Substack Is the #1 Blogging Platform 2025
Even though I didn’t give it #1 in my recent platforms rankings
You want to start blogging in 2025? Great choice. Unlike what you might read, blogging isn’t dead. Far from it.
The world needs more smart, funny, thoughtful people putting their words out there instead of loads of AI content you could smell from a mile away.
Now, let’s save hours of Googling, comparing platforms, and agonizing over techy nonsense with this simple advice:
Start with Substack.
No, seriously. If you want to blog, start there. It’s the only platform you need in 2025.
Why Substack?
You might ask yourself, why? Why Substack? Why not Ghost? Or WordPress?
Because in 2025, Substack isn’t just a platform. It’s a creative playground, a networking cocktail party, and a newsletter dream, all rolled into one.
And unlike some platforms that want you to complete a gazillion steps of setup before you can publish a single post, Substack basically hands you a pen and says, “Go.”
Let’s break it down.
1. Just Write
No wrestling with WordPress themes. No coding. No plugins that crash your site. Or cost yet another subscription fee.
Substack is clean, minimal, and focused on helping you do the one thing you actually came here for: writing.
You log in. You write. You hit publish. You go get a coffee. That’s the workflow. (The coffee is mandatory).
It’s like Medium without the pretension and partner program fee, WordPress without the chaos, and LinkedIn without the cringe.
And you can write about anything on Substack. Nicheless or totally niche-niche.
2. Engage on Notes
Substack Notes is the platform’s (not-so-low-key anymore) secret weapon.
You can share bite-sized thoughts, links, quotes, memes, or just engage with the writers you read.
Even better? You’re engaging with people who like writing most of the time, not randos yelling about crypto. Most of the time.
You post a note, people reply, and you make new writer friends. The key is the engagement here.
3. Send Emails On the Side
Substack is email-first. And that’s huge. But it’s still a blogging platform at heart, because you can publish your stuff without sending any emails if you wish.
And that’s underrated.
Every time you publish, it can land in your subscribers’ inboxes if you want. But people have stuff to do and a gazillion emails in their inboxes already. Sometimes, less is more. So, just publish daily and only send on occasion.
No problem.
4. Add a Custom Domain
You want your blog to live at yourname.com? You can on Substack. It’s pretty easy to do.
Adding a custom domain does cost you a one-time fee, but it’s totally worth it. And better than a monthly subscription.
For SEO, it’s great.
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5. Sections, Tags, and Multiple Publications
Substack isn’t just for newsletters anymore.
You can:
Create sections (like mini blogs within your blog),
Use tags to organize your posts like a digital librarian with good vibes,
And even launch multiple publications under one account.
Want to run a personal blog and a niche newsletter on paddle ball strategy? Do it. The Substack community is large.
6. All for Free. Yes, Really.
No monthly fees. No freemium nonsense.
Substack’s core features — writing, publishing, email distribution, Notes, videos, podcasts, and analytics — are 100% free. You only pay if you choose to monetize, and even then, it’s a fair cut.
Adding a custom domain costs $50, but that’s totally reasonable. And optional.
Compare that to the usual suspects: WordPress wants you to pay for basic features. Squarespace charges you to breathe. Ghost gets more expensive, the more people you reach.
On Substack, you start writing now. Not after watching three tutorials and changing plugins every other day.
What If You Already Use WordPress?
Great!
Keep your WordPress site if you love it. But even then, you should still be on Substack.
Why?
Because Substack is where the readers are.
It’s where the writers hang out. It’s where engagement is happening in real time, and where your posts actually show up in inboxes — not buried in search results or lost in an ocean of popups.
In fact, many creators use both: WordPress as their “own”, kinda open-source hub, and Substack as their outreach engine.
That combo is perfect.
TL;DR:
If you’re serious about writing — and connecting with readers who actually care — Substack is the place to be 2025.
✅ Write without friction
✅ Build a real email list
✅ Engage with readers and writers
✅ Use Notes like social media, but better
✅ Grow your blog without tech headaches
✅ All without spending a dime
Yeah, you should be on Substack. Are you even a writer if you’re not?
Totally agree. I wanted to start blogging again for years but every year got lost researching which host I was going to use and the "best" WordPress themes and add ins. In a word' friction.
I started blogging on Substack in January 2023 as a test...and haven't stopped. It's a great platform for many of the reasons you mention.