Software Alternatives & Startups

Strapi VS Substack

Compare Strapi VS Substack and see what are their differences

Strapi

Manage any content. Anywhere. The leading open-source headless CMS. 100% JavaScript / TypeScript and fully customizable.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Strapi should be more popular than Substack. It has been mentioned 342 times since March 2021.

social mentions
342 vs 110
CMS popularity
84% vs 16%

Base details

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

Strapi
Substack
Website strapi.io substack.com
Pricing
Open source Official pricing
—
Company Startup from France Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Strapi 6 features
Substack 6 features
  • Open Source
    Strapi is an open-source platform, meaning it's free to use and has an active community contributing to its improvement. This can lead to rapid innovation and a wealth of community-driven resources.
  • Customization
    Strapi offers high levels of customization, allowing developers to tailor the content management system to their specific needs. This is beneficial for unique projects with specific requirements.
  • Headless CMS
    As a headless CMS, Strapi decouples the backend from the frontend, enabling developers to use any frontend technology they prefer, which increases flexibility and scalability.
  • RESTful and GraphQL APIs
    Strapi automatically generates RESTful APIs and also supports GraphQL out of the box. This makes it easier to integrate with various types of applications.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Strapi provides a user-friendly admin panel that is powerful yet easy to use, making content management less of a chore for non-technical users.
  • Plugin Ecosystem
    Strapi has a growing ecosystem of plugins that can extend its functionality, allowing users to add features without extensive custom development.

Possible disadvantages

  • Learning Curve
    Although Strapi is highly customizable, it can have a steep learning curve for new users, especially those who are not familiar with JavaScript and modern web development practices.
  • Performance Issues
    In some cases, users have reported performance issues, particularly when handling large amounts of data or complex queries, which may require optimization.
  • Community Support Variability
    While Strapi has an active community, the level of support and available third-party resources can vary, especially when compared to more mature CMS platforms.
  • Limited Built-in Features
    Out of the box, Strapi might lack some features that come built-in with other CMS platforms, requiring users to implement or configure these features themselves.
  • Self-Hosting Requirement
    Strapi requires self-hosting, which means you need to manage your own servers and infrastructure. This can be a downside for those looking for a fully managed solution.
  • Frequent Updates
    Frequent updates can sometimes introduce breaking changes, requiring developers to continuously adapt their codebase to stay current.
  • 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.

Strapi
Substack

Overall verdict

  • Strapi is generally considered a good choice for developers looking for an open-source headless CMS.

Why this product is good

  • Strapi offers the advantage of being open-source and highly customizable, which allows developers to tailor it to specific project requirements. It supports GraphQL and RESTful APIs, making it versatile for various use cases. Its user-friendly admin panel simplifies content management, while the extensive plugin architecture allows for enhanced functionality.

Recommended for

    Strapi is recommended for developers and development teams looking for a flexible and customizable CMS solution, particularly those who need a headless CMS that integrates easily with modern frontend frameworks like React, Vue, or Angular. It's also suitable for organizations that prefer an open-source solution they can modify according to their needs.

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.

Strapi 3 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

Let's Checkout... #Strapi CMS

More videos

  • - Quick Strapi Review
  • - Learn Strapi in 12 minutes 🚀

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
Strapi
Substack
84% 84%
CMS
16% 16%
72% 72%
28% 28%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Strapi 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.

Strapi no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet
  • 21 Headless CMS Platforms That You Should Check Out
    popupsmart.com · Mar 2022

    Strapi is one of the most used headless CMS platforms. Strapi is an open-source headless CMS that is customizable and easy to use. Companies such as Walmart, eBay, Toyota, IBM use this platform.

  • Best Headless CMS in 2022
    flatlogic.com · Feb 2022

    Strapi is an open-source Node.js headless content management system, which means that the entire codebase is available on GitHub and thrives on contributors. Strapi generates a working RESTful API or uses GraphQL for...

  • Best Node.js CMS platforms for 2022
    blog.logrocket.com · Dec 2021

    Strapi is a popular, flexible, and open-source headless CMS that enables us to create rich digital experiences. Strapi provides REST and GraphQL APIs developers can use to access the content stored in its repository.

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Strapi 342 mentions
Substack 110 mentions
  • Headless CMS vs. Traditional CMS: Which is Best in 2026?
    Instead of rendering pages on the server, a headless CMS operates solely as a database and editing dashboard. The content is entered into the editor interface and stored as raw data. Consequently, your frontend application fetches this... - Source: dev.to / 2 months ago
  • 5 Strapi Alternatives Developers Are Actually Switching To in 2026
    That's not true anymore. In 2026, developers are switching away from Strapi at a pace that's hard to ignore — not because it got worse, but because the alternatives got dramatically better. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • Three Ways to Convert JSON to TypeScript. Only One Is Deterministic.
    CMS content. Headless CMS responses from Strapi, Sanity, or Contentful are deeply nested. Type them once; let the compiler catch template bugs. - Source: dev.to / 6 months ago

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  • Show HN: Sphinx – a hook that quizzes you on your AI agent's code before push
    We built something quite similar 6 months ago called PEAK (Proof of Effort And Knowledge). Blog post and YT video here: https://substack.com/@jeffksmithjr/p-195763168 Our version has its own TUI and was intended for semi-adversarial... - Source: Hacker News / 1 day ago
  • Why Isn't the Industry Freaking Out About DeepSeek 4.1 Flash?
    Https://substack.com/@rubenafo/note/c-332218129?r=26y5kn&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web. - Source: Hacker News / 11 days ago
  • Effective Altruism Conquered the World
    Https://substack.com/@gurwinder/posts. - Source: Hacker News / 15 days ago

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Alternatives to Strapi and Substack

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