Software Alternatives & Startups

Sendy VS Substack

Compare Sendy VS Substack and see what are their differences

Sendy

Sendy is a self hosted newsletter app that sends emails 100x cheaper via Amazon SES

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
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?

Based on our record, Substack should be more popular than Sendy. It has been mentioned 105 times since March 2021.

social mentions
45 vs 105
Email Marketing popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Sendy
Substack
Website sendy.co substack.com
Company Startup from Singapore Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Sendy 5 features
Substack 6 features
  • Cost-effective
    Sendy provides a cost-effective solution for email marketing by allowing users to send emails via Amazon SES, which is significantly cheaper than other email marketing services.
  • Self-hosted
    Since Sendy is a self-hosted application, users have full control over their data and server environment, providing better privacy and customizability.
  • High Deliverability
    By leveraging Amazon SES, Sendy offers high deliverability rates, ensuring that emails land in recipients' inboxes rather than spam folders.
  • One-time Payment
    Sendy requires a one-time payment for the license, making it a more affordable option in the long run compared to recurring subscription models.
  • Rich Features
    Sendy includes many features such as campaign tracking, list segmentation, autoresponders, and integration with other applications, making it a comprehensive email marketing solution.

Possible disadvantages

  • Technical Setup
    As a self-hosted application, setting up Sendy requires some technical knowledge and can be challenging for users who are not familiar with server management and configuration.
  • Limited Integrations
    Unlike cloud-based email marketing services, Sendy offers fewer integrations with other third-party applications and services, which may limit its usability for some users.
  • No Built-in Customer Support
    Sendy does not offer dedicated customer support; users must rely on the community forum and documentation for troubleshooting and assistance.
  • Dependence on AWS
    Sendy specifically relies on Amazon SES for email delivery. If AWS services experience downtime or issues, Sendy's email delivery could be affected.
  • Initial Cost
    While Sendy is generally cost-effective in the long term, the initial license purchase might be a barrier for individuals or small businesses with very limited budgets.
  • 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.

Sendy
Substack

Overall verdict

  • Sendy is a solid option for businesses looking to save on email marketing costs and have the capability to manage their own hosting. It offers a good balance of features and simplicity for those who can handle a little technical setup.

Why this product is good

  • Sendy is often praised for its cost-effectiveness and simplicity, especially for small to medium-sized businesses looking to manage email campaigns. It integrates with Amazon SES, allowing users to send bulk emails at a reduced cost. Users appreciate its straightforward interface, performance reports, and the ability to manage multiple brands under one account. However, it requires you to have your own hosting, which could be a limitation for some.

Recommended for

    Sendy is particularly recommended for small to medium-sized businesses that have a tech-savvy team capable of handling hosting requirements, as well as those who are looking for a low-cost solution to send bulk emails efficiently.

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.

Sendy 3 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

Email Marketing With Sendy - Review & Tutorial

More videos

  • - Why I Decided To Get Rid Of Get Sendy.co & What I Use Now
  • - Sendy Review - Self Hosted Autoresponder, Affordable Alternative

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
Sendy
Substack
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
CMS
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Sendy no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Sendy 45 mentions
Substack 105 mentions

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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 / 19 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 / 23 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 / 26 days ago

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