Quick summary
Substack is a publishing platform for writers. It hosts your newsletter, archive, and comment section, and it lets you sell paid subscriptions to readers. Substack takes a share of paid subscription revenue, so its model is built around writers earning from their audience.
Ternloop is a newsletter and campaign tool. You write campaigns in a rich editor or block editor, import contacts, group them, and send or schedule the message. It focuses on sending campaigns to a list you already own. Pricing follows the number of emails you send each month, and you can send from a custom domain on the Pro plan.
If you want a hosted publication where readers can pay you directly, Substack is designed for that. If you want to send a newsletter from your own domain and keep the list under your control, Ternloop is the simpler fit.
Pricing compare
Substack is free to publish. The comparison page we reviewed lists a fee of 10 percent on paid subscriptions, plus roughly 3 percent for payment processing. A custom domain costs about $50 as a one time fee. Substack's terms can change, so check its current policies before you decide.
Ternloop's plans are shown below.
| Ternloop plan | Monthly price | Annual price | Emails per month | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | 1,000 | 500 |
| Pro 5,000 | $4 | $46 per year | 5,000 | 3,000 |
| Pro 10,000 | $8 | $92 per year | 10,000 | 6,000 |
| Pro 20,000 | $15 | $172 per year | 20,000 | 12,000 |
| Pro 50,000 | $25 | $286 per year | 50,000 | 30,000 |
| Pro 100,000 | $50 | $570 per year | 100,000 | 50,000 |
| Pro 150,000 | $70 | $810 per year | 150,000 | 80,000 |
The two platforms charge in different ways. Substack takes a share of paid subscription revenue, so its cost grows with your income. Ternloop charges a flat monthly fee based on your sending volume and contact count, so your cost does not depend on how much your readers pay.
For a free newsletter with no paid subscriptions, Substack costs nothing to publish, and that is a real advantage. If you plan to charge readers, the cut on each subscription matters. Ternloop does not take a percentage of subscription revenue, so your costs stay flat as income grows.
Feature compare
| Feature | Ternloop | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Custom sending domain | Included on Pro | Included with a custom domain |
| Contact import | CSV import on Pro | Import available |
| Open and click tracking | Included on every plan | Included |
| Scheduling | Included on Pro | Included |
| Revenue share on paid subscriptions | None | Yes |
Substack is a publishing platform. It gives you a hosted archive, comments, and a way to charge readers that is included in the platform. For writers who want their newsletter to be a publication with a community, those features are central.
Ternloop is a sending tool. The editor, contact groups, CSV import, scheduling, and delivery stats are designed for campaigns to a list you own. Bounces, complaints, and unsubscribes are marked automatically through SES webhooks, which keeps your list clean.
When to choose Ternloop
- You want to send a newsletter from your own domain.
- You want to pay a flat monthly fee rather than a share of revenue.
- You do not plan to sell paid subscriptions through the platform.
- You want CSV import, scheduling, and custom sending domains on one plan.
When to choose Substack
- You want a hosted publication with an archive and comments.
- You plan to sell paid subscriptions to readers.
- You want an existing audience and discovery tools.
- You are comfortable with a platform fee on paid subscriptions.
For a writer who wants to earn from readers without managing payments, Substack is the easier path. For a business or creator who sends a newsletter to a list they own and wants a predictable cost, Ternloop is the better fit.
Start with Ternloop
Start on the free plan with 1,000 emails and 500 contacts each month. Send a campaign from your own domain on a Pro plan, and review the open and click data. Full details are on the pricing page.
Questions to ask before you switch
Start with how you plan to make money. Substack takes a share of paid subscriptions, which the comparison we reviewed lists at 10 percent plus about 3 percent for payment processing. If your newsletter is free and you care about sending cost more than revenue share, the fee structure may matter more than the features.
Next, compare what it costs to run each tool. Substack is free to publish, and a custom domain costs about $50 as a one time fee in the comparison we reviewed. Ternloop's free plan includes 1,000 emails a month and 500 contacts. Its 5,000 email tier is $4 a month. Ternloop is an email tool for campaigns, not a payments platform for readers.
Then think about discovery. Substack offers a built in audience and recommendations. If you depend on that reach, keep Substack for that channel. Ternloop works best when your audience already knows you and you want to send to your own list.
Finally, plan the move. Export your subscribers, import the CSV into Ternloop on a Pro plan, and send a test issue to a small group. Check the links, sender name, and unsubscribe link before the full send.
Keep reading
- Ternloop vs Beehiiv compares Ternloop with a newsletter platform for publishers.
- Ternloop vs Ghost covers a publishing platform with memberships.
- Ternloop vs Mailchimp looks at a broader email marketing suite.
- About Ternloop explains the founder's approach to pricing.
- Contact the founder with questions about your newsletter.