How the Substack Notes Algorithm Really Works in 2026
» Your weekly guide to what’s really happening on Substack now + What to do next + Quick Substack basics with leading Substack Strategist Sarah Fay
My days and nights have been spent understanding how the new Notes algorithm really works.
I didn’t rush to write about it when Substack held its Notes party in Manhattan or when Substack’s Head of Machine Learning Mike Cohen revealed more details about the algorithm than they ever had before.
I wanted to give you a full report based on what I was seeing on the ground with my clients and Premier members, and in light of my experience being in the beta run of Notes two-and-a-half years ago and on Notes since the beginning.
Out: Going viral on Notes is so 2025.
The “Notes Bubble” (Oct 2024–June 2025) has burst. While some people had huge growth, some ended up with “lists of emails,” not readerships of humans. (In November 2024, as the Notes bubble was inflating, I predicted the bubble would burst, which it did. And that’s a very, very good thing.) Yes, you can still go viral, but you don’t need to, and it doesn’t always lead to engaged subscribers.
In: Connection, expansion, and reciprocity.
As Substack said, “Boosting other publishers and joining the wider conversation” are the most effective behaviors for growth. I love this. This is what Notes was like for the first two years. Our whole MO was to promote other people, and when we did, we all grew.
Out: The Notes “Club” Mentality
Boosting the same circle of friends triggers “saturation” in the new ranking layer and boredom in humans.
In: The “Dinner Party” Dynamic
High-signal interactions (replies that add value) now outrank “hearts” and “love this” comments.
Why this matters:
Growth is driven by intersecting audiences. All that matters now is how you restack other people’s posts and Notes, and your replies.
Of course, understanding the algorithm isn’t enough. Paid subscribers and Premier members get the 4 tactics to put in place right now—plus the 4 types of Substack Notes you need to know. Upgrade and join us: