Step-by-Step Guide: Building a Substack Clone with Adalo

This comprehensive tutorial will walk you through creating your own newsletter publishing platform using Adalo's no-code builder. With newsletter subscriptions growing rapidly worldwide, there's never been a better time to launch your own content platform—and you can do it without writing a single line of code.

Why Build Your Own Newsletter Platform Instead of Using Substack

Understanding the Cost of Platform Dependency

While Substack offers quick setup, it charges a 10% platform fee plus Stripe’s payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per charge in the U.S.). When you build your own platform with Adalo, you own your data, your audience, and your revenue streams completely.

Analyst estimates vary, but most project the no-/low-code market to reach $65 billion by 2027.

The Platform Independence Advantage

Building your own newsletter platform gives you:

• Complete data ownership – Your subscriber list belongs to you
• Custom branding – No platform logos or restrictions
• Zero transaction fees – Keep 100% of subscription revenue (minus payment processor fees)
• Full creative control – Design and features match your vision
• Migration security – No risk of platform policy changes affecting your business

What You Can Build: Newsletter Platform Feature Overview

Core Publishing Features

Your Substack clone will include:

• Content publishing system – Write, edit, and schedule posts
• Subscriber management – Track readers and segment audiences
• Email delivery integration – Send posts directly to inboxes
• Paid subscriptions – Monetize with tiered membership
• Free tier access – Offer preview content to grow audience
• Member-only posts – Gate premium content behind paywalls
• Archive pages – Searchable library of all published content
• Author profiles – Multiple writer support
• Comment sections – Engage directly with readers
• Analytics dashboard – Track growth and engagement

Getting Started with Adalo for No-Code Development

Step 1: Create Your Adalo Account

1. Visit Adalo.com and click "Sign Up"
2. Choose your plan (start with Free for testing)
3. Verify your email address
4. Complete the onboarding questionnaire

Step 2: Initialize Your Newsletter App

1. From your dashboard, click "Create New App"
2. Name your app (e.g., "Creator Newsletter")
3. Choose "Web App" as your primary platform
4. Select "Start from Scratch" or browse available templates
5. Click "Continue" to access the builder

Step 3: Configure Your App Theme

1. Set your primary brand color (used for headers, CTAs)
2. Choose a secondary color (accents, links)
3. Select a readable font for long-form content (consider serif for articles)
4. Upload your logo (PNG or SVG recommended)
5. Click "Save" to apply theme settings

Learn more about Adalo's visual builder and customization options.

Building Your Database: Posts, Authors, and Subscribers

Step 4: Enhance the Users Collection

Adalo automatically creates a Users collection. Enhance it for your newsletter:

1. Click the Database icon in the left sidebar
2. Select the "Users" collection
3. Add these properties (click "+ Add Property" for each):
   
   • Display Name (Text)
   • Bio (Long Text)
   • Profile Photo (Image)
   • User Type (Text) – Values: "Reader", "Author", "Admin"
   • Subscription Status (Text) – Values: "Free", "Paid", "Cancelled"
   • Subscription Tier (Text) – Values: "Monthly", "Annual", "Founding Member"
   • Email Verified (True/False)
   • Subscription Start Date (Date)
   • Stripe Customer ID (Text)

Step 5: Create the Posts Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Posts"
3. Add these properties:
   
   • Title (Text)
   • Subtitle (Text)
   • Content (Long Text)
   • Featured Image (Image)
   • Publish Date (Date & Time)
   • Status (Text) – Values: "Draft", "Published", "Scheduled"
   • Access Level (Text) – Values: "Free", "Paid Only"
   • Category (Text) – Values based on your content pillars
   • Read Time (Number) – Minutes to read
   • View Count (Number)
   • Slug (Text) – URL-friendly version of title

Step 6: Create the Comments Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Comments"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Comment Text (Long Text)
   • Posted Date (Date & Time – Automatic)
   • Likes Count (Number)
   • Is Edited (True/False)
   • Status (Text) – Values: "Published", "Flagged", "Deleted"

Step 7: Create the Subscriptions Collection

1. Click "+ Add Collection"
2. Name it "Subscriptions"
3. Add properties:
   
   • Stripe Subscription ID (Text)
   • Amount (Number)
   • Billing Period (Text) – Values: "Monthly", "Annual"
   • Status (Text) – Values: "Active", "Past Due", "Cancelled"
   • Start Date (Date)
   • Next Billing Date (Date)
   • Cancellation Date (Date)

Step 8: Set Up Database Relationships

1. In Posts collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Author" (One author can have many posts)
• Add relationship to Comments: One-to-Many

2. In Comments collection:

• Add relationship to Users: "Commenter" (One user can have many comments)
• Add relationship to Posts: Many-to-One

3. In Subscriptions collection:

• Add relationship to Users: One-to-One

Adalo's relational database handles complex data structures without requiring SQL knowledge.

