What is Substack and How Does It work? A Complete Guide (2025)

Want to share your ideas, stories, or expertise with people who actually want to read them, and even make money from it? Substack makes this super easy. With just a few clicks, you can start your own newsletter, publish posts, and send them straight to your subscribers’ inboxes.

It doesn’t matter if you’re new to writing or already have an audience, Substack helps you connect with readers, grow your community, and even earn through paid subscriptions.

In this guide, we’ll explore what Substack is, how it works, how to get started and simple tips to grow your newsletter.

Substack is an online platform that provides tools for writers and creators to publish newsletters, articles, and other content directly to their subscribers.

The platform supports multiple content formats, including:

• Text (long-form newsletters, essays, or short updates)
• Audio (podcasts)
• Video (embeds and recorded content)

Key Features of Substack

• Publishing: Substack lets creators send content directly to subscribers’ inboxes. As a result, they can build personal connections with readers.
• Monetization: Offers options for free and paid subscriptions which enable content writers to generate revenue from their work.
• Analytics: You can get insights into subscriber growth, engagement metrics, and revenue statistics for better performance analysis.
• Customization: Allows personalization of publication design, including logos, cover photos, and layout adjustments.
• Community Engagement: You can enjoy discussion threads and comments to facilitate interaction with subscribers and readers.

Pros and Cons of Substack

Substack has become a popular alternative to blogging platforms like Medium and WordPress because it gives creators control. Substack gives you ownership of your subscribers, unlike platforms where visibility is determined by algorithms, which means that you always have direct access to your readers.

Here are the main reasons creators flock to Substack:

• Direct audience connection (content goes straight to inboxes)
• Built-in monetization (paid subscriptions, memberships, donations)
• Low barrier to entry (easy setup, no coding required)
• Creative independence (no reliance on traditional publishers)

Substack works through a very simple process: you write → people subscribe → Substack delivers your content → you can earn money. Below is a more structured breakdown to help you understand exactly how it functions.

1. Writers Create and Publish Content

Once you create an account, you get your own Substack publication (like your own mini-website).
You can write:

• Newsletters
• Blog posts
• Personal stories
• Tutorials
• Podcasts
• Updates
• Long and short articles

You write your content inside Substack’s simple editor, just like writing an email or a Google Doc. No coding or technical skills are required.

2. Readers Subscribe to Your Publication

People who like your content can subscribe in two ways:

• Free Subscription – They get your free posts in their email.
• Paid Subscription – They pay monthly or yearly to get premium content (optional).

Readers can also read your posts on your Substack website without subscribing if you allow it.

3. Substack Sends Newsletters Automatically

After you hit Publish, Substack:

• Sends your post directly to every subscriber’s email
• Publishes it on your Substack website
• Shares it through Substack Notes (if enabled)

This email delivery system is what makes Substack powerful, your content doesn’t get lost like social media posts.

4. Free vs Paid Content

You get to decide which posts are:

• Free for everyone
• Paid-only for subscribers
• Mixed posts (free preview, paid full article)

This helps creators earn money while still offering valuable free content to attract new readers.

5. Community Interaction

Substack also gives you tools to stay connected with your audience:

• Comments section under each post
• Chat feature for community discussion
• Likes and replies
• Subscriber-only messages

It works like a small community where your readers can engage with your work.

6. Managing Subscribers

Inside the dashboard, Substack shows:

• How many subscribers you have
• How many are paid
• Growth analytics
• Open rates and engagement

This helps you understand what your audience loves and what topics perform best.

7. Payments and Monetization

If you enable paid subscriptions:

• Substack handles payments through Stripe
• You get paid monthly or yearly
• Substack takes a 10% fee
• Stripe charges processing fees

You don’t have to manage anything, Substack automates everything.

8. You Own Your Audience

One of Substack’s biggest advantages is that you own your email list. Even if you leave Substack, you can export your subscribers anytime. This gives creators more control compared to social media platforms.

If you are new to the content writing field, Substack provides you with the best opportunity to start your journey. I have detailed a step by step guide here so that you can find ease in utilizing the potential of this platform.

Before creating your Substack account, identify the specific topic or niche you want to focus on. Understanding your target audience’s interests and needs will guide your content strategy and help attract dedicated subscribers and build personal connections with them.

• Type Substack in your browser and press enter.
• Click on the official website, (https://substack.com/) from the search result.

• From the homepage, you have to click on the Create Account button.

• Choose the categories of your interest and click Continue.

• Follow the creators and press the Continue button again.

• Add your email address and tap the Join button on the next window.

• Next, enter your name, handle, and bio, and press continue.

• After creating your account, click on the Start Writing option.

• Again, choose the categories in which you want to write.

• Then, click on the Create My Publication button.

• Set the publication URL on Substack.

• Lastly, press the Visit writer dashboard.

• On the next page, click on the New Post button and then select the Text Post option.

• Add the title and your writing in the designated sections and then click Continue on the top right corner.

• Choose the privacy options and then select “Send to everyone now.”

• Consistent Posting Schedule: Establish a regular posting schedule to keep your audience engaged and anticipate your content.
• Engage with Your Audience: Create a sense of community by responding to comments and encouraging discussions with your audience.
• Use Social Media: Promote your Substack publication on social media platforms to attract new subscribers.
• Offer Exclusive Content: Provide paid subscribers with exclusive content or perks to add value to their subscriptions.
• Analyze Performance Metrics: Regularly review analytics to understand which content resonates most with your audience.

Substack allows creators to earn money mainly through paid subscriptions. When you publish content, you can choose to make it free for everyone or reserve it for paid subscribers. Paid subscribers pay a monthly or yearly fee to access exclusive posts, newsletters, or other premium content. This makes it easy for writers and creators to monetize their work without relying on ads or sponsorships.

Substack handles all the payment processing through Stripe, so creators don’t have to worry about billing or collecting payments. Substack takes a 10% platform fee, and Stripe charges a small payment processing fee. The rest of the income goes directly to the creator.

Some creators also offer tiered memberships, where subscribers pay more for extra benefits, such as behind-the-scenes content, early access to posts, or personal interaction with the writer. This is a great way to increase earnings while rewarding loyal subscribers.

The best part is that creators own their subscriber list, which means they can grow their audience and maintain control over their income. Even if they decide to leave Substack, they can export their subscribers and continue connecting with them elsewhere.

These are the details about what is Substack along with its features, how to use it, and tips for better results. Shortly, it is a powerful platform that allows creators to publish, monetize, and connect with their audience to earn significant revenue from the very beginning of their content creation journey.

You only have to understand its different aspects and implement effective strategies to ensure that you can build trust with your audience. Choose a niche that resonates with the preferences of your targeted users. In this way, you can pocket the maximum beneficial results possible.