How Beacons and Substack compare
Beacons is more than a link page. A link-in-bio, digital product store, email marketing, media kit, brand-deal invoicing, and AI tools give a creator a mini back office without leaving the app. For someone monetizing social attention with sponsors and downloads, it is a clever, generous bundle.
Substack made paid newsletters normal. You write, it sends, and readers can subscribe or pay in one click. The network effects are real: recommendations, Notes, the app, and discovery bring new readers you did not have to find. There is no monthly fee, and for a writer who wants to write rather than run software, that is a gift.
Where they are different
Beacons
- Beacons is a profile with tools.
- Beacons emails from its platform.
- Beacons sells downloads and links.
Substack
- Substack is a network you publish into.
- Substack takes a percentage of paid subscriptions.
- Substack chat and comments live in its app.
Choose Beacons when you are monetizing a social audience with sponsors, downloads, and a bio link.
Choose Substack when you want to write, get paid, and be discovered with the least possible setup.
Compare features
What's on Beacons and Substack
A check means that capability is available. Beacons and Substack are marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
Site and brand
- Workspace siteBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Custom domainBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Theme and fontsBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Brand kitBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Public content
- BlogBeacons: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Reader engagementBeacons: Not includedSubstack: Included
- Shop pagesBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Audience and email
- AudienceBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Marketing emailsBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Campaign workflowsBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Commerce
- Shop paymentsBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Orders and fulfillmentBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
- Scheduling and bookingsLink to external scheduling available on Starter.Beacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
Team
- Admin usersBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Included
- Per-admin permissionsBeacons: Not includedSubstack: Included
- AI AssistantBeacons: IncludedSubstack: Not included
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Beacons or Substack, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Beacons or Substack may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Beacons vs Substack pricing
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Beacons
Current plans and prices
See what Beacons charges on their pricing page.
Substack
Current plans and prices
See what Substack charges on their pricing page.
Cardel: An alternative to
Beacons and Substack
You don't pay until you publish.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own.
Common questions
Is Cardel an alternative to Beacons or Substack?
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Beacons or Substack when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list on this page shows where Beacons and Substack are marked.
Can I use Cardel with Beacons or Substack?
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Beacons or Substack for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
How much does Cardel cost compared with Beacons and Substack?
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Studio when your site goes live. Beacons and Substack set their own prices, so check their pricing pages on this page for current plans.
How do I switch from Beacons or Substack to Cardel?
Start with Build Your Site, set up your home, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.