Substack is widely used as a writing platform and to draw a newsletter readership. But, there are other Substack alternatives which would allow you to promote your content in much of the same manner and possibly make something from it.
For those interested in things other than Substack, here’s a good point of reference to start from. I’d like to help you critically navigate through those decisions to arrive at the best choice for your objectives.
1) Patreon
Patreon is one of the Substack alternatives , particularly if other than newsletters you have additional content to sell. It supports writers, musicians, podcasters, artists you name it. It’s beneficial to creatives of all kinds for that reason .
I also appreciate that Patreon allows for a variety of different subscription tiers. This allows you to provide different pricing tiers and corresponding rewards; ultimately this fosters community and provides fans with options based on interest and budget.
Hopefully others will see the value in my work and in supporting it, while receiving a financial benefit to themselves – signing up for Patreon at this stage is free. They only take a cut once you begin to make money- which is typically around 5-12% plus the processing fees. In short, you don’t lose money until you start making money.
Patreon does provide for live streaming and allows for exclusive spaces such as a Discord community. It allows me to feel connected to my readers in the moment, something that Substack does not really zero in on. Patreon is also hard to beat in terms of flexibility beyond just newsletters.
Find out more about how Patreon functions as a Substack alternative .
2) beehiiv
Another viable Substack competitor is beehiiv. It’s all about growing and monetizing a newsletter so if you are looking to build an audience and potentially make money over the long term you should check it out.
It does offer the ability to “send newsletters or write blog posts” – beehiiv. Their free plan alone allows for a whopping 2,500 subscribers.
The migration tool is rudimentary. It’s not a huge pain if you want to migrate your subscribers from Substack or elsewhere.
beehiiv’s tools were created by newsletter creators and often feel right for writing, managing, and growing newsletters. It seems contemporary yet is simple.
beehiiv is definitely worth a look if you are serious about growing your newsletter community and require more than basic publishing. If you’d like a more detailed comparison, there’s one at beehiiv vs Substack .
3) Mighty Networks
On the third place for Substack alternatives list is Mighty Networks. This is more than a newsletter. They help you build a movement where your membership actually engage with and relate to one another – and not just with your emails.
I have more options for how I engage with my audience via Mighty Networks. I can conduct live events, webinars, or even sell goods or services. It’s a good option if you wish to do more than just email.
You can import communities from, and therefore keep everyone in one place . Mighty Networks, unlike substack, is more about community and offers several other ways to make money.
If you are looking for something of a hybrid of content and community with customizable functionality, you might want to consider Mighty Networks. To see more information on its features and a comparison with Substack, here are some of the Mighty Networks alternatives.
4) ConvertKit
Interestingly there has already been a response to Substack that does allow for more control – ConvertKit and assot is a good Substack alternative for creators. Subscriber management tools are rather extensive.
ConvertKit’s free plan includes up to 10,000 subscribers, so this is not an issue. It’s a good choice if you would like to build an audience before paying fees.
ConvertKit is able to deliver lower fees than Substack, in part because ConvertKit won’t take a percentage of your profits. That means more of what you make, you keep.
You can easily set up landing pages and email collection forms. It’s ideal for creators that want more control over how their work is marketed and on their relationship with their audience.
If you are looking for something minimalist but with high levels of automation, then ConvertKit is fine for that. You may go and see how these compare to Substack’s direct payment and community focus and which feeling better goes with where you would like to position yourself.
This comparison post links to more information about ConvertKit , and discusses it relative to Substack.
5) Medium
It’s good for easy online publication. It already has a bit of an audience so your articles will be read even if you don’t have a newsletter list yet.
You won’t need to deal with the technical stuff, – hosting, design, etc. – Medium does it all. You just have to write. They have a partner program in which writers make variable amounts of money based on the level of engagement they elicit from readers, but this program is not set up on a subscription model like Substack.
Drawback: not very customizable. You don’t have complete control of your email list, or your brand. That said, for relatively painless publication and a potential to make some money, I’d recommend it for many writers.
Here, for Medium and Substack fans, another 21 sites you may also want to visit.
6) Substack alternatives- Write.as
For those who want a no-frills space, write.as is a simple, clean writers platform. Its emphasis is on privacy and freedom of content – no ads, no tracking – . If you’re into a minimalist writing style this may be your jam.
They don’t do much customization, but at least you can get up and running without much of a headache. The really cool thing is you don’t have to use your real name, you can write under a pen name or even write anonymously.
