Softwr

Marketing · head to head

Moz vs Substack

Moz logo

Moz

Marketing

SEO software for smarter marketing

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substack logo

Substack

News & Media

The newsletter platform for writers and publishers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Moz smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush; Substack substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenue (writers keep 90%), plus separate credit card processing fees
  • They diverge on capability: Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Substack covers Newsletter publishing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Moz and Substack actually diverge.

Attributes where Moz and Substack differ
AttributeMozSubstack
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
CategoryMarketingNews & Media
Founded20042017

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Moz

  • Keyword Explorer
  • Link Explorer
  • Site Crawl
  • Rank Tracking
  • Page Optimization
  • Competitive research
  • Local SEO tools
  • Fresh Web Explorer

Only in Substack

  • Newsletter publishing
  • Subscriber management
  • Paid subscriptions
  • Email analytics
  • Post scheduling
  • Archive creation
  • Free/paid tier split
  • Comments & discussion

Both cover

  • Twitter
  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Moz

  • SEO auditsnot Substack
  • Keyword researchnot Substack
  • Link buildingnot Substack
  • Local SEOnot Substack
  • Competitive analysisnot Substack

Substack

  • Newsletter distributionnot Moz
  • Reader monetizationnot Moz
  • Community buildingnot Moz
  • Subscriber managementnot Moz

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Moz

  • Smaller keyword database with only 500M+ keywords compared to 25 billion for Semrush
  • Unreliable competitive analysis for B2B companies with niche competitor sets
  • Weekly rank tracking on lower plans creates bottlenecks versus daily updates on competitors

Substack

  • Substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenue (writers keep 90%), plus separate credit card processing fees

Pricing, plan by plan

Moz

Free
  • Starter$39/month
    • Limited keyword tracking
    • Basic site audit
  • Standard$99/month
    • Enhanced keyword tracking
    • Competitive analysis

Substack

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited newsletters
    • Basic design
    • Archive access
  • Pro$12/month
    • Custom domain
    • Advanced analytics
    • Member chat

Which should you pick?

Choose Moz if

  • You need keyword explorer.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You also want link explorer.
Moz review

Choose Substack if

  • You need newsletter publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want subscriber management.
Substack review

Questions people ask

Is Moz or Substack better?
Neither clearly leads. Moz starts at Free and Substack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Moz or Substack?
Moz starts at Free and Substack at Free.
Does Moz or Substack run on more platforms?
Moz runs on Web. Substack runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Moz for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Moz best used for?
Moz is most often used for seo audits, keyword research, link building, local seo. Of those, seo audits and keyword research are not what Substack is typically brought in for.
What can Moz do that Substack cannot?
Moz covers Keyword Explorer, Link Explorer, Site Crawl, Rank Tracking. Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. Both handle Twitter, Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Moz: What are Moz's main weaknesses compared to Semrush and Ahrefs?

Moz has a smaller keyword database (500M+ keywords vs Semrush's 25B), weaker competitive analysis tools for B2B niches, weekly rank tracking on lower plans, and limited local SEO features compared to modern competitors.

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