Substack vs Steno
A comprehensive head-to-head comparison of two leading news & media solutions in 2026. Compare features, pricing, ratings, and more to find the right fit.
Quick Verdict
Choose Substack if you need Newsletter publishing and prefer a free starting option. Choose Steno if you prioritize AI transcription and want plans starting at Contact for pricing. Both are rated 4.4/5 by users.
Substack vs Steno: At a Glance
Feature Comparison: Substack vs Steno
| Feature | Substack | Steno |
|---|---|---|
| Newsletter publishing | ||
| Subscriber management | ||
| Paid subscriptions | ||
| Email analytics | ||
| Post scheduling | ||
| Archive creation | ||
| Free/paid tier split | ||
| Comments & discussion | ||
| Apple News | ||
| Spotify | ||
| Stripe | ||
| RSS | ||
| Web support | ||
| Mobile support | ||
| AI transcription | ||
| Broadcast search | ||
| Real-time monitoring | ||
| Clip creation | ||
| Media analysis | ||
| Slack | ||
| API |
Substack vs Steno: Pricing Breakdown
Substack Pricing
Model: freemium
- Unlimited newsletters
- Basic design
- Archive access
- Email delivery
- Custom domain
- Advanced analytics
- Member chat
- Priority support
Steno Pricing
Model: subscription
- Search transcripts
- Clip creation
- Email alerts
- Basic analytics
- All Starter features
- API access
- Team collaboration
- Advanced analytics
- Custom integrations
- Dedicated support
- SLA
- Custom retention
Pros and Cons
Substack
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Free plan available to get started
- Rich feature set with 15+ capabilities
- Strong Newsletter publishing functionality
- Strong Subscriber management functionality
Cons
- May require time to learn advanced features
Steno
Pros
- Highly rated by users (4.4/5)
- Rich feature set with 9+ capabilities
- Strong AI transcription functionality
- Strong Broadcast search functionality
Cons
- No free plan available
- Limited platform support (Web only)
- May require time to learn advanced features
Who Should Use Substack vs Steno?
Choose Substack if you:
- Need Newsletter publishing
- Want to start for free
- Work primarily on Web and Mobile
- Value Subscriber management
Choose Steno if you:
- Need AI transcription
- Have a budget of Contact for pricing+
- Work primarily on Web
- Value Broadcast search
Frequently Asked Questions: Substack vs Steno
Is Substack better than Steno?
It depends on your needs. Substack has a 4.4/5 user rating while Steno has 4.4/5. Substack excels in Newsletter publishing and Subscriber management, while Steno stands out with AI transcription and Broadcast search. Consider your budget (Free vs Contact for pricing), platform needs, and specific feature requirements.
Which is cheaper, Substack or Steno?
Substack offers a free plan and starts at Free. Steno starts at Contact for pricing. Substack has a clear pricing advantage with its free tier.
Can I use Substack and Steno together?
While both are news & media tools, some teams use complementary software together. Check each product's API and integration capabilities for compatibility. However, most users find that one solution covers their core news & media needs.
What are the main differences between Substack and Steno?
The key differences include: pricing model (freemium vs subscription), platform support (Web, Mobile vs Web), and feature focus. Substack emphasizes Newsletter publishing, Subscriber management, Paid subscriptions while Steno focuses on AI transcription, Broadcast search, Real-time monitoring. User ratings differ slightly: 4.4 vs 4.4 out of 5.
Ready to choose?
Explore detailed reviews, user ratings, and pricing for both Substack and Steno.