Software Alternatives & Startups

LinkedIn VS Substack

Compare LinkedIn VS Substack and see what are their differences

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking service, mainly used for professional networking.

LinkedIn Landing page
Rating
4.0 · 2 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.

Substack Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
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?

LinkedIn might be a bit more popular than Substack. We know about 126 links to it since March 2021 and only 105 links to Substack.

social mentions
126 vs 105
Job Boards popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

LinkedIn
Substack
Website linkedin.com substack.com
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

LinkedIn 6 features
Substack 6 features
  • Professional Networking
    LinkedIn is specifically designed for professional networking, allowing users to connect with colleagues, industry experts, and potential employers.
  • Job Opportunities
    The platform lists job openings and allows users to apply directly through LinkedIn, making it easier to find and apply for jobs.
  • Industry News
    LinkedIn provides a steady stream of industry news and updates, helping professionals stay informed about trends and developments in their field.
  • Personal Branding
    Users can build a personal brand by sharing content, engaging with posts, and showcasing their skills and accomplishments on their profile.
  • Skill Endorsements
    LinkedIn allows connections to endorse each other for specific skills, which can add credibility to a user’s profile.
  • Educational Content
    Through LinkedIn Learning, users have access to a wide range of courses and tutorials to enhance their professional skills.

Possible disadvantages

  • Spam and Irrelevant Messages
    Users often receive unsolicited messages and connection requests, which can be annoying and time-consuming to manage.
  • Privacy Concerns
    There are ongoing concerns about data privacy, as personal and professional information is stored and shared on the platform.
  • Overemphasis on Job-Seeking
    The platform is heavily focused on job-seeking and recruitment, which may not be relevant for all users.
  • Premium Features
    Many of LinkedIn's advanced features, such as InMail and detailed analytics, require a paid subscription.
  • Endorsement Credibility
    The skill endorsement feature can be easily gamed, making it less reliable as proof of expertise.
  • Time Consumption
    Active participation on LinkedIn can be time-consuming, as users need to constantly engage with content and connections to maintain visibility.
  • 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.

LinkedIn
Substack

No analysis of LinkedIn 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.

LinkedIn 3 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

How To Use LinkedIn For Beginners - 7 LinkedIn Profile Tips

More videos

  • Review - Is LinkedIn Premium Worth It? | Nils Smith: Your Social Media Guide
  • Review - LinkedIn Learning Review

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

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
LinkedIn
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 LinkedIn 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.

LinkedIn 4.0 · 2 reviews
Substack no reviews yet
  • Essential Professional Network — Valuable but Sometimes Noisy
    SaaSHub review
    · Jan 2026

    I use LinkedIn almost every day for career networking, following industry news, and job hunting, and overall it’s been very useful. It’s the go-to place to connect with colleagues, recruiters, and professionals in...

  • The Best Startup Talent Marketplaces of 2025
    www.ambi.careers · Mar 2025

    One of LinkedIn’s greatest strengths is its ability to facilitate direct communication between candidates and employers. By leveraging LinkedIn’s networking tools, job seekers can build meaningful relationships that...

  • The 7 Best Facebook Alternatives in 2024
    www.lifewire.com · Jan 2024

    While LinkedIn isn’t exactly an excellent alternative to Facebook for people who want to chat about family gossip. It is a great social network for those who wish to post and read about companies, finance, real...

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

LinkedIn 126 mentions
Substack 105 mentions
  • GitHub Profile README Generator — Free Tool, 3 Templates, 10 Seconds
    If you have ideas, DM me on LinkedIn or open an issue on GitHub. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Stealth Browser: How AI Agents Bypass Bot Detection
    Bridge_cdp_connect(port=9222) Bridge_cdp_navigate(url='https://linkedin.com') # Full access to logged-in sessions. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago
  • End-to-End Automation with Terraform: A DevOps Engineer’s Guide to Infrastructure as Code
    Have questions or want to share how you’re using Terraform in your environment? Drop a comment, connect with me on LinkedIn, or explore my GitHub for reusable Terraform modules. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year 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 / 8 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 / 12 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 / 15 days ago

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Alternatives to LinkedIn and Substack

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