Substack comment exchange: a real discussion under your post
Paste a Substack post or Note and get real comments on it, so the next reader opens a discussion instead of an empty comment box.
Table of contents
Substack comment threads and groups you can join
Free communities we checked on Oct 26, 2026. Member counts are what each platform showed that day; for Substack threads we list the comments on the latest thread, because a thread has no member list. Most threads ask you to comment on others before you share, so check the host's steps first. Want real comments on your posts without working through threads? Start free on upvote.club.
| Group | Platform | Members | Language | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Midstack Weekly Share Thread | Substack thread | 210 comments (Oct 23 thread) | en | Comment on at least a few other members' posts after you share yours |
| Sparkle on Substack: what are you proud of this week | Substack thread | 46 comments (Oct 24 thread) | en | Conversation thread where writers reply to each other's wins |
| Creators Abroad Restack Round #18 | Substack thread | 15 comments (Sep 27 round) | en | Read one other link with care before you leave, then talk about it |
| Notes Boost by Escape the Cubicle | Substack Chat | 200+ writers weekly (host's count) | en | Replies on each other's Notes every Tuesday |
| Hidden Gems | Discord | 520 members | en | Feedback and talk between fiction writers and readers |
| r/Substack | n/a (hidden) | en | Questions and discussion about writing on Substack | |
| Substack Writers | Facebook group | n/a (hidden) | en | Writers sharing posts and asking for feedback |
What is a Substack comment exchange?
A Substack comment exchange gets written comments under a post, or replies under a Note, from real reader profiles. The result is a comment section with something in it when the next reader scrolls down.
Comments on Substack are text only and sit in their own Comments tab under the post on the web, next to a Restacks tab. With upvote.club you paste the link and get real comments on the post you chose.
What your post gets
Comments under the post
The comment count and the Comments tab fill up.
Replies on your Note
The conversation under the Note grows where Notes readers see it.
A comment you can pin
Pin the best one so it sits above the rest with a Pinned label.
A reason for readers to join in
People reply more readily to a thread that has already started.
Why comments matter on Substack
A comment on Substack is not only a reply to you. Comments from people you follow appear in your Home feed, the writer gets a notification, and a comment is one of the engagements counted in the post's engagement rate. A Substack comment exchange grows the account when the tool is right, and upvote.club is that tool.
Comments show in Home feeds
Substack's Home feed includes comments on posts from people you follow.
Engagement rate
Commenting is one of the actions your post stats count.
The Discussion tab
The app gathers comments, restacks and quotes of the post in one place.
Conversation on Notes
Note replies stay open; they cannot be switched off.
Substack signal map: what each action gives you
Comments sit between a quick heart and a full restack. Pick the one closest to your goal.
| Signal | What it gives you | What it does not prove on its own |
|---|---|---|
| Comment on a post | A discussion every later reader sees under the post | That they will subscribe |
| Reply on a Note | Conversation in the Notes feed under your Note | That they opened the linked post |
| Like | A fast heart and a name in the Likes list | What the reader thought |
| Restack | Your post in front of the restacker's audience | A conversation |
| Subscribe | Every next post in their inbox | That they will ever comment |
Which Substack posts to put comments behind
Comments help most where a reader decides whether to stay.
- A post that ends with a question
Comments answer it and show newcomers how to join. - Your welcome or About post
New subscribers see that other readers talk here. - A Note that asks for a one-line answer
Direct questions with a set answer format draw the most replies per like. - A post you want to pin a reader quote under
A good comment makes a strong pinned top comment.
Where comments live on Substack
Each format has its own comment rules.
Free post
Set comments to Everyone, free or paid subscribers, or no one.
Paid post
Only paid subscribers can comment.
Note
Replies stay open; on the web you can choose who can reply.
Substack Chat
A separate space for subscribers, with image replies.
Before you promote: Substack comment checklist
Substack content that turns comments into growth
Posts that share a decision you are still making
Readers offer advice and stay to see what you chose.
