Substack

Substack launched as a pure platform for independent newsletter publishers, handling both the hosting and email delivery infrastructure. The platform eliminates the need for external email providers by bundling everything in one place: your publication, subscription management, and reader payments all run on their system. Writers can set up paid tiers directly, with Substack taking a 10% cut of subscription revenue.

For coaches offering email-based training or course communities, Substack works best if email is your primary product, not a supporting tool. The platform excels at one thing: building an audience around regular written communication. If you're selling a course elsewhere and need email automation to deliver it, you'll likely need a second tool; Substack isn't designed as a delivery engine for online education.