Honest comparison
How Empirq stacks up.
Other platforms are good products — they're just not built for technical writing. Self-hosting is also a great option if you want to spend your weekends on infrastructure. Here's the actual line-by-line difference.
| Empirq | Other Platforms | Self-Hosted | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical writing | |||
| Inline LaTeX math | ✓native | ○block-only or image-based | ✓if you build it |
| Block LaTeX math | ✓Server-rendered | ○limited or image-based | ✓if you build it |
| Code syntax highlighting | ✓Server-rendered, 35+ languages | ○basic | ✓if you build it |
| Server-side code rendering | ✓no client JS | ✗ | ✓if you build it |
| Full article emails — math + code preserved | ✓complete article in the inbox | ○full text, but math/code often degrade | ✓if you build it |
| Outline / minimap for long articles | ✓ | ✗ | ○theme-dependent |
| Private per-article scratchpad | ✓writer notes | ○drafts only | ✓if you build it |
| Discovery | |||
| Curated subfield taxonomy | ✓25+ AI/ML subfields | ○uncurated tags, if any | ✗ |
| Subscribe to a topic, not just writers | ✓curated subfields and #tags | ○tag follows at best | ✗ |
| Algorithmic ranking | ✓opt-in, transparent | ○platform-driven curation | — |
| Community | |||
| Threaded comments | ✓writer chooses who can comment | ✓ | ✗DIY |
| Writer moderation tools | ✓hide, pin, per-article control | ✓varies | ✗DIY |
| Monetization | |||
| Writer revenue share | ✓90% (100% founding) | ~90% (varies by platform) | 100% (you keep all) |
| Direct Stripe Connect (you own the account) | ✓ | ○varies (some pay you, some flow through) | ✓if you build it |
| Multiple subscription value tiers | ○on roadmap | ✓common on most | ✓if you build it |
| Annual pricing (writer-set discount) | ✓ | ○varies | ✓if you build it |
| Choose where the free preview ends | ✓paywall break, anywhere in the article | ✓on some | ✓if you build it |
| Ownership | |||
| Subscriber export (CSV, anytime) | ✓ | ○varies | ✓ |
| Content export (Markdown, one zip) | ✓front-matter + body; images stay as URLs | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom domain | ○on roadmap | ✓on most (often paid add-on) | ✓if you set it up |
| Infrastructure (handled for you) | |||
| Hosting + SSL + CDN | ✓ | ✓ | ✗DIY |
| Email deliverability (SPF/DKIM/DMARC) | ✓Authenticated, built in | ○varies | ✗DIY (and hard) |
| Image optimization + CDN | ✓CDN-backed | ✓ | ✗DIY |
| Spam + abuse protection | ✓ | ✓ | ✗DIY |
| What we don't have (yet) | |||
| Native podcast hosting | ○on roadmap | ✓on some platforms | ✓if you build it |
| Native video hosting | ○embed YouTube / Vimeo | ○embeds; native on some | ✓if you build it |
| Mobile reader apps | ○on roadmap | ✓ | ✗ |
When each one wins.
Choose Empirq if
- You write about AI/ML and the rendering of math + code matters.
- You want subscribers to get the whole article in their inbox — math and code intact, not a “read more” teaser.
- You want subfield-based discovery (your readers searching for "diffusion models," not "tech").
- You want to keep 90% of Net Subscription Revenue (or 100% as a founding writer) without giving up the platform conveniences.
- You don't want to maintain Hugo themes on the weekend.
Choose another platform if
- You write across many topics (politics, food, finance) and want broad network effects.
- You need bundled podcast hosting and don't want to glue it in.
- You're optimizing for broad-audience algorithmic discovery on a general-purpose platform.
- You don't need math rendering or sophisticated code presentation.
Self-host if
- You want 100% revenue and complete control.
- You enjoy (or don't mind) the operational work — DNS, SSL, CDN, email deliverability, spam handling.
- You have specific requirements no platform supports.
- You already have a personal brand strong enough to drive traffic without platform discovery.
Made up your mind?
Founding writer applications are open until the first 10 spots fill.