Designing the Reader Experience: Homepage and Post Screens

Step 9: Build the Homepage

1. On your default screen, rename it to "Homepage"

2. Add a Header section:

• Newsletter logo (Image component)
• Navigation menu (List of links)
• "Subscribe" button (prominent CTA)

3. Add a Featured Posts section:

• Custom List component
• Filter: Status = "Published", Sort by: Publish Date (newest first)
• Show: Featured Image, Title, Subtitle, Author Name, Publish Date
• Limit to 3-5 posts

4. Add All Posts feed:

• Custom List of Posts
• Filter: Status = "Published", Access Level = "Free" OR User → Subscription Status = "Paid"
• Display: Thumbnail, Title, Excerpt, Read Time, Category

Step 10: Create Individual Post Pages

1. Add new screen: "Post Detail"

2. Set as detail screen for Posts collection

3. Add post header:

• Image: Current Post → Featured Image (full width)
• Text: Current Post → Title (large heading)
• Text: Current Post → Subtitle
• Text: Current Post → Author → Display Name
• Text: Current Post → Publish Date (formatted)
• Text: Current Post → Read Time + " min read"

4. Add main content area:

• Text: Current Post → Content (formatted for readability)
• Set line height: 1.6-1.8 for easy reading

5. Add engagement section:

• Social share buttons
• View counter
• "Like" button (updates count in database)

Step 11: Add Content Gating

1. Add Conditional Visibility to post content:

• Show if: Current Post → Access Level = "Free" OR Logged In User → Subscription Status = "Paid"
• Otherwise show paywall message

2. Create paywall overlay:

• Text: "This post is for paid subscribers only"
• Button: "Subscribe to Read" → Links to subscription page
• Text: Preview first 2-3 paragraphs for all users

Implementing Content Monetization with Stripe Integration

Step 12: Install Stripe Payment Component

1. Navigate to Adalo Marketplace
2. Search for "Stripe"
3. Click "Install" on Stripe Payment component
4. Return to your app editor

Step 13: Configure Stripe Account

1. Create account at Stripe.com
2. Complete business verification
3. Navigate to Developers → API Keys
4. Copy your Publishable Key and Secret Key
5. Add the Stripe component to a screen and click Connect with Stripe (or use the Stripe Subscription component) to authorize your account, no manual API key pasting in app settings is required.
6. Save integration settings

Step 14: Create Subscription Plans Screen

1. Add new screen: "Subscribe"

2. Add pricing cards for each tier:

• Free Tier: $0/month, access to free posts only
• Monthly: $5-10/month, all content access
• Annual: $50-100/year (save 15-20%), all content access
• Founding Member: $200-500 lifetime, all access + perks

3. For each paid tier, add Stripe Payment Button:

• Set amount based on tier
• Select subscription type (recurring)
• Set billing frequency
• On successful payment → Create Subscription record → Use Stripe webhooks/automation to update the User’s status; syncing via the Adalo Collections API requires the Team or Business plan.

Step 15: Build Subscription Management

1. Create "Account Settings" screen

2. Add subscription details section:

• Current plan
• Next billing date
• Payment method (last 4 digits)

3. Add action buttons:

• "Update Payment Method" → Stripe component
• "Cancel Subscription" → Updates Subscription Status, sets cancellation date
• "Upgrade Plan" → Shows available higher tiers

No-code platforms typically charge monthly fees for paid tiers, far less than the 10% Substack takes from all subscriptions.

