Software Alternatives & Startups

Trillian VS Substack

Compare Trillian VS Substack and see what are their differences

Trillian

Trillian is a decentralized and federated instant messaging platform that lets your whole company send private and group messages, keep tabs on what co-workers are doing, share files, and much more.

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 Trillian. While we know about 106 links to Substack, we've tracked only 6 mentions of Trillian.

social mentions
6 vs 106
Communication popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Trillian
Substack
Website trillian.im substack.com
Pricing —
Company Startup from the United States Startup from the United States
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Trillian 6 features
Substack 6 features
  • Multiplatform Support
    Trillian is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, enabling users to stay connected across different devices.
  • Unified Messaging
    Trillian consolidates various messaging services, allowing users to manage multiple accounts from a single interface.
  • Security and Encryption
    Trillian provides end-to-end encryption, ensuring that user communications remain private and secure.
  • Customizable Interface
    Users can personalize the appearance and functionality of Trillian to suit their preferences, enhancing the user experience.
  • Historical Message Search
    Trillian's searchable history feature lets users easily find and reference past conversations.
  • Synchronized Conversations
    Messages are synchronized across devices, meaning users can pick up conversations seamlessly from any device.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost for Pro Features
    Some advanced features require a subscription to Trillian Pro, which may be a drawback for users seeking a free solution.
  • Limited Third-Party Integrations
    Compared to some competitors, Trillian offers fewer integrations with other third-party services and applications.
  • Occasional Sync Issues
    Some users report occasional syncing problems, where messages do not always appear timely across all devices.
  • Complex Setup
    The initial configuration can be complex, especially for users who want to consolidate many messaging services.
  • Infrequent Updates
    Users may find that Trillian's updates and new feature rollouts are less frequent than those of other messaging applications.
  • 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.

Trillian
Substack

No analysis of Trillian yet.

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.

Trillian 1 video + Add
Substack 5 videos + Add

Trillian 5 Review

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
Trillian
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 Trillian and Substack. 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.

Trillian no reviews yet
Substack no reviews yet

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

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Social recommendations and mentions

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

Trillian 6 mentions
Substack 106 mentions
  • Show HN: Timelinize – Privately organize your own data from everywhere, locally
    Oh and make a list of anybody that says they have done an elaborate something similar with Excel (like me and at least one other person in this thread) and maybe have a discussion with them some time, we/they might have some useful... - Source: Hacker News / 12 months ago
  • The Entry for This Years Most Obfuscative Request
    I can’t believe trillian is still a thing. What a blast from the past. Thanks for that. Source: over 3 years ago
  • If you create an app for me and if it is a success, I'll pay you (maybe)
    Yeah I think that was a long time ago. These days I think it's just another IM: https://trillian.im/. Source: over 3 years ago

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  • 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

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Alternatives to Trillian and Substack

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