Substack vs Mailchimp Reddit: The ultimate showdown to help you choose the right email marketing tool. Find out which platform is best for your business needs, budget, and goals with this easy-to-understand comparison.
Choosing the right email marketing tool can feel like navigating a maze, especially when you see tons of options and conflicting advice online. You’ve probably seen discussions about Substack and Mailchimp on Reddit, and maybe they’ve only added to the confusion. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by features, pricing plans, and what each platform actually does for a small business owner like you. But don’t worry, I’m here to break it all down in a way that makes sense. We’ll look at what Substack and Mailchimp offer, their key differences, and help you decide which one is your perfect match.
Contents
What is Substack?
Substack is a platform that makes it easy for writers and creators to publish newsletters and build a paid subscription base. Think of it as a home for your content where readers can subscribe for free or pay a recurring fee to get exclusive posts. While it’s fantastic for newsletters and building a community around your writing, its core focus isn’t on traditional email marketing campaigns with detailed segmentation, automation, and e-commerce integrations like Mailchimp.
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is one of the most well-known email marketing platforms. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes to send marketing emails, newsletters, automated campaigns, and manage customer lists. Mailchimp offers a wide range of features for building email lists, designing emails, tracking performance, and integrating with other business tools, especially e-commerce platforms.
Key Differences at a Glance
Here’s a quick look at how Substack and Mailchimp stack up:
- Substack: Primarily for creators to publish and monetize newsletters. Focuses on content creators and paid subscriptions.
- Mailchimp: A comprehensive email marketing and automation platform for businesses. Focuses on marketing campaigns, list growth, and e-commerce.
Features Comparison
Let’s dive into what each platform offers in more detail. This table highlights some key features:
| Feature | Substack | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Newsletter publishing, paid subscriptions, creator monetization | Email marketing campaigns, list management, automation, e-commerce marketing |
| Audience Building | Free and paid newsletter subscriptions | Signup forms, landing pages, integrations, lead generation tools |
| Email Design | Simple, content-focused editor for newsletters | Drag-and-drop editor, templates, design tools for various campaign types |
| Automation | Very limited (e.g., welcome emails) | Advanced automation workflows (welcome series, abandoned cart, etc.) |
| E-commerce Integration | Limited (primarily for subscription payments) | Robust integrations with Shopify, WooCommerce, etc., for sales-driven emails |
| Analytics | Basic subscriber growth and revenue tracking | Detailed campaign performance, subscriber engagement, revenue tracking |
| Monetization Options | Direct paid subscriptions for content | Not a direct monetization platform; supports sales through marketing |
| Customization | Limited branding and design options | High degree of customization for branding and campaigns |
| Free Plan | Free to start; takes a cut of paid subscriptions | Free plan for up to 500 contacts and 1,000 sends/month |
Explanation:
As you can see, Substack and Mailchimp serve very different primary purposes. Substack is built for writers who want to share their thoughts and make money directly from their audience’s support through subscriptions. It’s simple and focused on content. Mailchimp, on the other hand, is a full-fledged marketing tool. It’s designed to help businesses of all types grow their customer base, run targeted campaigns, and drive sales, especially if you have an online store.
Pricing Comparison
Pricing is a crucial factor for any small business. Here’s a general overview:
| Plan/Feature | Substack | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Cost | Free to start. Substack takes a 10% cut plus payment processing fees from paid subscriptions. | Free plan available for up to 500 contacts. Paid plans start around $13/month for 1,000 contacts. |
| Paid Features | Monetization of newsletters, custom domains. | Advanced automation, more contacts, A/B testing, dedicated support, more advanced segmentation. |
| Pricing Model | Revenue share on paid subscriptions. | Contact-based tiers, with features unlocking at higher tiers. |
| Free Tier Limits | No contact limit for free newsletters. | 500 contacts, 1,000 email sends per month, basic automation. |
| Official Pricing Link | Substack About Page | Mailchimp Pricing |
Explanation:
Substack’s pricing is straightforward if you’re building a paid subscriber base: it’s free to use, but they take a percentage of your earnings. This can be very attractive if you’re confident in your ability to get paying subscribers. Mailchimp’s pricing scales with the number of contacts you have and the features you need. Their free plan is a great way to start if you have a small list, but you’ll likely need to upgrade as you grow or if you want more advanced marketing tools. For e-commerce businesses focused on sales, Mailchimp’s paid plans often offer a better ROI due to their powerful automation and integration capabilities. For email marketing benchmarks, check out resources like Campaign Monitor’s Email Marketing Benchmarks to understand industry averages for open and click-through rates.
Ease of Use & Customer Support
Substack:
Substack is famously easy to use. Its interface is clean and intuitive, designed for writers who want to focus on creating content, not on complex marketing tools. Setting up a newsletter, writing posts, and enabling paid subscriptions takes minimal technical know-how. Support is generally through help docs and community forums, which are usually sufficient for its core functions.
Mailchimp:
Mailchimp has improved its user interface over the years and is generally considered user-friendly, especially for its core email campaign features. However, with its vast array of features (automation, landing pages, e-commerce integrations), there can be a steeper learning curve for beginners trying to leverage its full potential. Mailchimp offers various support channels, including email, chat, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Paid plans often come with more direct and priority support options.
Pros & Cons of Substack
👍 What Users Like
- Extremely easy to set up and use for publishing newsletters.
- Built-in monetization for paid subscriptions.
- Focus on content creation and community building.
- Good for writers, journalists, and creators.
- No upfront costs for free newsletters.
👎 Common Complaints
- Limited customization and branding options.
- Very basic email marketing and automation features.
- Not suitable for e-commerce or complex marketing campaigns.
- Substack takes a 10% cut of paid subscriptions.
- Less control over your subscriber data and list management compared to dedicated ESPs.
