Compare software

Write.as vs Substack: catalog facts
Write.as	Substack
Freemium Free to start writing; paid plans are not detailed on the homepage.	Free Free to start a publication; writers can charge readers for subscriptions.
Web	Web
Distraction-free editor with Markdown or rich text Federates with Mastodon and the fediverse	Newsletter, blog and podcast in one publication Built-in paid subscriptions
Not meant for complex websites or e-commerce Hosted service rather than self-hosted	Hosted only, with limited design control Discovery and reading revolve around the Substack app and feed
Web application, Hosted service	Web application, Hosted service
Closed source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
No account needed	Account needed
Needs internet	Needs internet
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.