Verdict. Pick Substack if you want to launch a paid newsletter today and pay nothing up front. Publishing is free at any size, and the app plus recommendations can bring readers you would never reach alone. The catch is the 10% cut, which never shrinks, on top of roughly 3.6% and 30 cents to Stripe. Once paid revenue reaches a few hundred dollars a month, a flat-fee platform like Ghost costs less.
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, California, US
- Best for
- Writers starting a paid newsletter with no upfront cost
- Plans from
- Free
- You keep from $1,000
- $834 on Paid subscriptions
Who can join. Open to anyone 16 or older. Paid subscriptions need a Stripe account in a country Stripe supports.
Substack pricing and fees
Publishing is free, and on paid subscriptions Substack keeps 10% while Stripe adds 2.9% + $0.30 per US card payment and 0.7% on recurring charges.
| Plan | Price | Fee on sales | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free publishing | $0/mo | None | Free no matter how many subscribers you have. |
| Paid subscriptions | $0/mo | 10% of each subscription payment | Minimum price is $5/month or $30/year on US-dollar Stripe accounts. Stripe fees are extra. |
| Custom domain | $50 one time | None | Optional. |
On $1,000 of monthly sales at $10 each, the cheapest option is the Paid subscriptions plan. You'd pay about $166 in platform and card fees, 16.6% of revenue, and keep $834. Compare that with every other platform.
Payment processing. Stripe, 2.9% + $0.30 per US card payment plus a 0.7% Stripe Billing fee on recurring payments, paid on top of Substack's 10%. iOS in-app purchases go through Apple instead, which takes 15 to 30%.
Payouts. Web payments land in your own Stripe account and pay out to your bank on Stripe's schedule. Apple pays Substack for iOS subscriptions once a month, up to 45 days after the month ends, and Substack then moves the money to your Stripe account or bank. Bank-direct app earnings are held until they reach $100.
What you get with Substack
- Free hosting for newsletters, podcasts and video
- Monthly, annual and founding member prices
- Substack reader app with Notes feed
- Recommendations between publications
- Live video
- Group subscriptions
- Multiple newsletters under one publication
- Custom domain for a one-time $50
- iOS in-app subscriptions
Substack pros and cons
What we like
- No monthly fee. You pay nothing until a reader pays you.
- The app and recommendations can send you readers you would never find alone.
- Web subscribers bill through your own Stripe account, so they can move with you.
- Setup takes minutes. Connect Stripe, set a price, switch payments on.
What gets in the way
- The 10% never shrinks. At $10,000 a month you hand Substack $1,000 before Stripe.
- iOS in-app payments are on by default and can't be turned off while payments are connected.
- Apple-billed subscribers can't follow you if you leave. You keep only their emails.
- Less design control than Ghost or a website builder.
Who should skip Substack
If your paid newsletter already earns a few thousand dollars a month or you want full design control, pick Ghost or beehiiv, which take 0% of subscriptions.
Substack alternatives
| Platform | Score | Keep from $1,000 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kit | 7.9 | $935 | Creators who sell products and need serious email automation |
| Ghost | 7.8 | $906 | Independent publishers who want 0% fees and full ownership |
| beehiiv | 7.5 | $882 | Growth-focused newsletters that want ad and referral income |
Head to head: Patreon vs Substack, Substack vs beehiiv, Substack vs Ghost.
See all 4 newsletter platforms ranked.
Substack questions
How much does Substack take from paid subscriptions?
Substack keeps 10% of each subscription payment. Stripe then charges 2.9% plus $0.30 per US card payment and a 0.7% Billing fee on recurring charges. On a $10 monthly web subscription you keep about $8.34.
Is Substack free to use?
Yes. Publishing is free no matter how many subscribers you have. You only pay once you turn on paid subscriptions, and then Substack keeps 10% of revenue plus Stripe's processing fees. A custom domain is optional and costs a one-time $50.
What is the minimum price for a Substack subscription?
On US-dollar Stripe accounts the minimum is $5 per month and $30 per year. You can add a founding member plan at any annual price above your regular plans. Accounts in other currencies have their own minimums.
Do Substack subscriptions cost more in the iOS app?
They can. Apple takes 15 to 30% on in-app purchases, so by default Substack raises the iOS price to keep your take close to the web price. You can keep prices the same and accept a smaller payout. Substack's 10% is always based on your web price.
Sources
We checked these pages on October 20, 2026. Platforms change fees often, so confirm on the official page before you commit.
- Substack Help: How much does Substack cost?
- Substack Help: How do I set up a paid publication?
- Substack Help: Can my subscribers pay on the Substack iOS app?
- Substack: Now anyone can pay for a Substack subscription in iOS
- Substack Terms of Use
- TechCrunch: Substack raises $100M
- Ghost Help: Stripe (migrating from Substack)
- Ruzuku: Substack pricing