Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS Portfolio Backtest

Compare Substack VS Portfolio Backtest 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
Portfolio Backtest

Create portfolio backtests quickly and easily by describing them in plain English. Our AI will find the relevant Stocks or ETFs and create the backtest for you.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium
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 seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 113 times since March 2021.

social mentions
113 vs 0
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 42

Base details

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

Substack
Portfolio Backtest
Website substack.com portfoliobacktest.com
Pricing —
Freemium
Company Startup from the United States Startup from Australia · 1 - 9 employees · 2025
Listed in

About Substack and Portfolio Backtest

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Substack
Portfolio Backtest

No description of Substack yet.

I built Portfolio Backtest because I wanted an easy way to backtest hypothetical portfolios. Alternatives required you to fill out long complicated forms to construct the backtest but I wanted something where you could just describe what you wanted in plain english. Once created I wanted it to be...

Read more about Portfolio Backtest

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
Portfolio Backtest 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.
  • Easy Portfolio Backtesting
    Portfolio Backtest provides a straightforward interface for testing historical performance of investment portfolios, making it accessible to both beginner and intermediate investors who want to evaluate asset allocation strategies.
  • Multiple Asset Support
    The platform supports backtesting across a variety of asset classes including stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds, allowing users to construct diversified portfolios and analyze their historical behavior.
  • Visual Performance Charts
    The tool provides clear visual charts and graphs showing portfolio growth, drawdowns, and other performance metrics over time, making it easy to compare different allocation strategies at a glance.
  • Free to Use
    Portfolio Backtest offers free access to its core backtesting features, which lowers the barrier to entry for individual investors who want to test strategies without committing to expensive subscription-based tools.
  • Portfolio Comparison
    Users can compare multiple portfolio configurations side by side, enabling them to evaluate the impact of different asset allocations and rebalancing strategies on risk-adjusted returns.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Historical Data
    The platform may have limited historical data depth compared to more premium backtesting tools, which can restrict the ability to test strategies over very long time horizons or during specific market events.
  • Basic Analytics
    Compared to professional-grade tools like Portfolio Visualizer or QuantConnect, the analytics and risk metrics available on Portfolio Backtest can be relatively basic, lacking advanced measures such as factor exposure analysis or Monte Carlo simulations.
  • Limited Customization Options
    The tool may not offer extensive customization for rebalancing frequencies, tax-loss harvesting simulations, or custom benchmarks, which limits its usefulness for more sophisticated portfolio strategies.
  • Smaller User Community
    Portfolio Backtest has a smaller user base and community compared to more established platforms, meaning there are fewer tutorials, forums, and shared strategies available for new users seeking guidance.
  • Survivorship Bias Risk
    Like many free backtesting tools, Portfolio Backtest may be subject to survivorship bias in its asset database, as delisted or failed securities might not be included, potentially leading to overly optimistic backtest results.

Analysis

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

Substack
Portfolio Backtest

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

  • Portfolio Backtest is a solid tool for investors who want to validate investment strategies using historical data before committing real capital, offering a practical way to assess risk and returns.

Why this product is good

  • Allows users to test investment strategies against historical market data to evaluate potential performance
  • Helps identify risk exposure and drawdown potential before investing real money
  • Provides data-driven insights that can improve decision-making and reduce emotional investing
  • Often includes portfolio comparison features to benchmark strategies against indices or other allocations
  • Accessible interface that doesn't require advanced coding or statistical expertise

Recommended for

  • DIY retail investors testing asset allocation strategies
  • Financial planners validating client portfolio recommendations
  • Quantitative hobbyists experimenting with factor-based or rules-based strategies
  • Long-term investors wanting to stress-test portfolios against historical downturns
  • Users comparing passive vs active investment approaches before committing funds

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
Portfolio Backtest 1 video + 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

Create Portfolio Backtest With Plain Language

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
Portfolio Backtest
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Portfolio Backtest. 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
Portfolio Backtest no reviews yet

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

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 113 mentions
Portfolio Backtest 0 mentions
  • How to Get Substack Newsletter Data: Posts, Comments and Subscriber Counts
    a profile link: https://substack.com/@noahpinion. - Source: dev.to / 1 day ago
  • Ask HN: What are you working on? (November 2026)
    A free comedy newsletter that has nothing to do with technology yet mentions it from time to time. https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 5 days ago
  • UK Defence Startups Are Being Denied Banking Services Under ESG Rules
    Books have already been written on this, some as early as 1945 (That Hideous Strength, C.S. Lewis). Otherwise I can recommend basically everything by Curtis Yarvin and Kevin Dolan (https://substack.com/@exitgroup,... - Source: Hacker News / 24 days ago

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Tracking Portfolio Backtest since Jun 2025.

Alternatives to Substack and Portfolio Backtest

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