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Pinboard VS Substack

Compare Pinboard VS Substack and see what are their differences

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Contents:
  1. ยป Base Details
  2. ยป Videos
  3. ยป Reviews
  4. ยป Alternatives

Pinboard logo Pinboard

Pinboard is a personal archive for things you find online and don't want to forget.

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.
  • Pinboard Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-16
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

Pinboard

Website
pinboard.in
Pricing URL
Official Pinboard Pricing
$ Details
Startup details
Country
United States
Edit details

Substack

Website
substack.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Startup details
Country
United States
Edit details

Pinboard features and specs

  • Simplicity
    Pinboard offers a clean, minimalist interface, making it easy to use without unnecessary complexities or distractions.
  • Speed
    The service operates quickly, with fast loading times and efficient bookmarking processes.
  • Privacy
    Pinboard values user privacy and does not serve ads. They also avoid tracking user activity across the web.
  • Data Portability
    Pinboard allows easy export of your bookmarks, enabling you to retain control of your data and migrate it to other platforms if needed.
  • API Availability
    Pinboard provides a robust API, enabling users to integrate their bookmarking activities with other applications and services.
  • Archiving Feature
    For a fee, Pinboard offers an archiving feature that saves a copy of the bookmarked page, ensuring you can access the content even if it gets taken down.
  • No Algorithmic Feeds
    Pinboard does not use algorithmic feeds, so users see an unfiltered, chronological list of their bookmarks.

Possible disadvantages of Pinboard

  • Cost
    Pinboard is not free; it requires a one-time fee for new users, which might deter those looking for completely free solutions.
  • Outdated Interface
    The user interface, while simple, can appear outdated compared to modern web applications, possibly affecting user experience.
  • Limited Social Features
    Pinboard has limited social features and community engagement options, which may not appeal to users seeking more community involvement and sharing capabilities.
  • Learning Curve for API
    While the availability of an API is a pro, it may present a learning curve for users not familiar with APIs, reducing its accessibility to non-developers.
  • Basic Search Functionality
    The search functionality is relatively basic compared to other bookmarking services that offer more advanced search and filter options.
  • No Mobile Apps
    Pinboard does not have official mobile apps, which could be less convenient for users who prefer native mobile applications for bookmarking.

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 Pinboard

Overall verdict

  • Pinboard is a highly regarded bookmarking service, especially for those who appreciate simplicity and privacy. However, it may not be suitable for users seeking more interactive or collaborative features found in social bookmarking platforms.

Why this product is good

  • Pinboard is a minimalist bookmarking service valued for its simplicity, speed, and ad-free experience. It offers features like saving bookmarks with tags, full-text search, easy import/export of links, and archival of saved pages. The platform is favored by users who prefer a straightforward, reliable tool for managing their online bookmarks without the distraction of social networking features.

Recommended for

  • Users who prefer a minimalist design and fast performance.
  • Individuals looking for a bookmarking tool with strong privacy features.
  • Researchers and digital scholars who need archival capabilities.
  • People who want an ad-free and straightforward bookmarking experience.

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

Pinboard videos

+ Add

Pinboard Bookmarking Review - Part 1

More videos:

  • Review - Using Pinboard to save your digital breadcrumbs as you read online
  • Review - Pinboard Bookmarking Review - Part 2

Substack videos

+ Add

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 Pinboard and Substack)

Pinboard

Substack

Bookmarks
100 100%
Bookmarks
0% 0
Blogging
0 0%
Blogging
100% 100
Bookmark Manager
100 100%
Bookmark Manager
0% 0
CMS
0 0%
CMS
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Pinboard 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 Pinboard and Substack

Pinboard Reviews

  1. Rory
    ยท Working at Konstrukt - planeringsverktyg ยท
    Simple but effective

    While all the other bookmarking sites have died, pinboard.in remains and is a reliable and handy place to save all those links you love but are sure to otherwise forget.

