Top 5 Substack alternatives in 2025

What is Substack?

Substack is a platform designed for independent writers and creators to publish content and manage subscriptions. They operate on a revenue-sharing model where writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees. Substack offers features such as chat functionality, activity tracking, content exploration, user profile management, and tools for content creation. Additionally, they provide a mobile app for accessing and managing content on the go, along with personalized content recommendations.

Reasons for considering Substack alternatives

• Substack only supports payments through Stripe, limiting its availability in some regions.
• There are compatibility issues with certain devices or browsers, affecting the user experience.
• Substack has weak integrations with other tools like Notion and HubSpot, and limited analytics.
• Users have reported sporadic customer support and refund frustrations.

A quick look

Here are the top 5 alternatives to Substack:

1. Flodesk
2. Sendpulse
3. Sender
4. Litmus
5. Mailercloud

Best alternatives to Substack

1. Flodesk

Flodesk offers the most intuitive email marketing tools for small businesses, helping you grow and monetize your email list effortlessly. With no need for coding or design skills, you can create, send, and automate emails that engage your audience and drive revenue. Trusted by over 100,000 businesses, Flodesk helps beginners and experts send beautiful, high-converting emails in a radically simple way. With the world’s most intuitive email builder, powerful automations, and beautiful forms, Flodesk gives you everything you need for brilliant email marketing—without the complexity. For more information, visit Flodesk.

Pros of using Flodesk

• Simple and Intuitive: Flodesk provides powerful features in a simple, easy-to-use interface without the complexity of outdated platforms.
• Beautiful Emails: Flodesk is the top choice for creating visually appealing emails that reflect a brand's unique style and identity.
• High Converting Ecommerce Blocks: Flodesk offers beautiful sales pages and online payment options, making it easy to turn any link into a sales funnel.

Cons of using Flodesk

• No SMS Notifications: Flodesk does not offer SMS notifications, which can be a drawback for businesses looking to integrate multi-channel communication strategies.
• Not for All Enterprises: Flodesk does not offer API and web hooks for enterprises that might want to trigger automations from business logic, limiting its suitability for larger organizations with complex needs.

Pricing

Pricing starts at $35 per month with plans designed to grow with your business. You’ll get access to stunning design-focused templates and easy automation built for small businesses, solopreneurs, and creative brands. With clear and predictable pricing, there are no confusing tiers or hidden fees.

Reviews

Flodesk reviews are overwhelmingly positive, with users praising its intuitive design and stunning email templates. With a 4.4 out of 5 rating and 77% of reviews being 5-star, it's clear that Flodesk is a favorite among its users.

Flodesk is incredibly intuitive and makes designing beautiful emails a breeze. The templates are stunning and easy to customize. - LucyParis P. (Rating: 5/5)

The simplicity and elegance of Flodesk's interface are unmatched. It has transformed the way I approach email marketing. - Sarah M. (Rating: 5/5)

2. Sendpulse

SendPulse is a multi-channel marketing automation platform that offers tools for email marketing, CRM systems, chatbots, and landing page builders. It also provides features for transactional emails, SMS campaigns, web push notifications, and online course creation, all integrated to streamline marketing efforts and customer engagement.

Pros of using Sendpulse

• Free usage: Essential tools like email marketing, chatbots, and CRM are available without cost.
• Multi-channel support: Offers email campaigns, SMS, web push notifications, and chatbots.
• Automation features: Includes AI-powered tools for workflow and sales pipeline automation.

Cons of using Sendpulse

• Complexity for Beginners: SendPulse offers a wide range of features and tools, which can be overwhelming for new users who are not familiar with marketing automation platforms. The learning curve can be steep, requiring users to spend significant time understanding how to effectively use all the available tools.
• Limited Free Plan Features: While the free plan offers a generous number of emails and chatbots, some advanced features and higher usage limits are only available in the paid plans. This limitation can be a drawback for businesses that need more extensive capabilities but are not ready to commit to a paid plan.

Pricing

SendPulse offers various pricing plans based on the number of subscribers. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:

• 2,000 Subscribers: $25 per month
• 10,000 Subscribers: $65 per month

Reviews

Sendpulse reviews highlight the platform's intuitive interface and extensive customization options, but some users find the learning curve steep and the free plan's features limited. Overall, it has a high rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 691 reviews.

"Sendpulse offers a decent range of features, but the interface can be a bit clunky at times." - Sarah K. (Rating: 3/5)

"The automation tools in Sendpulse are top-notch and have significantly improved our email campaigns." - Michael B. (Rating: 4.5/5)

3. Sender

Sender provides email and SMS marketing services, including tools for creating responsive emails, sending campaigns, and setting up automated workflows. The platform also offers audience segmentation, detailed analytics, and integration with popular tools like WordPress and Shopify.

Pros of using Sender

• Free Forever plan: Offers up to 2,500 subscribers and 15,000 emails per month at no cost.
• Automation and segmentation: Provides unlimited automation and audience segmentation capabilities.
• Integrations: Seamlessly integrates with popular tools like WordPress, WooCommerce, and Shopify.

