How to Use SparkLoop With Substack

The roundabout-but-effective guide to monetizing your newsletter like with Sparkloop

May 16, 2025

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SparkLoop* is arguably the best tool out there for newsletter growth and monetization. I’ve been using SparkLoop for years. If you haven’t tried it, you should.

It’s slick, smart, and makes newsletter creators money as passively as possible.

But…

Substack doesn’t play nice with SparkLoop. At least not directly.

Substack lacks the open API that SparkLoop needs to integrate its Upscribe widget and native referral programs.

BUT wait, don’t close this tab just yet.

Because there is a way to use SparkLoop with Substack. It’s not plug-and-play, but it works. I’ve been doing this since I use Substack.

Here’s how!

What Is SparkLoop (And Why Should You Care)?

If you’re new here:

SparkLoop* is a tool that helps you:

Monetize your newsletter by recommending other newsletters
Use referral links to promote newsletters you love (and get paid)
Track your growth with real analytics
Actually get rewarded for having an audience (shocking, I know)

Its flagship feature — Upscribe — lets people who just subscribed to your newsletter see suggestions for other newsletters. If they subscribe to one of those (especially a paid one), you get paid.

But again: this magic happens only on platforms SparkLoop supports natively.

And Substack isn’t one of them.

The Substack Workaround

Here’s what I do instead:

While I can’t use the Upscribe widget on Substack, I can still earn with SparkLoop by becoming an affiliate.

I’ve got two paths:

1. Promote Paid Newsletters via SparkLoop Partner Links

SparkLoop offers a big marketplace of paid newsletters looking for exposure.

When you join their Partner Network, you get access to newsletters that will pay you for every accepted new subscriber you send their way.

💡 Here’s how you use that with Substack:

Grab your unique partner referral link from SparkLoop.
Drop that link into your Substack posts or footers
Done.

If someone clicks and subscribes? You earn money. It’s a simple but powerful newsletter referral program.

You can even make this a recurring feature:

A “Recommended Reads” section
A monthly roundup of “Newsletters I’m Enjoying (And Getting Paid to Share)”
Bonus content with newsletter shoutouts

2. Promote SparkLoop Itself and Earn Recurring Commission

You can also become a SparkLoop affiliate* and earn recurring income by promoting SparkLoop itself.

If someone signs up for SparkLoop through your link and becomes a paying user, you get a sweet commission every month they stay subscribed.

This is especially effective if:

Your audience includes creators or newsletter writers
You write about growth, marketing, or creator tools
You’re already using SparkLoop and can vouch for it (even partially, like we’re doing here)

Put your affiliate link into a guide, tutorial, or newsletter issue and you’re good to go.

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What You Can’t Do on Substack

No Upscribe widget
No automated referrals via sign-up forms
No direct API integration

If those are deal-breakers, you can use other services like Kit (ConvertKit), Beehiiv, EmailOctopus, or MailerLite — platforms SparkLoop does love and support natively.

But for many, staying on Substack and using the affiliate workaround is more than enough to start seeing passive income.

TL;DR:

Substack doesn’t support SparkLoop natively. True.

But SparkLoop still supports partner links and affiliate programs that you can simply insert into your issues.

How?

Use SparkLoop’s Partner Program to earn from newsletter referrals
Join the Affiliate Program to promote SparkLoop itself
Embed those links smartly inside your Substack content

No widgets. No APIs. Just good old-fashioned affiliate links.

The Bottom Line

No magic here.

If Substack is your favorite tool, SparkLoop is a good add-on.

And I haven’t even mentioned that SparkLoop’s partner links and affiliate program feature are entirely free to use, have I?

Well, now you know.

A writer is nothing without a reader. If you found this helpful, consider becoming my dear email friend. Nothing would make me happier.