Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Blogger VS Substack

Compare Blogger VS Substack and see what are their differences

Blogger logo Blogger

Publish your passions, your way. Create a unique and beautiful blog. It’s easy and free.

Substack logo Substack

With Substack, anyone can start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter or podcast. It's quick and simple.
  • Blogger Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-10
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

Blogger

Release Date
2002 January
Startup details
Country
United States

Substack

Release Date
-
Startup details
Country
United States

Blogger features and specs

  • User-Friendly
    Blogger is known for its simple, user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners to start blogging without technical knowledge.
  • Free Hosting
    Blogger offers free hosting, so users do not need to worry about hosting fees or managing a server.
  • Integration with Google Services
    Blogger is owned by Google, which allows seamless integration with other Google services like AdSense, Google Analytics, and Google Drive.
  • Custom Domain Support
    Users can link their custom domain names to their Blogger accounts, helping them establish a more professional online presence.
  • Strong Security
    Being a Google product, Blogger benefits from robust security measures and a reliable uptime.

Possible disadvantages of Blogger

  • Limited Customization
    Blogger offers fewer customization options compared to other platforms like WordPress, which can limit creative control for advanced users.
  • Basic Features
    The platform has basic blogging features and lacks the extensive range of plugins and themes available on other platforms.
  • Less Professional
    While it is great for personal blogs, Blogger is generally considered less suitable for professional and business websites.
  • Template Constraints
    The predefined templates may not meet the specific needs of all users, and customizing them can be challenging without coding knowledge.
  • Potential for Discontinuation
    As a free Google service, there is always a risk that it could be discontinued or significantly changed, impacting long-term bloggers.

Substack features and specs

  • 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 of Substack

  • 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 of Blogger

Overall verdict

  • Blogger is a good platform for those who are just starting out in blogging and are looking for a straightforward and cost-effective solution. However, it may not be the best choice for more advanced users who require extensive customization options or advanced functionality.

Why this product is good

  • Blogger is a free and user-friendly blogging platform that is ideal for beginners who want to start their own blog without any technical expertise. It is owned by Google, which means it integrates well with other Google services, such as AdSense and Google Analytics. Additionally, it offers reliable hosting and a simple setup process, making it easy to create and publish blog posts quickly.

Recommended for

    Blogger is recommended for individuals who are new to blogging, writers who want to share their thoughts with a small audience, and users who prefer a platform with little maintenance and no hosting costs.

Analysis of Substack

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

Blogger videos

Blogger Vs WordPress | WordPress Vs Blogger Comparison [2018]

More videos:

  • Review - WordPress vs Blogger - Which one is Best Blogging Platform? Hindi
  • Review - Pro Blogger Bundle Review - Amira Went from $0 to $10,000+ Per Month Blogging!
  • Review - Google's Blogger Pros and Cons
  • Review - Blogger vs Google Sites - Which One is Actually Better?

Substack videos

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

More videos:

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Blogger and Substack)
Blogging
66 66%
34% 34
CMS
71 71%
29% 29
Blogging Platform
100 100%
0% 0
Creators
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Blogger and Substack

Blogger Reviews

19 Best WordPress Alternatives in 2025
Those Who Want Full Control and Monetization: Bloggers or businesses serious about growth may find limitations in both WordPress platforms. Consider alternatives with more flexibility for customization and monetization.
Source: www.pixpa.com
25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Blogger is easy to use for starting a blog, with the site made by Google that anyone can sign up for. The blog posts are published by time stamp and are able to have more content formatted on the page, including images, videos, ads, and even more templates. Users can make money on their blogs too through advertising with the AdSense feature.
Source: forgefusion.io
How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform in 2021 (Compared)
Blogger is one of the earliest blogging platforms in existence. It was first launched in 1999 by Pyra Labs. Later in 2003, Google acquired Blogger and redesigned it as the product we know today.
9 Reasons I Think Craft is the Best CMS on the Market Today
Craft CMS is simple, minimalistic, agile and has every capability a modern CMS framework needs. Over the past ten years we have worked with every CMS you could think of (Wordpress, Drupal, Rails+ActiveAdmin, Ghost, Weebly, DjangoCMS, Jekyll, Joomla, Tumblr, Squarespace, Expression Engine, Statamic, Blogger)… here are the reasons why we’ve landed firmly with Craft as our №1...
Source: hackernoon.com
8 Best Blogging Platforms Reviewed (Updated)
is there a way to use Blogger on your own website? If not, and you don’t want any ads on your blog (I’m not trying to make money) is Blogger an option? If you don’t have to pay not to have ads, like you do with WordPress, what’s in it for Blogger to let you have all that space for free? What’s the catch?

