As the popularity of newsletters continues to grow, creators are increasingly looking for Substack alternatives to find the best platform for their unique content, monetization, and growth goals. With over 4 billion email users worldwide and email marketing generating an ROI of up to $42 for every $1 spent (HubSpot), email newsletters have proven to be a valuable channel for content creators, writers, and indie publishers.
In this article, we’ll compare some of the best Substack alternatives, focusing on features like customization, monetization, analytics, and pricing to help you find the ideal platform for your newsletter or blog.
While Substack is a popular platform, creators often seek alternatives to address its limitations, which include:
- Limited Customization: Substack’s design options are basic, making it difficult to establish a unique brand identity.
- Revenue Share: Substack takes a 10% cut on paid subscriptions.
- SEO Limitations: Substack lacks advanced SEO tools, limiting organic reach.
- Limited Audience Segmentation: Substack offers only basic segmentation options, which can impact growth and engagement.
In an industry projected to grow at a 13% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2025 (Grand View Research), these limitations have driven demand for alternative platforms with enhanced customization, revenue control, and analytics.
| Platform | Focus | Revenue Model | Monetization Options | Customization | Analytics | SEO Capabilities | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ghost | Content management, membership | No revenue share | Memberships, subscriptions | Advanced | In-depth | Advanced | From $9/month (self-hosted) |
| Beehiiv | Growth-focused newsletters | No revenue share | Subscriptions, ads | Moderate | Advanced | Basic | Free, paid plans from $49/month |
| Revue | Social-driven newsletter | 5% revenue share on paid subs | Paid subscriptions | Limited | Basic | Minimal | Free to use, 5% revenue cut |
| Medium | Content discovery, exposure | Partner Program | Revenue from engagement | Minimal | Limited | High DA for SEO | Free to publish, Partner Program for revenue |
| Patreon | Memberships and exclusive content | 5–12% revenue share | Memberships, exclusive content | Limited | Basic | Minimal | Free to join, 5–12% revenue cut |
| ConvertKit | Email marketing, automation | No revenue share | Subscriptions, digital products | Limited | Advanced | Basic | Free, paid plans from $9/month |
Overview: Ghost is a powerful, open-source platform that supports extensive customization, advanced SEO, and a range of membership tools. Designed as a CMS, Ghost lets creators build a fully branded website or blog alongside their newsletter.
- Statistics: Ghost has over 12,000 active websites and 10 million monthly readers (Ghost).
- Pricing: Starts at $9/month (self-hosted) or $11/month for Ghost Pro (managed hosting).
- Best For: Bloggers, writers, and brands who need full control over design and SEO.
Pros:
- Fully customizable with themes and custom CSS.
- Advanced SEO capabilities (meta tags, schema, etc.).
- Offers both self-hosted and managed hosting options.
Cons:
- Higher learning curve, especially for self-hosted setup.
- Limited email marketing tools compared to dedicated platforms.
Overview: Beehiiv is a growth-oriented platform launched by former Morning Brew team members. It includes advanced segmentation, referral programs, and analytics, making it a popular choice for creators focused on audience growth.
- Statistics: Newsletters using Beehiiv’s referral program report a 35% increase in subscribers on average within the first three months (Beehiiv).
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans from $49/month.
- Best For: Creators focused on audience growth and monetization through subscriptions and ads.
Pros:
- Built-in referral program to drive growth.
- In-depth analytics and segmentation for targeted messaging.
- No revenue cut on paid subscriptions.
Cons:
- Limited design options.
- Focused more on newsletters than full websites.
Overview: Revue, acquired by Twitter, is a simple tool designed for social media-connected newsletters. Revue lets creators connect with Twitter followers, simplifying traffic generation from social media.
- Statistics: As of 2022, Revue was reported to have over 500,000 users after Twitter integration (TechCrunch).
- Pricing: Free to use, with a 5% cut on paid subscriptions.
- Best For: Creators who want simple, Twitter-integrated newsletter tools.
Pros:
- Integration with Twitter for social audience growth.
- Simple setup, lower revenue share than Substack.
Cons:
- Basic customization options.
- Lacks advanced analytics or growth tools.
Overview: Medium is a content discovery platform with a built-in audience of 100 million monthly readers (Medium). Medium’s Partner Program pays creators based on reader engagement, allowing them to earn from their content without managing subscribers.
