Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Substack VS CustomBooks

Compare Substack VS CustomBooks 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.

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.

CustomBooks logo CustomBooks

AccountingSuite is a feature-rich cloud accounting software that provides inventory management with general ledger and online banking. 1 system to do it all
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26
  • CustomBooks Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-03

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.

CustomBooks features and specs

  • Comprehensive Features
    AccountingSuite offers a wide range of features including accounting, project management, time tracking, and inventory management, making it a versatile tool for businesses.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being cloud-based, AccountingSuite allows users to access their financial data from anywhere with an internet connection, providing flexibility and convenience.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The software has an intuitive and user-friendly interface designed to make navigation and usage easy even for users with minimal accounting experience.
  • Integration Capabilities
    AccountingSuite integrates with various third-party applications such as PayPal, Shopify, and Stripe, which can streamline business processes and improve workflow efficiency.
  • Scalability
    The platform is scalable and can grow with your business, offering more advanced features as needed without requiring a switch to a different system.

Possible disadvantages of CustomBooks

  • Cost
    The pricing for AccountingSuite can be on the higher side, particularly for small businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite its user-friendly design, some users may still experience a learning curve when getting accustomed to all its features, especially those who are not tech-savvy.
  • Limited Customization
    There are limitations in customizing the software to meet specific business needs, which can be a drawback for companies with unique accounting processes.
  • Customer Support
    Some users have reported that customer support can be slow to respond, which can be frustrating when immediate assistance is required.
  • Occasional Downtime
    As with any cloud-based software, AccountingSuite may experience occasional downtime or connectivity issues, which can disrupt business operations.

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

Analysis of CustomBooks

Overall verdict

  • Overall, AccountingSuite is considered a good choice for businesses looking for an all-in-one business management solution. It provides a wide range of features that can help simplify and improve financial management, though it may have a learning curve for those unfamiliar with accounting software.

Why this product is good

  • AccountingSuite is known for its cloud-based platform that integrates accounting, order management, and inventory management, making it a comprehensive solution for small to medium-sized businesses. It offers features such as multi-currency support, project and time tracking, and robust reporting tools. Users appreciate its flexibility and the ability to streamline various business processes into a single platform.

Recommended for

    Small to medium-sized businesses, e-commerce businesses, companies with inventory or order management needs, and businesses looking for an integrated accounting solution with project management capabilities.

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

CustomBooks videos

AccountingSuite Product Tour

More videos:

  • Review - Find An AccountingSuite Rockstar Overview
  • Review - Why Independent Distribution Collective Chose AccountingSuite
  • Review - CustomBooksโ„ข Product Perks - Feb 2025: Cloud Banking

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Substack and CustomBooks)
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Inventory Management
0 0%
100% 100
CMS
100 100%
0% 0
eCommerce
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 Substack and CustomBooks

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?

CustomBooks Reviews

We have no reviews of CustomBooks yet.
Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Substack seems to be more popular. 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.

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 / 14 days ago
  • Ask HN: What are your favorite blogs not about AI?
    Https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 18 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 / 26 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 / 23 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 2 months ago
View more

CustomBooks mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CustomBooks yet. Tracking of CustomBooks recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

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

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.

Webgility - Accounting, Bookkeeping and Inventory Automation for Retailers & Brands

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

Kintone - Build business apps and supercharge your company's productivity with kintone's all-in-one...

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

Extensiv Order Manager (formerly Skubana) - The only platform to manage your entire e-commerce operation.