Setting Up Email Delivery and Notifications

Step 16: Install Zapier Integration

1. Go to Adalo's Zapier page
2. Click "Connect to Zapier"
3. Sign up or log in to Zapier
4. Create new Zap

Step 17: Configure Post Notification Zap

1. Trigger: Adalo → New Record in Posts Collection

2. Add Filter: Status = "Published"

3. Action: Email by Zapier → Send Outbound Email

4. Configure email:

• To: Pull all Users where Subscription Status ≠ "Cancelled"
• Subject: [Your Newsletter Name] – [Post Title]
• Body: HTML template with post excerpt, featured image, "Read More" link

5. Test and activate Zap

Step 18: Set Up Welcome Email

1. Create new Zap
2. Trigger: Adalo → New User Created
3. Action: Email → Send welcome message
4. Configure:
   
   • Introduce your newsletter
   • Set expectations (publishing frequency)
   • Link to best posts or archives
   • Include subscription upgrade CTA

Step 19: Set Up Email Notifications

Note: Adalo supports Trigger Notifications to logged-in users on iOS, Android and Web; no specific “Professional” plan is required for in-app triggers. If you need to send notifications via API, that requires the Team or Business plan.

1. Configure email notifications through Zapier
2. Set up triggers for:
   
   • New post published: Email all subscribers
   • New comment on user's post: Email post author
   • Reply to comment: Email original commenter

Adding User Authentication and Subscriber Management

Step 20: Build Signup Flow

1. Create "Sign Up" screen

2. Add Form component:

• Email (required)
• Password (required, minimum 8 characters)
• Display Name (required)
• Profile Photo (optional)

3. Add Checkbox: "I agree to receive newsletter emails"

4. Submit button actions:

• Create User record
• Send verification email
• Navigate to "Welcome" screen

Step 21: Create Login Screen

1. Add "Login" screen

2. Add Form:

• Email input
• Password input
• "Remember me" toggle

3. Add Button: "Login"

• Action: Log In User
• On success → Navigate to Homepage
• On failure → Show error message

4. Add helper links:

• "Forgot Password?" → Password reset flow
• "Don't have an account? Sign up" → Sign Up screen

Step 22: Build User Profile Pages

1. Create "Profile" screen

2. Show user information:

• Profile photo
• Display name
• Bio
• Join date
• Subscription status badge

3. Add List of user's published comments

4. Add Button: "Edit Profile" (only visible to logged-in user viewing their own profile)

Publishing Your Newsletter Platform to Web and Mobile

Step 23: Configure Web Publishing Settings

1. Go to Settings → Publishing → Web App
2. Set app name (appears in browser tab)
3. Upload favicon (appears in browser)
4. Set default meta description for SEO
5. Configure social sharing image

Step 24: Set Up Custom Domain (Starter Plan Required)

1. Purchase domain from registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace Domains)

2. In Adalo, go to Settings → Custom Domain

3. Enter your domain name

4. Follow DNS configuration instructions:

• Add CNAME record pointing to Adalo servers
• Wait 24-48 hours for DNS propagation

5. Enable HTTPS (automatic once DNS is configured)

Step 25: Publish Web App

1. Click Publish button in top-right
2. Select "Web App"
3. Review app preview
4. Confirm publication
5. Test at your custom domain

Step 26: Deploy to Mobile App Stores (Professional Plan Required)

1. For iOS (requires $99/year Apple Developer account):

• Prepare app store listing (screenshots, description, keywords)
• Upload icon (1024×1024px)
• Set privacy policy URL
• Submit through Adalo's iOS publishing flow

2. For Android (requires one-time $25 Google Play fee):

• Prepare Play Store listing
• Upload feature graphic (1024×500px)
• Set content rating
• Submit through Adalo's Android publishing flow

For web, publishing to an Adalo subdomain is free; custom domains require the Starter plan or higher.

Choosing the Right Adalo Plan for Your Newsletter

Free Plan: Testing Your Concept

Perfect for validating your newsletter idea:

• Unlimited test apps
• Limited records (check current limits)
• 1 editor
• Adalo subdomain (yourapp.adalo.com)
• All core features available

Best for: Testing concept, building MVP, learning platform

Starter Plan: Launch Ready

When you're ready to go live ($36/month annually):

• 1 published app
• Custom domain support
• Remove "Made with Adalo" branding
• Custom fonts and branding
• Higher record limits
• Increased storage

Best for: Solo creators launching their first newsletter

Professional Plan

For growing newsletters ($52/month annually):

• Multiple published apps
• Team collaborators
• Custom integrations
• Geolocation features
• iOS and Android publishing
• Increased storage
• Priority support

Best for: Creators ready for mobile apps and team collaboration

Team Plan

For established publications ($160/month annually):

• Multiple published apps
• Multiple editors
• Advanced integrations like Xano (check plan requirements)
• Priority support
• Maximum storage

Best for: Multi-author publications, media companies

Check Adalo's pricing page for current plan features and limits.

