Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

MakeUseOf VS Substack

Compare MakeUseOf VS Substack and see what are their differences

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MakeUseOf logo MakeUseOf

MakeUseOf is your guide in modern tech. Learn how to make use of tech and gadgets around you and discover cool stuff on the Internet.

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.
  • MakeUseOf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2018-11-17
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

MakeUseOf features and specs

  • Comprehensive Content
    MakeUseOf covers a wide range of topics, from tech news and reviews to how-to guides and tips, catering to various interests and skill levels.
  • Regular Updates
    The site is frequently updated with new articles, ensuring that the content is current and relevant.
  • User-Friendly Design
    The website has a clean, easy-to-navigate layout, making it simple for users to find the information they need.
  • Free Resources
    MakeUseOf offers a wealth of free resources, including downloadable guides and tool recommendations.
  • Expert Writers
    Articles are often written by knowledgeable and experienced writers, adding credibility to the information presented.

Possible disadvantages of MakeUseOf

  • Ads and Sponsored Content
    The presence of ads and sponsored content can sometimes distract from the reading experience.
  • Variable Article Quality
    While many articles are well-researched and informative, the quality can occasionally be inconsistent.
  • Overwhelming for Beginners
    The sheer volume of content may be overwhelming for new users or those less familiar with technology topics.
  • Limited In-Depth Analysis
    Some articles may lack the in-depth analysis that advanced users might be looking for, focusing instead on more general information.
  • Navigation Challenges
    Despite the generally user-friendly design, occasionally finding specific information or older articles can be challenging.

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 MakeUseOf

Overall verdict

  • MakeUseOf is generally considered a good resource for learning about technology and finding useful tips and tricks. Its content is comprehensive, regularly updated, and covers a diverse set of topics, making it a valuable tool for anyone looking to enhance their understanding and use of technology.

Why this product is good

  • MakeUseOf is a well-regarded technology website that provides a wide range of articles, guides, reviews, and tutorials on various technology-related topics. It is known for being accessible to both tech-savvy individuals and those new to technology, offering practical tips and advice to improve digital life.

Recommended for

  • Tech enthusiasts looking for the latest news and updates
  • People seeking practical tips and tutorials on various software and devices
  • Individuals interested in improving their digital lifestyle
  • Beginner to intermediate users who want to learn more about technology
  • Users interested in unbiased product reviews and comparisons

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

MakeUseOf videos

MakeUseOf com FitBit Surge Review

More videos:

  • Review - Review from Makeuseof -- TerraMaster D5 Thunderbolt 3

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 MakeUseOf and Substack)
Startup Community
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging
0 0%
100% 100
Startups
100 100%
0% 0
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 MakeUseOf and Substack

MakeUseOf Reviews

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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

Based on our record, Substack should be more popular than MakeUseOf. It has been mentiond 102 times since March 2021. 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.

MakeUseOf mentions (11)

  • Discover the Top 20 Productivity Blogs of 2024
    Leverage technology to boost your productivity with MakeUseOf, which provides easy-to-understand guides and reviews on the latest tech to streamline your workflow. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • HP Printer cancels printing jobs?
    It was downloaded from makeuseof.com, but it's worth a shot. I know LO Draw can open them, but I didn't try re-exporting them. Source: about 3 years ago
  • New Security Risk? - Bluetooth device paired with Windows even though onboard Bluetooth is disabled in BIOS
    a) Bolt receiver should not work with other Bluetooth peripherals. "Likewise, both Unifying and Bolt are proprietary technologies from Logitech. Therefore, they're not compatible with wireless peripherals from other brands." (makeuseof.com). Source: over 3 years ago
  • Create real distro instead of live environment
    I want to create a linux distro based off of void linux, running in my main system right now. I love everything about it and think it is a great project. I would like to make my own version, however, utilising much of the same things. I have searched it up and found a lot of articles from websites such as makeuseof.com which all show ways to make a live CD type thing from a pre existing OS. I would like to make a... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Why does storm fiber ban certain links?
    Is it only my connection or does everyone face this issue? Like they ban the most harmless and dumb links one can think of. For instance, if you copy a video link from YT the link is like this "https://youtu.be/....." and it doesn't work! While the youtube.com domain works perfectly fine. Same is the case with other completely harmless websites like bbc.co.uk, makeuseof.com and many more! IDK if this is a storm... Source: over 3 years ago
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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
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What are some alternatives?

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

TechCrunch - TechCrunch is a web publication that offers technology news and analysis, as well as profiling of...

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.

The Verge - From gadgets to startups, apps, and tech culture, The Verge has you covered with in-depth...

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

GeekWire - Breaking News in Technology & Business

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