It also has built in support for blogging and newsletters so you can share your writing via email. It is simple and customizable – a great choice for someone who is seeking ease of use more than anything else.
See here for a list of Substack alternatives as well as the specific ways in which Write.as compares to other platforms.
7) Bear Blog
Bear Blog is an easy and clean way to publish ideas without any distractions. The philosophy is pure minimalism; plugging in to get you up and running as fast as possible, with as few bells and whistles as possible.
It is free and ad-free. I also appreciate that it respects privacy and does not track readers . You can even use your own domain name for better brand control.
Bear Blog allows plain text and simple formatting. It isn’t very fancy in regards to newsletter tools, but it’s helpful for those of you who just want a forum to simply voice your thoughts. Ideal for those writers who just want a straight-forward space with no fees or fuss.
Bear Blog is a Substack alternative if you are looking to have a slimmer experience. It can be found in exhaustive lists of Substack alternatives which feature Bear Blog and others.
8) Ghost
If you’re looking for complete control over your content then Ghost is a good Substack alternative. It’s open source so you can host it yourself and avoid paying platform fees. This way you receive 100% of the profits, there are no transaction costs cutting away at your profits.
Ghost looks after publishing and growth in terms of the audience. It’s not overloaded with features and is therefore clear and fast for writers looking for a streamlined process.
Ghost is also used for company blogs by large corporations like Buffer and Airtable. It is very flexible allowing creators to create their own branded newsletter and has good SEO and monetization tools. If you feel that you need more independence you can drive your newsletter on Substack to Ghost.
For a more detailed comparison of Ghost and Substack see this Ghost vs Substack comparison .
9) Buttondown
Buttondown makes getting a newsletter started easy. It is very minimal, in that it allows you to do nothing but write .
You can also operate off the same account more than one newsletter, which Substack does not allow. Because it supports Markdown formatting emails is really fast clean.
It chalks the easy-to-use editing and proofreading tools up to is success. It plays nice with other apps as well, such as those that use Zapier, should you wish to automate some functions.
How many new subscribers you get and how many subscribers stay is tracked for you in clear analytics. There also seems to be few of the audience building tools that other platforms offer and thus you will likely have to direct people there via a social media or website presence.
Pricing is more flexible and allows you to more control over your income than with Substack. Buttondown is integrated with several different currencies and operates in compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation .
If you like simplicity and flexibility and want to avoid any additional clutter, Buttondown may be for you. You can read more about the features of it on the best Substack alternatives page.
10) Revue
For writers thinking of switching to or starting an easy and good newsletter tool, Revue is a good option to Substack. The editor is clean and free of any distractions to keep you from getting lost in your content .
The browser extension is a nice way to be able to save articles/links from anywhere else you are online, to add to your newsletters later. Substack does not have that .
You can also set your own domain name of the subscription page, which is making your page more professional.
With Revue there’s no limit on number of subscribers or the number of members in your team, so it’s easier to grow. There were embeddable newsletter sign-up forms and a WordPress plugin that allowed me to integrate my newsletter with my website fairly easily.
The platform operates out of Amsterdam, and already has some significant publishers signed up to it. It is fairly cheap and the experience of it is not bad. Find more about Revue’s features here.
Substack alternatives-Key Features to Consider
When considering a platform such as Substack, for me questions involve discovery of an audience, revenue options, customization, and analytics. This is really what has determined which service is best for me.
Audience Growth Tools
It all comes down to growing your list of subscribers. For a good site, it’s not easy to find anything that is simple to join, in terms of a signup form and landing page. Automatic welcome messages also help new readers feel welcome.
Social sharing counts, as well. I like the ones where readers can share my newsletter to social media in one click. The SEO capabilities built into it help me to be found by new readers in search engines.
Integration with other tools such as social media or CRM apps that allows me to better manage and grow my audience. It’s just easier.
Monetization Options
How you make a living is a very important one. Substack takes a 10% cut of subscription fees so I search for platforms that have more flexible payment options and lower fees. Monthly or yearly subscriptions, pay per issue or paid extras on a free site.
You can specify different privileges at different levels of membership. In addition, some platforms also allow for one- time donations or “tips” which provide additional revenue streams.
Automated tax and payments platforms also save time. Integrated payment processors like Stripe or PayPal; I never want to have to chase payments.
Customization and Branding
Your newsletter should be you. I gravitate towards platforms that give me the option to edit fonts, colors, and layouts simply – . Others even allow you to incorporate your own logos, custom domain and personalized URLs .
