Start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter
Substack is a newsletter platform that lets writers publish content and monetize through paid subscriptions. Known for its simplicity, built-in audience network, and free-until-paid model. Takes 10% of subscription revenue. Founded in 2017 by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi, and Hamish McKenzie.
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
Substack takes 10% of all subscription revenue plus Stripe fees (2.9% + $0.30 + 0.7% recurring). Total take is roughly 13-14% of earnings. For creators earning $100K+/year, that's $13,000+ going to Substack. Many switch to 0% fee alternatives like Ghost when they scale.
Substack has a 1.4/5 Trustpilot rating largely due to support. Users face unhelpful AI chatbots with no human support option. Only 10% of users reach a real person; 1% get issues resolved. Billing problems, double charges, and cancellation issues go unresolved for months.
Substack has no public API and isn't open source. You can't connect it to other services, build automations, or create custom workflows. Tech-savvy creators are frustrated by the inability to integrate with CRMs, analytics tools, or custom applications.
No automations, segmentation, A/B testing, or advanced sequences. Can't create targeted campaigns based on subscriber behavior. No integration with e-commerce or CRMs. For serious email marketers, Substack is fundamentally limited compared to beehiiv, ConvertKit, or similar tools.
Can't create unique signup forms for different content or lead magnets. No ability to segment subscribers based on interests or behavior. Everyone gets the same experience. Limits ability to target content or create personalized reader journeys.
Despite network effects marketing, new Substacks are extremely hard to discover. The oversaturation of writers meets minimal structured data. Recommendations help, but building audience from zero on Substack alone is very difficult.
The Substack app uses a fixed serif font with no size adjustment. The interface is difficult to navigate with disorganized subscription management. Users find managing their reading experience frustrating compared to dedicated reading apps.
No e-commerce integrations, CRM connections, or affiliate marketing support. Can't build sales funnels or product promotions. Businesses relying on these strategies find Substack fundamentally unsuitable for their needs.
Basic analytics only - lacks detailed engagement metrics, click tracking, and audience insights that other platforms provide. Can't deeply understand reader behavior or optimize content based on data. Ghost and beehiiv offer significantly better analytics.
Limited control over design - can't easily customize layouts, images, or text formatting. Only a random serif font with non-adjustable size. No custom templates. Publications look similar. Designers and brand-conscious creators find the constraints frustrating.
Users report being charged after canceling, double charges, incorrect amounts, and subscriptions continuing for years post-cancellation. When issues arise, there's no way to get human help. The billing problems are a significant source of negative reviews.
Users report being unable to publish due to 'network issues' for days at a time. The editor causes 'Page Unresponsive' errors in Chrome. The app crashes frequently when reading. Technical issues with no support create frustrating experiences.
The 2024 Nazi content controversy damaged Substack's reputation. Initially refusing to remove Nazi newsletters, then partially reversing after backlash. Over 200 writers signed letters of concern. Some prominent writers left. The incident raised questions about platform values.
Free until you have paid subscribers
Substack costs nothing until you monetize. No monthly fees, no limits on free newsletters. Only pay the 10% when you actually earn money. This zero-upfront-cost model is unmatched for creators testing the waters or building audience before monetizing.
Extremely simple to start and publish
Launch a newsletter in minutes with zero technical knowledge. The writing interface is clean and distraction-free. Publish immediately without worrying about hosting, domains, or technical setup. The simplicity is genuinely impressive.
Built-in network and discovery features
Substack's recommendation system, cross-posts, and Notes feature help reach other newsletter audiences. Network effects can accelerate growth within the Substack ecosystem. Recommendations from established writers can significantly boost new publications.
Seamless paid subscription integration
Enable paid subscriptions with one click. Stripe integration is automatic. Readers can easily upgrade to paid. The subscription management for both writers and readers is remarkably smooth. No technical setup required for monetization.
Own your subscriber list and content
Unlike social platforms, you own your subscriber email list and can export it anytime. Content is yours. If you leave Substack, your audience comes with you. This portability is crucial for creator independence.
Built-in community features with Notes and Chat
Notes (Substack's social layer) and Chat features enable community building beyond newsletters. Engage readers between posts. The social features help maintain connection and grow audience through organic discovery.
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limitations: No paid subscriptions, Limited customization, No advanced email features, No API
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limitations: 10% platform fee, ~13-14% total fees, No advanced email marketing, No API, Limited analytics
Users: Unlimited
Storage: Unlimited
Limitations: Invitation only, Not publicly available, Terms vary by creator
Writers starting their first newsletter
Substack's simplicity and zero upfront cost make it ideal for beginners. Launch in minutes, build audience, and test monetization without investment. The learning curve is minimal. Perfect for exploring newsletter writing before committing to advanced tools.
Journalists and independent writers
Substack was built for independent journalism and writing. The focus on long-form content, built-in monetization, and audience ownership suits journalists leaving traditional media. Many prominent writers have built successful Substacks.
