Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Substack VS EmailOctopus

Compare Substack VS EmailOctopus and see what are their differences

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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.

EmailOctopus logo EmailOctopus

Email marketing for less, via Amazon SES
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26
  • EmailOctopus Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-10-14

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.

EmailOctopus features and specs

  • Cost-effective
    EmailOctopus is known for being more affordable compared to other email marketing services, making it a good option for small businesses and startups.
  • Easy to use
    The platform has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it accessible even for users who are not tech-savvy.
  • Integration with Amazon SES
    EmailOctopus integrates with Amazon Simple Email Service (SES), offering a reliable and scalable SMTP service that can handle large volumes of emails.
  • API Access
    Developers can access a robust API for easier integration with their own applications and workflows.
  • Advanced Segmentation
    EmailOctopus allows for detailed segmentation of subscribers, enhancing the ability to target specific groups and tailor campaigns effectively.
  • Scheduled Campaigns
    The platform allows users to schedule their email campaigns ahead of time, offering more flexibility in planning and execution.

Possible disadvantages of EmailOctopus

  • Limited Automation
    While EmailOctopus offers some automation features, it's not as advanced or comprehensive as those offered by some competitors.
  • Basic Reporting
    The reporting and analytics features are limited compared to other platforms, which may require third-party tools for deeper insights.
  • Design Limitations
    The email template editor is somewhat basic, lacking advanced design capabilities that some other email marketing tools offer.
  • Fewer Integrations
    EmailOctopus offers limited native integrations with other software tools, which may require additional workaround for businesses using a variety of software.
  • No Built-in CRM
    Unlike some other email marketing platforms, EmailOctopus does not come with a built-in customer relationship management (CRM) tool.
  • Limited Support
    Customer support is primarily available via email and is more limited compared to competitors that offer multiple support channels, including live chat and phone support.

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 EmailOctopus

Overall verdict

  • Overall, EmailOctopus is a reliable and efficient email marketing platform suitable for individuals and businesses looking for straightforward functionality at an affordable price.

Why this product is good

  • EmailOctopus is often considered a good choice for those seeking a budget-friendly and easy-to-use email marketing solution. It provides a range of features such as customizable email templates, automation tools, and detailed analytics. Additionally, it integrates well with numerous other platforms and offers competitive pricing, often making it a cost-effective alternative to other email marketing services.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses
  • Freelancers and entrepreneurs
  • Non-profits
  • Individuals new to email marketing
  • Budget-conscious marketers seeking value

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

EmailOctopus videos

EmailOctopus Review and Tutorial // Best Free Email Marketing Platform?

More videos:

  • Tutorial - EmailOctopus Review and Tutorial [2020]

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Substack and EmailOctopus)
Blogging
100 100%
0% 0
Email Marketing
0 0%
100% 100
Blogging Platform
100 100%
0% 0
Email Marketing Platforms

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and EmailOctopus. 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 Substack and EmailOctopus

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?

EmailOctopus Reviews

11 Best Email Marketing Software for eCommerce in 2023
EmailOctopus, a lean and efficient email marketing software for eCommerce, offers the unique capability to route emails through Amazon SES (Simple Email Service). With seamless integrations with Zapier, WordPress, and MailOptin, this platform caters to businesses with developers, providing a straightforward and effective email marketing automation solution.
Source: www.getshow.io
MailBluster vs EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus also has a free plan for you but with some bars and limitations. For example- it will cost you $0 forever, but the number of subscribers is limited to 2500 only. If your subscriber list is growing then you must upgrade the plan. There are more limitations with the free plan like statistics won’t be available after 90 days, you have to send campaign emails only,...
The 12 Best Free Email Marketing Apps
Want more customization—and have time to create two accounts? EmailOctopus lets you send thousands of emails a month for free—and more for low fees—by using Amazon SES to send your emails. You'll manage your email lists, design your messages, and track stats in EmailOctopus. It then will use your Amazon SES account to send your emails.
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Substack should be more popular than EmailOctopus. It has been mentiond 89 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 (89)

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EmailOctopus mentions (11)

  • free-for.dev
    EmailOctopus - Up to 2,500 subscribers and 10,000 emails per month free. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • What service are people using for their newsletters?
    I use Mailgun myself, but https://emailoctopus.com might be worth a look. Like Sendy they also use Amazon SES, so should be pretty cheap. And then you wouldn't have to deal with hosting it yourself, unlike Sendy. They say they have a developer API so maybe you can get metrics from that. Both Sendy and Email Octopus have list segmentation which should do the job for hiding sponsors; not sure if either of them... Source: over 3 years ago
  • UK to overhaul privacy rules in post-Brexit departure from GDPR
    Https://emailoctopus.com/ is my current provider and they say they use EU data centers should I should be good. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
  • This SaaS helped me grow my business from 1k to 10k revenue per month.
    Https://emailoctopus.com EmailOctopus is an email marketing tool offering a rich set of email marketing templates allow users to create campaigns which are responsive to any device, in a matter of minutes. Users have the ability to build drip email sequences, import contacts, integrate with forms, and generate customized reports. With segmentation, you can create highly targeted email campaigns based on the... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Building a $0 startup using nextjs and firebase
    - **Emails** - There are two types of emails; **transactional** - reset passwords, welcome email, ... So on and **broadcasting** - newsletters, announcements, deals, product updates. I use [Postmark](https://postmarkapp.com/) for all of my emails, [Aurelio](https://aureliocbt.com) also has a [newsletter](https://aureliocbt.com/newsletter) for which I use [Emailoctopus](https://emailoctopus.com). Source: almost 4 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Substack and EmailOctopus, 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.

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

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

Campaign Monitor - Email marketing software built for designers and their clients to run successful email campaigns.

WordPress - WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

ConvertKit - Email marketing software for online creators. We help you earn a living online through an intuitive email marketing automation tool.