Software Alternatives & Startups

figshare VS Substack

Compare figshare VS Substack and see what are their differences

figshare

Securely store and manage your research outputs in the cloud, or make them openly available and citable.

Rating
0 reviews
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

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack seems to be a lot more popular than figshare. While we know about 107 links to Substack, we've tracked only 3 mentions of figshare.

social mentions
3 vs 107
Research Tools popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
33 vs 240+

Base details

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

figshare
Substack
Website figshare.com substack.com
Company — Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

figshare 5 features
Substack 6 features
  • Open Access
    Figshare allows researchers to make their data, results, and publications freely accessible, promoting transparency and enhancing the visibility and reach of their work.
  • Versatility
    It supports a wide range of file types and formats, which makes it versatile for different types of research outputs from datasets to videos and presentations.
  • DOI Assignment
    Figshare assigns a Digital Object Identifier (DOI) to every uploaded item, ensuring that users receive a permanent, citable link for their work.
  • User-friendly Interface
    The platform has an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to upload, manage, and share their research outputs without technical difficulties.
  • Embeddable
    Research outputs on Figshare can be easily embedded into other websites and platforms, enhancing their visibility and ease of access among various audiences.

Possible disadvantages

  • Storage Limitations
    While Figshare offers free storage, there are limitations to the amount of data a user can store without incurring costs, which might not suffice for large datasets.
  • Cost for Extended Features
    Some advanced features and larger storage require payment, which can be a barrier for individuals or institutions with limited funding.
  • Limited Customization
    Users may find the level of customization for their data presentations limited compared to other specialized repositories.
  • Data Privacy
    Due to its open access nature, sensitive data needs to be properly anonymized or withheld, which could be a concern for certain types of research.
  • Competition and Redundancy
    With many other repositories available, there might be redundancy in data sharing, and some users may prefer platforms that are more specific to their research field.
  • 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.

figshare
Substack

No analysis of figshare 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.

figshare 3 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

Figshare for Institutions Admin User Guide Video: Reviewing Items

More videos

  • - Figshare for Institutions — The All in One Repository
  • - Figshare repository demonstration

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
figshare
Substack
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
CMS
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using figshare 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.

figshare no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet

We have no reviews of figshare yet. Be the first one to post

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

figshare 3 mentions
Substack 107 mentions
  • 1,600 Days of a Failed Hobby Data Science Project
    I'll put a shoutout for https://zenodo.org/ and https://figshare.com/ as places to put your data, where you'll get a DOI and can let someone that's not a company look after hosting and backing it up. Zenodo is hosted as long as CERN is... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago
  • My super useful websites collection for you all!
    -Crystal growing information Http://xrayweb.chem.ou.edu/notes/xtalgrow.html Https://www.chemistryviews.org/details/education/2538901/Tips\_and\_Tricks\_for\_the\_Lab\_Growing\_Crystals\_Part\_2.html Free science ... Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Want to post my research
    I am a PhD student and conducting a clinical trial in eczema. I have used figshare.com to make my work public, which is used by many universities and academics to disseminate their work for free! No doubt that publishing in journals is... Source: about 5 years ago
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (October 2026)
    Substack: https://substack.com/@friedkielbasa. - Source: Hacker News / 2 days ago
  • Sync any blog via API to Substack in one-click
    Name Type Required Description Cookie String Yes Substack.sid= (browser session cookie) Accept String Yes Application/json Origin String Yes Publication origin, e.g.... - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • 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 / 25 days ago

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Alternatives to figshare and Substack

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