Pinboard vs. Raindrop: Two bookmark apps enterโ€ฆ
I donโ€™t think Pinboardโ€™s added a feature in ten years. It certainly hasnโ€™t added a feature useful to me in that space of time. A year or so ago I got some Twitter DMs from someone (not Cegล‚owski) indicating that a refactoring and new features were on the way, but I have heard nothing since and donโ€™t particularly expect to. Its documentation is similarly stale, and so are its...
Source: dsalo.info
11 Pocket Alternatives You Must Try Out!
With this tool, you can organize your pile of links into a clean space. With an easy tag option, finding your bookmarks becomes easier with Pinboard.
Source: blog.elink.io
XMarks is Dead on May 1st, 2018 : firefox
pinboard, $11/yr. It says it's a social bookmarking service but everything is private unless you make it public. I don't think bookmarking pages is done through the browser, though, but you can import your bookmarks and just use pinboard instead.
Source: www.reddit.com
Del.icio.us is closing down. Time for a roundup of alternative bookmark managers.
And as of recent events it was sold again to competing service Pinboard which plans - as I've foreseen this - to shut it down almost completely. Today (June 15, 2017) it will be set to read-only mode without ability to save new bookmarks as to preserve the "fascinating piece of web history" that contains around 1 billion of bookmarks.
Source: serafin.io

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.
Source: www.geeksforgeeks.org
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...
Source: www.authorityhacker.com
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?
Source: www.indiehackers.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Substack might be a bit more popular than Pinboard. We know about 101 links to it since March 2021 and only 76 links to Pinboard. 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.

Pinboard mentions (76)

  • How to Record and Retrieve Anything You've Ever Had to Look Up Twice
    Shout out to Pinboard for making bookmarking pages and adding notes incredibly easy. They have a bookmarklet that sits on my bookmarks toolbar and if I like a page/tweet/video etc I just hit the "Add pin", enter some tags and hit enter. This works so well that I went through and bookmarked and tagged all of my LinkedIn connections as well (inspired by a post from Derek Sivers [1]). People are generally amazed at... - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Tabs Later: A Tab Hoarder's Journey to Sanity
    I switched to using Pinboard [0] for all bookmarking and never looked back. The real unlocks were: - using the bookmarklet that pops open a small browser window with the page title, suggested tags - doing the same on my iphone - have a couple in browser bookmarks that point to the tags for important things It's so good I even used it to track all of my LinkedIn connections tagged by location, job function etc... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Ask HN: What operating systems, apps, etc. had your favorite UI designs?
    Https://pinboard.in Simple, usable, timeless. - Source: Hacker News / 8 months ago
  • Google Shifts Goo.gl Policy: Inactive Links Deactivated, Active Links Preserved
    Pinboard.in. Also pay the $20/yr for archiving if the links rot https://pinboard.in/. - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • Mozilla shutdown Pocket on July 8, 2025
    The classic https://pinboard.in/, maybe? I haven't used it, but it tempts me a few times per decade. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
View more

Substack mentions (101)

  • Ask HN: What are your favorite blogs not about AI?
    Https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 3 days 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 / 12 days ago
  • Financing the AI boom: from cash flows to debt [pdf]
    Manhattan Project: $36B, 5 years โ–ซ Apollo Program: $257B, 14 years โ–ซ Interstate Highway System: $620B, 37 years โ–ซ AI data centers: $930B, 6 years and still accelerating From: https://substack.com/@rubendominguez/note/c-244929068. - Source: Hacker News / 8 days 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 Mussoliniโ€˜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 / about 1 month ago
  • AMA: I'm Eric Ries (The Lean Startup) & Author of New Bestseller Incorruptible
    Yes, it's much different in other countries. See https://substack.com/@doks/p-198191751. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

Raindrop.io - All your articles, photos, video & content from web & apps in one place.

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.

Diigo - Diigo is a powerful research tool and a knowledge-sharing community

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

Tagpacker - A free tool to quickly collect, organize, and share your favorite links.

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

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