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Substack VS Pico

Compare Substack VS Pico 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
Alternatives Is it good?
P
Pico

A stupidly simple and blazing fast, flat file CMS

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Alternatives Is it good?
Umso
The Website Builder for Startups sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Substack seems to be a lot more popular than Pico. While we know about 105 links to Substack, we've tracked only 9 mentions of Pico.

social mentions
105 vs 9
Blogging popularity
78% vs 22%

Base details

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

Substack
P
Pico
Website substack.com picocms.org
Pricing —
Open source
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in
Creators Blogging Paid Newsletters CMS +1
CMS Blogging Blogging Platform Website Builder +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
P
Pico 7 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.
  • Simplicity
    Pico is extremely straightforward and easy to set up, making it ideal for users who require a no-fuss CMS without complex configurations.
  • Performance
    Because Pico is a flat-file CMS, it does not require a database, which can significantly improve performance and speed.
  • Security
    Without a database, there are fewer entry points for potential security vulnerabilities, making Pico more secure by design.
  • Flexibility
    Pico allows for a high degree of customization through its use of Twig templates and markdown content, offering flexibility while maintaining simplicity.
  • Portability
    Since Pico is flat-file based, migrating a site involves simply copying files, making it easy to move websites between different environments.
  • No Database Required
    Eliminates the need for setting up and managing a database, which can be a barrier for some users.
  • Open Source
    Pico is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and customize per the user’s needs.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Scalability
    While fine for small to medium-sized projects, Pico's flat-file nature can be a bottleneck for very large websites with extensive content.
  • Less Feature-Rich
    Compared to more comprehensive CMSs like WordPress or Drupal, Pico lacks extensive plugins and built-in features.
  • Manual Content Management
    All content management is done through markdown files, which could be less intuitive and more cumbersome for non-technical users.
  • No Built-in GUI
    Pico doesn’t come with a graphical user interface (GUI) out of the box, requiring users to rely on text editors for content creation and management.
  • Community and Support
    The user and developer community around Pico is smaller compared to larger CMS platforms, which can result in fewer available resources for troubleshooting and support.

Analysis

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

Substack
P
Pico

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

  • Pico is a good choice for those seeking a simple and efficient content management solution with minimal setup and maintenance needs. It is not suitable for complex websites requiring advanced features, but excels in scenarios where straightforward content delivery is required.

Why this product is good

  • Pico is a lightweight and fast CMS that uses flat files rather than a traditional database. This makes it ideal for websites where simplicity, speed, and easy deployment are priorities. It is particularly favored by developers who want to manage content without dealing with complex systems or bulky infrastructure. The use of Markdown for content creation empowers users to write and edit content with ease. Additionally, its minimalistic approach means fewer security vulnerabilities and lower maintenance requirements.

Recommended for

  • Developers or tech-savvy users who prefer a flat-file CMS over traditional database-driven systems.
  • Small to medium-sized websites, such as personal blogs or portfolios, where speed and simplicity are paramount.
  • Users who enjoy using Markdown for quick and easy content formatting.
  • Individuals or teams who value quick deployment and require a CMS with low overhead.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
P
Pico 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

Beretta Pico

More videos

  • - iStick Pico Review by Eleaf! | IndoorSmokers
  • - Pico Model C review

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
P
Pico
78% 78%
Blogging
22% 22%
68% 68%
CMS
32% 32%
100% 100%
Creators
0% 0%
0% 0%
Home
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Pico. 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
P
Pico no reviews yet

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 105 mentions
P
Pico 9 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 / 13 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 / 17 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 / 20 days ago

View more

  • EZ Question: Image Files in Obsidian Vault
    I'm cooking up a really cheap publishing solution using Pico CMS ("stupidly simple") and rsync or something from my Obsidian Vault to my PHP server. Source: about 3 years ago
  • How to Start Your Blog in 2023
    I'm using https://picocms.org/. It is PHP based, works on a cheap limited web hoster. The concept is: Upload a markdown file plus associated media, and it does the rest for you. For customisation, you can use Twig and CSS, or a... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Do I need a CMS for a tech blog?
    Have you tried Pico? No database required and. You can either use Markdown or plain text for posting. Each post is just a file... https://picocms.org/. Source: almost 4 years ago

View more

Alternatives to Substack and Pico

When comparing Substack and Pico, 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.

    Compare Ghost to Substack or Pico:

    Ghost vs Substack Ghost vs Pico
  • Medium

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

    Compare Medium to Substack or Pico:

    Medium vs Substack Medium vs Pico
  • Mastodon

    Mastodon is a decentralized, open source social network. This is just one part of the network, run by the main developers of the project It is not focused on any particular niche interest - everyone is welcome!

    Compare Mastodon to Substack or Pico:

    Mastodon vs Substack Mastodon vs Pico
  • Buttondown

    Buttondown is the best way to start and run your newsletter

    Compare Buttondown to Substack or Pico:

    Buttondown vs Substack Buttondown vs Pico
  • WiX

    Create a free website with Wix.com. Customize with Wix' website builder, no coding skills needed. Choose a design, begin customizing and be online today

    Compare WiX to Substack or Pico:

    WiX vs Substack WiX vs Pico
  • 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.

    Compare WordPress to Substack or Pico:

    WordPress vs Substack WordPress vs Pico
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