Substack Reviews

25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Substack offers writers of all experience levels the ability to write an email newsletter that’s profitable through subscriptions. Substack provides purpose-built web and newsletter publishing tools to enable writers to monetize their newsletters. It is a service often favoured by readers because it’s a convenient all-in-one solution for writing a successful podcast that...
Source: forgefusion.io
10 Best Medium Alternatives for Reading and Publishing
What sеts Substack apart is its sеamlеss intеgration of contеnt crеation and subscription-basеd monеtization. Substack’s usеr-friеndly intеrfacе, distribution tools, and support for various contеnt formats make it a popular choice for indеpеndеnt crеators looking to connеct dirеctly with thеir audiеncе and turn thеir passion into a sustainablе incomе strеam.
9 Best Medium Alternatives for Making Money With Your Writing in 2023
Substack and Medium differ primarily in their monetization methods. Medium pays creators based on reader engagement, while Substack enables writers to monetize directly through paid subscriptions to their newsletters. This business model allows Substack users to build a direct relationship with their readers via their email inboxes, whereas Medium interactions primarily...
11 Patreon Alternatives for Audience Monetization in 2023
Like a few of the other platforms we’ve looked at, Substack takes a cut of your earnings rather than charging a 10% platform fee.
Source: www.uscreen.tv
Any good Mailchimp alternatives?
My question for you is, what is keeping you from making $31 per month from your list? Are you using any feature that Substack (free until you get paid) can't handle?

Social recommendations and mentions

Substack might be a bit more popular than Blogger. We know about 102 links to it since March 2021 and only 69 links to Blogger. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Blogger mentions (69)

  • Blogify AppSumo Lifetime Deal $49 - Transform your YouTube video into Blog
    Connect your WordPress or Blogify. Account and you can create a publishing schedule for your blogs. Blogify even selects the perfect image to accompany your post. Source: about 3 years ago
  • starting account
    To me, I started my blogs via blogger.com and made multiple separate blog pages with different purposes. Blogger is incorporated with youtube and all google tools. I came in before they got acquired. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Using AI to Completely Automate Affiliate Marketing [PART 2]
    I made a post last week about this website I'm building that uses AI to make blog posts for you on blogger.com with affiliate marketing links. Source: about 3 years ago
  • EME6414 Reddit Challenge - Summer 2023
    If you have looked at my blogs on blogger.com, you KNOW I love a good Gif. This page might become one of my new favorites. I rely on GIFs for a good laugh on a daily basis and I recommend that you do the same. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Differing Ideas of Celebrities' Types (With Examples)
    Anyone can start a blog on blogger.com and claim they're an Enneagram expert. How do I know they know what they're talking about. Because they've got a list on a blog? Or because they just say so? I might as well just believe anyone's list who posts in this forum. Source: over 3 years ago
View more

Substack mentions (102)

  • Writing by Hand is Good for your Brain
    It's ironic that the article that caused him to write this post (https://substack.com/@justindeschamps/note/c-261265212?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=7y05q) is written by AI. I see this style of informational writing all over the place now. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Ask HN: What are your favorite blogs not about AI?
    Https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Kids (With Phones) Are Alright
    Sure there was basically a cartel in social media. You saw coordinated censorship campaigns to ban the former president of the United States for example. But I wouldn't discount the amount of political interference there as well. The last administration admitted to flagging individual posts for the social media companies. But it's also true there is a lot of coordinated censorship even without state interference.... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • Financing the AI boom: from cash flows to debt [pdf]
    Manhattan Project: $36B, 5 years ▫ Apollo Program: $257B, 14 years ▫ Interstate Highway System: $620B, 37 years ▫ AI data centers: $930B, 6 years and still accelerating From: https://substack.com/@rubendominguez/note/c-244929068. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
  • SpaceX to buy Cursor AI coding agent operator Anysphere for $60B
    The thing is, even the center of the road academics who refrain from such comparisons are noting the similarity. The MAGA movement meets the traditional defining characteristics of fascio. We can be rigid and say that only Mussolini‘s political movement can be properly be called fascist. But if we call Hitler and the Nazis fascists as well, then we open the door to any movement that meets the criteria. And Trump... - Source: Hacker News / 3 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Blogger and Substack, you can also consider the following products

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

Ghost - Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

Tumblr - A feature rich and free blog hosting platform offering professional and fully customizable templates, bookmarklets, photos, mobile apps, and social network integration.

Buttondown - Buttondown is the best way to start and run your newsletter

SquareSpace - Squarespace is the easiest way for anyone to create an exceptional website. Pages, galleries, blogs, e-commerce, domains, hosting, analytics, 24/7 support - all included.