We are note the same, I am a Substack

If Substack’s new recommendations product, Notes, looks like Twitter, feels like Twitter, and allows users to post, share, and repost short-form content like Twitter – then is it, basically, Twitter?

Substack, which launched Notes to the public yesterday morning, would answer “no.” While the platforms may appear cosmetically similar, Substack’s Head of Communication explained, Twitter and Substack have fundamentally different business models that incentivize different behaviors.

• Twitter runs on ads, so it maximizes user engagement at all costs. Whatever posts get the most attention are prioritized.
• Substack Notes aims to focus on converting casual readers to paid subscribers of the writers on its platform. The idea is that content creators will be more driven to create content that respects the trust and attention of their readers.

Though Twitter’s actions last Friday make it seem as if the Elon Musk-owned platform doesn’t quite agree with its maybe/maybe-not competitor Substack‘s framing. About 48 hours after the beta launch of Notes was announced, Twitter restricted its users from retweeting or replying to tweets including Substack.com links (the decision looks to have been reversed as of Sunday).

📔 Zoom out: As it wades into the Notes waters, Substack certainly has the backing of its writers. The company launched a community fundraising round last month primarily for its own writers that, as of late last night, has raised over $7.6 million.