Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS Slackwater

Compare Substack VS Slackwater 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
Slackwater

Slackwater shows the tide curve, the high and low times, slack water and the solunar bite windows for the spots you fish, surf and boat. Predictions run on the device from NOAA harmonic data, so it all works with no signal. Free for three spots.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium Free trial $24.99 / Annually (Premium. $3.99/mo, Lifetime $39.99. Free for 3 spots.)
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 8

Base details

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

Substack
Slackwater
Website substack.com slackwatertides.com
Pricing —
Freemium Free trial $24.99 / Annually (Premium. $3.99/mo, Lifetime $39.99. Free for 3 spots.) Official pricing
Platforms —
iOS iPad Apple Watch
Company Startup from the United States 2026
Listed in

About Substack and Slackwater

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Substack
Slackwater

No description of Substack yet.

Slackwater is a tide and fishing app for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. It shows the tide curve for a spot with the day's high and low times, when slack water arrives and which way the current turns next, and the solunar windows anglers plan around. Tide predictions are computed on the device...

Read more about Slackwater

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
Slackwater 3 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.
  • Tide curve and times
    The day's highs and lows, slack water, and when the current turns
  • Solunar bite windows
    Major and minor windows, moon phase, and a rating for the day
  • Works offline
    Predictions computed on the device from NOAA harmonic data, no signal needed

Analysis

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

Substack
Slackwater

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 Slackwater yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
Slackwater 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 Slackwater 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
Slackwater
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 Slackwater.

What makes your product unique?

Slackwater's answer:

The tide math runs on the phone. Slackwater carries the NOAA harmonic constituents for the stations you save and computes the curve locally, so the tide times, the solunar windows and the alerts all still work in a marsh or a canyon with no bars. Several of the free tide apps are online only, which fails in exactly the places you need them. Slack water also gets treated as a first-class thing here: the app tells you when the current actually turns, not only when the height peaks, which is the moment most of this planning is really about.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

Slackwater's answer:

Scope and price for the person actually standing in the water. The large fishing platform runs about $75 a year and is mostly a social network with a catch log around it. Slackwater is a timing tool: $24.99 a year, $3.99 a month, or $39.99 once for Lifetime, and free for three spots with no ads and no account. It also covers the parts the simpler free tide apps leave out, including slack water and the current turn, a bite rating for the day, alerts at any tide height you choose, a session log that fills in the conditions for you, and an Apple Watch app with widgets and a Live Activity so the next tide is on your wrist and your lock screen.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

Slackwater's answer:

Inshore and surf anglers, kayak and small boat people, surfers, clammers, and anyone whose plan for the next six hours depends on what the water is doing. They tend to fish the same handful of places over and over, which is why the free tier is three spots rather than a countdown to a paywall. Most of them are standing somewhere with one bar or none, so working offline is a requirement here rather than a bonus feature.

User comments

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Substack no reviews yet
Slackwater no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of Slackwater 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
Slackwater 0 mentions
  • How to Get Substack Newsletter Data: Posts, Comments and Subscriber Counts
    a profile link: https://substack.com/@noahpinion. - Source: dev.to / about 8 hours 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 / 3 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 / 23 days ago

View more

Tracking Slackwater since Sep 2026.

Alternatives to Substack and Slackwater

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