Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS Ground News

Compare Substack VS Ground News and see what are their differences

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
Ground News

A news comparison app showing % of who covers what, from 40,000 global news outlets.

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 seems to be a lot more popular than Ground News. While we know about 111 links to Substack, we've tracked only 3 mentions of Ground News.

social mentions
111 vs 3
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 98

Base details

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

Substack
GN
Ground News
Website substack.com ground.news
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
GN
Ground News 5 features
  • 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.
  • Bias Analysis
    Ground News provides a bias check, showing users the political leanings of various news sources, which helps readers get a balanced view of the news.
  • Multiple Perspectives
    The platform aggregates news from a wide range of sources, enabling users to see how different outlets report on the same story.
  • Transparency in Sourcing
    Ground News offers a feature that highlights the credibility and transparency of news articles by showing where the story is being covered geographically and across the political spectrum.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The platform's intuitive design helps users easily navigate through news stories and use various features.
  • Real-Time Updates
    It provides real-time updates and news alerts, ensuring users have access to the most current news information.

Possible disadvantages

  • Subscription Cost
    Some features are behind a paywall, which might be a barrier for users who are unwilling or unable to pay for a subscription.
  • Limited Deep Analysis
    While aggregating multiple sources, it may not provide the deep analysis and in-depth reporting that some standalone articles might offer.
  • Overwhelming Multiple Sources
    For some users, the sheer number of news sources and perspectives can be overwhelming and lead to decision fatigue.
  • Potential Bias in Presenting Bias
    The way bias is categorized could itself carry biases, influencing how users perceive different news outlets.
  • Dependence on External Sources
    Ground News relies heavily on external news sources for content, which could affect content reliability depending on the sources themselves.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Substack
GN
Ground News

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

No analysis of Ground News yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
GN
Ground News 3 videos + Add

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

How to Use Ground News

More videos

  • - Ground News App Review 2025 | Pros and Cons – Honest & Unbiased
  • - Dad Ruins Ground News: Biased Bias Ratings?

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
Substack
GN
Ground News
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Ground News. 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.

Substack no reviews yet
GN
Ground News no reviews yet

View more

  • Compare news apps, honestly
    www.headlinne.com · Aug 2026

    Headlinne makes bias visible automatically on every story you read; Ground News makes it something you go and look up, one story at a time. That difference decides which one actually changes what you understand,...

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 111 mentions
GN
Ground News 3 mentions
  • UK Defence Startups Are Being Denied Banking Services Under ESG Rules
    Books have already been written on this, some as early as 1945 (That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis). Otherwise I can recommend basically everything by Curtis Yarvin and Kevin Dolan (https://substack.com/@exitgroup,... - Source: Hacker News / 11 days ago
  • 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 / 13 days 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 / 23 days ago

View more

  • Event featuring Kyle Rittenhouse at Venetian on Las Vegas Strip 'canceled,' hotel officials say
    The attention is from it being a very polarizing political issue. Left thinks he's a murderer who got off. Right thinks he's an innocent little angel who did nothing wrong. The truth is somewhere in the middle. Having followed every... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Why is there so much hate?
    We could probably both broaden our horizons by recognising the prisms through which we’re viewing the world. This site seems like a worthy counter to the effects: Https://ground.news/about. Source: about 4 years ago
  • MSM would like you to believe that Ukraine is winning
    There is also Ground News, that tries to gather information from multiple sources. Source: over 4 years ago

Alternatives to Substack and Ground News

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