Substack
9.0#1 in membership site platforms$50 one-timeFree planAndroidiOSWebAPI
VisitSubstack vs The Novelist
The Novelist
7.1#65 in writing appsFrom €39.99 a yearFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Substack | The Novelist |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | Native iOS and Android apps provide reading, subscriptions, push notifications, saved posts and mobile earnings or statistics views. | No |
| Privacy | Substack's privacy policy says it endeavors to protect personal information but cannot guarantee complete security. | Optional anonymous analytics are off by default; analytics do not include manuscript text, titles, notes, research, comments, or AI prompts and responses. |
| Purpose | Substack is a publishing platform for writers, creators, and subscribers. | The Novelist is a desktop writing workspace designed for fiction writers to plan, write, and organize stories. |
Substack plans
- Free publishingFree
- Free to startFree
- Custom domain$50, paid once
- Paid subscriptions—
The Novelist plans
- FreeFree
- Pro€39.99 a year
Pick Substack if…
Substack suits writers, journalists, podcasters, video creators, experts, educators, and media companies building a direct subscriber audience. It is useful for creators who want multiple media formats, audience discovery, segmentation, email automation, and paid subscription options.
Pick The Novelist if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.