Software Alternatives & Startups

Substack VS unDraw

Compare Substack VS unDraw 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.

Substack Landing page
Rating
0 reviews
unDraw

Open-source illustrations for every project you can imagine and create.

unDraw Landing page
Rating
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?

Substack might be a bit more popular than unDraw. We know about 105 links to it since March 2021 and only 71 links to unDraw.

social mentions
105 vs 71
Blogging popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Substack
unDraw
Website substack.com undraw.co
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
unDraw 6 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.
  • Free to Use
    unDraw offers a wide range of illustrations for free, making it accessible for anyone without budget constraints.
  • Customizable Colors
    Users can easily change the color of any illustration to match their brand's color palette.
  • No Attribution Required
    The platform allows users to utilize the illustrations without the need to give credit, which is great for commercial projects.
  • High Quality
    The illustrations are of high quality, professional, and modern, making them suitable for various applications.
  • Broad Range of Topics
    unDraw covers a wide array of categories and topics, making it easier to find relevant illustrations.
  • Ease of Use
    The website interface is user-friendly, allowing for quick searches and easy downloads of illustrations.

Possible disadvantages

  • Limited Styles
    Although high-quality, the illustrations have a uniform style, which might not fit every brand's aesthetic.
  • No Custom Illustrations
    Users cannot request custom illustrations directly from the platform, limiting personalized options.
  • Dependence on Updates
    Users rely on the platform to update and add new illustrations periodically, which may not always meet evolving trends or needs.
  • No Source Files
    Illustrations are only available in SVG format, which might be limiting for more advanced design modifications requiring source files.
  • Requires Internet Access
    An active internet connection is required to browse and download illustrations, which may not be convenient for all users.

Analysis

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

Substack
unDraw

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

  • unDraw is a highly recommended resource for individuals and teams looking for high-quality illustrations. Its combination of ease of use, free licensing, and a wide variety of illustrations makes it a valuable tool for many creatives and developers.

Why this product is good

  • unDraw is a platform that offers a wide range of open-source illustrations that are customizable and can be used in various projects without any attribution or cost. It is praised for its beautiful, modern, and versatile designs that can enhance the visual appeal of websites, applications, and presentations. Additionally, the illustrations are SVG-based, making them easily scalable and editable to fit the needs of any project.

Recommended for

  • Web designers looking to incorporate visually appealing illustrations
  • Developers needing scalable graphics for projects
  • Marketing teams creating visually rich presentations
  • Content creators who want graphics that can be customized to match their brand's style
  • Educators needing visual aids for teaching materials

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
unDraw 2 videos + Add

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

More videos

  • Review - E1016 Substack CEO Chris Best empowers writers via email newsletter platform, raised $15M from a16z
  • Review - Why EVERYONE should be on Substack | What it is, How it Works, $$$
  • Review - Beehiiv vs Substack (2024) - Which is Better?
  • Review - My Experience with SUBSTACK: An Honest Review of Substack

Adobe XD Landing Page Design Tutorial with unDraw

More videos

  • Review - UnDraw - Free Illustrations for Designers and Developers

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
unDraw
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
CMS
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

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
unDraw no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Substack 105 mentions
unDraw 71 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 / 2 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 / 6 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 / 9 days ago

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Alternatives to Substack and unDraw

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