Setka vs Shorthand
Use Shorthand if you need to create and publish new visual stories; consider Setka only if you are reviewing content or workflows from its former editor. Setka’s owner stopped accepting new purchases on July 28, 2022, and announced a plan to wind down the product. Shorthand currently offers subscriptions and a one-off project option for multimedia stories, reports, and microsites.
Last updated October 24, 2026.
At a glance
| Dimension | Setka | Shorthand |
|---|---|---|
| New purchases | Stopped July 28, 2022 | Subscriptions and one-off projects offered |
| Current plans | No current Setka plans published | Core, Unlimited, Enterprise, On Demand |
| Price | No new purchases | No public plan prices; contact sales |
| Publishing allowance | Not published | Core: 12 new stories yearly; Unlimited: unlimited |
| Users and teams | Not published | Unlimited users; Core: 3 teams |
| Publishing and hosting | Not published | Shorthand hosting; eligible self-hosted options |
| CMS publishing | Not published | WordPress and Drupal plugins on some plans |
| Collaboration | Not published | Concurrent editing and in-editor comments |
| Support | Not published | Email support, webinars and knowledge base |
Scroll the table sideways to compare each row.
Which should you choose?
Choose Setka if
- Teams reviewing content created with Setka before its wind-down
- Teams documenting legacy Setka workflows for a migration
Choose Shorthand if
- Teams creating new visual stories, reports, or microsites
- Publishers needing Shorthand hosting or eligible self-hosted options
- Teams choosing between a yearly story allowance and unlimited stories
- Teams needing collaborative editing and in-editor comments
The verdict
The deciding factor is availability: Shorthand is an option for a new publishing project, while Setka is not available for new purchases. If you have Setka-created content, this comparison may help frame a migration decision, but the vendor does not publish current Setka plans or support terms. For a new purchase, compare Shorthand’s publishing options and story allowances against your needs rather than treating Setka’s former features as a current alternative.
Setka vs Shorthand: common questions
- Can I buy Setka instead of Shorthand?
- No new Setka purchases are offered. Setka’s owner stopped accepting purchases on July 28, 2022, and announced plans to wind down the editor. Shorthand currently offers subscriptions and one-off projects.
- Does Shorthand publish its prices?
- Shorthand lists Core, Unlimited, Enterprise and On Demand plans, but does not display public plan prices. Buyers are directed to contact its team about a subscription.
- Can I try Shorthand before paying?
- Shorthand says you can sign up and create stories for free. Publishing requires a paid arrangement.
- How many stories can I publish with Shorthand?
- Shorthand’s Core plan includes 12 new stories per year. Its Unlimited and Enterprise plans list unlimited stories. Setka does not publish a current story allowance.
- Can Shorthand publish through my CMS?
- Shorthand offers WordPress and Drupal publishing plugins on some plans. It also describes API publishing and other self-hosted methods; availability depends on the plan.
- Does Shorthand have to host my stories?
- No. Shorthand offers its own hosting and describes self-hosted publishing methods, including Amazon S3, CMS plugins and API publishing. Some methods are available only on certain plans.
- Which is suitable for a team working on stories together?
- Shorthand currently publishes concurrent editing and in-editor commenting features, and lists unlimited users on its plans. Setka does not publish current collaboration terms following its announced wind-down.
- What should I do if my team previously used Setka?
- Treat Setka as a legacy workflow, not a new software purchase. Its owner announced the wind-down and said Setka features would move into TinyMCE; confirm your content and migration needs before choosing another editor.