Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Substack VS MODx

Compare Substack VS MODx and see what are their differences

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.

MODx logo MODx

modx is a free, fast & flexible, ajax and seo content management system
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26
  • MODx Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-22

Substack

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Startup details
Country
United States

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.

MODx features and specs

  • Flexibility
    MODx offers a high degree of flexibility, allowing users to create both simple and complex websites without being restricted by predefined structures.
  • Scalability
    MODx is designed to handle anything from small personal websites to large, enterprise-level applications, making it a scalable solution.
  • Customizability
    It allows extensive customization through templates, snippets, and plugins, catering to specific needs and preferences.
  • Strong Community
    MODx boasts an active and supportive community, offering a wealth of resources, extensions, and forums for troubleshooting and advice.
  • Performance
    MODx is optimized for performance, often resulting in faster page load times compared to other content management systems.

Possible disadvantages of MODx

  • Learning Curve
    New users may find MODx's flexibility comes with a steeper learning curve compared to other more rigid CMS platforms.
  • Limited Pre-made Templates
    While highly customizable, MODx has fewer pre-made templates and themes available, which might require more upfront development work.
  • Documentation
    Although improving, some users have found the documentation to be less comprehensive, making it harder for beginners to get started.
  • Smaller Plugin Repository
    Compared to larger CMS platforms like WordPress, MODx has a smaller repository of plugins and extensions.
  • Developer-Oriented
    MODx is highly developer-oriented, which might be overwhelming for non-technical users looking for a simple, out-of-the-box solution.

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 MODx

Overall verdict

  • MODx is a robust content management system that appeals to developers and users looking for flexibility and customization. However, its ecosystem might not be as large as some of the more popular CMS options like WordPress or Joomla.

Why this product is good

  • Community
    MODx has an active community providing support and extending its functionality through plugins.
  • Flexibility
    MODx offers a high degree of flexibility, making it suitable for custom-built sites.
  • Scalability
    It is scalable and can be used for anything from small personal blogs to large enterprise websites.
  • User friendly
    It has a user-friendly interface that is easy for both developers and content editors.

Recommended for

  • Developers who need a customizable platform.
  • Businesses looking for a reliable and scalable CMS.
  • Users with specific and complex website requirements.
  • Organizations that require a CMS with a focus on security and performance.

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

MODx videos

Yamaha MODX review: Everything you need to know

More videos:

  • Demo - Yamaha MODX Synthesizer REVIEW + Sound Demo & Sound Design Tutorial
  • Review - Yamaha MODX Synthesizers In-depth Overview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Substack and MODx)
Blogging
68 68%
32% 32
CMS
60 60%
40% 40
Creators
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging Platform
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 MODx

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?

MODx Reviews

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

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Substack seems to be a lot more popular than MODx. While we know about 101 links to Substack, we've tracked only 4 mentions of MODx. 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 (101)

  • Ask HN: What are your favorite blogs not about AI?
    Https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 1 day 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 / 10 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 / 6 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 1 month ago
  • AMA: I'm Eric Ries (The Lean Startup) & Author of New Bestseller Incorruptible
    Yes, it's much different in other countries. See https://substack.com/@doks/p-198191751. - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
View more

MODx mentions (4)

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Substack and MODx, 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.

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.

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

Drupal - Drupal - the leading open-source CMS for ambitious digital experiences that reach your audience across multiple channels. Because we all have different needs, Drupal allows you to create a unique space in a world of cookie-cutter solutions.

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

Joomla - Joomla! is the mobile-ready and user-friendly way to build your website. Choose from thousands of features and designs. Joomla! is free and open source.