Advanced Features: Analytics, Search, and Comments

Step 27: Add Analytics Tracking

1. Visit Adalo Marketplace
2. Install analytics components
3. Create "Analytics Dashboard" screen (admin only)
4. Add metrics:
   
   • Total subscribers (count Users where Email Verified = True)
   • Free vs. Paid breakdown (percentage chart)
   • Monthly recurring revenue (sum active subscriptions)
   • Top posts by views
   • Subscription conversion rate

Step 28: Implement Search Functionality

1. Add "Search" screen
2. Add Text Input: "Search posts..."
3. Add Custom List of Posts:
   
   • Filter: Title contains [Search Input] OR Content contains [Search Input]
   • Filter: Status = "Published"
   • Show relevant results with highlighted search terms

Step 29: Build Comment System

1. On Post Detail screen, add comments section

2. Add Form to create new comment:

• Text input for comment
• Submit → Create Comment (User = Logged In User, Post = Current Post)

3. Add List of existing comments:

• Filter: Post = Current Post, Status = "Published"
• Sort by: Posted Date (newest or oldest first)
• Show: Commenter name, profile photo, comment text, date

4. Add moderation for authors:

• "Delete" button (visible only to post author)
• "Flag" button (for readers to report inappropriate comments)

Step 30: Add Bookmarking Feature

1. Create "Bookmarks" collection

2. Add relationship to Users and Posts

3. On each post, add bookmark button:

• Action: Create Bookmark record
• Toggle between "Bookmark" and "Remove Bookmark"

4. Create "My Bookmarks" screen showing saved posts

Maintaining and Scaling Your Newsletter Platform

Step 31: Monitor Performance

Adalo provides reliable performance:

1. Check app performance regularly through Adalo dashboard
2. Monitor subscriber growth trends
3. Track which posts drive most subscriptions
4. Review comment engagement
5. Analyze payment success rates

Step 32: Optimize Database as You Grow

1. Archive old posts (move to separate collection if needed)
2. Use database relationships efficiently
3. Implement pagination for long lists
4. Clear cancelled subscriptions after retention period
5. Back up subscriber data regularly (export to CSV)

Step 33: Scale Your Team

1. Invite collaborators via Settings → Team

2. Set role permissions:

• Admin: Full access
• Editor: Create/edit content only
• Viewer: Read-only access

3. Add team member profiles to About page

4. Create editorial calendar using custom collections

Step 34: Expand Features Over Time

Popular additions from successful newsletter platforms:

• Podcast integration for audio newsletters
• Member directory for community building
• Events calendar for webinars or meetups
• Referral program for subscriber growth
• Gift subscriptions
• Bundle subscriptions with other creators

Why Adalo Is the Right Choice for Newsletter Creators

Adalo empowers makers to bring their publishing ideas to life without technical barriers. With its visual drag-and-drop builder, you can create a fully-functional newsletter platform that rivals Substack—while maintaining complete ownership of your content, audience, and revenue.

The platform's built-in relational database handles complex publishing workflows, from subscription management to content gating, without requiring backend development knowledge. You get the same powerful features that would typically require a team of developers, but at a fraction of the cost.

If you can make a slide deck, you can make an app with Adalo.

Plus, with Adalo's Stripe integration, Zapier connection, and flexible publishing options, you're not locked into a single platform's rules. You control your monetization, your data, and your future.

You can complete basic app structure and launch in a weekend, making this the fastest path from idea to published newsletter platform.

Resources for Continued Learning:

• Adalo App Academy – Video tutorials
• Component Marketplace – Extended functionality
• Adalo Community Forum – Peer support
• Integration Documentation – Connect external services

Remember: The no-code platform market is projected to reach $65 billion by 2027, proving that building without code isn't just viable—it's the future. Your newsletter platform is just the beginning of what you can create.