Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS TheBoringNotch

Compare Substack VS TheBoringNotch 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.

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0 reviews
TheBoringNotch

Open source Dynamic Island for your Mac's Notch

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0 reviews
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 106 times since March 2021.

social mentions
106 vs 0
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 87

Base details

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

Substack
TheBoringNotch
Website substack.com theboring.name
Company Startup from the United States —
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
TheBoringNotch 0 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.

No features have been listed yet.

Analysis

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

Substack
TheBoringNotch

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

  • TheBoringNotch is a well-regarded free and open-source macOS utility that cleverly transforms the MacBook's notch into a useful, interactive space for media controls and more, making it a good choice for users who want to add functionality to an otherwise unused screen area.

Why this product is good

  • It's free and open-source, so there's no cost and the code is transparent and community-driven
  • Turns the previously wasted notch area into a functional hub for music controls, playback info, and album art
  • Offers a sleek, animated, and native-feeling design that blends well with macOS aesthetics
  • Actively developed with regular updates and responsive community support
  • Lightweight and easy to install without significant impact on system performance
  • Provides customization options to tailor the notch behavior to personal preferences

Recommended for

  • MacBook Pro and MacBook Air users with a notch who want to make better use of it
  • Music and media enthusiasts who want quick access to playback controls
  • Users who enjoy customizing and enhancing their macOS experience
  • People who prefer free and open-source software over paid alternatives
  • Tech-savvy users comfortable installing third-party utilities

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
TheBoringNotch 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 TheBoringNotch 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
TheBoringNotch
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
Mac
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and TheBoringNotch. 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
TheBoringNotch no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 106 mentions
TheBoringNotch 0 mentions
  • 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 / 2 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 / 22 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 / 26 days ago

View more

Tracking TheBoringNotch since Oct 2025.

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