Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Zenodo VS Substack

Compare Zenodo VS Substack and see what are their differences

Zenodo logo Zenodo

Network & Admin and Remote Work & Education

Substack logo Substack

With Substack, anyone can start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter or podcast. It's quick and simple.
  • Zenodo Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-04-19
  • Substack Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-10-26

Zenodo features and specs

  • Open Access
    Zenodo provides open access to research outputs, making it easier for researchers and the public to access, share, and reuse scholarly work without restrictions.
  • Diverse Content
    It supports various types of content, including publications, data sets, software, and presentations, catering to a broad spectrum of research outputs.
  • Free to Use
    Zenodo is free for researchers to upload and share their work, which can help reduce the financial burden on individuals and institutions.
  • Integration with GitHub
    Zenodo seamlessly integrates with GitHub, allowing for easy archival and citation of code repositories, enhancing the visibility and impact of software contributions.
  • DOI Generation
    It automatically assigns Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to uploads, helping ensure persistent and citable research outputs.
  • EU Backing
    Supported by CERN and the European Commission, Zenodo is part of an effort to ensure long-term stability and reliability of the platform.

Possible disadvantages of Zenodo

  • Data Size Limitations
    There are limitations on the amount of data you can upload (typically 50GB per dataset), which could be restrictive for some large-scale research projects.
  • Limited Curation
    Zenodo does not offer in-depth curation or peer review of uploads, so the quality and accuracy of the content can vary greatly.
  • Search Functionality
    The search and discovery features on Zenodo could be improved, as the interface might not be as intuitive or powerful as other repositories, potentially making it difficult to find specific content.
  • Funding and Sustainability
    Although supported by the EU, questions about long-term funding and sustainability remain, especially if institutional priorities change.
  • User Interface
    Some users may find the interface less polished or modern compared to commercial platforms, which could affect user experience and engagement.

Substack features and specs

  • 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 of Substack

  • 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 of Substack

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

Zenodo videos

Why you shouldn't publish data to Zenodo

More videos:

  • Tutorial - Zenodo tutorial - How to use and upload your research
  • Tutorial - Episciences tutorial - How to submit an article from Zenodo

Substack videos

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Zenodo and Substack)
Research Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Blogging
0 0%
100% 100
Education & Reference
100 100%
0% 0
CMS
4 4%
96% 96

User comments

Share your experience with using Zenodo and Substack. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Zenodo and Substack

Zenodo Reviews

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

Substack Reviews

25+ Medium Alternative Platforms for Publishing Articles
Substack offers writers of all experience levels the ability to write an email newsletter thatโ€™s profitable through subscriptions. Substack provides purpose-built web and newsletter publishing tools to enable writers to monetize their newsletters. It is a service often favoured by readers because itโ€™s a convenient all-in-one solution for writing a successful podcast that...
Source: forgefusion.io
10 Best Medium Alternatives for Reading and Publishing
What sะตts Substack apart is its sะตamlะตss intะตgration of contะตnt crะตation and subscription-basะตd monะตtization. Substackโ€™s usะตr-friะตndly intะตrfacะต, distribution tools, and support for various contะตnt formats make it a popular choice for indะตpะตndะตnt crะตators looking to connะตct dirะตctly with thะตir audiะตncะต and turn thะตir passion into a sustainablะต incomะต strะตam.
9 Best Medium Alternatives for Making Money With Your Writing in 2023
Substack and Medium differ primarily in their monetization methods. Medium pays creators based on reader engagement, while Substack enables writers to monetize directly through paid subscriptions to their newsletters. This business model allows Substack users to build a direct relationship with their readers via their email inboxes, whereas Medium interactions primarily...
11 Patreon Alternatives for Audience Monetization in 2023
Like a few of the other platforms weโ€™ve looked at, Substack takes a cut of your earnings rather than charging a 10% platform fee.
Source: www.uscreen.tv
Any good Mailchimp alternatives?
My question for you is, what is keeping you from making $31 per month from your list? Are you using any feature that Substack (free until you get paid) can't handle?

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Substack seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 102 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Zenodo mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Zenodo yet. Tracking of Zenodo recommendations started around Apr 2021.

Substack mentions (102)

  • Writing by Hand is Good for your Brain
    It's ironic that the article that caused him to write this post (https://substack.com/@justindeschamps/note/c-261265212?utm_source=notes-share-action&r=7y05q) is written by AI. I see this style of informational writing all over the place now. - Source: Hacker News / 17 days ago
  • Ask HN: What are your favorite blogs not about AI?
    Https://substack.com/@yelluwcomedy. - Source: Hacker News / 21 days ago
  • Kids (With Phones) Are Alright
    Sure there was basically a cartel in social media. You saw coordinated censorship campaigns to ban the former president of the United States for example. But I wouldn't discount the amount of political interference there as well. The last administration admitted to flagging individual posts for the social media companies. But it's also true there is a lot of coordinated censorship even without state interference.... - Source: Hacker News / 30 days ago
  • Financing the AI boom: from cash flows to debt [pdf]
    Manhattan Project: $36B, 5 years โ–ซ Apollo Program: $257B, 14 years โ–ซ Interstate Highway System: $620B, 37 years โ–ซ AI data centers: $930B, 6 years and still accelerating From: https://substack.com/@rubendominguez/note/c-244929068. - Source: Hacker News / 26 days ago
  • SpaceX to buy Cursor AI coding agent operator Anysphere for $60B
    The thing is, even the center of the road academics who refrain from such comparisons are noting the similarity. The MAGA movement meets the traditional defining characteristics of fascio. We can be rigid and say that only Mussoliniโ€˜s political movement can be properly be called fascist. But if we call Hitler and the Nazis fascists as well, then we open the door to any movement that meets the criteria. And Trump... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

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

figshare - Securely store and manage your research outputs in the cloud, or make them openly available and citable.

Ghost - Ghost is a fully open source, adaptable platform for building and running a modern online publication. We power blogs, magazines and journalists from Zappos to Sky News.

arXiv - arXiv is a free distribution service and an open-access archive for scholarly articles.

Medium - Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

ORCHID - Platform is a flexible, business application development tool to quickly create web business...

Buttondown - Buttondown is the best way to start and run your newsletter