Joomag vs Shorthand.com
Joomag
A comprehensive content experience platform for interactive digital publishing and automated distribution
Publishers using it: 2
Shorthand.com
A premium no-code visual storytelling platform for creating immersive, high-impact scrollytelling experiences.
Publishers using it: 9 · incl. Stuff, Tripadvisor, ADWEEK
Last verified Nov 12, 2026
At a glance
- Joomag scores 3.9/5 and Shorthand.com scores 3.9/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent digital publishing platforms benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are monetisation (Joomag 3.8, Shorthand.com 1.0) and multi-channel distribution (Joomag 4.0, Shorthand.com 2.5); they are within 0.3 on 3 of 10 criteria.
- Both are built for mid-market and enterprise publishers.
- On total cost of ownership Joomag scores 2.8 and Shorthand.com 2.6 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 2 publishers use Joomag and 9 use Shorthand.com.
- Scores last verified 12 Nov 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Joomag is stronger on monetisation (3.8 vs 1.0) and multi-channel distribution (4.0 vs 2.5).
Shorthand.com is stronger on security & DRM (4.7 vs 3.2) and reader experience (4.5 vs 3.2).
Which one fits
Choose Joomag if…
- You publish at mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight monetisation, multi-channel distribution and analytics & reporting heavily — Joomag leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Shorthand.com if…
- You publish at mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight security & DRM, reader experience and integrations & API heavily — Shorthand.com leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Joomag and Shorthand.com in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 4.0MagLoftA comprehensive digital publishing suite for converting PDFs into responsive mobile apps and interactive web contentRead review
- 3.8PressPadProfessional digital publishing platform for turning PDFs and RSS feeds into branded iOS and Android mobile apps.Read review
- 4.1TwipeLeading digital publishing platform empowering news brands with AI-driven e-editions and engagement tools.Read review
- 3.7YumpuConvert static PDFs into interactive, SEO-optimized digital magazines, catalogs, and flipbooks for online distribution.Read review
All 16 scored tools are in Best Digital Publishing Platforms.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
Head to head
| Criterion | Joomag | Shorthand.com |
|---|---|---|
| Print-to-digital conversion & layout14% of capability | 4.2 | 4.5 |
| Monetisation12% of capability | 3.8 | 1.0 |
| Multi-channel distribution12% of capability | 4.0 | 2.5 |
| Reader experience12% of capability | 3.2 | 4.5 |
| Analytics & reporting10% of capability | 4.5 | 3.5 |
| Integrations & API10% of capability | 3.3 | 4.0 |
| Engagement tools8% of capability | 3.8 | 3.5 |
| Implementation & support8% of capability | 3.0 | 3.5 |
| Scalability & performance8% of capability | 3.5 | 3.5 |
| Security & DRM6% of capability | 3.2 | 4.7 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.7 | 3.5 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 2.8 | 2.6 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Joomag | Shorthand.com |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| Entry cost | 3.0 | 1.0 |
| Implementation cost | 3.6 | 4.5 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 2.4 | 4.0 |
| Ongoing cost | 2.1 | 2.0 |
Joomag pricing
Paid plans start around $50/mo for basic tiers, with mid-level 'Scale' plans near $400/mo; custom Enterprise quotes available.
Shorthand.com pricing
Free to create; a paid plan is needed to publish. Plans are Core (12 stories a year), Unlimited, Enterprise and On Demand (one-off projects); prices are not published, so contact the vendor for a quote. Discounts for charities and NGOs; free plans for universities.
What users say
Joomag
14 positive · 14 neutral · 4 negative
Shorthand.com
6 positive · 2 neutral · 1 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Joomag scores 3.9 and Shorthand.com scores 3.9 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Digital Publishing Platforms benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/joomag/shorthand-com, verified Nov 12, 2026)
Common questions
How do Joomag and Shorthand.com differ?
Joomag is stronger on monetisation (3.8 vs 1.0) and multi-channel distribution (4.0 vs 2.5). Shorthand.com is stronger on security & DRM (4.7 vs 3.2) and reader experience (4.5 vs 3.2). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Joomag or Shorthand.com?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Joomag scores 2.8/5 and Shorthand.com scores 2.6/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Digital Publishing Platforms. See alternatives to Joomag or alternatives to Shorthand.com.
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Where to next
Related comparisons
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