The use of flexible email templates has also maintained my own look and feel, eliminating the need for me to have or develop design skills. The control over the aesthetic is what really makes it possible to connect with my audience.
Nice to have: Ability to create custom landing pages. The allow me to advertise my newsletter with unique features that represent my brand, even if only a little splash of personality .
Analytics and Insights
It’s all about understanding what works and doesn’t work for me. My platforms provide very clear, detailed analytics.
Open and click rates, subscriber growth figures inform me as to what is and is not effective. I keep my eyes on which links are getting clicked and timing how long they stay engaged within each email.
It informs my writing and determines what I will submit next. If I see a decline in engagement then I’ll change how I do it.
I look for the ability to export data, or the capacity to connect to other applications. It’s much easier to keep track of progress in the long-term.
Choosing the Right Publishing Platform
Choosing a publishing platform comes down to how intuitive it is, what it’ll set you back, and how much help you can expect from the community.
All of these can have an impact on one’s capacity to develop an audience and handle content effectively. That’s a tough question honestly.
Ease of Use
I am looking for platforms that I can jump into and get started with that are not overly tech intensive. Substack is interesting because it puts the blog, mailing list and delivery mechanism in one place.
Ghost offers me greater control over everything, but also has a steeper learning curve. If I’m going to be in total control then I might it but it’s not for everyone.
The interface counts as well. I love a clean dashboard and easy navigation, it’s just a time saver and prevents frustration for me.
Pricing Models
It is important because it does directly impact how much money you take home. Instead, Substack will allow you to begin making money through paid posts and then take a percentage of your revenue.
Medium’s model is paying based on “claps” from readers, but you don’t have a lot of say in what you charge or any access to subscriber information. It’s a trade off.
Technically WordPress is free, though you will pay for hosting and extras like themes or plugins. I attempt to limit my floor costs and get what I need when I need it.
Community Support
This is the case because more access to a valuable community can offer faster problem-solving and learning through someone else’s experience. Medium and Substack are large platforms with communities and centralized assistance.
There may not be built-in help in smaller or self-hosted platforms, but they will have forums or third-party groups. You’re on your own is right sometimes.
Community support has helped me to keep chugging along, and to improve my content more quickly. And it’s a networking opportunity, which never hurts.
For more information on how platforms compare, see this guide to selecting a publishing platform.
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Frequently Asked Questions
I’ll answer common questions about platforms like Substack. This includes what free options exist, which ones stand out in 2025, and how they compare in features and popularity.
What are the top free platforms similar to Substack?
Among free websites like Substack, beehiiv and Medium are some of the best. Both create low barrier to entry environments – allowing publishers to setup newsletters and create content for free.
Patreon also has a free one, but costs you a once you start making money. These also allow you to “play” without any upfront costs.
Which platforms are considered the best Substack alternatives in 2025?
As of 2025 some of the leading alternatives are Patreon, beehiiv, Mighty Networks, ConvertKit, and Medium . And each has their own unique strengths in terms of monetization, community or content tools.
But patreon is effective for many types of creators. Beehiiv is more focused in growing and providing newsletters analytics. The community functions of Mighty Networks are very impressive.
What other newsletter services offer features comparable to Substack?
ConvertKit and Medium have similar functionality; both have subscriptions and content distribution, for instance. ConvertKit is particularly popular if you are into email marketing and automation. Medium, provides you with an audience outside of your site, but less ability to monetize that audience. That’s okay sometimes, and it is not okay other times.
How does Ghost compare with Substack in terms of features and user experience?
Ghost is open-source and customizable with solid SEO support. It provides more opportunity for creators to control their design and branding than Substack.
But Ghost also requires more initial setup and upkeep. Substack is quick and little technically demanding.
Are there any emerging platforms that rival Substack’s popularity and functionality?
Platforms like beehiiv and Mighty Networks are gaining traction as Substack rivals. They offer advanced tools like audience segmentation and better monetization options.
These platforms push beyond Substack’s limits on customization and analytics. If you need detailed management and growth features, they’re worth a look.
What advantages do Substack’s competitors offer over the platform?
Design and marketing tools are provided by other competitors and you have more freedom to use your own imagination. A lot of them also integrate advanced analytics and A/B testing – stuff that Substack doesn’t even have at this point.
Some, such as Patreon, accept all creators, not only writers. Some have cheaper fees or come with better SEO options – this can be very helpful for ensuring you’re not just spending, but earning more.