We're working on that with Apple! It's in beta testing for a few writers now. The main limitation is their standard in-app payment API isn't optimized for creator platforms, where there are thousands of creators with different pricing schemes and Stripe accounts.
Ah! Yes, I do remember you mentioning some of that in the business school session. Thank you— classic Apple making things harder than they need to be for anything outside of their ecosystem😝
Will these features be backwards compatible? I still don’t have the stats option on the app. Which I suspect is because my phone isn’t compatible with the latest iOS update.
Makes total sense; we will work on that! It's quite technically complicated to sync web and app drafts, since the web has a lot of embeds and advanced functionalities we've built over the years that we'll need to remake in the app — but full syncing is definitely the goal we are working toward.
Maybe a good work-around that’s quick is being able to email yourself the draft from the app so that we writers can at least do a quick copy/paste of the app draft from our emails to the web editor. Kinda an extra step but I feel like it’s better than not having any kind of option to sync, and maybe an “email to self” feature isn’t as complicated? Or is there maybe a way to publish from the app but make the post “invisible” to everyone but you and doesn’t send it out to subscribers? That way it still acts like a draft, but people can go into the web version, unpublished, edit, and publish again.
That’s what I’ve been wanting, too, Ken and Tiffany. Next steps should be more than one concurrent phone draft, and access to phone drafts on web. Great to see movement by the Substack team on supporting mobile writing!
I think this is cool for a short note & photo. But for drafts? My workflow is still in a doc (mac v. of Word), editing there, before copying it into Substack. Is that old school now?
I’d like to be able capture an idea on the fly in a draft from my phone to finish out into a full post when I have time blocked. This isn’t a real solution for that yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll get the sync between app and desktop done soon. I just outline/draft right in Substack than start in Google Doc these days.
I thought this feature would do that, but since it doesn’t sync to desktop, it seems to me it’s no better than just drafting something in the notes app on my phone and copying it to post later.
With full syncing among iPhone, iPad, laptops, Android, and web anywhere because many of us use all for a variety of reasons. MS Word manages to sync everywhere; why not Substack also, please!
For those who might need it, you can get around the current sync limitation between the mobile app draft and the web with Airdrop. All the formatting and images seem to carry over.
Thank you so much! I signed up a few days ago and didn't understand why I couldn't use the app to write a post, and yesterday I thought "I hope they develop that soon" and here it is! So cool to be right on time for this update ☺️🫶🏻
Thank you! I have been waiting very patiently (tapping toes in background are suspicious) and I am thrilled you’re achieving this great milestone! Congratulations!
I wonder if there's a way to put a story behind a paywall after a certain period. I know about the "make all posts go behind the paywall after X period" option, but I'd like to choose which stories go behind the paywall instead of setting all of them to do so. Is there any?
A feature to opt a post out of the paywall rule could be useful. If you are choosing individual posts, can you just edit the post to change it from Everyone to Paid when the time comes? Or edit one to move it back after the rule moves it to paid? (I’ve done this and my change appeared to ‘stick’)
Is it now possible for people to start a paid subscription on the phone app? Until now, my subscribers have not been able to and have needed to use a browser on the phone or computer. I have lost a lot of new paid subscriptions because people forget or don't want a bunch of extra steps.
So far so good!
Thank you for making this finally work. It’s easily the most long awaited feature. 🙏❤️
Now… how ‘bout the ability for readers to upgrade to paid on the app?
We're working on that with Apple! It's in beta testing for a few writers now. The main limitation is their standard in-app payment API isn't optimized for creator platforms, where there are thousands of creators with different pricing schemes and Stripe accounts.
(And thanks for helping test the mobile editor.)
Ah! Yes, I do remember you mentioning some of that in the business school session. Thank you— classic Apple making things harder than they need to be for anything outside of their ecosystem😝
True ;)
Am I Good
Will these features be backwards compatible? I still don’t have the stats option on the app. Which I suspect is because my phone isn’t compatible with the latest iOS update.
Yet I have these options on other apps.
I'd like to know this too
Some of us can’t afford to buy a new phone to get Substack’s new features.
Will PayPal become an option?
This would be amazing 🙏
Oh yes that would be the next milestone for sure! Happy to see the app moving forward with practical features 🙏🥳
This is amazing progress from the Team @ Substack, thank you guys!!
I feel like the killer use case here might simply be creating new drafts on the go. That way when an idea strikes we can go straight to draft quickly.
That’s exactly what I have been hoping for. It won’t be all that useful until we can edit a draft on the computer later, but it’s a start.
