Curious About Substack? Discover Its Unique Features and How It Compares to Medium, Beehiiv and X
Imagine a world where writers aren't just content creators, but independent media entrepreneurs. Welcome to Substack—the platform that's flipping the script on digital publishing.
Here, writers aren't just chasing clicks; they're building communities, monetizing their unique voices, and connecting directly with readers who actually want to hear what they have to say. No algorithms, no corporate filters—just pure, unfiltered storytelling.
From investigative journalists to niche enthusiasts, Substack is where authentic content finds its tribe. Ready to dive in?
What is Substack?
Substack is primarily a newsletter platform, but it's much more than that. It allows writers to monetize their work directly through subscription models, offering a blend of blogging and email marketing with a straightforward user interface.
Key Features of Substack Include:
Email Newsletters: The core of Substack is sending out content via email, making it easier to reach subscribers directly in their inboxes.
Customizable Websites: Each Substack publication gets a dedicated, customizable website where all posts are archived, providing readers with a centralized place to access past content.
Monetization Options: Writers can offer both free and paid subscriptions. Substack takes a 10% cut on paid subscriptions, with the rest going directly to the creators.
Podcasting: Substack supports podcasting, allowing creators to attach audio files to posts, which can be accessible on various podcast platforms.
Community Features: Readers can comment on posts, fostering a community around the content. There's also a recommendation system where creators can recommend other Substacks, enhancing discoverability.
SEO and Analytics: Basic SEO features and analytics are included to track reader engagement, from open rates to subscriber growth.
Mobile App: A dedicated app for both iOS and Android provides a seamless reading experience on mobile devices.
New and Expanded Features:
Substack Notes: Introduced to allow short-form posts similar to social media, Notes let writers share quick thoughts, links, images, and quotes. They are public and accessible to anyone in the Substack network, functioning like a microblogging tool within Substack. Notes help in discovery and can drive subscriptions since they appear in feeds where readers can engage or subscribe directly.
Substack Chat: This feature provides a private space for writers to host discussions with subscribers. It's designed like a group chat where creators can share updates, photos, or discussion prompts. Chats can be paywalled, ensuring only paid subscribers can participate, which adds an exclusive community aspect to Substack publications.
Long Form Posts: Substack's traditional strength lies in long-form content. Writers can craft detailed essays, stories, or analyses, which are sent directly to subscribers' inboxes or read on the publication's website. These posts support rich text formatting, images, videos, and embeds, providing a full blogging experience.
Live Video: A newer addition, live video streaming in the Substack app allows creators to engage with their audience in real-time. This is particularly useful for breaking news, Q&A sessions, or behind-the-scenes content. Videos can be paywalled, and after streaming, they're saved as draft posts for further use in long-form content or shared on Notes.
Substack vs. Medium
Purpose and Focus:
Substack is designed for writers who want to build a direct relationship with their audience through newsletters. It's particularly appealing for those looking to monetize their content via subscriptions.
Medium is a broader publishing platform aimed at sharing articles with a wide audience. It uses an algorithm to suggest content to readers, which can help new writers get discovered but at the cost of control over the audience.
Monetization:
Substack allows creators to keep 90% of their subscription revenue, whereas Medium operates on a partner program where earnings are based on reader engagement, with Medium taking a larger share of the revenue.
Content Control and Ownership:
On Substack, creators own their content and audience list, providing significant control over their brand and monetization strategies.
Medium retains more control over content distribution and monetization, which can be less transparent for creators in terms of earnings.
User Experience:
Substack offers a minimalist interface focused on content, whereas Medium provides a more social, interactive reading experience with claps, highlights, and better integration with social media.
Substack vs. Beehiiv
Feature Set:
Beehiiv is newer and positions itself with a more comprehensive suite of tools for newsletter creators, including advanced analytics, automation, and segmentation not found in Substack's basic offerings.
Substack emphasizes simplicity and direct writer-to-reader communication with less emphasis on complex marketing tools.
Pricing and Monetization:
Substack has a straightforward fee structure with a 10% cut on paid subscriptions, while Beehiiv charges a flat monthly fee for its services, which can be more cost-effective for creators with larger subscriber bases.
Growth and Discovery:
Substack benefits from a network effect with its recommendation system, but Beehiiv focuses more on helping newsletters grow externally through better SEO, automation, and direct marketing tools.
Customization:
Beehiiv provides more customization options for newsletters and websites than Substack's somewhat uniform design approach, catering to those who want more control over branding and reader experience.
Substack Notes vs. X (Formerly Twitter)
Key Features of Substack Notes
Microblogging + Newsletters: Like X, Substack Notes allows short-form posts but integrates with long-form newsletters, creating seamless content transitions.
Subscription-Based: Substack relies on direct creator-audience payments, fostering quality-driven content without ads, unlike X's ad-supported model.
Public Discovery: Notes are public, discoverable via Substack's recommendation system, akin to hashtags or trends on X.
No Character Limits: Unlike X's 280-character limit for free users, Substack Notes allows unrestricted expression.
Content Integration: Notes link directly to newsletters, encouraging readers to explore detailed posts—something unique to Substack.
How Substack Notes Compares to X
Environment: Substack fosters a less toxic, writer-focused community. X often leans on viral content and struggles with moderation.
Monetization: While X offers Twitter Blue, Substack directly supports creators through subscriptions, appealing to those seeking sustainable income.
User Experience: Substack emphasizes meaningful engagement with an intuitive interface, while X caters to fleeting interactions.
Privacy: Substack gives creators more control over content and audience data, avoiding sudden algorithm changes that often disrupt X users.
Audience: X has global reach, but Substack's niche audience is deeply engaged and highly focused on quality content.
Substack Notes stands out for those prioritizing substance over virality, offering a unique blend of micro and long-form content with sustainable monetization.
Substack excels in offering a straightforward, writer-centric platform where content creators can build and monetize an audience with relative ease. With the addition of Notes, Chat, long-form posts, and live video, Substack has expanded its capabilities, making it not just a newsletter platform but a comprehensive content creation and community-building tool. It's distinct from Medium in its focus on newsletters and direct monetization, while Beehiiv offers a more technically robust suite for those looking to scale their newsletter operations with advanced features.
Choosing between these platforms depends largely on your goals as a content creator:
Substack if you value simplicity, direct control over subscribers, and building a community around your content, with the added benefits of social and video features.
Medium for broader exposure through a content discovery algorithm, but with less control over earnings.
Beehiiv for those who need advanced features to grow and manage their newsletter as a business.