Easy Digital Downloads vs Substack
A side-by-side look at Easy Digital Downloads and Substack. They score evenly overall, so the right pick depends on your priorities.
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| Scores | ||
| SellingScene score | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
| User rating | 4.1 | 4.2 |
| Reviews | 670 | 1,320 |
| Pricing | ||
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | free core + annual pass for extensions | no monthly fee, revenue share |
| Transaction fees | 0% (processor fees apply) | 10% of subscription revenue (plus processing) |
| Hosting & setup | ||
| Hosting type | Self-hosted (WordPress) | Fully hosted (SaaS) |
| Free trial | Free core plugin | Free to start |
| Staff accounts | WordPress roles | Multiple authors |
| Product limit | Unlimited | N/A (subscriptions) |
| Payments & security | ||
| Payment gateways | Stripe, PayPal + gateways | Stripe |
| SSL included | Yes | Yes |
| PCI compliant | Yes | Yes |
| Gift cards | Yes | Yes |
| Catalog & content | ||
| Themes / templates | WordPress theme ecosystem | Publication styling |
| App marketplace | Official extensions library | Limited integrations |
| Multi-currency | No | No |
| Multi-language | Yes | No |
| POS included | No | No |
| Abandoned cart recovery | Yes | No |
| Built-in blog | Yes | Yes |
| Tools & flexibility | ||
| Drag-and-drop editor | Yes | No |
| API access | Yes | No |
| Mobile app | No | Yes |
| Support channels | Ticket support (pass), documentation | Email & help center |
| Actions | Read review | Read review |
Why pick Easy Digital Downloads?
Easy Digital Downloads is the specialist choice for selling digital goods on WordPress, with clean license and subscription handling that WooCommerce bolts on awkwardly. You will buy extension passes to unlock its full power.
Best for: WordPress users selling files and licenses
Read the full Easy Digital Downloads reviewWhy pick Substack?
Substack makes launching a paid newsletter effortless, bundling publishing, email, payments, and a discovery network at no upfront cost. The flat 10% revenue cut is significant once you scale, and you build on their network, not your own.
Best for: Writers monetizing newsletters and subscriptions
Read the full Substack review