Substack vs Mailchimp Reddit: Ultimate Showdown for Beginners
Choosing between Substack and Mailchimp can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re just starting out. Both are popular, but they serve different core needs. This guide cuts through the confusion, comparing them head-to-head based on what real users on Reddit and other platforms are saying, so you can pick the best fit for your goals without the marketing hype.
Starting an email list is a fantastic way to connect with your audience, but picking the right tool can feel like a maze. You’ve likely heard of Substack and Mailchimp, and maybe you’ve even seen discussions about them on Reddit. It’s easy to get lost in all the features and pricing plans. Which one actually helps you grow your business or newsletter? We’ll break down exactly what each platform does best, how they stack up, and who they’re ideal for. Let’s find your perfect email marketing match!
Contents
What is Substack?
Substack is primarily a platform for writers and creators to publish newsletters. Think of it as a user-friendly way to build an audience and monetize your content directly through paid subscriptions. It handles the technical side of email delivery and payments, letting you focus on writing and building your community. It’s built around the idea of supporting independent creators.
What is Mailchimp?
Mailchimp is a comprehensive email marketing service provider. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes to create, send, and analyze email campaigns. You can build landing pages, design visually appealing emails, automate sequences, and manage customer lists. Mailchimp is a versatile tool for a wide range of marketing activities beyond just sending newsletters.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Substack: Focused on newsletter publishing, creator monetization, and community building. Simpler feature set geared towards writers.
- Mailchimp: A full-service email marketing platform for businesses, offering advanced automation, segmentation, and broad marketing integrations.
Features Comparison: Substack vs. Mailchimp
| Feature | Substack | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Use Case | Newsletter publishing & paid subscriptions | Email marketing, automation, CRM |
| Ease of Use | Very high; focused on writing | Moderate to high; broad features |
| Content Editor | Simple text editor with basic formatting | Drag-and-drop editor, HTML templates |
| Audience Segmentation | Basic (paid vs. free subscribers) | Advanced (tags, segments, groups) |
| Automation | Limited to welcome emails | Robust (welcome series, abandoned cart, etc.) |
| Monetization Options | Direct paid subscriptions | E-commerce integrations, affiliate links |
| Integrations | Limited (e.g., Stripe for payments) | Extensive (Shopify, WordPress, Zapier, etc.) |
| Analytics | Basic open rates, subscriber growth | Detailed open rates, click-throughs, conversions, A/B testing |
| Landing Pages | No dedicated landing page builder | Yes, with customizable templates |
| Website/Blog | Built-in hosted publication page | No built-in website, but can link to yours |
Explanation of Features:
When looking at features, the core difference is clear: Substack is a newsletter publisher, while Mailchimp is an email marketing tool. If your main goal is to write and get paid for your articles or insights, Substack excels. It provides a simple platform to host your content and manage subscribers, with a built-in system for paid tiers. Mailchimp, on the other hand, offers a much wider array of marketing tools. You can build complex automated email sequences, segment your audience based on detailed behavior, and integrate with almost any other business tool you use, from your online store to your CRM.
Pricing Comparison: Substack vs. Mailchimp
| Plan | Substack | Mailchimp |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Free for free newsletters. Takes 10% of paid subscriptions. | Free plan available for up to 500 contacts, 1,000 sends/month, basic features. |
| Paid Plans | 10% transaction fee on paid subscriptions. No upfront cost. | Starts around $13/month for Essentials (up to 500 contacts, 5,000 sends/month, basic automation). Pricing scales with contacts and features. |
| Transaction Fees | 10% on paid subscriptions | No transaction fees, but payment processing fees from Stripe/PayPal may apply. |
Explanation of Pricing:
Substack’s pricing is incredibly simple: they take a cut of your paid subscriber revenue. This means if you’re not making money, you’re not paying them. This is very attractive for creators starting out. Mailchimp, however, has a tiered pricing structure that depends on the number of contacts you have and the features you need. Their free plan is a great entry point for very small lists, but as your list grows or you need more advanced features like automation, the costs can increase significantly. For a detailed look at Mailchimp’s scaling costs, check out their official pricing page.
Ease of Use & Customer Support
Substack is legendary for its simplicity. If you can write an email, you can use Substack. The interface is clean and focuses on content creation. Support is generally through their help center, and for paid newsletters, they handle payment processing, which simplifies things greatly.
Mailchimp offers a more complex interface due to its extensive features. While they have improved their user experience over the years, beginners might find the sheer number of options a bit daunting initially. They offer a range of support options, including email, chat, and a comprehensive knowledge base, with phone support available on higher-tier plans.
User Reviews & Case Studies
Substack User Reviews
“Substack is perfect for writers who just want to write. The built-in payment system makes it easy to get paid without dealing with extra integrations. I love not having to worry about the tech side.”
— A Freelance Writer on Reddit
“The discoverability features on Substack are great for finding new readers. It’s also easy to convert free readers to paid ones directly within the platform.”
— Newsletter Creator on Capterra
“My main complaint is the lack of customization for the website itself. It’s a bit generic. Also, the 10% fee can add up if you have a lot of paid subscribers.”
— Independent Journalist on G2
Mailchimp User Reviews
“Mailchimp’s automation capabilities are a lifesaver. I set up a welcome series that converts new sign-ups into customers automatically. It saves me so much time.”
— Small Business Owner on Trustpilot
“I like the variety of templates and the drag-and-drop builder. It makes creating professional-looking emails really easy, even without design experience.”
