Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MailChimp VS Substack

Compare MailChimp VS Substack and see what are their differences

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.

MailChimp logo MailChimp

MailChimp is the best way to design, send, and share email newsletters.

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.
  • MailChimp Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-10
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

MailChimp features and specs

  • Ease of Use
    MailChimp offers an intuitive, user-friendly interface that makes it easy for users to design emails, manage campaigns, and track results.
  • Automation Features
    MailChimp provides robust automation tools that allow users to automate email sequences, send targeted messages, and create automated workflows.
  • Comprehensive Reporting
    The platform offers detailed analytics and reporting tools, giving users insight into campaign performance, open rates, clicks, and more.
  • Integrations
    MailChimp integrates with numerous third-party services and platforms including e-commerce sites, social media platforms, and CRM systems.
  • Freemium Plan
    MailChimp offers a free plan that gives access to essential features, making it a viable option for small businesses and startups.
  • Design Templates
    A wide variety of pre-designed templates are available, making it easier to create professional-looking emails without design expertise.
  • Product Recommendations
    Drive more sales with personalized product recommendations

Possible disadvantages of MailChimp

  • Cost
    As your subscriber list grows, MailChimp's pricing can become quite expensive compared to some other email marketing services.
  • Limited Automation in Free Plan
    The free plan offers limited automation features, which can restrict the ability to implement more comprehensive automated email campaigns.
  • Complexity for Advanced Users
    While it's user-friendly for beginners, advanced users may find that it's not as flexible or customizable as other platforms.
  • Support Limitations
    Customer support for the free plan is limited to email and self-help resources, which may not be sufficient for users needing immediate assistance.
  • Deliverability Issues
    Some users have reported issues with email deliverability, which can impact the effectiveness of their email marketing campaigns.
  • List Management
    Managing large contact lists can be cumbersome, and there have been complaints about the efficiency of list segmentation and organization.

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 MailChimp

Overall verdict

  • MailChimp is a popular and generally well-regarded email marketing service, known for its ease of use and robust features.

Why this product is good

  • MailChimp is considered good because it offers a user-friendly interface, a comprehensive set of features including automation, segmentation, and analytics, and a free tier that is suitable for small businesses or individuals just starting out. It also has integrations with various e-commerce and CRM platforms, making it versatile for different marketing needs.

Recommended for

    MailChimp is recommended for small to medium-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, and non-profits who want a cost-effective solution for email marketing. It's also suitable for those new to email marketing who are looking for a simple yet powerful tool to reach their audience and grow their subscriber base.

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

MailChimp videos

WARNING! MailChimp Review: Marketers & Entrepreneurs Stayaway! (Why I left MailChimp)

More videos:

  • Review - Mailchimp Automation Sequence For Beginners (2024) Complete Mailchimp Guide
  • Demo - MailChimp Review & Demo - Top 5 Reasons MailChimp Rocks For Newsletters
  • Review - Mailchimp Review: Pros and Cons

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 MailChimp and Substack)
Email Marketing
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging
0 0%
100% 100
Email Marketing Platforms
CMS
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

MailChimp Reviews

  1. Harshi1995
    ยท intern at ulketz ยท
    A great platform for email marketing.

    It is most affordable marketing automation tool . It helps in all in one marketing platform that helps you manage and talk to your clients , customers and others.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: zeta marketing platform, Salesforce Marketing Cloud
  2. Elle Bennett
    ยท Webmaster at FixedFeeTaxReturn ยท
    Good tool for basic email newsletters

    Mailchimp has always been a good solution for sending campaign emails for e-commerce.

  3. Mohit Gupta
    ยท Small Business Owner at Ecommerce Platform ยท
    Mailchimp - Nice Experience with email marketing campaign to use on it.

