Substack Handle Checker

By WhatsMyName Apps · Reviewed October 18, 2026 · Editorial policy

Substack gives every account a profile handle, the @name people see on Notes and in substack.com/@name. Writers also have a publication subdomain, name.substack.com. The two are separate names with the same character rules. This page checks the profile handle, so it works as a Substack username search.

Substack handle rules

Allowed characters	Letters and numbers only.
Length	4 to 32 characters. The same limits apply to publication subdomains.
Change frequency	No limit. Substack says you can change your handle as often as you like.
Old handles	When you change it, your old handle is free for anyone to claim, and links to it do not redirect.
Subdomain handles	A handle that matches a publication's subdomain is reserved for that publication's owner and admins. The first of them to claim it gets it.
Inactive names	You keep a handle or subdomain while your profile or publication stays active. Substack may reassign one after a long period of inactivity.

Sources: Substack Help: what are Substack handles, Substack Help: change your subdomain, Substack Help: how long you can keep a subdomain or handle. Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Platforms change their rules; the linked help pages are the final word.

How to search for someone on Substack by username

Open substack.com/@handle for the person's profile, or name.substack.com for a publication. The two names often differ. Substack's help center says to use the search bar at the top, or browse Explore by category, to find a publication.

Our check asks Substack's public profile API for the handle. It does not look up real names.

How to check a Substack handle

Type the handle without the @. Anything shorter than 4 characters, longer than 32, or with dots, dashes or underscores can be ruled out straight away.
We ask Substack's public profile API for that handle. A profile record means it is taken, and "profile not found" means no profile uses it right now.
The result links to substack.com/@<name>, so you can see whose profile it is.
The final word comes from Substack: in your account settings, the handle field only accepts a name that is free.

Substack handle taken? What you can do

Add a word that fits your writing: janewrites, janeonfood, readjane. Substack handles cannot use dots or underscores, so words and numbers are your only tools.
If you run a publication, check whether its subdomain is free as a handle. Subdomain handles are kept for the publication's owner and admins.
Substack does not take requests to hand over a handle that is already claimed. If the profile looks abandoned, check again later, since Substack may reassign names from long-inactive profiles.
If a profile is pretending to be you, report it to Substack rather than trying to get its handle.

How to change your Substack handle

Go to substack.com/settings and find Handle in the Account section.
Click Claim handle or Edit, then pick a suggestion or type one in the "Enter a handle" box.
Click Update handle. You can also do this from your profile edit page or the app's profile settings.
Links to your old @handle stop working, and the old handle is free for others, so update links you shared.

Reserved and restricted names

Handles that match a publication's subdomain are held for that publication's owner and admins. Substack also says it may judge whether content was posted only to squat on a name, and it refuses requests to take over a handle someone else holds.

Tips

Pick a handle that matches your publication subdomain if you can. Readers then see the same name on your profile, posts and Notes.
Since there is no limit on changes, you can try a handle and switch later, but every change breaks old profile links.
Changing a publication subdomain is a separate step under Settings, in the Danger Zone, and it breaks your post links unless you use the one-time redirect option.

Frequently asked questions

How long can a Substack handle be?

Between 4 and 32 characters, using letters and numbers only.

How often can I change my Substack handle?

As often as you like. Substack sets no limit, but links to your old @handle do not redirect and the old name becomes free for others.

Is my Substack handle the same as my subdomain?

No. The handle is your profile address, substack.com/@name. The subdomain is your publication address, name.substack.com. They follow the same character rules, and the subdomain handle is reserved for the publication's owner and admins.

Can I get a Substack handle from an inactive account?

Not by asking. Substack does not accept requests to take over a handle. It says it may reassign names from profiles or publications that have been inactive for a long time.

Also check on other top platforms

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