novelWriter vs Substack
novelWriter
novelwriter.io
Substack
substack.comSide by side
| Figure | novelWriter | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | — |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| iOS | — | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Writing Apps | 8.2 (#51) | 9.4 (#4) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Integrations | The maker documents use of standard file synchronization tools and version control software with project files. | Official integrations include RSS, podcast distribution to Apple and Spotify, Google Analytics 4, Google Tag Manager, X and Facebook pixels, Google site verification, YouTube and LinkedIn account connections. |
| Mobile apps | No | Native iOS and Android apps provide reading, subscriptions, push notifications, saved posts and mobile earnings or statistics views. |
| Privacy | The app says it transmits no usage data during local use; checking for updates contacts GitHub’s public API, which may collect access information. | Substack's privacy policy says it endeavors to protect personal information but cannot guarantee complete security. |
| Purpose | novelWriter is a plain text editor for organizing novels and associated notes as smaller documents. | Substack is a publishing platform for writers, creators, and subscribers. |
Plans
Substack
- Free publishingFree
- Free to startFree
- Custom domain$50, paid once
- Paid subscriptionsPrice not published
In their own words
novelWriter
novelWriter has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
Substack
Substack is a publishing platform for writers, creators, and subscribers, bringing posts, newsletters, podcasts, video, live streams, and pages into one publishing flow. Its editor supports scheduling, autosaved drafts, version history, templates, SEO metadata, and headline A/B testing. Creators can offer free or paid posts, subscriptions, trials, gifts, and group plans. Discovery tools include recommendations, Notes, leaderboards, referrals, and search; audience segmentation and email automation are also available. Podcast episodes can be distributed automatically to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, while video can go automatically to YouTube and LinkedIn. Publishing is free. When creators enable paid subscriptions, Substack keeps 10% of subscription revenue, and Stripe charges payment processing fees. Creators own their intellectual property and mailing list and can export their data. Substack serves writers, journalists, podcasters, video creators, experts, educators, and media companies. It is available on the web, Android, and iOS. Substack directs users to its Help Center and handles subscriber support questions on behalf of writers.