    This Mailchimp is a very nice email marketing platform to use it. I like its features and all functions for creating emails. It is the best tool to make design, send and share email newsletters.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Brevo, ActiveCampaign, SendGrid, MailerLite
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    One of the best thing about mailchimp is, you can use for free and then purchase paid version if you like, no cc nothing required.
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Everything is alright, there is no cons

Top 10 Bulk Email Verifier and Validation Services Compared
It validates your email lists to check for invalid or undeliverable emails so that you can maximize your marketing campaign potential. You can either upload your email list and clean it in bulk using the CSV format, or integrate with MailboxValidator API. MailboxValidator interface is fully integrated with major ESP (Email Service Provider). Alternatively, a list can be...
10 Best Campaign Monitor Alternatives You Can Find
Mailchimp is a popular marketing automation and email marketing tool. Its form and landing page builders are useful for generating signups and expanding email lists. Are you wondering if Campaign Monitor and Mailchimp are the same? Both are email marketing tools, yet they differ in many ways.
Source: mailbluster.com
Comparing 16 Campaign Monitor Alternatives: In-depth Analysis
Insights and predictions: Mailchimpโ€™s analytics, including current analytics and predicted demographics, helps you learn more about your audience campaigns.
The 6 Best Campaign Monitor Alternatives for 2024
CategoryMailchimpCampaign MonitorBest FeatureEfficient handling of large listsUser-friendly email designPros1. Seamless scalability2. Comprehensive marketing tools3. User-friendly drag-and-drop editor1. Easy-to-use email templates2. Beautiful customizable templates3. In-depth reporting and analyticsCons1. Learning curve for beginners2. Pricing can be higher for large lists3....
The 5 Best Email Marketing Software of 2023
Mailchimp emerges as a frontrunner in the email marketing arena. Its blend of user-friendly features, advanced capabilities, and an extensive array of templates position it as an invaluable asset for businesses of all sizes. While its pricing tiers could be a concern for some, the benefits it brings to the table undoubtedly outweigh the drawbacks.

Substack Reviews

25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Substack offers writers of all experience levels the ability to write an email newsletter thatโ€™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 itโ€™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 sะตts Substack apart is its sะตamlะตss intะตgration of contะตnt crะตation and subscription-basะตd monะตtization. Substackโ€™s usะตr-friะตndly intะตrfacะต, distribution tools, and support for various contะตnt formats make it a popular choice for indะตpะตndะตnt crะตators looking to connะตct dirะตctly with thะตir audiะตncะต and turn thะตir passion into a sustainablะต incomะต strะตam.
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 weโ€™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

MailChimp might be a bit more popular than Substack. We know about 90 links to it since March 2021 and only 89 links to Substack. 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.

MailChimp mentions (90)

  • Web Design for Hospitality Industry: Boost Bookings & Engagement
    Your website is the best place to build your most valuable marketing asset: your email list. By connecting your site to an email platform like Mailchimp or ConvertKit, you can set up automated messages that build real, lasting loyalty. - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • Scalable E-Learning Platforms with Strapiโ€™s API Integrations
    Integrating with marketing tools like Mailchimp through Strapi's API ensures that user data is consistently updated and synchronized, enabling more effective and targeted marketing campaigns. Whenever a user updates their profile or makes a purchase, these changes are automatically reflected across all connected systems. Real-time synchronization helps e-learning platforms maintain accurate contact records,... - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • Email Workflow Automation 101: Templates, Tools, and Best Practices
    Mailchimp is a popular email marketing platform that offers features like customizable templates, A/B testing, and audience segmentation. This can preferred by teams looking to automate their email workflows but also want a minimalist tool to streamline their marketing efforts. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • The Behind-the-Scenes Magic: How Email Marketing Platforms Connect to Your Domain to Send Emails on Your Behalf
    Have you ever wondered how email marketing platforms like Mailchimp, BestRegards, and HubSpot manage to send hundreds or even thousands of emails from your custom domain in just secondsโ€”without flooding your inbox?. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • 7 Best Transactional Email Platforms in 2024 Compared ๐Ÿ“ฌ
    MailchimpTransactional Emails, formerly Mandrill, is a paid Mailchimp add-on for sending transactional emails. For the purpose of this article, weโ€™ll mainly use the former name Mandrill for the transactional part of the Mailchimp service. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
View more

Substack mentions (89)

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What are some alternatives?

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

Brevo - Innovative online Email Marketing solution to manage your contacts, create & send your newsletters and track your results. More than 80 000 clients. Best prices and attractive features.

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.

GetResponse - Email marketing from GetResponse. Send email newsletters, campaigns, online surveys and follow-up autoresponders. Simple, easy interface. FREE sign up.

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

Campaign Monitor - Email marketing software built for designers and their clients to run successful email campaigns.

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.