Change record
CA-C-002174
Substack Terms of Use
Entity
Date detected
May 19, 2026
Effective date
May 19, 2026
Severity
Low
Direction
Neutral
Changes
+1 sentence added · 1 sentence modified

Impact Summary

Low Neutral for users
Affected users
All users

Substack's Terms of Use footer navigation was updated on May 19, 2026 to add comparative product links. The footer now includes links to 'Substack vs. beehiiv' and 'Substack vs. Patreon' in the navigation menu. This is a navigational and marketing change to the terms document structure, not a modification of substantive contractual rights or obligations.

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What this means for you

This change modifies the navigation structure and footer links in Substack's Terms of Use document, not the substantive contractual terms. The addition of comparative product links does not alter user rights, obligations, data handling, fees, or service conditions. The change is organizational and marketing-focused.

This change record describes what was added, removed, or modified in the document. Analysis reflects what the updated agreement states or permits. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology

Evidence Verification

✓ Verified
Previous Version
1e4bffffb538cde497a4cdc045a58b8c86e4b9ea15dc72835ed88268f04bb5f7
May 6, 2026 05:48 UTC
✓ Verified
Current Version
61fd991a2f5fd8e53322ec1a62344bf86edfa56331f35a0d1b4571dafde04478
May 19, 2026 00:17 UTC
✓ Verified
Change Detected
May 19, 2026 00:17 UTC
Analysis Methodology
✓ Verified
Source Document
https://substack.com/tos
Citation Record
Entity: Substack
Document: Substack Terms of Use
Record ID: CA-C-002174
Captured: 2026-05-19 00:17:25 UTC
URL: https://conductatlas.com/change/2026-05-19-substack-substack-terms-of-use-2174/
Accessed: Aug. 18, 2026
Permanent archival reference. Stable identifier suitable for legal filings, compliance documentation, and research citation.
For legal and compliance teams

Institutional Analysis

Assessment

No institutional impact. This is a navigational footer update adding marketing comparison links to the Terms of Use document. No changes to contractual obligations, data processing, compliance requirements, or governance provisions have been made. This …

🔒 Full institutional analysis

Regulatory exposure, obligation change, escalation trigger, board-ready language, and recommended action for legal and compliance teams.

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ConductAtlas provides verified policy intelligence sourced directly from platform documents. All analysis is intended to support, not replace, legal and compliance review. Record CA-C-002174.

Full Changes

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Document Context

Version history → Policy drift analysis → Document page →
Document
Substack Terms of Use
Entity
Substack
Captured
May 19, 2026
Source URL
https://substack.com/tos
Other changes to Substack Terms of Use
Previous change May 6, 2026
Substack added one navigation link to its site architecture on May 6, 2026: a new 'For media founders' option in …
Low Neutral
Next change Jun 16, 2026
Substack added a reference to 'Brand Partnerships' in the footer navigation of their Terms of Use on June 16, 2026. …
Low Neutral
View full version history →
More from Substack
Jun 28, 2026 Low
Substack Privacy Policy

Substack's privacy policy included a navigation menu item referencing 'For media founders' in its updated version published June 28, 2026. …

Jun 28, 2026 Low
Substack Terms of Use

Substack updated its navigation menu on June 28, 2026 by adding 'For media founders' to its list of creator categories. …

Jun 16, 2026 Low
Substack Privacy Policy

Substack updated its privacy policy footer on June 16, 2026 to add a reference to 'Brand Partnerships' in the navigation …

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