Substack just got an update. Did yours?
Issue 1 · Oct 13–19, 2026. This build’s notes cover fixes and improvements, while Substack brings creator writing, videos, podcasts, and community features together. It is worth installing now for a more useful place to follow creators and their work; the details are on the next screen.
About 2 minutes · what changed, then Google Play
Start NowWhat changed this week
These are the three changes in Substack 3.9.0 that stand out in the developer's update notes and on its Google Play listing this week.
- 01Fixes and improvements
Google Play describes this build as covering fixes and improvements. The app remains a place to follow creators, read their work, and explore audio, video, and community features.
- 02Worth using: creator subscriptions
Worth using: subscribe to writers, artists, and podcasters you want to follow. Substack describes free subscriptions and paid options for accessing original work and connecting with creators.
- 03Worth using: live creator spaces
Worth using: join livestreams and live group chats. These spaces let creators bring supporters together in real time, alongside the app’s writing, video, and podcast offerings.
Our call on whether to update, and the link to the official Google Play listing, are on this issue's Substack page.
Also updated this week
Substack is one of 51 apps with a full screen in Issue 1. Next up in this issue:
Tips
- Build a creator feed
Use the feed to explore notes, videos, and clips from creators across subjects such as food, sports, politics, fashion, comedy, and finance. When you find a writer, artist, or podcaster whose work suits you, subscribe to follow them. Substack describes free subscriptions as well as paid options, so review the choice offered for each creator before deciding.
- Try audio and video
Look beyond written posts for short-form clips, video episodes, podcasts, and read-aloud articles. Substack describes these formats as ad-free, making the app useful when you want to watch or listen rather than read. Browse the feed for material that interests you, and check the creator’s page for other work and ways to follow their updates.
- Join a live conversation
Look for livestreams and live group chats from creators you follow if you want a more immediate way to take part. Substack describes these as real-time spaces for creators and their supporters. Availability depends on creators offering a live session or chat, so explore the feed and the relevant creator’s posts when you want to see what is happening.
Menu names follow the developer's help pages and can differ slightly between versions and phones.
How we write the digest
Each week we check the Google Play listings of the apps our readers use most: the version number, the update date and the developer's What's new notes. When an app has a new version, we put the developer's update notes and the listing details together on one page, in plain words, with a link to the official Google Play listing. Google and most developers release updates in stages over several days, so a version listed here may not have reached your phone yet. Select Weekly is an independent site and is not affiliated with any developer. This page doesn't read your phone or your Google account, and nothing is installed from here.
FAQ
Is this the official list of Substack changes?
No. This is an independent site and is not affiliated with Substack Inc. Google Play’s Substack page is the authority for the app’s official details and update information. This editorial summary is intended to help you understand the listed changes and the app’s described features; check the Play page for the current listing before installing.
Why does Google Play show Open instead of Update?
Google Play may show Open when the version currently offered to your account is already installed. Updates can also become available at different times through a staged rollout. Check the app’s Google Play page again later if you expected an update, and use the store’s own listing to confirm what is available for your account.
Can I use Substack without paying?
Substack says you can subscribe to creators for free, and it also offers paid options for viewing original work and connecting directly with creators. The available choice depends on the creator and their offering. Explore a creator’s page and review the subscription terms shown there before choosing whether to follow for free or pay.