Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS Papyrus.so

Compare Substack VS Papyrus.so 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
Papyrus.so

Create a privacy-first, beautiful, blazing-fast blog & newsletter with Papyrus

Rating
0 reviews

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack seems to be a lot more popular than Papyrus.so. While we know about 108 links to Substack, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Papyrus.so.

social mentions
108 vs 5
Blogging popularity
89% vs 11%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 87

Base details

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

Substack
Papyrus.so
Website substack.com papyrus.so
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
Papyrus.so 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.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Papyrus.so offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for users with varying levels of technical expertise.
  • Collaboration Features
    The platform includes collaborative tools that allow multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously, improving team productivity.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Papyrus.so integrates with various third-party applications and services, enhancing its functionality and flexibility for different workflows.
  • Real-Time Editing
    Documents can be edited in real-time, ensuring that all collaborators see updates instantaneously, which can streamline the editing process.
  • Cloud-Based
    Being a cloud-based service, Papyrus.so enables users to access their documents from any device with internet connectivity, promoting easy access and convenience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Offline Access
    Users may experience difficulties accessing documents without an internet connection, which can be a limitation for those needing offline capabilities.
  • Cost
    Some features of Papyrus.so might be limited to paid plans, which could be a drawback for users or organizations with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While basic features are user-friendly, mastering more advanced functionalities may require additional time and learning.
  • Dependence on Internet Connectivity
    The platform's reliance on internet connectivity means that any disruptions can hinder document access and collaboration.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any cloud-based service, there may be concerns related to data privacy and security, which users need to consider.

Analysis

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

Substack
Papyrus.so

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 Papyrus.so yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
Papyrus.so 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 Papyrus.so 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
Papyrus.so
89% 89%
11% 11%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Papyrus.so. 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
Papyrus.so no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 108 mentions
Papyrus.so 5 mentions
  • Effective Altruism Conquered the World
    Https://substack.com/@gurwinder/posts. - Source: Hacker News / 1 day ago
  • Ask HN: Who wants to be hired? (October 2026)
    Substack: https://substack.com/@friedkielbasa. - Source: Hacker News / 4 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 / 7 days ago

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  • Tell HN: There needs to be a “right to speak with a human”
    This would not help, since humans are trained to respond like robots. They vaguely understand your support request and then copy-paste a knowledge base support blog post at you. You explain you've read the support info and it doesn't... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • I moved this blog from Medium
    > Another Medium alternative is Papyrus: https://papyrus.so. Right. But even ignoring all that NFT stuff, isn't that just somebody else's playground not owned by you? Whereas the author has gone for a setup that fundamentally they... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago
  • I moved this blog from Medium
    Another Medium alternative is Papyrus: https://papyrus.so. Privacy-first, simplicity and speed are the core tenets. Export posts at any time, send posts via newsletters, and no feature-bloat. Disclaimer: I built Papyrus because I was fed... - Source: Hacker News / over 4 years ago

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Alternatives to Substack and Papyrus.so

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