Substack
Newsletter publishing with built-in audience network and chat.
Last updated
- ⭐ Best for
- writers
- 💰 Pricing
- Free
- ⏱ Hours saved/wk
- 3
- 🔥 Why trending
- Editor's pick
Ready to try Substack?
Free to start. No credit card required.
Substack vs alternatives
Same category, ranked by ToolMango ROI Score.
| Tool | ROI Score | Pricing | |
|---|---|---|---|
Substackthis page Newsletter publishing with built-in audience network and chat. | ★★⯨★★53.0 | Free | View → |
The newsletter platform creators ship on. | ★★★⯨★74.3 | $29/mo | Try → |
Best-in-class AI voice cloning and text-to-speech. | ★★★★★43.0 | $5/mo | View → |
Generate full songs with vocals from a text prompt. | ★★★★★37.0 | $10/mo | View → |
AI music generator with instrument and vocal control — Suno's rival. | ★★★★★37.0 | $10/mo | View → |
Our take on Substack
What Substack Actually Is (and Isn't)
Substack is a newsletter platform with a built-in reader network, paid subscription infrastructure, and a Twitter-like feed called Notes. For an AI side hustle, it's a low-friction way to start publishing without upfront costs.
The pitch is simple: write consistently, grow a free list, convert some readers to paid. The reality is slower and more competitive than Substack's own marketing suggests.
Who This Works For
Substack suits writers who already have some audience—a Twitter/X following, a LinkedIn presence, or an existing blog—and want a monetization layer. If you're covering a specific AI niche (prompt engineering, AI for lawyers, weekly tool roundups), the focused format plays well here.
It also works for people who want to test a content business before committing to a more complex setup. Zero monthly cost means zero risk to start.
Where It Falls Short
The 10% revenue cut stings at scale. A newsletter earning $5,000/month in subscriptions loses $500 to Substack before Stripe fees. Competing platforms like Beehiiv charge a flat monthly fee that becomes cheaper once you're earning consistently.
Discoverability within Substack's network is real but uneven. Established writers get recommended. New writers mostly don't. Notes can drive some organic reach, but it's not a reliable growth engine on its own.
Substack also lacks serious marketing automation. There's no tagging, segmentation, or drip sequences. If you want to send a welcome sequence or segment by interest, you're out of luck without a third-party workaround.
The AI Angle
Using AI tools to produce a Substack newsletter is straightforward—draft in ChatGPT, edit in your voice, publish. The risk is that AI-assisted newsletters covering AI topics are now extremely common. Standing out requires a genuine point of view, not just summarized news.
The ROI score of 53/100 reflects this reality. The platform is free and functional, but income potential is slow to materialize and depends more on your audience-building skills than the tool itself.
Bottom Line
Substack is a reasonable starting point for an AI-focused newsletter side hustle, especially if you're testing the concept before investing in infrastructure. Don't expect the platform to do the growth work for you. If you already have 2,000+ subscribers elsewhere, it's worth considering Beehiiv or Ghost for better economics at scale.
Frequently asked questions
Can you make money on Substack writing about AI tools?
Yes, but it takes time. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue. Writers covering AI niches can convert free readers to paid, but you typically need 1,000+ free subscribers before paid conversions become meaningful income.
Does Substack have any AI writing features built in?
Substack has added basic AI writing assistance for drafts, but it's minimal compared to dedicated tools. Most serious writers use external tools like Claude or ChatGPT and paste into Substack's editor.
How long does it take to grow a Substack newsletter?
Realistically, 6–18 months to reach a subscriber base that generates consistent side income. Growth depends heavily on cross-promotion within the Substack network and consistent publishing cadence.
What does Substack charge?
Free to publish. Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue plus Stripe payment processing fees (~2.9% + 30¢). There's no monthly platform fee, so the cost only kicks in when you earn.
Is Substack better than Beehiiv or Ghost for an AI side hustle?
Substack wins on built-in discoverability through its network and Notes feed. Beehiiv is stronger for monetization via ad networks. Ghost gives more control but requires more setup. If you're starting from zero audience, Substack's network effect is a real advantage.
Get the sweetest AI tools every week.
5 handpicked AI tools for developers, creators, and side hustlers — delivered weekly.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Use Substack now
Newsletter publishing with built-in audience network and chat.
Affiliate link — we may earn a commission.More AI Side Hustle tools
Other top-rated tools in this category, ranked by ROI Score.