbox.

Pricing

Substack is free to start using. Creators can publish unlimited content and build their subscriber lists at no upfront cost. The platform only charges fees when creators enable paid subscriptions, taking 10% of subscription revenue plus standard payment processing fees. There are no monthly platform fees, hosting charges, or limits on the number of free subscribers.