Substack vs Payload CMS

Substack provides a platform for creators to build an audience and potentially monetize their content through subscriptions.

A gradual and reliable growth mechanism for newsletters, built on consistency and word of mouth.

Substack has a user-friendly interface that allows for easy setup and multimedia posts.

Substack provides the opportunity for writers to own their subscribers and communicate directly with them.

Substack allows for both free and paid content, giving flexibility in content sharing and potential monetization.

Substack allows writers to categorize their posts into unlimited publications, making it user-friendly for creators.

Payload CMS is praised for its open-source nature and fast support, allowing great customization.

Payload CMS is recognized for its end-to-end type safety ensured by TypeScript, extensive Plugin support, and intuitive user experience.

Payload CMS offers a clean and customizable user interface, making it approachable for users.

Users appreciate Payload CMS for its flexibility and powerful features suitable for complex content management.

The active community for Payload CMS helps foster enhancements and extensions, adding a layer of support.

New writers may struggle to monetize effectively on Substack without a pre-existing audience.

Substack does not offer advanced features such as personalization tags or email automations, which limits marketing effectiveness.

While there are success stories, many new writers face challenges in gaining visibility and building an audience.

Writers may find it difficult to gain traction on Substack, especially without an established audience.

There is a perception that Substack may not provide enough engagement compared to platforms like Reddit.

Substack may not be the best option for long-term growth compared to other platforms that offer better discoverability.

Users report missing functionalities such as bulk uploads and live collaboration features, indicating areas for improvement.

Some users find that Payload CMS lacks pre-built examples and extensive documentation, which can hinder the onboarding process.

The complexity of Payload's flexible architecture may lead some users to initially feel overwhelmed or confused.

New users who are not familiar with Next.js may find it challenging to adapt to Payload CMS's code-based customization approach.

The young age of Payload CMS means it may lack some enterprise-grade features compared to more established competitors.

The native editor was a key reason for choosing Substack due to its ease of use.

Users appreciate the minimalist design of the Substack editor, allowing focus on writing.

The simplicity of publishing content on Substack is frequently highlighted by users.

Substack allows for creative, personal writing, garnering a welcoming community.

A user noted that they find their writing process improved with Substack's tools.

Several users encourage others to start writing on Substack for its user-friendly nature.

Payload allows full customization of the admin UI and integrates well with React, providing a clean editing experience.

Autosave feature ensures that changes are saved automatically, which enhances user confidence during editing.

Users appreciate the flexibility in creating custom fields, which can enhance the editing experience for specialized needs.

Versions and drafts features allow easy management and restoration of content, providing a safety net for edits.

Comprehensive API support (REST and GraphQL) allows for dynamic content management through custom applications.

The community offers support, making it easier for new users to learn and adapt to the platform's complexities.

Users have expressed frustrations with the draft page becoming unresponsive at times.

Some complaints about a lack of detailed formatting options compared to other CMS platforms.

Users noted that SEO effectiveness on Substack can be lacking, affecting visibility.

Some find that monetization options can be unclear or limited without a paid subscription.

Reports of suboptimal user experience with formatting issues during editing.

Users mention that some features feel half-baked or underdeveloped compared to competitors.

Beginners find it challenging to set up basic features, such as image resizing in the rich text editor, without custom coding.

Some users struggle with the lack of built-in features like component rendering which are expected in mature CMSs.

Feedback indicates that the documentation does not sufficiently support users in understanding advanced features.

Users express frustration with the time needed to implement basic functionalities, making it feel like a beta product.

The requirement to integrate third-party services for file storage can be cumbersome compared to other CMS options.

Complex hierarchies in nested fields can create confusion for content editors, impacting usability.

Substack allows quick setup without technical knowledge, appealing to non-experts.

Users appreciate the community and engagement aspects of Substack, as it attracts serious writers.

The platform is free and offers monetization options for writers.

Payload provides a clean interface and simple setup for developers, especially for those familiar with Next.js.

Highly customizable and extensible, allowing users to define schemas programmatically.

Self-hosted options are appealing for users wanting to maintain control of their backend.

API generation is automatic based on user-defined configurations, simplifying integration.

Offers a clean, customizable user interface making it easy for developers to get started.

Easy setup and straightforward for TypeScript developers, aligning well with modern development practices.

Substack lacks solid SEO functionality, which can hinder discoverability.

Emails sent through Substack are public, reducing exclusivity for subscribers.

Users struggle with managing multiple lists when using Substack and Mailchimp together due to lack of integration.

There is no direct integration for tracking Facebook Pixel conversions with Substack.

The documentation is seen as incomplete and lacking depth for advanced features.

Users often face performance issues and have to restart the server frequently during development.

Users reported that integration with plugins can cause unexpected behavior and bugs.

Limited third-party integrations noted as a drawback for some user implementations.

Users mentioned needing significant technical ability to fully leverage its features and capabilities.

Users expressed concerns about support and community responses for troubleshooting issues.