Software Alternatives & Startups

Swell.is VS Substack

Compare Swell.is VS Substack and see what are their differences

Swell.is

Customizable, API-first ecommerce platform for innovative brands, startups, and agencies.

Rating
0 reviews
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
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 a lot more popular than Swell.is. While we know about 105 links to Substack, we've tracked only 5 mentions of Swell.is.

social mentions
5 vs 105
eCommerce popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Swell.is
Substack
Website swell.is substack.com
Pricing
Company Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Swell.is 6 features
Substack 6 features
  • Customization
    Swell.is offers extensive customization options, allowing users to tailor their eCommerce site to meet specific business needs and branding requirements.
  • Scalability
    The platform is designed to scale with your business, providing the necessary tools and infrastructure to handle increased traffic and sales without compromising performance.
  • Developer-Friendly
    Swell.is features a robust API and developer tools, making it easier for developers to build and integrate custom features and functionalities.
  • Multi-Channel Selling
    The platform supports selling across multiple channels, including web, mobile, and social media platforms, enabling merchants to reach a broader audience.
  • Innovative Features
    Swell.is includes innovative features such as subscriptions, memberships, and custom user experiences that can help differentiate your business from competitors.
  • Performance and Speed
    The platform is optimized for high performance and fast loading speeds, enhancing the user experience and increasing the likelihood of conversions.

Possible disadvantages

  • Complexity
    Due to its extensive customization options and advanced features, Swell.is can be complex to set up and manage, particularly for those without technical expertise.
  • Cost
    Swell.is can be on the pricier side, especially for small businesses or startups with limited budgets. Additional costs may also arise from custom development requirements.
  • Learning Curve
    The platform may have a steep learning curve for new users, requiring time and effort to fully understand and utilize all its features effectively.
  • Limited Native Integrations
    While Swell.is offers flexibility through its APIs, it may have fewer native integrations with third-party apps and services compared to other eCommerce platforms.
  • Support and Resources
    Depending on the subscription plan, access to customer support and resources may be limited, potentially making it challenging to resolve issues quickly.
  • 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.

Analysis

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

Swell.is
Substack

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Swell.is is deemed a solid choice for users seeking a highly customizable and developer-friendly e-commerce platform. While it may require a certain level of technical expertise to fully leverage its capabilities, it is highly praised for its scalability and flexibility in accommodating diverse business needs.

Why this product is good

  • Swell.is is considered a good platform for specific use cases because it offers a customizable e-commerce solution that supports various business models and integrates seamlessly with other modern web technologies. It provides flexibility for developers and merchants to create and control their online stores with detailed product catalogs and custom checkout experiences.

Recommended for

  • Developers and businesses looking for a customizable e-commerce platform
  • Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) wanting flexibility in store design
  • Tech-savvy entrepreneurs interested in a headless commerce solution
  • Brands seeking integration capabilities with popular CMS and frontend frameworks

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

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Swell.is 0 videos + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

No Swell.is videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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

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
Swell.is
Substack
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
CMS
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Swell.is and Substack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

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

Swell.is no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet

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

View more

Social recommendations and mentions

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

Swell.is 5 mentions
Substack 105 mentions

View more

  • 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

Alternatives to Swell.is and Substack

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