Substack Notes Scheduler Chrome Extension vs StackSweller: Which is Better?
Substack Notes Scheduler vs StackSweller—two tools solving the same problem: scheduling Substack notes. There's a $29 Chrome extension that's been around for a while. It schedules notes. It works. And it's cheap. So why would you pay $9 to $39 per month for StackSweller instead?
Let me break down what you're actually getting with each tool when comparing Substack Notes Scheduler vs StackSweller.
The One-Time Payment vs Monthly Subscription
Substack Notes Scheduler costs $29 once. That's it. No monthly fees.
StackSweller costs $9 to $39 per month.
On the surface, the Chrome extension looks like the better deal. Pay once, use forever.
But there's more to this story.
The Computer Problem
When comparing Substack Notes Scheduler vs StackSweller, both tools schedule your notes. But only one lets you actually turn off your computer.
Substack Notes Scheduler requires your browser tab to stay open. Your computer needs to be running. If you close Chrome or shut down your laptop, your notes don't publish.
This means:
- Your computer stays on all day
- You can't travel without missing scheduled posts
- If your computer crashes, your notes don't go out
- You're basically babysitting your laptop
StackSweller is cloud-based. Schedule your notes, close your laptop, go live your life. Your notes publish automatically from their servers.
No computer required. No browser tab. No worrying about whether you remembered to leave Chrome open.
The AI Gap
Substack Notes Scheduler has no AI. Zero.
You write every note yourself. Or you copy prompts from ChatGPT, paste them in, edit them, and schedule them manually.
StackSweller has AI built in. It:
- Learns your writing style
- Generates notes in your voice
- Takes your long-form articles and turns them into multiple notes automatically
- Saves you from writing everything from scratch
If you have 50 articles already published, StackSweller can turn each one into 10-15 notes. That's 500-750 notes from content you've already created.
The Chrome extension can't do this. You're copying and pasting manually.
The Content Repurposing Advantage
This is where StackSweller really separates itself.
You've written articles. Maybe dozens. Maybe hundreds. That content is sitting there doing nothing except the one-time email it sent to your list.
StackSweller imports your existing posts and automatically converts them into short-form notes. You're getting multiple uses out of work you've already done.
The Chrome extension doesn't have this feature. Every note is manual work.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Substack Notes Scheduler | StackSweller |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $29 One-time payment |
$9-39/mo Monthly subscription |
| Publishing Method | Chrome Extension Computer must be on |
Cloud-based Computer can be off |
| AI Note Generation |
✗
No AI features |
✓
AI learns your style |
| Import Existing Articles | ✗ |
✓
Turn articles into notes |
| Notes Scheduling |
✓
Requires browser open |
✓
True automation |
| Analytics Dashboard |
⚠
A bit clunky |
✓
Clean dashboard |
| Setup Complexity | Moderate Chrome extension setup |
Simple Web-based, easy |
| Travel-Friendly |
✗
Computer must stay on |
✓
Works anywhere |
The Interface and Analytics
Substack Notes Scheduler works, but the interface is functional at best. You're dealing with Chrome extension windows, settings pages, and a learning curve.
The analytics dashboard is a bit clunky. If you want to see which notes performed best, you'll need to work with the interface as-is or export data yourself.
StackSweller gives you a clean dashboard. You see your top performing notes immediately. No exports. No spreadsheets. Just data you can actually use.
If you're someone who wants simple and clean, the Chrome extension isn't it.
The Real Comparison
Substack Notes Scheduler is good if:
- You work from a desktop that's always on
- You don't mind writing every note manually
- You're comfortable with Chrome extension setup
- You want to pay once and never again
- You don't need AI or content repurposing
- You're okay with a clunky analytics dashboard
StackSweller is better if:
- You travel or work from a laptop
- You want AI to help write notes
- You have existing content to repurpose
- You want simple, clean analytics
- You prefer set-it-and-forget-it automation
- You don't want to babysit your computer
The Math
Let's be honest about the money.
$29 once vs $9-39 per month. After 3 months at $9/month, you've paid $27. After that, you're paying more than the Chrome extension.
But here's what you're actually paying for:
- True automation (computer off)
- AI generation saving you hours per week
- Content repurposing from existing articles
- Clean analytics without spreadsheet work
- No technical babysitting
If StackSweller's AI generates even 10 notes per month that you would've written manually, and each note takes 5 minutes to write, that's 50 minutes saved. At 40+ years old with a job and family, your time is worth more than $9.
The Chrome extension is cheaper. StackSweller gives you your time back.
The Bottom Line
Substack Notes Scheduler is a solid tool. It works. It's cheap. And if you're on a tight budget and don't mind the limitations, it gets the job done.
But it's not automatic. It's not intelligent. And it chains you to your computer.
StackSweller is built for creators who want to grow their audience without adding more manual work to their day. You schedule once, the system handles the rest, and you get back to doing what you're actually good at.
If $29 one-time is your budget, get the Chrome extension. If your time is worth more than that, try StackSweller.
Related: Compare StackSweller vs WriteStack or learn how to schedule Substack notes effectively.
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