Why Substack is the Best Place to Build Your Niche Newsletter in 2025

Having been pulled away from my newsletter biz for the past few months, I recently returned with a new sense of purpose.

Unfortunately, I’ve been hearing rumblings from a few writer friends that my go-to platform (Medium) isn’t what it once was.

I’ll have to buckle down and see what all the fuss is about for myself. But — as with most things in life — you have to focus on the things you can control instead of the things you cannot.

Things I can control:

• How often I write.

• What I write about.

• Where I choose to write.

Things I can’t control:

• Pretty much everything else.

Now, while I don’t anticipate leaving medium behind completely, it does seem like it creates an unnecessary step for writers who are running a newsletter.

Medium’s subscribe feature is extremely basic and severely lacks any type of customization. That’s because it’s a blogging platform and NOT a newsletter platform.

And that was the main impetus behind developing my atomic newsletter strategy in the first place.

In 2025, I’ll be modifying my strategy to include Substack as a major component in the system.

Here are just a few reasons why I believe Substack will be the single best place to start and grow an atomic newsletter in 2025:

• All-in-One Platform: Write long-form articles, microblog on Substack Notes, host podcasts, and go live with video—all in one place.

• Monetization Made Easy: Offer both free and paid content to attract new readers while converting loyal followers into paying subscribers.

• Built-In Referral System: Substack’s referral feature allows readers to effortlessly share your newsletter, driving organic growth without extra effort.

• Multiple Newsletters, One Account: Quickly create and manage multiple niche newsletters with just a few clicks, allowing you to expand into different areas.

• Community Engagement Tools: Interact with your audience through Notes, comments, and live video, fostering a sense of connection and community.

• Integrated Podcasting: Substack makes podcast creation seamless—record, publish, and distribute directly from the platform.

• Live Video Streaming: Engage your audience in real-time with live video sessions, perfect for Q&As, updates, or exclusive content.

• Focus on Content, Not Tech: Substack handles the backend logistics, eliminating the need for domains, hosting, or technical troubleshooting.

• SEO-Free Growth: Forget chasing algorithms. Substack prioritizes direct, subscriber-driven growth through audience loyalty and referrals.

• Reader-Funded Model: No ads, no distractions—your readers support your work directly, keeping your focus on delivering value.

• Flexible Content Creation: Publish at your own pace and experiment with formats, from in-depth essays to quick, conversational posts.

• Tools for Building a Media Empire: Substack’s features are designed to help you scale—whether you’re writing one newsletter or managing a network of them.

• Low Barrier to Entry: No upfront costs or complicated setup—start creating in minutes.

• Future-Proof for Creators: Substack continuously evolves with new tools and features, ensuring creators always have what they need to succeed.

In 2025, Substack will be more than a newsletter platform—it will be a creator’s ultimate toolkit for building, engaging, and monetizing a niche audience.

At this point in time, and despite the benefit of their partner program, I’m not sure Medium will be able to compete.

What do you think?