Inspiring digital magazine examples

Shorthand is the leading no-code platform for creating visually stunning web-native digital magazines. It empowers editorial, marketing, and communications teams to produce rich, interactive storytelling experiences without relying on developers. With features like scroll-based animations, immersive multimedia support, and mobile optimization built in, Shorthand enables you to publish world-class digital magazines quickly and easily.

Shorthand and traditional flipbook platforms differ in several key ways:

Yes! Shorthand provides a range of flexible options for magazine publishing — with more hosting options than any direct competitor. Choose from:

• simple 1-click publishing to a web domain of your choice using Shorthand-managed hosting
• direct embedding into your existing website or CMS
• Wordpress or Drupal plugin
• hosting with your own Amazon S3 bucket
• ZIP download, API publishing, and more.

When you opt for Shorthand hosting, we manage your content on Amazon S3 servers using the CloudFront content delivery network to deliver stories quickly and reliably to your audience.

For more information on which subscription plan and hosting option is right for you, visit our pricing page.

Yes. While Shorthand doesn’t include a native paywall feature, you can publish your digital magazine behind an existing paywall using your own CMS or access control system. Many of our customers embed Shorthand stories into members-only areas or restrict access using subscriptions, logins, or third-party paywall solutions.

This approach gives you full control over how and when your content is gated — whether it’s a paywall, membership wall, subscriber-only section, or internal portal.

Yes! The beautifully simple Shorthand editor is designed for everyone — from writers to visual creatives. Its intuitive interface and professionally designed templates make it easy for anyone to create compelling, mobile-ready digital magazines. Whether you're part of a university, nonprofit, media outlet, or brand marketing team, Shorthand helps you publish impactful content, fast.

While having a graphic designer, art director, or photographer on your team can elevate your magazine, it’s not essential. If you're short on resources, we offer co-creation and design services with our higher-tier plans. Get in touch to learn more. Alternatively, we can connect you with one of our trusted partner agencies to help bring your magazine to life.

The support you receive will be shaped by your needs and the subscription plan you choose.

Every Shorthand customer is eligible for free training webinars, membership of our online community, access to a comprehensive knowledge base, and email support. Customers on higher tiers receive priority technical support and assistance with story creation and content strategy. Learn more about our plans and inclusions on our pricing page.

Regardless of your plan, our support services are part of the Shorthand magic. Don't just take our word for it — check out our reviews on G2.com!

Yes — Shorthand includes simple, built-in analytics to help you understand how your content is performing. You can easily view key metrics like page views and completion rates over time, right from your Shorthand dashboard. Learn more about Shorthand Analytics.

For deeper insights or custom reporting, you can also integrate Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and other third-party analytics platforms. This gives you the flexibility to track events, conversions, audience behavior, and more — using the tools your team already relies on.

Unlike PDFs or flipbooks, Shorthand stories are fully web-native and SEO-optimized by default. This means your content is discoverable by search engines, and you can apply metadata and keyword strategies just like any other web page. This leads to better visibility and higher organic traffic.

You can explore more inspiring digital magazine examples — along with insights into what makes them successful — in our article 7 Examples of Stellar Digital Magazines. It features standout work from media outlets, universities, and NGOs.