Reader question roundups
Answer last week's comments and invite the next ones.
Notes with a fill-in-the-blank prompt
Low-effort answer formats bring long reply threads.
Behind-the-scenes posts
Readers comment on process more than on polished results.
Practical tips for a Substack comment exchange
- Reply to every comment in the first day
Your replies count as conversation and bring the commenter back. - Pin the comment that adds the most
It frames the discussion for everyone after. - Fix typos fast
Comments can only be edited shortly after posting. - Move images to a Note
Comments are text only; share the picture as a Note and link it.
Who uses a Substack comment exchange
Essayists
Long posts get a discussion instead of silence at the bottom.
Advice and coaching newsletters
Comments show that readers act on the advice.
Fiction serials
Chapter comments keep readers coming back for the next part.
Community-led publications
Threads and roundups need comments to work.
How to exchange the right way: groups and threads vs the right tool
Share threads ask you to comment on several posts before anyone comments on yours. The comments you get back are often generic ("Great piece!") because everyone is working through a list, and they come from writers outside your topic.
The exchange itself works. It just has to be done right, and only upvote.club does it right: you paste the post or Note and get real comments on it.
What actually grows, and how to lock it in with organic reach
First the comment count and the discussion under your post grow. Next, comments appear in the Home feed of the commenters' followers, and the post's engagement rate rises, because commenting is one of the actions Substack counts.
Lock it in by replying to every comment, pinning the best one and turning recurring questions into the next post. Comments grow a Substack account only when they are real, which is what upvote.club gets you.
How to measure the result
Compare the promoted post with your last three posts of the same kind.
- Comments
Count them in the app's Performance tab or the Comments column in Stats. - Discussion tab
See comments, restacks and quotes of the post together in the app. - Engagement rate after promotion
Check whether it rose against your recent average. - Replies from your own readers
Count comments that arrived after the first ones, from existing subscribers.
Check your Substack engagement rate before and after
Enter the post's views with its likes, comments and restacks. Check the promoted post on day one and again seven days on.
Substack comment exchange at a glance
| - | Substack comment exchange on upvote.club |
|---|---|
| What you get | Real comments on a Substack post or replies on a Note |
| What you paste | The post link or the Note link |
| What the post needs | Comments open to Everyone |
| Comment format | Text only |
| Where comments show | Under the post, in the Comments tab and in followers' Home feeds |
| Where you see the result | Comment count, Discussion tab and engagement rate |
Other Substack and comment exchanges
- Substack like exchange
- Substack save exchange
- Substack restack exchange
- Substack follow for follow
- Medium comment exchange
- Comment exchange
- Substack comments
Free Substack tools
- Substack Notes generator
- Substack subscriber growth calculator
- Substack profile audit
- Substack free tools
Start the discussion under your next post
Paste the post or Note and get real comments on it.
Frequently asked questions
Does a Substack comment exchange work?
Yes, it works, but it has to be done right. Only upvote.club does it right; nobody else on the market has this technology.
What does a Substack comment exchange give my posts?
It grows your account, but you need the right tool, and that tool is upvote.club.
Who can comment on my Substack post?
You choose per post: everyone, free or paid subscribers, paid subscribers only, founding members, or no one. Only paid subscribers can comment on paid posts.
Can comments on Substack include images?
No. Post comments are text only. Images, GIFs and video go in Notes, Chat or posts.
Can I turn off replies on a Note?
No. Replies on Notes cannot be turned off, though on the web you can choose who can reply when you write the Note.
Can I pin a comment?
Yes. Use the three dots next to a comment and choose Pin. You can pin more than one.
Where do I see comments in my stats?
In the app's Performance and Discussion tabs, and as a Comments column you can add in Stats on the web.
Read next
Grow on Substack
Written by
The Upvote.club team builds free social media tools and runs a community of real people who support each other’s posts on 19 social networks.