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SubstackCreate & Publish Content

STOA rating

6.3 / 10

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Pricing

Free plan availableFree plan

What it does

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Substack lets writers publish email newsletters, charge subscribers for premium content, and host podcasts or video through an automatically generated website.

Strengths

Free to start with no monthly fees — only pay when you earn
Built-in audience discovery through the Substack network
Simple setup with no technical skills needed
Handles both free and paid subscriber management in one place
Supports newsletters, podcasts, and video content

Weaknesses

Revenue cut becomes costly as your paid subscriber base grows
Limited design and branding customization
You don't fully own your audience — platform dependency is a real risk
Fewer advanced marketing tools compared to dedicated email platforms

Key features

Publish and send email newsletters to free and paid subscribers
Charge subscribers a monthly or annual fee for premium content
Host a podcast or video content alongside your written newsletter
Build a public-facing website for your publication automatically
Grow your audience through Substack's built-in recommendation network
Track subscriber growth, open rates, and paid revenue in a simple dashboard

STOA verdict

Substack is a great fit for small business owners, consultants, or experts who want to build an audience and earn money through a paid newsletter without dealing with complex tech. The biggest win is that it's completely free to start — Substack only takes a 10% cut when you charge subscribers, so there's no upfront risk. The downside is that 10% fee gets expensive fast as your subscriber revenue grows, and you have limited control over design and branding.