Choosing between AWeber and Substack is a common decision for email marketing buyers in 2026. AWeber has been in the market since 1998, giving it a 19-year head start over Substack (founded 2017). AWeber serves 120K+ users while Substack has 35M+ readers users globally. AWeber differentiates with autoresponders and email templates, while Substack leads with newsletter publishing and podcast hosting. In this head-to-head comparison, Substack earns a higher hiltonsoftware.co score of 90/100 — but the right choice depends on your specific needs, budget, and team size.
AI Verdict
After comparing AWeber and Substack across features, pricing, and user satisfaction, Substack takes the lead with a score of 90/100 versus AWeber's 84/100. Substack's key advantages include "free to start, no upfront cost" and "large built-in discovery network". That said, AWeber has its own strengths — particularly "very reliable deliverability" — making it a viable alternative for specific use cases.
Both AWeber and Substack offer free plans, lowering the barrier to entry. AWeber's paid plans start at $12.50/mo while Substack begins at 10% of revenue. Evaluate which paid features — Landing pages, Split testing (AWeber) vs Paid subscriptions, Comments (Substack) — justify upgrading for your team.
Bottom line: Choose AWeber if you need small businesses wanting reliable email marketing with good support. Go with Substack if your priority is writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Both are strong email marketing tools — we recommend trying the free plan of each before committing.
CHOOSE AWEBER IF:
Small businesses wanting reliable email marketing with good support.
CHOOSE SUBSTACK IF:
Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AWeber better than Substack in 2026?
Substack scores 90/100 on hiltonsoftware.co compared to AWeber's 84/100. AWeber stands out for "very reliable deliverability" and is best for Small businesses wanting reliable email marketing with good support. Substack is known for "free to start, no upfront cost" and suits Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Your specific workflow and team size should guide the decision.
What is the pricing difference between AWeber and Substack?
Both offer free plans. AWeber starts at $12.50/mo and Substack at 10% of revenue. When comparing value, consider that AWeber (founded 1998, 120K+ users) includes features like Autoresponders, Email templates, Landing pages. Substack (founded 2017, 35M+ readers users) offers Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions. The right choice depends on which features matter most to your team.
What are the main differences between AWeber and Substack?
The key differences come down to focus and approach. AWeber excels at Autoresponders, Email templates, Landing pages, while Substack focuses on Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions. AWeber's main advantage is "very reliable deliverability", though some users note "dated interface". Substack's strength is "free to start, no upfront cost", but "10% cut of revenue" can be a drawback. Both serve the Email Marketing market but target different user profiles.
Can I switch from AWeber to Substack?
Switching between AWeber and Substack is possible since both operate in the Email Marketing space. Before migrating, export your data from AWeber and check Substack's import capabilities. Key features to verify compatibility: Autoresponders, Email templates, Landing pages (AWeber) vs Newsletter publishing, Podcast hosting, Paid subscriptions (Substack). Consider running both tools in parallel during a trial period to ensure a smooth transition.
Which is better for small teams: AWeber or Substack?
Both tools offer free plans, so evaluate based on features. AWeber is ideal for Small businesses wanting reliable email marketing with good support, while Substack fits Writers wanting to launch and monetize a paid newsletter business. Try both during their trial periods to see which fits your team's workflow.