The short answer: Substack Lists are themed collections of publications, launched on 29 October 2026 as the next generation of recommendations. Owners and admins make them from the Recommendations dashboard on web or in the app. Each list gets a name, a description, a blurb per publication, a shareable link and an Activity feed. Nobody pays to be on one: curators add you.
Based on Substack's launch post and Help Center, checked 30 October 2026.
This is about the curated Lists feature. For the bestseller and Rising leaderboards, see how the Substack bestseller list works.
What Substack Lists are
Substack calls Lists "the next generation of recommendations" (Substack, 29 October 2026). Each list has its own activity feed of the latest posts and Notes from its creators, in chronological order.
Lists are dynamic: when a curator adds a publication, people who saved the list see its new posts too. Substack also says "nobody pays to be on a list."
| Part of a list | What it does |
|---|---|
| Name and description | Tells readers what ties the list together (name up to 100 characters) |
| Blurb per publication | Your reason for adding, up to 500 characters, same on every list |
| Public link | Share off Substack; custom links on web only |
| Activity tab | Chronological posts and Notes from everyone on the list |
| Save | Puts new posts from the list in the reader's Home feed |
| Stats | Saves (all time and 30 days); traffic sent to each writer |
Source: Substack's launch post and Substack Help, checked 30 October 2026.
One example from Substack's launch post: Jasmine Sun's list of publications she reads to keep up with AI.
How to make a Substack list
Substack Help says you need to own or admin a publication to create a list. Anyone can save one. Every list is public, though private publications show recommendations to subscribers only (Substack Help).
On the web
- On the web version of your Substack, click Recommendations in the left sidebar.
- Under Your lists, click New list.
- Add a Name (up to 100 characters) and a Description.
- Check the pre-filled Public link or make your own (lowercase letters, numbers and hyphens).
- Click Save changes.
- Under Publications in list, click Add publication.
- Search for a publication, select it and write a Reason for adding (up to 500 characters, optional).
- Click Add to list.
In the Substack app
- On your profile, tap Recommendations and Subscriptions.
- Tap the Lists tab and select Create new list.
- Enter a name and a description, then tap Continue.
- Open your list and tap Add publication.
- Pick from your subscriptions or use Search publications.
- Tap the publication, write a short blurb and tap Recommend.
Shortcut: on a publication's profile, tap ••• and select Add to list.
Tip: write each blurb as the reason a stranger should read this writer.
What happens to your existing recommendations
Substack Help says your current recommendations become your first list, called Recommendations, at the same your.substack.com/recommendations link. You can create up to 50 more. A publication can sit on several lists, and its reason for adding is shared, so editing it once updates every list.
How to share a list and see how it's doing
Substack says a list can be saved, shared on Notes as a card in the feed, or shared off Substack with a link. On the web, click Share to copy the link. All your lists appear at your.substack.com/lists and on your profile.
A list card shares writers. A Post Gallery shares posts in a single Note.
For stats, the Your lists table shows Saves (all time) and Saves (30d): counts only, no names. Substack says you can also see how much traffic a list sends to each writer. Substack hasn't said where that number appears.
What readers see when they save a list
Anyone who opens a list sees each publication with your blurb, plus the Activity tab. Saved lists sit on the reader's Saved page, and new posts from them show up in Home.
Struggling to stay consistent on Substack?
Batch and queue your Substack Notes in minutes, track which Notes convert subscribers, and grow without burning out.
How to get added to Substack lists
A curator has to add you, and Substack hasn't described a way to request a spot. Three ideas that make you easier to add:
- Recommend and list the writers you read. Substack Help says writers can see who recommends them under Incoming recommendations.
- Show up where curators read. Writers meet each other in Notes, so growing your Substack with Notes keeps you in view, as does Substack's Discover page.
- Make your About page clear, so a curator can write your blurb fast.
To leave a list, Substack Help says you can block the curator (see the FAQ below).
Five list ideas worth making
- Your niche's essential reads for any newcomer to your topic.
- New writers you're betting on.
- A start here list of writers who pair well with yours.
- Writers you collaborate with, such as guest authors and co-hosts.
- A topic list tied to a series you're writing.
FAQ
What are Substack Lists?
Curated, public collections of publications around a theme. Substack launched them on 29 October 2026 as the next generation of recommendations. Each list has its own link and an Activity feed of the latest posts and Notes from everyone on it.
Can you make lists on Substack?
Yes. On web, open Recommendations in the left sidebar and click New list. In the app, tap Recommendations and Subscriptions on your profile, then Lists and Create new list. Substack Help says you need to own or admin a publication.
How do I get added to a Substack list?
A curator has to add you. Substack hasn't described a way to request a spot, and nobody pays to be on a list. The route is the same as earning recommendations: be visible to writers in your niche and recommend the writers you read.
How will I know if someone added me to a list?
With the New recommenders notification on in Settings, Substack Help says you get an email when someone you subscribe to recommends you. You can also check Incoming recommendations. Substack hasn't said whether there is a separate alert for lists.
What happened to my existing recommendations?
They became your first list, called Recommendations, at the same your.substack.com/recommendations link, so nothing you shared breaks. Substack Help says this list can't be renamed or deleted.
Can I see how my list is performing?
Yes. The Your lists table shows Saves (all time) and Saves (30d), counts only. Substack also says curators can see how much traffic a list sends to each writer on it.
What happens when someone saves a list?
New posts and Notes from its publications start appearing in their Home feed, labeled with the list. If the curator adds a publication later, its posts show up too. Saved lists sit on the reader's Saved page under Lists.
Can I share a list on Notes?
Yes. Substack says a list shared on Notes appears as a card in the feed. You can also copy its link to share off Substack. Custom list links can only be made on the web.
How do I remove my publication from someone's list?
Block the curator. Substack Help says blocking removes your publication from their recommendations and every list and stops them recommending you again. It also unsubscribes and unfollows you both.
Are Substack Lists the same as the bestseller or Rising lists?
No. Lists are curated by writers. The bestseller and Rising leaderboards are rankings Substack builds from paid subscriptions and growth. Our bestseller list guide, linked at the top, covers those.
The short version
Substack Lists turn recommendations into themed, saveable collections. Make one, write a real blurb for each writer and share it on Notes. For the wider plan, see how to grow a Substack.
Curators find writers through Notes, so showing up there every week matters. If you plan Notes ahead, WriteStack schedules them and publishes through Sync plus the Chrome extension. More than 100 Substack bestsellers use WriteStack.
Sources
All checked on 30 October 2026.
- Substack, Introducing lists on Substack, 29 October 2026
- Substack Help, How do I create a list of recommended publications?, updated 29 October 2026
- Substack Help, How can I recommend other publications on Substack?, updated 29 October 2026
- Substack on X, NEW on Substack: Lists, 29 October 2026