Pros & Cons of Mailchimp
👍 What Users Like
- User-friendly interface for most common tasks.
- Robust features for email marketing, automation, and segmentation.
- Excellent e-commerce integrations (especially for Shopify).
- Good analytics to track campaign performance.
- Scalable plans for growing businesses.
- Free plan is generous for beginners with small lists.
👎 Common Complaints
- Can become expensive as your contact list grows.
- Steeper learning curve for advanced features.
- Deliverability can sometimes be an issue if not managed properly.
- Customer support can be slow or limited on lower-tier plans.
- Some users find the interface can feel cluttered with too many options.
User Reviews & Case Studies
Hearing from real users often provides the most practical insights. Here’s what people are saying on platforms like Reddit, G2, and Trustpilot:
Substack User Feedback
“Substack is perfect for my weekly art newsletter. I don’t need fancy marketing tools, just a way to get my thoughts and work out to my subscribers and collect payments for my premium content. It’s incredibly simple.”
– Freelance Illustrator (Reddit User)
“I love Substack for its ease of use, but the 10% fee stings a bit, and I wish I had more control over the design and how emails are sent out. For now, it’s worth it for the simplicity, but I’m keeping an eye on alternatives if I grow significantly.”
– Writer & Podcaster (G2 Review)
“The platform is great for starting out as a creator. Getting paid subscriptions set up was a breeze. However, analytics are very basic, and there’s no way to do advanced segmentation or create complex email sequences like you would in a traditional email marketing service.”
– Independent Journalist (Trustpilot)
Mailchimp User Feedback
“Mailchimp has been a lifesaver for our small e-commerce business. The abandoned cart emails alone have paid for the subscription many times over. Setting up automations was a bit tricky at first, but their support articles are good.”
– Online Boutique Owner (Capterra Review)
“I’ve been using Mailchimp for years. It’s reliable, the drag-and-drop editor is easy to use for creating decent-looking emails. My main gripe is that the price jumps significantly when you cross certain contact thresholds.”
– Small Business Owner (Reddit User)
“The integrations with our CRM and website are seamless. We can easily segment our audience based on purchase history and send targeted campaigns. It’s a powerful tool, but you definitely need to invest some time to learn all its capabilities.”
– Marketing Manager (G2 Review)
Case Study Spotlight
Etsy Seller Boosts Sales with Mailchimp Automation: A small business selling handmade jewelry on Etsy used Mailchimp to set up automated welcome emails for new subscribers, abandoned cart reminders, and post-purchase follow-ups. By segmenting their audience based on past purchases, they were able to send personalized recommendations, leading to a 25% increase in repeat customer sales within six months.
Author Cultivates Paid Readership with Substack: A fiction author launched a newsletter on Substack to share behind-the-scenes content and bonus stories. They offered a free tier to build an audience and a paid tier for exclusive access. Within a year, they had several thousand free subscribers and a growing base of hundreds of paid subscribers, providing a consistent income stream directly from their readers.
Which One Should You Choose?
The best platform for you depends entirely on your goals:
- Choose Substack if:
- You are a writer, journalist, artist, or any kind of content creator.
- Your primary goal is to publish a newsletter and build a community around your content.
- You want to monetize your work directly through paid subscriptions.
- You value extreme simplicity and don’t need advanced marketing features.
- You are comfortable with Substack taking a revenue share.
- Choose Mailchimp if:
- You are a small business owner, entrepreneur, or marketer.
- Your main goal is to grow your business, drive sales, and engage customers.
- You need robust email marketing features like automation, segmentation, and A/B testing.
- You have an e-commerce store and want to integrate email marketing with your sales.
- You want more control over your branding, list management, and campaign types.
- You are comfortable with a tiered pricing structure based on contacts.
Quick Decision Guide:
- For Content Creators focused on readership and subscriptions: Substack is likely your go-to.
- For Businesses focused on marketing, sales, and customer engagement: Mailchimp is the stronger choice.
FAQ Section
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan for users with up to 500 contacts and 1,000 email sends per month. It includes basic features for getting started with email marketing.
Does Substack offer advanced automation?
No, Substack is very limited in automation. It’s designed for publishing newsletters and paid subscriptions, not for complex marketing automation workflows like welcome series, abandoned cart emails, or personalized customer journeys.
Which is better for small businesses: Substack or Mailchimp?
For most small businesses focused on marketing and sales, Mailchimp is generally better due to its comprehensive features for list building, campaign management, and automation. Substack is best for creators who want to directly monetize their writing.
Can I switch from Mailchimp to Substack?
Yes, you can. If you’re currently using Mailchimp for a newsletter and want to pivot to a paid subscription model for your content, you can export your subscriber list from Mailchimp and import it into Substack. You’ll then set up your Substack newsletter and decide which subscribers will be free and which will be paid.
Is Mailchimp worth it for Shopify stores?
Yes, Mailchimp is highly recommended for Shopify stores, especially if you plan to use its advanced features. Its integrations allow for powerful e-commerce specific automations like abandoned cart recovery, post-purchase follow-ups, and targeted product recommendations, which can significantly boost sales. Mailchimp also provides detailed reporting on revenue generated from your email campaigns.
What are the main differences between Substack and Mailchimp on Reddit?
Discussions on Reddit often highlight Substack’s simplicity for creators and its subscription model, versus Mailchimp’s robust marketing features and its scalability, but also its potential cost as your list grows. Users on Reddit frequently ask for advice on which suits their specific content creation or business goals best.
Does Substack have landing pages?
Substack doesn’t offer dedicated landing page creation tools in the way Mailchimp does. Its primary focus is on your newsletter sign-up page, which is automatically generated by the platform. You can use custom domains to brand this page, but it’s not as flexible as Mailchimp