Substack vs The Elkhart Truth
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Substack
Discover and connect with creators, ideas, and communities through videos, writing, and podcasts. Subscribe for free or upgrade to access exclusive content and engage directly with your favorite artists and writers. Enjoy ad-free viewing and listening, and participate in live events and group chats.
- Support creators
- Ad-free videos and podcasts
- Real-time connection
- Explore independent ideas
- Livestreams and group chats
- Subscribe to favorites
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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.
The Elkhart Truth
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Bringing you the latest in local news, events and stories, The Elkhart Truth app offers a fresh way to stay connected with your community. For nearly 140 years, we've been Elkhart County’s trusted source for accurate and timely information. Expanded coverage features community events, business and high school sports. Whether you’re interested in breaking news, government updates, community events or lifestyle features, The Elkhart Truth delivers it all at your fingertips. Tune in for comprehensive coverage of local elections, watch inspiring stories about residents making a difference, or enjoy behind-the-scenes coverage from local festivals and happenings. The Elkhart Truth app is your all-access pass to everything happening in Elkhart County — delivered straight to your screen. Stay informed, stay entertained and stay engaged with the stories that matter most to you. https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Substack at none against The Elkhart Truth's shown. Substack also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 months) and chart position (#4 vs unranked). The Elkhart Truth's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Substack sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and The Elkhart Truth sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Substack ships an update every 5 days, The Elkhart Truth every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Substack | The Elkhart Truth |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (570K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 570K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Best chart rank | #4 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 244 MB | 102 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Substack, Inc. | Paxton Media Group LLC |
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
The Elkhart Truth
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Substack
- Hung Up (Monthly)$4.991 Month
- The Dworkin Report (Monthly)$4.991 Month
- Monthly$5.991 Month
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- 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
The Elkhart Truth
- Elkhart Truth monthly subscription$1.991 Month
- Elkhart Truth annual subscription$78.001 Year
Questions
Is Substack free?
Is The Elkhart Truth free?
Do Substack or The Elkhart Truth have ads?
Which is updated more often, Substack or The Elkhart Truth?
Other comparisons