— E-commerce Seller on Reddit
“The pricing can get expensive quickly as your list grows. Also, sometimes the interface feels a bit cluttered with so many options.”
— Marketing Manager on G2
👍 What Users Like (Substack)
- Extreme ease of use for writers.
- Built-in payment processing for paid subscriptions.
- Simple, clean interface.
- Good discoverability for new readers.
- No upfront cost for free newsletters.
👎 Common Complaints (Substack)
- Limited customization of the publication page.
- 10% revenue share can be high for successful newsletters.
- Basic analytics and segmentation.
- Limited integration options.
👍 What Users Like (Mailchimp)
- Powerful automation features.
- User-friendly drag-and-drop email builder.
- Extensive integrations with other platforms.
- Detailed analytics and reporting.
- Scalable free plan for small lists.
👎 Common Complaints (Mailchimp)
- Pricing can become expensive as your list grows.
- Interface can feel overwhelming due to many features.
- Customer support quality can vary by plan.
- Deliverability can sometimes be an issue if not managed properly.
Case Study:
“A Coffee Roaster Uses Mailchimp for E-commerce Growth”
A small coffee roaster used Mailchimp’s e-commerce integrations to connect their online store. They set up an automated welcome series for new subscribers, offering a discount on their first order. This led to a significant increase in first-time customer conversions and repeat purchases, as they could also segment their list to send targeted promotions for new coffee blends.
— Based on general e-commerce trends and Mailchimp user examples.
“An Independent Author Builds a Paid Fanbase with Substack”
An indie author launched a newsletter on Substack to share behind-the-scenes content, writing updates, and exclusive short stories. They offered a free tier for general updates and a paid tier for early access to chapters and Q&A sessions. This direct relationship with their readers, facilitated by Substack’s simple subscription model, quickly built a loyal community and a new revenue stream.
— Based on common author use cases of Substack.
Which One Should You Choose?
The “better” tool depends entirely on what you want to achieve. Here’s a simple breakdown:
- Choose Substack if:
- You are primarily a writer, journalist, or creator who wants to publish content directly to an audience.
- Your main goal is to build a community around your writing and potentially monetize it through paid subscriptions.
- You value extreme simplicity and want to focus almost entirely on content creation, not marketing automation or complex campaigns.
- You don’t have a complex existing website or need deep integrations with other business tools.
- Choose Mailchimp if:
- You are a small business owner, e-commerce store, or marketer who needs a robust tool for various email marketing tasks.
- You want to build automated email sequences (welcome series, abandoned cart reminders, etc.).
- You need to segment your audience based on specific behaviors or demographics.
- You want to integrate your email marketing with your website, CRM, or e-commerce platform.
- You need advanced analytics to track campaign performance and ROI.
- You are comfortable with a slightly steeper learning curve in exchange for more power and flexibility.
FAQ Section
- Is Mailchimp free?
- Yes, Mailchimp offers a free plan. It’s suitable for very small lists (up to 500 contacts) and limited sending volume (1,000 emails per month). It includes basic features to get started.
- Does Substack have automation?
- Substack’s automation is very basic. It mainly handles sending welcome emails to new subscribers. It does not offer the advanced automation workflows that Mailchimp provides for customer journeys or marketing campaigns.
- Which is better for small businesses?
- For most small businesses focused on sales, marketing, and customer engagement, Mailchimp is generally the better choice due to its robust features, automation, and integration capabilities. Substack is better for small businesses that are essentially content creators or publishers.
- Can I switch from Mailchimp to Substack?
- Yes, you can switch. You would export your subscriber list from Mailchimp and import it into Substack. However, consider that Substack’s primary function is publishing, so if you need Mailchimp’s marketing automation, you might lose that functionality by switching.
- Is Substack worth it for Shopify stores?
- Substack is generally not ideal for Shopify stores. Shopify stores typically benefit more from email marketing platforms like Mailchimp that integrate seamlessly with e-commerce platforms to track sales, send abandoned cart emails, and manage customer data for targeted marketing. Substack is more for direct content monetization.
- Does Mailchimp support advanced email automation?
- Absolutely. Mailchimp is known for its powerful automation features. You can create sophisticated customer journeys based on subscriber behavior, purchase history, or engagement levels, which is crucial for many marketing strategies.
- What is the biggest difference users see on Reddit about Substack vs Mailchimp?
- On Reddit, users often highlight Substack’s simplicity for writers and Mailchimp’s power for marketers. The common theme is that Substack is for publishing content and getting paid for it easily, while Mailchimp is for building and managing broader marketing campaigns for a business.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the “Substack vs Mailchimp Reddit” showdown isn’t about which tool is universally superior, but which tool is superior for you.
Choose Substack if: Your core business is creating and distributing content, especially newsletters, and you want a simple, integrated way to build a paid subscriber base. It’s perfect for writers, thinkers, and creators who prioritize ease of use and direct reader relationships.
Choose Mailchimp if: You need a versatile email marketing platform to grow your business, drive sales, and automate customer communication. It’s ideal for e-commerce, service-based businesses, and marketers who require advanced features and integrations.
Both platforms offer free starting points. The best way to decide is to dive in! Try out Mailchimp’s free plan to explore its features, or start a free newsletter on Substack to see if its publishing model fits your vision. You’ll quickly get a feel for which one aligns best with your goals.