Payload vs Substack
Compare Payload and Substack for blogs. Find out how the features, pricing & plans differs and which technology is best for you!
Payload
Payload is the content framework that accelerates how developers, marketers, and product owners work together. It power anything from websites to internal tools with the open-source backend & modern admin UI that you truly own.
Substack
Substack is a platform that makes it simple for a writer to start an email newsletter that makes money from subscriptions.
Headless CMS Features
Payload's Headless CMS Features
Not optimized for blogging experience
Complex to integrate
Complex to manage content
Complex to manage images
Image served via origin server
Headless mode available
Blog on subdomain available
Blog on subdirectory available
Substack's Headless CMS Features
First-class blogging experience
Complex to integrate
Easy to manage content
Easy to manage images
Image served via CDN
Headless mode not available
Blog on subdomain available
Blog on subdirectory not available
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Pricing & Plans
Payload's Pricing
Payload Free
$0 / forever
- Self hosted
- No technical support
Payload Standard
$35 / month
- 1 Custom Domain
- 3GB database storage
- 30GB S3 file storage
- 40GB bandwidth/month
Payload Pro
$199 / month
- 3 Custom Domain
- 30GB database storage
- 150GB S3 file storage
- 100GB bandwidth/month
Substack's Pricing
Substack Free
$0 / forever
- Unlimited posts
- Basic stats
- Limited customization
- 10% transaction fee on newsletter subscriptions
Choose Payload or Substack?
Why choose Payload?
PayloadCMS stands out for development teams that desire deep control over their CMS environment, relishing the autonomy that comes from self-hosting. This solution shines when intricate tailoring is needed, but be prepared for the hands-on nature of its implementation and upkeep.
Why choose Substack?
Substack is a great choice for individual bloggers looking to monetize their content through email newsletters. However, its lack of customization and control may be limiting for larger teams or organizations. It also does not offer a headless blog mode and has limited customization options to its design.
Compare with other technologies
Payload Alternatives