Google Trends
Checking whether a topic is rising before you write about it
Directory / Planning, Research & Automation
Planning, Research & Automation tools for Substack writers
Editorial calendars, idea capture, research and automations.
Notion
Editorial calendars, idea banks and sponsor CRMs
Obsidian
Building a personal knowledge base of notes, quotes and ideas
Readwise
Collecting highlights from books and articles to feed your writing
Trello
A simple kanban for drafts moving from idea to published
Zapier
Automating busywork such as logging new posts to a spreadsheet or sending sponsor reminders
Pricing at a glance
| Tool | Best for | Pricing (checked 2026-10-18) |
|---|---|---|
| Google Trends | Checking whether a topic is rising before you write about it | Free. |
| Notion | Editorial calendars, idea banks and sponsor CRMs | Free; Plus $10/seat/mo. |
| Obsidian | Building a personal knowledge base of notes, quotes and ideas | Free; optional Sync $4/mo and Publish $8/mo (billed annually). |
| Readwise | Collecting highlights from books and articles to feed your writing | Readwise Full $9.99/mo billed annually ($12.99 monthly); Lite $5.59/mo billed annually. |
| Trello | A simple kanban for drafts moving from idea to published | Free (up to 10 collaborators); Standard $5/user/mo billed annually. |
| Zapier | Automating busywork such as logging new posts to a spreadsheet or sending sponsor reminders | Free; Professional from $19.99/mo. |
Prices change. Always confirm on the vendor's site.
Other categories: Growth & Notes · Analytics · Cross-posting & Social · Design · Editing & Proofreading · AI Writing & Research · Audio, Podcast & Video · Embeds & Interactive · Sponsorships & Monetization
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