Substack has acquired a lot of traction to develop a blog/newsletters for journalists and authors, yet WordPress is nonetheless the engine that enables more than 40,6 percent of all websites on the web.
With the appropriate configuration, you can make WordPress do almost everything Substack can do. It is a bit more complicated to start with but absolutely effortless once you get used to it.
Key Takeaways
- Substack is a platform for creating and distributing newsletters, focusing on paid subscriptions and monetization.
- WordPress is a content management system that can create many websites, including blogs, e-commerce sites, and portfolios.
- Substack is a simpler and more streamlined platform ideal for writers and journalists. At the same time, WordPress is a more complex platform that is better suited for larger websites with multiple functionalities.
Substack vs WordPress
The difference between Substack and WordPress is that Substack is a platform allowing writers to produce newsletters of their own. It’s called a ‘newsletter’ from Substack, but actually, it’s just a blogger with e-mail functionality. WordPress is a complete website development and content management system. It’s the most common technique to build a website with more than 40,6% of all websites.

Substack is based on subscription. 10% of every transaction between a writer and a reader is charged. They have recently launched a custom domain feature.
WordPress, like in certain cases, a free hosting service, is a content management system (CMS). The open-source is WordPress.
Comparison Table
Parameters of Comparison | Substack | WordPress |
---|---|---|
Meaning | Substack is a small publisher e-mail newsletter platform meant to transform its readers into paying clients. | WordPress is an open-source content management system licensed on a somewhat higher technical level. |
Invented by | Substack was invented by Hamish McKenzie. | WordPress was invented by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little. |
Year | Substack was founded in 2017. | WordPress was founded in 2001. |
Type | E-mal newsletter platform. | Design a website. |
Cost | Free | Paid |
What is Substack?
Substack is a small publisher e-mail newsletter platform meant to transform its readers into paying clients.
Writers receive a Material Management System (CMS), a website that may house free and subscription-only content, to publish e-mail newsletters and integrated payments via Stripe.
Consequently, a writer may launch a paid or free newsletter relatively easily with Substack.
The business plan of Substack is straightforward. It gains money by collecting a 10 percent commission from every paying subscriber in return for the tools it offers to authors.
Substack can be used for free by writers who have chosen not to commercialize their work. Podcasts’ substack functions in the same way as published material.
What is WordPress?
The easiest and most popular option to build your website or blog is WordPress. Indeed, more than 40% of all Internet websites may be accessed by WordPress.
A content management system is essentially a tool for managing key components of your website, such as content, without having to know about programming.
Today, you may develop any website with WordPress owing to modifications in your core code and the enormous WordPress ecosystem of plugins and themes.

Main Differences Between Substack and WordPress
- The costs and safety of utilizing the WordPress CMS are other major worries, whereas, for a substack, you should have a strong password, and your contents are shared.
- Sustainability and content: Substack is a third-party platform. Your Substack shall be terminated if you breach any of their regulations, whereas your staff will always be there if you have a blog on WordPress.