AWeber vs Substack (2026)
The veteran that's still competitive — against — Publish, charge and grow — zero upfront cost. Same table, same scoring system, clear verdict.
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Head-to-head
Pricing and terms last verified 31 October 2026 — vendors change them often.
| AWeber 🏆 | Substack | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes: up to 500 subscribers | No |
| Paid from | Paid typically from around $12.50/mo (Lite) | No monthly fee — revenue share instead |
| Free trial | 14 days | None |
| Automations | ✓ | ✗ |
| Landing pages | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paid subscriptions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Ecommerce features | ✓ | ✗ |
| Our score | 4.2/5 | 4.1/5 |
Choose AWeber if…
- You're primarily people who want human support on the phone
- Legendary customer support (phone, chat, email)
- You can live with: automation capabilities trail newer rivals
Choose Substack if…
- You're primarily writers who just want to publish
- Simplest possible start: write and publish in minutes
- You can live with: no automations — email sequences are impossible
AWeber vs Substack: FAQ
AWeber or Substack — which is better in 2026?
For most people matching AWeber's strengths (people who want human support on the phone), AWeber is the stronger choice — it scores 4.2/5 on our four-factor score. But "better" depends on you: choose AWeber for people who want human support on the phone, and Substack for writers who just want to publish.
Is AWeber cheaper than Substack?
AWeber has a free plan (Paid typically from around $12.50/mo (Lite)), while Substack has no permanent free plan (No monthly fee — revenue share instead). Vendors reprice several times a year — check both pricing pages before deciding.
Can I switch from AWeber to Substack (or back)?
Yes. Subscribers export as CSV/JSON from either platform and import into the other. Automation sequences usually need rebuilding — map your tags and forms before migrating.