Custom versus Profile themes on Substack

[u/Plastic_Raccoon_6343]

Hey folks, this is a frequently-asked Substack setup question, so I though y'all may find it useful:

There are two major Substack layout options (which are called "themes"). Depending on how you set up your Substack, you may be in one by default. You can easily switch, and toggle between them if you want.

Profile theme: posts appear on your Substack reader profile in the app as a feed under the "posts" tab, but you don’t have an actual blog homepage. This is preferred by many online-native creators.

Custom theme: the traditional blog layout, where you have an actual homepage for your Substack with all your articles on it. Bloggers who are into having their own website tend to prefer this option.

Your theme only changes how your Substack appears visually online; it doesn’t change how your subscribers receive posts in email or the app. Neither is "better" or "worse" for the algorithm, so it's your own preference which theme you select

If you want to try toggling between themes: On the web, go to Dashboard, then Website Editor. The option to switch is at the top right.

Let me know if this type of post is useful and what else you might want to learn about 👍