Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS NOWPayments

Compare Substack VS NOWPayments 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
NOWPayments

NOWPayments is a crypto payment gateway that supports more than 300 cryptocurrencies, including fiat, and offers simple tools to accept crypto payments, like a crypto payments API, plugins, invoices.

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 should be more popular than NOWPayments. It has been mentioned 105 times since March 2021.

social mentions
105 vs 67
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Substack
NOWPayments
Website substack.com nowpayments.io
Pricing
Platforms
WooCommerce Wordpress REST API
Company Startup from the United States 2019
Listed in

About Substack and NOWPayments

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Substack
NOWPayments

No description of Substack yet.

NOWPayments is a crypto payment gateway that lets all types of businesses accept payments in 300+ cryptocurrencies, with auto coin conversion and fiat conversion available. Pricing: 0,5% transaction fee + 0,5% exchange fee if exchange is needed. The platform also supports fiat conversion:...

Read more about NOWPayments

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
NOWPayments 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.
  • Wide Range of Supported Cryptocurrencies
    NOWPayments supports over 50 cryptocurrencies, allowing merchants and users to transact using their preferred digital assets.
  • Merchant Tools and Plugins
    NOWPayments offers a variety of integrations including APIs, an invoicing system, and plugins for popular e-commerce platforms like WooCommerce, Magento, and Shopify.
  • Non-Custodial Service
    Funds go directly to the merchant's wallet, ensuring greater security and reducing the risk associated with centralized platforms.
  • Low Fees
    The platform offers competitive transaction fees starting at 0.5%, making it an affordable choice for businesses.
  • Auto Coin Conversion
    Merchants can automatically convert received cryptocurrencies into a more stable asset or their preferred cryptocurrency.

Possible disadvantages

  • Customer Support
    Although generally reliable, some users have reported delays in customer support response times during peak periods.
  • Regulatory Uncertainty
    As with any cryptocurrency service, the platform operates in a regulatory gray area in some jurisdictions, which could lead to potential compliance challenges.
  • Dependency on Cryptocurrency Volatility
    The value of cryptocurrencies can be highly volatile, posing risks for both merchants and customers in terms of transaction value fluctuations.
  • Relatively New Service
    As a relatively new player in the market, the platform may lack the extensive track record and reliability compared to more established providers.

Analysis

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

Substack
NOWPayments

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

Overall verdict

  • NOWPayments is considered a reliable and beneficial service for cryptocurrency payments by many users.

Why this product is good

  • NOWPayments is praised for its ease of use, allowing businesses to accept a wide range of cryptocurrencies with simple integration processes. It offers competitive transaction fees and supports automatic conversion to fiat currencies, providing flexibility for businesses. Additionally, its non-custodial nature enhances security, as it does not hold the funds but directly transfers them to the merchant's wallet.

Recommended for

    NOWPayments is highly recommended for online businesses, e-commerce platforms, and any merchants looking to expand their payment options to include cryptocurrencies. It is especially beneficial for those who value security, seek to reach a global customer base, and want to offer flexible payment choices.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
NOWPayments 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

What is NOWPayments

More videos

  • - What is NOWPayments? | Accept Crypto Payments | Crypto Merchant Processor | Process Crypto Payments
  • - How to Setup NOWPayments Crypto Donation Button on Your Website (2021)

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
NOWPayments
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Substack and NOWPayments.

What makes your product unique?

NOWPayments's answer:

300+ currencies, cross-chain payments, fiat on-ramp and off-ramp. Multiple crypto payment tools, custom solutions for various industries.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

NOWPayments's answer:

  • lower fees
  • more currencies supported
  • 24/7 support
  • transparent fee system, no hidden fees
  • listing possibilities
  • custom features

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

NOWPayments's answer:

Businesses and individuals that would like to accept crypto

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

NOWPayments's answer:

For example, Travala crypto travel platform

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and NOWPayments. 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
NOWPayments no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 105 mentions
NOWPayments 67 mentions
  • Benchmarking Qwen3.8 27B quantizations: 4-bit holds up, 1-bit collapses
    For anyone that would like to see more quantizations tested, I can highly recommend paying a few bucks for oobabooga's testing, which is published on his Substack: https://substack.com/@oobabooga. - Source: Hacker News / 11 days ago
  • Discovery of a new OpenAI agent message board
    Reminds me of this meme: https://substack.com/@tomasbjartur/note/c-323840878?r=6cjtqn. - Source: Hacker News / 15 days ago
  • How accurate have Ed Zitron's AI skeptic predictions been?
    Valid criticisms of AI - safety critics who think AI can take over the world like Yud (I find this the least credible but still valid) - Bernie type of critics who think AI can cause widespread job losses - Ruxandra Teslo who thinks AI... - Source: Hacker News / 18 days ago

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  • Want to accept crypto for my business, how to handle it best?
    I looked at this for my business as well, I ended up using crypto.com which to date nobody has used and https://nowpayments.io/ which many people have used. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Looking where to buy some hoge?
    Https://nowpayments.io/ Have a store and want to accept crypto such as HOGE? NowPayments has you covered. Source: about 3 years ago
  • NowPayments.io adding PLS soon means PLS payments on: Shopify, WooCommerce, Brick & Mortar POS Terminals, Donation Websites, Casinos, Fiat On Ramps and much more!
    It's looking like PowerCity's PixelPark is trying to beat Mintra to market as the first major NFT Marketplace soon on PulseChain as they have partnered with NowPayments.io to handle their payment processing:. Source: over 3 years ago

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Alternatives to Substack and NOWPayments

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