Comparison

Substack vs Beacon Signal

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Substack

Discover and connect with creators through videos, writing, and podcasts. Subscribe to support your favorites, enjoy ad-free content, and engage in live discussions. Explore independent ideas across various topics.

Highlights
  • Subscribe to creators
  • Ad-free videos and podcasts
  • Livestreams and live chats
  • Explore independent ideas
  • Connect with communities
  • Read-aloud articles
Features
Read full description

Substack is a new media app that connects you with the creators, ideas, and communities you care about most. - Support the creators you love: Subscribe for free or upgrade to view original work and connect directly with your favorite writers, artists, and podcasters. - Enjoy ad-free videos and podcasts: Access short-form clips, video episodes, and read-aloud articles without interruptions. - Connect in real time: Join livestreams and live group chats, where top creators bring their biggest supporters into their world. - Explore independent ideas: Discover bold opinions and engaging views across food, sports, politics, fashion, comedy, finance, and more. How it works: 1. Download the Substack app. 2. Claim your handle. 3. Explore the feed to enjoy notes, videos, and clips from creators. 4. Subscribe to your favorites for free, tune into their livestreams and join private group chats.

About

Beacon Signal

This app provides clear, source-linked information on important civic issues, helping users understand their impact and how to get involved. It organizes complex topics into accessible stories, tracks leader stances, and allows participation in community feedback surveys.

Highlights
  • Source-linked proof on issues
  • Clear, accessible stories
  • Track civic leader stances
  • Explore Beacon Scores
  • Participate in Pulse surveys
  • Community sentiment tracking
Features
Read full description

Beacon is a modern civic commons built to help people understand what is happening, why it matters, and where their voice can make a difference. Instead of doomscrolling through fragmented headlines, social media noise, and divisive commentary, Beacon organizes source-linked proof around high-consequence issues into clear, accessible stories. Follow the issues shaping public life. Track where civic leaders stand. Explore Beacon Scores. Participate in Pulse surveys that turn individual feedback into visible community signal. Beacon brings together proof, context, participation, and accountability in one simple experience, helping you stay informed, act with purpose, and see how public sentiment is moving over time. Whether you want to understand a major issue, follow your representatives, share your perspective, or replace outrage with constructive engagement, Beacon gives you a clearer way to participate in public life.

Screenshots

Substack4 screens
Beacon Signal3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Beacon Signal at none against Substack's 10. Substack's advantage is ratings volume (564K vs 13) and review sentiment (73% vs 50%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Substack sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Beacon Signal asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Substack against 4.8 for Beacon Signal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Substack has 564K ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of Substack's written reviews are positive against 50% of Beacon Signal's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Substack versus Beacon Signal: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSubstackBeacon Signal
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (564K ratings) — better4.8 (13 ratings)
Positive reviews72.7% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings564K — better13
Update frequencyWeeklyWeekly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank#3 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TV — betteriPhone
Requires iOS17.016.4 — better
Further details — not scored
Size239 MB42 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperSubstack, Inc.Beacon Signal, Inc.

Customer experience

Substack

All ratings562,889 ratings
Positive97.6%
Neutral1.2%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews4,962 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative20.6%

Beacon Signal

All ratings13 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Bugs and requests

Substack

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Login issues and inability to sign in
  • Inconsistent behavior when archiving/deleting posts
  • Playback issues with audio content
  • Incompatibility with older devices or operating systems

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add search functionality within app
  • Improve notification management
  • Allow customization of font size and style
  • Implement ability to mark articles as read/unread
  • Add option to collapse/expand comment threads

Beacon Signal

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Substack

Subscriptions10
  • Hung Up (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • The Dworkin Report (Monthly)$4.991 Month
  • Monthly$5.991 Month
Show 7 more
  • Isolation Journals (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • Ettingermentum (monthly)$5.991 Month
  • What To Cook (Monthly)$5.991 Month
  • The Message Box (Monthly)$7.991 Month
  • House Inhabit (Monthly)$8.991 Month
  • Noahpinion (Monthly)$9.991 Month
  • Slow Boring (Monthly)$9.991 Month
None

Beacon Signal

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Substack free?
Substack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Beacon Signal free?
Beacon Signal is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Substack or Beacon Signal?
Substack is rated higher. Substack averages 4.9 out of 5 from 564K ratings, while Beacon Signal averages 4.8 from 13 ratings.
Do Substack or Beacon Signal have ads?
Neither Substack nor Beacon Signal shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Substack or Beacon Signal?
Substack ships an update weekly, and Beacon Signal weekly. Most recently, Substack was updated on November 4, 2026 and Beacon Signal on October 30, 2026.

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