Makes total sense; we will work on that! It's quite technically complicated to sync web and app drafts, since the web has a lot of embeds and advanced functionalities we've built over the years that we'll need to remake in the app — but full syncing is definitely the goal we are working toward.
Totally get it. Even just plain text syncing from the app to the full range of options on the computer would check the box for me!
Maybe a good work-around that’s quick is being able to email yourself the draft from the app so that we writers can at least do a quick copy/paste of the app draft from our emails to the web editor. Kinda an extra step but I feel like it’s better than not having any kind of option to sync, and maybe an “email to self” feature isn’t as complicated? Or is there maybe a way to publish from the app but make the post “invisible” to everyone but you and doesn’t send it out to subscribers? That way it still acts like a draft, but people can go into the web version, unpublished, edit, and publish again.
That makes sense. Fingers crossed for it! 🤞🏻
Yep, that’s crucial. Sounds like it’s on the roadmap anyway
That’s what I’ve been wanting, too, Ken and Tiffany. Next steps should be more than one concurrent phone draft, and access to phone drafts on web. Great to see movement by the Substack team on supporting mobile writing!
I think this is cool for a short note & photo. But for drafts? My workflow is still in a doc (mac v. of Word), editing there, before copying it into Substack. Is that old school now?
I’d like to be able capture an idea on the fly in a draft from my phone to finish out into a full post when I have time blocked. This isn’t a real solution for that yet, but I’m hopeful they’ll get the sync between app and desktop done soon. I just outline/draft right in Substack than start in Google Doc these days.
I thought this feature would do that, but since it doesn’t sync to desktop, it seems to me it’s no better than just drafting something in the notes app on my phone and copying it to post later.
Not great that drafts don’t cross sync but it is a great start 😊
That’d be nice! I use the Google Docs mobile app for that currently.
That's a useful tip, actually. Thank you.
Excellent idea Ken, can’t wait for that too.
Bump on this. Fully agree.
Why not use a regular notebook or note taking alternative ❓
Reg notebook is not always handy. Other note taking apps are good but it's much better to have all in one place
Exactly this
With full syncing among iPhone, iPad, laptops, Android, and web anywhere because many of us use all for a variety of reasons. MS Word manages to sync everywhere; why not Substack also, please!
THANK you! I’ve been trying to transition to substack-first instead of Instagram-first, and this is a big part of making that possible.
THIS!
Let’s go Tiffany!
100%
I really appreciate the roadmap transparency in this post 🫶
It's time to take down other social platforms 😆
For those who might need it, you can get around the current sync limitation between the mobile app draft and the web with Airdrop. All the formatting and images seem to carry over.
Good thought.
Sweet. It’s a great start, and will be truly useful when the drafts are synced between devices. Thanks!
Future looks bright for Substack 🧡
Thank you so much! I signed up a few days ago and didn't understand why I couldn't use the app to write a post, and yesterday I thought "I hope they develop that soon" and here it is! So cool to be right on time for this update ☺️🫶🏻
Perfect!!
Same! I was so confused about Posts vs Notes. We joined at the right time :)
Lucky charm 🍀
Perfect timing, Lora!
My problem also
This will ruin my screen time stats
Prepare to be annihilated 😹
😅
Thanks (as always!) for the great communication, Substack team. We appreciate you!
Where's the thanks for me? 😞
Thanks!
Looking forward to the Android editor and the other features mentioned! Thanks for keeping improving the app!
Woo woo!
Thank you! I have been waiting very patiently (tapping toes in background are suspicious) and I am thrilled you’re achieving this great milestone! Congratulations!
Substack needs to make a full fledged word processor.
Stop it 🤐
I think it’s inevitable
I wonder if there's a way to put a story behind a paywall after a certain period. I know about the "make all posts go behind the paywall after X period" option, but I'd like to choose which stories go behind the paywall instead of setting all of them to do so. Is there any?
This would be very helpful indeed.
A feature to opt a post out of the paywall rule could be useful. If you are choosing individual posts, can you just edit the post to change it from Everyone to Paid when the time comes? Or edit one to move it back after the rule moves it to paid? (I’ve done this and my change appeared to ‘stick’)
FINALLY!!!!!
LET'S GOO!!!!
Really? Some of you are writing articles from your phone? From which holy water spring are you sourcing your motivation?
The East River 🥵
YOU AGAIN
It’s like you’re trying to find me
Recency bias at play—I will do my best to erase it.
🤣🤣
Is it now possible for people to start a paid subscription on the phone app? Until now, my subscribers have not been able to and have needed to use a browser on the phone or computer. I have lost a lot of new paid subscriptions because people forget or don't want a bunch of extra steps.
They are working on it but it takes time. Looking forward to that feature as well!