Loops
Substack
| Feature | Loops | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $49/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | saas-companies, startups, product-led-growth, developers | independent-writers, journalists, newsletter-creators, thought-leaders |
| Founded | 2022 | 2017 |
| Email Campaigns | ✓ | ✗ |
| Automation Loops | ✓ | ✗ |
| Transactional Email | ✓ | ✗ |
| Audience Segments | ✓ | ✗ |
| Analytics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Api | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Newsletter | ✗ | ✓ |
| Paid Subscriptions | ✗ | ✓ |
| Podcast Hosting | ✗ | ✓ |
| Community Chat | ✗ | ✓ |
| Recommendations | ✗ | ✓ |
| Notes | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Loops Pros
- Purpose-built for SaaS (not retrofitted from marketing)
- Beautiful default templates and editor
- Transactional and marketing in one platform
- Free plan with 1,000 contacts
✗ Loops Cons
- Newer platform with fewer integrations
- Limited advanced segmentation compared to mature tools
- Not suited for non-SaaS businesses
✓ 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
Loops is built for saas companies and startups, with a focus on email-campaigns and automation-loops. 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 $49/mo for Loops. That $49/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.