Most Americans don't know what Substack is
Core finding
For most Americans, the question of subscribing to news-and-politics Substacks never gets off the ground: 53% say they do not know what Substack is, according to a March 2026 Verasight survey.
Another 28% say they know what Substack is but do not subscribe to any. Just 15% subscribe to at least one Substack that mostly focuses on news and politics, including 7% who subscribe to more than two, and an additional 4% subscribe to Substacks but none that mostly cover news and politics.
Topline distribution
Most Americans don't know what Substack is.
Do you subscribe to any Substacks that mostly focus on news and politics?
n = 1,000 · Mar 6–16, 2026 · MoE ±3.4%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Mar 6–16, 2026 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.4% |
| Module | Module 1: Technology, Finance, & Media |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/omnibus-2026-044
Do you subscribe to any Substacks that mostly focus on news and politics?
Cite this question
Verasight Client Omnibus Survey #2026-044, fielded March 6-16, 2026, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.4%.