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Substack has announced a round of updates to its publishing features. These are operational improvements aimed at people managing newsletters and content on the platform.

Templates and Scheduling

The main addition involves templates for long-form posts. Users can now save predefined structures directly in the editor and reuse them in new drafts. This covers recurring elements like disclaimers, calls to action, or code blocks. For anyone publishing regularly with consistent formats, the time savings add up quickly.

Content scheduling also gets attention. Notes, the platform’s short-form posts similar to social media, can now be scheduled in advance across web, iOS, and Android. Scheduled content remains editable until publication.

Video and Customization

For live video, Substack Live improves event management. You can now modify title, time, and host after setting up a stream, and choose which publication to broadcast from. Streaming key access has been simplified for contributors, admins, and hosts.

The platform introduces drop caps, the enlarged opening letter that gives text a more editorial feel. Callout blocks let you highlight specific passages within articles. The homepage signup block can also be customized with different colors, logos, and messages depending on subscription tier.

These updates improve the day-to-day experience but don’t change what Substack is fundamentally. It remains a US-based service with documented ethical concerns. If you’re already using it, the new tools offer more flexibility. If you’re considering alternatives, the conversation stays relevant. European platforms like Steady and open source options like Ghost exist, though with smaller ecosystems.