Lemlist
Substack
| Feature | Lemlist | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $32/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | sdrs, sales-teams, agencies, b2b-outbound | independent-writers, journalists, newsletter-creators, thought-leaders |
| Founded | 2018 | 2017 |
| Cold Email | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Warmup | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Personalization | ✓ | ✗ |
| Multi Channel Sequences | ✓ | ✗ |
| Email Finder | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ab Testing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deliverability Tools | ✓ | ✗ |
| Newsletter | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid Subscriptions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Podcast Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Community Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recommendations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
| Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Lemlist Pros
- Excellent deliverability with built-in email warm-up
- AI personalization for images and text at scale
- Multi-channel (email + LinkedIn + calls) in one tool
- Free email finder and verifier included
✗ Lemlist Cons
- Per-seat pricing expensive for large teams
- UI can feel cluttered with many features
- Reporting less detailed than enterprise tools
✓ Substack Pros
- Completely free to start — no monthly fees
- Built-in paid subscription infrastructure
- Network effects from Substack recommendations
- Simple writing interface without distractions
✗ Substack Cons
- 10% cut of paid subscriber revenue
- Limited design and branding customization
- No automation or complex email sequences
The Verdict
Lemlist is built for sdrs and sales teams, with a focus on cold-email and email-warmup. Substack targets independent writers and journalists and leads with newsletter and paid-subscriptions.
On pricing, Substack is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $32/mo for Lemlist. That $32/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.