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4thewords VS Substack

Compare 4thewords VS Substack and see what are their differences

4thewords

Write more, have fun. We’re a writing software that blends productivity and game mechanics so you can defeat writer's block and build a consistent writing habit! (We’re like a gym, built by writers, for writers)

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $4 / Monthly
Alternatives Is it good?
Substack

With Substack, anyone can start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter or podcast. It's quick and simple.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Sightivo
Get your startup mentioned where AI and search look. We recommend high impact directories, listicles and threads that best fit your startup, draft your outreach, and track how often ChatGPT and Claude name you versus competitors. sponsored
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack should be more popular than 4thewords. It has been mentioned 105 times since March 2021.

social mentions
22 vs 105
Writing Tools popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
74 vs 240+

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

4thewords
Substack
Website 4thewords.com substack.com
Pricing
Paid Free trial $4 / Monthly Official pricing
—
Platforms
Web Google Chrome Edge Firefox Safari Opera Mobile +4
—
Company 2016 Startup from the United States
Listed in
Writing Tools Writing Essay Writing Copywriting Word Academic Writing Marketing Social Networks +5
Creators Blogging Paid Newsletters CMS +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

4thewords 4 features
Substack 6 features
  • Online File Saving & Version History
  • Mobile Friendly (tablet & phones)
  • Writing Battles (Single & Multiplayer)
  • Game World (500+ monsters, thousands of quests, 50+ areas)
  • Ease of Use
    Substack offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for writers to publish and monetize their newsletters.
  • Built-in Monetization
    Writers can easily charge readers for subscriptions, allowing for straightforward monetization.
  • Direct Audience Connection
    Substack allows writers to build a direct relationship with their audience via email, which can lead to a more engaged readership.
  • Discovery and Community
    Features like staff picks and recommendations help writers get discovered by new readers.
  • No Upfront Costs
    Substack does not charge upfront fees; instead, it takes a percentage of subscription revenues, making it easier to start.
  • Content Ownership
    Writers retain full ownership of their content, giving them more control over their work.

Possible disadvantages

  • Revenue Share
    Substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenues, which can add up for writers with a large subscriber base.
  • Limited Customization
    The platform has limited customization options compared to building a custom website or using more flexible CMS options.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying on Substack means depending on its policies and infrastructure, which could pose risks if the platform changes its terms or features.
  • Competition
    As more writers join Substack, it can become challenging to stand out amidst the growing competition.
  • Email Deliverability
    Writers may face issues with email deliverability, as some newsletters may end up in spam folders.
  • Payment Processing Fees
    Besides Substack's fee, payment processors like Stripe also take a percentage, further reducing net earnings for writers.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

4thewords
Substack

No analysis of 4thewords yet.

Overall verdict

  • Substack is a good choice for writers seeking autonomy and a straightforward way to monetize their content. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer working within the framework of a larger publication or those unfamiliar with the challenges of building and maintaining a subscriber base.

Why this product is good

  • Substack is a platform that allows writers, journalists, and content creators to publish and monetize their newsletters. It is praised for its ease of use, built-in subscription system, and direct-to-consumer model which enables writers to retain control over their audience and content. The platform has attracted both independent writers and established journalists seeking the freedom to monetize their work without traditional media constraints.

Recommended for

  • Independent writers and journalists
  • Content creators looking to monetize their work
  • Individuals seeking a direct relationship with their audience
  • Those who appreciate simplicity in publishing

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

4thewords 4 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

What is 4thewords?

More videos

  • - Adventure Calls (Cinematic)
  • - 4TheWords Review
  • - Updated Review 4thewords

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

More videos

  • - E1016 Substack CEO Chris Best empowers writers via email newsletter platform, raised $15M from a16z
  • - Why EVERYONE should be on Substack | What it is, How it Works, $$$
  • - Beehiiv vs Substack (2024) - Which is Better?
  • - My Experience with SUBSTACK: An Honest Review of Substack

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
4thewords
Substack
100% 100%
Writing Tools
0% 0%
0% 0%
Blogging
100% 100%
100% 100%
Word
0% 0%
0% 0%
CMS
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using 4thewords and Substack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

4thewords no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

4thewords 22 mentions
Substack 105 mentions
  • Word Count Accountability/Writing App??
    There's 4thewords, where they gamify writing. I've not tried it but it looks interesting. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Executive Dysfunction
    Yes, I'm the same way. Two things have helped me. 1. Using the Pomodoro technique. You can find timers online and they tick while you are doing whatever, which I find helps me stay on track. I do 30 minutes with 5 minutes break. 2.... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Where you write?
    I use 4thewords.com with Scrivener for organisation and notes, but it really depends on what works for you. I like the gamification of 4thewords because it helps me focus, other people prefer options where they can completely turn off... Source: over 3 years ago

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  • Benchmarking Qwen3.8 27B quantizations: 4-bit holds up, 1-bit collapses
    For anyone that would like to see more quantizations tested, I can highly recommend paying a few bucks for oobabooga's testing, which is published on his Substack: https://substack.com/@oobabooga. - Source: Hacker News / 13 days ago
  • Discovery of a new OpenAI agent message board
    Reminds me of this meme: https://substack.com/@tomasbjartur/note/c-323840878?r=6cjtqn. - Source: Hacker News / 17 days ago
  • How accurate have Ed Zitron's AI skeptic predictions been?
    Valid criticisms of AI - safety critics who think AI can take over the world like Yud (I find this the least credible but still valid) - Bernie type of critics who think AI can cause widespread job losses - Ruxandra Teslo who thinks AI... - Source: Hacker News / 20 days ago

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