How to Choose a Newsletter Platform: 10 Critical Questions to Ask
Choosing a newsletter platform feels like a marriage. Migrating is painful, so you want to get it right the first time. With so many options—Substack, Ghost, ConvertKit, Postion—it's easy to get lost in feature lists and marketing hype during your newsletter platform comparison.
To cut through the noise, you need a clear framework. Stop asking "which blogging platform is best?" and start asking "which is the best newsletter platform for creators like me?" Here is a checklist of 10 critical questions to ask before you commit.
1. How do I get paid, and what are the real creator platform fees?
Look beyond the headline price. A seemingly free newsletter platform that takes 10% of your revenue can quickly become your biggest expense. A platform with a fixed monthly fee might be cheaper in the long run. Pro-Tip: Create a spreadsheet and model your costs at $100, $1,000, and $10,000 per month. See our own platform fee cost breakdown here.
2. Who truly owns my content and audience list?
This is non-negotiable. Can you export your content and your email list easily, at any time? If the answer isn't a clear "yes," run. This is the foundation of your business—the ability to truly own your audience. This is a key reason many seek a Substack alternative.
3. Can I use my own custom domain?
A yourname.platform.com address tells the world you're building on rented land. A custom domain (yourname.com) is professional, builds trust, and is absolutely essential for long-term SEO success on any modern email marketing platform.
4. Does the platform help me grow with SEO?
Some platforms are notoriously weak for search engine optimization. Does the newsletter platform provide the tools you need—like control over slugs, meta descriptions, and site structure—to be discovered on Google? An effective internal linking strategy is key, and your platform should facilitate it.
5. How much time will I spend on tech vs. creating?
Are you a writer or a webmaster? Be honest about your technical skills. A powerful but complex platform could steal dozens of hours from your creative work. This is a critical factor when considering how to choose a newsletter platform. (See our Ghost vs. Postion breakdown for non-technical creators for more on this).
6. Will this platform scale with me?
The tool that's perfect for 100 subscribers should also work for 100,000. Will the pricing model punish your success? Does it have the features (like segmentation or a robust API) you might need later?
7. Is it an all-in-one solution?
Will you need to stitch together multiple tools for community or digital products? An integrated platform saves you time and headaches. A key strategy is to "create once, distribute everywhere," and a true all-in-one blogging platform makes this possible.
8. Can I build a real community here?
A following is not a community. Does the platform offer tools for interaction, like comments or member-only spaces? Fostering engagement is how you turn followers into true fans and truly own your audience.
9. How easy is it to leave? (The "Prenup")
The best platforms aren't afraid of this question. They make it easy to export your data because they're confident you'll want to stay. Vendor lock-in is a massive red flag and a primary driver for creators looking for a more flexible Substack alternative.
10. Who helps me when something breaks?
Is there responsive customer support? A community forum? When you're running a business on an email marketing platform, you can't afford to be stuck for days with a technical problem.
Answering these questions honestly will give you a scorecard to judge every option and make the right choice for your future.