Softwr

Software · head to head

Steno vs Substack

Steno logo

Steno

Software

AI transcription and analysis for news and media

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Substack logo

Substack

Software

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: Steno candidate list appears to conflate Steno (legal/court reporting services) with news media monitoring platforms; Substack substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenue (writers keep 90%), plus separate credit card processing fees
  • They diverge on capability: Steno covers AI transcription, Substack covers Newsletter publishing.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Steno and Substack actually diverge.

Attributes where Steno and Substack differ
AttributeStenoSubstack
Starting priceOn requestFree
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20202017

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

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 Steno

  • AI transcription
  • Broadcast search
  • Real-time monitoring
  • Clip creation
  • Media analysis
  • Slack
  • Email
  • API

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.

Steno

  • Media monitoringnot Substack
  • Researchnot Substack
  • PR trackingnot Substack
  • Competitive analysisnot Substack

Substack

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

Where each one falls short

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

Steno

  • Candidate list appears to conflate Steno (legal/court reporting services) with news media monitoring platforms

Substack

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

Pricing, plan by plan

Steno

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Steno review.

Substack

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Steno if

  • You need ai transcription.
  • You also want broadcast search.
Steno 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 Steno or Substack better?
Neither clearly leads. Steno starts at On request and Substack at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Steno or Substack?
Substack has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Steno and Free for Substack.
Does Steno or Substack run on more platforms?
Steno 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. Steno starts at On request.
What is Steno best used for?
Steno is most often used for media monitoring, research, pr tracking, competitive analysis. Of those, media monitoring and research are not what Substack is typically brought in for.
What can Steno do that Substack cannot?
Steno covers AI transcription, Broadcast search, Real-time monitoring, Clip creation. Substack covers Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions, Email analytics. Both handle Web support.
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Related pages

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