How to Cite a Substack Newsletter
Updated August 2026
Citing a Substack post or newsletter? Here's the format in APA, MLA, and Chicago — it's cited like a blog post, with the newsletter as the publication.
Use the author, the post title, the newsletter name, the date, and the URL.
The format
Author → date → post title → newsletter name → URL. Build it in the generator under Manual Entry → Blog post.
Newton, C. (2026, February 18). The platform shift nobody is talking about. Platformer. https://www.platformer.news/p/the-platform-shift
In-text(Newton, 2026)
Newton, Casey. "The platform shift nobody is talking about." Platformer, 18 Feb. 2026, https://www.platformer.news/p/the-platform-shift. Accessed 1 June 2026.
In-text(Newton)
Newton, Casey. "The platform shift nobody is talking about." Platformer. February 18, 2026. https://www.platformer.news/p/the-platform-shift.
In-text(Newton 2026)
What Substack is — and why citing it matters
Substack is a newsletter platform where independent writers — including academics, journalists, and subject experts — publish directly to subscribers. Because so much serious commentary now lives there instead of in traditional outlets, Substack posts increasingly show up as sources in essays and research, especially in the humanities and social sciences.
It's cited as a blog/newsletter: the individual author is the author, and the newsletter's name is the publication (container).
Substack-specific tips
- Author = the writer, not Substack. Substack is the host, not the publisher of record.
- Newsletter name = the container (e.g., Platformer), italicized in APA/MLA.
- Use the post's permalink as the URL; include the access date.
- Paywalled posts are still citable — note that access may be restricted if relevant.
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Go Premium — $5/monthFrequently asked questions
- Is the author Substack or the writer?
- The writer. Substack is the platform; the individual author goes in the author slot, and the newsletter name is the publication.
- How do I cite a Substack newsletter in APA?
- Author. (Year, Month Day). Post title. Newsletter Name. URL — the same shape as a blog post.
- Can I cite a paywalled Substack post?
- Yes. Cite it normally; you can note that full access requires a subscription if that's relevant to your reader.