Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS Paper Website

Compare Substack VS Paper Website 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
Paper Website

No tech. No distractions. Pure Creativity. Publish your ideas to millions just using pen & paper.

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack should be more popular than Paper Website. It has been mentioned 107 times since March 2021.

social mentions
107 vs 25
Blogging popularity
85% vs 15%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 71

Base details

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

Substack
Paper Website
Website substack.com paperwebsite.com
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
Paper Website 4 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.
  • User-friendly interface
    The website is designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Customizability
    Offers a range of customizable options for users to tailor their website experience to their specific needs and preferences.
  • Responsive design
    The site is optimized for different devices, ensuring a seamless experience whether accessing it on a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
  • SEO features
    Includes built-in SEO tools and features that help improve website visibility on search engines, potentially increasing traffic.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited templates
    The selection of design templates might be limited compared to other website builders, restricting the diversity of design options.
  • Pricing
    May have pricing plans that are less competitive than other similar services, which could be a concern for budget-conscious users.
  • Feature set
    Some advanced features might be missing, which can be a drawback for users looking for comprehensive service offerings.
  • Learning curve
    Although generally user-friendly, some users may experience a learning curve when trying to utilize more complex features.

Analysis

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

Substack
Paper Website

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 Paper Website yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
Paper Website 0 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

No Paper Website videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
Paper Website
85% 85%
15% 15%
94% 94%
CMS
6% 6%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Paper Website. 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
Paper Website no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 107 mentions
Paper Website 25 mentions
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (October 2026)
    Substack: https://substack.com/@friedkielbasa. - Source: Hacker News / 2 days ago
  • Sync any blog via API to Substack in one-click
    Name Type Required Description Cookie String Yes Substack.sid= (browser session cookie) Accept String Yes Application/json Origin String Yes Publication origin, e.g.... - Source: dev.to / 5 days ago
  • 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 / 25 days ago

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  • Show HN: A Handwritten Blogging Platform
    Reminds me of tinyprojects.dev Paper Website project from 2021 https://paperwebsite.com/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Writing by Hand is Good for your Brain
    Does anyone here handwrite a blog? I've been thinking about doing that, but I'd be interested in how people accomplish it. Personally, I'd like this to be a hobby that gets me away from screens, so I'm looking to focus more on... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Worried about paper cards being lost or destroyed
    This is something that I think more about with every loving hour I spend working with my cards. On the one hand, I rarely update individual cards after writing them. So making a digital mirror using a camera seems viable. I've looked at... Source: almost 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Substack and Paper Website

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