Creators wanting simplicity over features
If you just want to write and reach readers without technical complexity, Substack delivers. No decisions about hosting, design, or tools. Just write, publish, and grow. The constraints can be liberating for focused writers.
High-earning creators (10% fee matters)
At $100K+ annual revenue, the 10% fee is $10,000+ going to Substack. Ghost charges 0%, beehiiv charges flat fees. Successful creators switch to keep more earnings. The percentage model doesn't scale well for top earners.
Email marketers needing advanced features
No automations, segmentation, A/B testing, or sequences. No API for integrations. No CRM connections. Serious email marketers need ConvertKit, Mailchimp, or beehiiv. Substack is for newsletters, not email marketing.
Businesses needing e-commerce integration
No e-commerce integrations, product sales, or affiliate marketing support. Can't build sales funnels. Businesses need platforms with proper integrations. Substack is for content monetization via subscriptions only.
Creators wanting design control
Minimal customization options. Fixed fonts, limited layouts, similar-looking publications. Brand-conscious creators and designers find the constraints frustrating. Ghost or Webflow offer far more design freedom.
Technical creators needing API access
No API, no integrations, no automation capabilities. Can't connect to other tools or build custom workflows. Technical users who want to extend functionality are completely blocked. Consider Ghost's API or beehiiv.
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Creators earning $50K+ realized they were paying $5,000+ annually to Substack. Ghost's 0% or beehiiv's flat fees would save thousands. The percentage model that seemed fair at $0 became painful at scale. Migration required rebuilding payment relationships.
Users charged after cancellation or facing double charges found no way to get human help. AI chatbots couldn't resolve problems. Disputes dragged on for months. Money lost with no recourse. The lack of support became critical during payment issues.
Growing publications needed automations, segmentation, A/B testing, or CRM integrations. Substack's simplicity became limitation. Migration to platforms with advanced features required starting subscriber relationships over.
Users unable to publish for days due to 'network issues' with no support to help. Lost momentum, missed deadlines, and frustrated readers during outages. The lack of reliable technical support made issues feel catastrophic.
Brand-conscious creators found all Substacks looking similar. Limited customization made differentiation difficult. Readers confused publications. The constraints that seemed acceptable initially became frustrating as brand mattered more.
Technical creators wanted to integrate with CRMs, analytics, or custom tools. No API made this impossible. Workarounds were hacky or non-existent. The walled garden approach felt increasingly limiting for sophisticated operations.
The 2024 Nazi content controversy made some creators uncomfortable being on the platform. Questions about platform values and association. Some left on principle; others stayed but with reservations about Substack's stance.
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
Success becomes expensive as 10% fee scales. At $100K+ revenue, $10K+ goes to Substack annually. Ghost charges 0%. The business model that worked at $0 becomes unsustainable at scale. Migration is disruptive but necessary.
Double charges, post-cancellation billing, or incorrect amounts with no human support to help. AI chatbots fail. Disputes unresolved for months. Money potentially lost with no recourse. The support gap becomes catastrophic.
Business growth requires automations, segmentation, or sequences that Substack doesn't offer. The simple newsletter platform can't support sophisticated email marketing strategies. Migration to feature-rich platforms becomes necessary.
'Network issues' prevent publishing for extended periods. No support to escalate or resolve. Missed publishing schedules, frustrated readers, and potential subscriber loss. Reliability concerns compound without support.
Business needs CRM connections, analytics integrations, or custom automations. No API makes this impossible. Substack's walled garden approach blocks necessary workflows. Choose between limited functionality or platform change.
Growing publication needs unique design identity but Substack limits customization. All publications look similar. Brand-conscious creators find constraints unacceptable. Ghost or custom solutions become necessary.
Business wants to sell products, courses, or use affiliate marketing. Substack only supports subscriptions. No e-commerce integrations. Must fragment business across multiple platforms or migrate entirely.
beehiiv
Creators wanting growth tools switch to beehiiv for referral programs, recommendations network, and better analytics. Gain: advanced features, 2,500 free subscribers, growth-focused tools. Trade-off: paid plans start at $49/month vs Substack's free model.
Ghost
High earners switch to Ghost for 0% platform fees and full ownership. Gain: no revenue share, complete design control, better analytics, own your platform. Trade-off: $15-29/month upfront cost, more setup required.
ConvertKit
Email marketers switch to ConvertKit for proper email marketing features. Gain: automations, segmentation, landing pages, visual builders. Trade-off: monthly fees, less focus on newsletter reading experience.
Buttondown
Minimalist writers switch to Buttondown for simplicity with more control. Gain: Markdown-native, API access, developer-friendly, simple pricing. Trade-off: smaller network effects, less discovery features.
Medium
Writers wanting built-in audience switch to Medium for instant distribution. Gain: existing readership, partner program, no technical setup. Trade-off: less ownership, algorithm dependency, limited monetization control.
Mailchimp
Businesses switch to Mailchimp for full email marketing capabilities. Gain: automations, CRM features, e-commerce integrations, analytics. Trade-off: not newsletter-focused, complex interface, per-subscriber pricing.
