How To Use a Pen Name on Substack

Everyone asks me about this

Is it okay to use a pen name on Substack? Absolutely. Image: Freepik, with AI assistance

Yes, you can post anonymously on Substack. Or, to be more precise, you can use a pen name or pseudonym.

I’ve done it. I do it. I publish under my real name and I also use a pen name on Substack.

I’ll show you how.

There are a few limitations to anonymity on Substack and I will share those with you soon. But first, let's cover the basics.

Are you allowed to publish under a pen name?

Yes, Substack allows you to publish anonymously by using a pseudonym (pen name) or screen name, it is not against their terms of use.

Can you completely hide your identity on Substack?

Yes, you can completely hide your identity if your Substack is free to read.

Substack says if you want to protect your privacy, you can use a new email account when you set up your account, so there’s no link to your personal email address or name.

However, if you want to accept subscription payments with Substack, it becomes harder to hide your identity (see below).

How do you set up a pen name on Substack?