Best Substack Apps

129+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.8 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated November 2026

Looking for free substack apps? 20 of our 129+ tracked titles are free to download — no subscription, no trial. The rest are premium picks worth paying for.

Compare top Substack Apps (November 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1SubstackSubstackFree4.9★ (571K)NoYesNov 2026
2InstagramInstagramFree4.7★ (30M)YesYesNov 2026
3Medium: Read & Write StoriesMedium: Read & Write StoriesFree4.8★ (158K)NoYesNov 2026
4TED Talks: Watch and LearnTED Talks: Watch and LearnFree4.6★ (10K)NoNoNov 2026
5RedditRedditFree4.8★ (3.5M)YesYesNov 2026
6Deepstash: Smarter Every Day!Deepstash: Smarter Every Day!Free4.7★ (92K)NoYesNov 2026
7Academia.eduAcademia.eduFree4.8★ (17K)NoYesNov 2026
8Ground NewsGround NewsFree4.7★ (49K)NoYesNov 2026

Top Picks for Substack

Substack#1

Substack by Substack, Inc.

Videos, writing & podcasts
Editor's Choice
📡 News
4.9😐(571K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#4in News
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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.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Stable and functional app
  • 🚀 Intuitive and easy to use
  • 👍 Variety of great content
  • 👍 Supports independent writers
  • 👍 Refreshing alternative to mainstream media

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Buggy and glitchy
  • 🐛 Difficult to manage subscriptions
  • 🐛 Inconsistent user experience between app and website
  • 🔒 Privacy concerns with data collection
  • 💤 Slow performance and loading times
Instagram#2

Instagram by Instagram, Inc.

Videos, creators & friends
Strong Contender
📷 Photo & Video
4.7😐(30M ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#2in Photo & Video
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Share your life's moments and discover entertaining videos and content from friends and creators. Connect with your community, explore interests, and shop for products. Features include short-form videos, disappearing stories, and customizable posts.

What We Love

  • 💕 Excellent way to connect with friends and family
  • 🌍 Ability to discover new content and accounts
  • 🎨 Great platform for artists and creators to showcase their work
  • 🤝 Helps small businesses promote their products

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Frequent bugs and glitches
  • 🤖 Overly aggressive AI moderation leading to unfair account suspensions
  • 🔒 Poor customer support and lack of transparency around account issues
  • 📊 Declining organic reach and push towards paid advertising
  • 🔀 Confusing layout changes that make the app less user-friendly
Medium: Read & Write Stories#3

Medium: Read & Write Stories by A Medium Corporation

News, Tech, Business, Design
Worth Considering
📡 News
4.8😊(158K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#19in News
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Access a vast collection of articles, stories, and advice on diverse topics from experts and fresh voices. Engage with content through reading, writing, and community interaction. Offers unlimited access to millions of stories for members.

What We Love

  • 📚 Excellent content and writing quality
  • 🌐 Wide variety of topics and perspectives
  • 🧠 Thought-provoking and informative articles
  • 🤓 Useful for learning and personal growth
  • 🎨 Clean and minimalist design

Room to Improve

  • 🔒 Paywall limits access to content
  • 📥 Difficulty finding and accessing past articles
  • 🔍 Lack of effective search and filtering options
  • 🤖 Concerns about AI-generated content
  • 🖥️ Suboptimal experience on larger screens

More Substack apps to explore

FAQ about Substack

What are the best substack apps for iPhone?
Substack tops our substack apps ranking as of November 2026, with a 4.9-star average from 571K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes — 20 of the top substack apps we rank are free to download, including Substack and Instagram.
Substack has no ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of November 2026.
We track 129+ substack apps on the iOS App Store as of November 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.

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