Cons of using Sender

• Limited Free Plan: The free plan offered by Sender is restricted to 2,500 subscribers and up to 15,000 emails per month. While this may be sufficient for small businesses or those just starting, it could be a limitation for growing businesses that need to send more emails or have a larger subscriber base. Users who exceed these limits would need to upgrade to a paid plan, which could increase their expenses.
• Potential Learning Curve: Despite the intuitive drag-and-drop email builder and premade automation workflows, new users or those unfamiliar with email marketing tools might need some time to fully understand and utilize all the features. The availability of training videos and a help center can mitigate this issue, but it still represents a potential challenge for some users.

Pricing

Sender offers straightforward pricing plans for different subscriber counts. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:

• 2,000 Subscribers: Free up to 2,500 subscribers
• 10,000 Subscribers: $6.67 per month

Reviews

Sender reviews highlight the platform's ease of use, powerful automation features, and professional-looking newsletters, with users particularly appreciating the generous free plan. However, some users have found the learning curve to be a bit steep and have expressed frustrations with the limitations of the free plan.

"Sender is a reliable email marketing tool with a straightforward interface and excellent customer support." - Jane S. (Rating: 4.5/5)

"While Sender offers good features, it can be a bit slow at times." - Mark T. (Rating: 3/5)

4. Litmus

Litmus offers tools for creating, personalizing, testing, and analyzing email campaigns. It helps users ensure email deliverability, monitor performance, and integrate with various email service providers.

Pros of using Litmus

• Increases conversion rates: Litmus helps boost conversion rates by 50%.
• Reduces error rates: Litmus decreases email error rates by 68%.
• Saves time: Litmus saves 50% of the time spent testing emails.

Cons of using Litmus

• Complexity in usage for beginners: The platform offers a wide range of features that might be overwhelming for new users who are not familiar with advanced email marketing tools.
• High cost for small businesses: The comprehensive suite of tools and integrations comes at a premium price, which might not be affordable for smaller businesses with limited budgets.

Pricing

Litmus offers pricing plans that cater to different business needs. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:

• 2,000 Subscribers: $39.60 per month
• 10,000 Subscribers: $198 per month

Reviews

Litmus reviews highlight the platform's comprehensive email testing tools and ease of use, with users praising its ability to improve the email creation process and high customer satisfaction with the support team. However, some users have expressed frustrations with the platform's complexity and high cost for small businesses.

"The fact that we can preview how the campaigns would display gives us an idea to work better." - Verbina K. (Rating: 5.0/5)

"Easy way to test how our emails from Marketing Cloud display on other browsers, platforms, etc. Very simple to send a test message and see all environments at once." - Verified User in Higher Education (Rating: 4.0/5)

5. Mailercloud

Mailercloud is an email marketing tool that enables users to create, send, and track email campaigns. It offers features for designing emails, targeting audiences, automating communications, and tracking performance metrics.

Pros of using Mailercloud

• High email delivery rates: Mailercloud delivers over 6 billion emails every month.
• User-friendly interface: The platform offers a drag-and-drop email design builder and mobile-ready templates.
• Advanced reporting and metrics tracking: Provides detailed metrics and reports for better campaign analysis.

Cons of using Mailercloud

• Limited Customization Options: While Mailercloud offers a variety of templates and a drag-and-drop builder, some users find the customization options to be somewhat limited. This can be a drawback for businesses looking for highly tailored email designs.
• Occasional Deliverability Issues: Despite Mailercloud's high email delivery rates, some users have reported occasional issues with emails landing in spam folders. This can affect the overall effectiveness of email campaigns.

Pricing

Mailercloud offers straightforward pricing plans for different subscriber counts. Here are the pricing details for 2,000 and 10,000 subscribers:

• 2,000 Subscribers: $16 per month
• 10,000 Subscribers: $50 per month

Reviews

Mailercloud reviews highlight the platform's intuitive drag-and-drop email builder and advanced automation features, which users find highly effective for engagement and conversion. However, some users have reported occasional deliverability issues and limited customization options.

"Mailercloud offers a straightforward interface, but it lacks some advanced features." - Sarah K. (Rating: 3/5)

"The customer support is excellent, and the email templates are very customizable." - Michael B. (Rating: 4.5/5)

What to consider when selecting a Substack alternative?

When selecting a Substack alternative, it's crucial to consider features that align with the needs of independent writers and creators. Here are the top five things to keep in mind:

1. Multi-Channel Support: Look for platforms that offer more than just email marketing. Features like SMS campaigns, web push notifications, and chatbots can enhance your reach and engagement.
2. Automation and Segmentation: Effective automation tools and audience segmentation capabilities are essential for personalizing content and improving engagement rates.
3. Integrations: Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with other tools you use, such as WordPress, Shopify, and CRM systems. This can streamline your workflow and enhance productivity.
4. Pricing and Free Plans: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the platform. Many alternatives offer free plans with limited features, which can be beneficial for small businesses or those just starting.
5. Customer Support and Resources: Reliable customer support and access to resources like tutorials, help centers, and community forums can be invaluable, especially if you're new to the platform.

Which one should you go with?

Ultimately, while all these platforms offer robust features and can serve as excellent alternatives to Substack, Flodesk stands out for its simplicity and stunning email designs. If you're looking for an intuitive, user-friendly option that doesn't compromise on aesthetics or functionality, Flodesk is a fantastic choice. Whichever platform you choose, make sure it aligns with your specific needs and goals to maximize your content's impact.