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News · head to head

Newswire vs Substack

Newswire logo

Newswire

News

Affordable press release distribution for everyone

From
$399/per release
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substack logo

Substack

News

The newsletter platform for writers and publishers

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Substack has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Newswire no free tier or trial available; Substack substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page
  • They diverge on capability: Newswire covers Press release distribution, Substack covers Newsletter publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Newswire and Substack actually diverge.

Attributes where Newswire and Substack differ
AttributeNewswireSubstack
Starting price$399/per releaseFree
Pricing modelone-timefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20042017

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).

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 Newswire

  • Press release distribution
  • Media targeting
  • Social amplification
  • Analytics
  • SEO optimization
  • Google News
  • Yahoo News
  • Bing News

Only in Substack

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

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Newswire

  • Product launchesnot Substack
  • Company newsnot Substack
  • Event announcementsnot Substack
  • SEO boostnot Substack
  • Brand awarenessnot Substack

Substack

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

Where each one falls short

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

Newswire

  • No free tier or trial available

Substack

  • Substack does not publish pricing on its public pricing page

Pricing, plan by plan

Newswire

$399/per release
  • Starter$399/per release
    • Distribution to Digital Journal and Online News & Media
    • Estimated reach 6 to 10 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Basic$659/per release
    • AP News and Digital Journal distribution
    • Estimated reach 75 to 100 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Feature$965/per release
    • AP News, Yahoo, Nexstar network inclusion
    • Estimated reach 150 to 200 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • State Distribution$599/per release
    • Regional news outlets and local TV stations
    • Unlimited word count and images
    • Includes analytics reporting

Substack

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Newswire if

  • You need press release distribution.
  • You also want media targeting.
Newswire 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 Newswire or Substack better?
Neither clearly leads. Newswire starts at $399/per release and Substack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Newswire or Substack?
Substack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $399/per release for Newswire and Free for Substack.
Does Newswire or Substack run on more platforms?
Newswire runs on Web. Substack runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Substack for free?
Yes. Substack has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Newswire starts at $399/per release.
What is Newswire best used for?
Newswire is most often used for product launches, company news, event announcements, seo boost. Of those, product launches and company news are not what Substack is typically brought in for.
What can Newswire do that Substack cannot?
Newswire covers Press release distribution, Media targeting, Social amplification, Analytics. Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Newswire: How much does Newswire cost?

Newswire charges per press release. Starter plan costs 399 dollars per release. Basic plan costs 659 dollars per release. Feature plan costs 965 dollars per release. State Distribution costs 599 dollars per release.

Source
Substack: How much does Substack cost?

Substack does not publish rates on its pricing page. The site emphasizes earning potential for writers with the tagline Make money doing the work you believe in.

Source
Newswire: What is included with Newswire pricing?

All Newswire plans include unlimited word count and images in your press release. Different tiers offer varying distribution networks and estimated reader reach.

Source
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