- Statistics: Medium has a high Domain Authority (DA) of 94, helping articles rank well on search engines.
- Pricing: Free to publish; Medium’s Partner Program pays based on engagement.
- Best For: Writers looking for exposure and reader engagement.
Pros:
- Large, built-in audience for increased visibility.
- High SEO potential due to Medium’s DA.
- Partner Program allows earning without subscriptions.
Cons:
- Minimal design control.
- No direct control over audience data.
Overview: Patreon allows creators to monetize their audience through memberships, offering exclusive content in exchange for monthly support. It’s popular among creators with strong fanbases who want to build community-driven support.
- Statistics: Patreon hosts over 250,000 active creators and has paid out $3.5 billion to date (Patreon).
- Pricing: Free to join, with Patreon taking 5–12% of revenue depending on the plan.
- Best For: Creators with an engaged fanbase who want to offer exclusive content.
Pros:
- Flexible membership tiers and community options.
- Well-suited for exclusive, community-driven content.
Cons:
- Limited tools for email or newsletter management.
- Higher revenue share compared to other platforms.
Overview: ConvertKit is an email marketing platform designed for creators and entrepreneurs, offering tools for audience segmentation, landing pages, and subscription monetization. ConvertKit supports digital products, making it a popular choice for creators looking to sell courses, memberships, or content.
- Statistics: ConvertKit has over 35,000 creators and serves over 500 million subscribers (ConvertKit).
- Pricing: Free plan available; paid plans start at $9/month.
- Best For: Creators focused on email marketing, list building, and monetization.
Pros:
- Extensive email automation and segmentation features.
- Flexible monetization options for creators selling products or memberships.
- Customizable landing pages for lead generation.
Cons:
- No built-in blogging or CMS features.
- Slight learning curve for automation tools.
- Ghost and Medium are strong choices for creators focused on SEO. Ghost’s advanced SEO tools (meta tags, schema markup) and Medium’s high Domain Authority (DA 94) give them an edge over email-centric platforms like Beehiiv and ConvertKit.
- Beehiiv excels in audience growth due to its advanced referral program and segmentation tools. Newsletters on Beehiiv have reported 35% average growth in subscribers within three months due to the platform’s growth-focused features.
- Patreon and Ghost both offer robust membership and subscription models. Patreon’s tiered memberships allow for flexible content exclusivity, while Ghost’s subscription and membership features are ideal for creators building paid content hubs.
| Platform | Revenue Share | Subscription Cost | Additional Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | 10% | Free to use | Stripe fees on paid subs |
| Ghost | 0% | From $9/month | Hosting fees for self-hosted |
| Beehiiv | 0% | Free, $49+/month | Stripe fees on paid subs |
| Revue | 5% | Free to use | Stripe fees on paid subs |
| Medium | 0% | Free to publish | Revenue from engagement |
| Patreon | 5–12% | Free to join | Revenue share depends on plan |
| ConvertKit | 0% | Free, $9+/month | Stripe fees on paid subs |
Selecting the right Substack alternative depends on your content strategy and audience goals:
- Choose Ghost if you’re building a branded website with advanced SEO and full control over content.
- Choose Beehiiv if you’re focused on rapid audience growth with analytics-driven insights and referral tools.
- Choose Revue if you want a simple, social media-driven newsletter experience connected to Twitter.
- Choose Medium if you’re looking for exposure to a large, built-in audience with SEO advantages.
- Choose Patreon if you want to monetize through exclusive memberships and build a community.
- Choose ConvertKit if you’re focused on list building, email marketing, and selling digital products.
Each platform has strengths tailored to different creator needs, helping indie writers and publishers find the ideal fit for content growth, monetization, and engagement.
-
What is the best Substack alternative for SEO?
- Ghost is ideal for SEO due to advanced options, while Medium benefits from its high domain authority.
-
Which platform offers the best monetization features?
- Patreon is a strong choice for membership monetization, and Ghost offers flexible subscription options for paid content.
-
Which platform is most beginner-friendly?
- Revue and Medium offer the easiest setup, with simple interfaces designed for immediate publishing without extensive customization.
By exploring these Substack alternatives, you can find a platform tailored to your unique content, branding, and audience goals.