What is Substack? How it works in 2026
Key takeaways Substack is a publishing platform that combines blogging and email newsletters with paid subscriptions, giving creators and brands a direct line to their audience without relying on algorithms. It’s free to publish on Substack. The platform takes 10% of revenue only when creators charge for paid subscriptions, plus Stripe processing fees. Substack has evolved beyond newsletters. It now supports podcasts, video, a social feed called Notes, group chats, and a recommendation network, making it part publishing tool, part social platform. Businesses are using Substack to build trust, share thought leadership, and create direct relationships with customers outside of social media algorithms. What is Substack? Substack is a publishing platform that acts as a content hub and email newsletter delivery system while letting creators monetize their work through subscriptions. Substack lets writers and creators distribute content directly to their audiences. The t...
