Substack Pricing: What You Actually Pay (And Keep) in 2026

If you’re thinking about starting a newsletter, Substack has probably crossed your radar. It’s one of the most popular platforms out there, and for good reason—the pricing is straightforward, and the tools are easy to use. 

But here’s the thing: as your audience grows, that simple 10% fee can start eating into your earnings more than you’d expect. I’ve spent a lot of time digging into Substack subscription cost, comparing it to alternatives, and figuring out when it actually makes sense to use. 

In this article, I’ll break down exactly what you pay, what you keep, and help you decide if Substack is the right choice for you.

Substack Pricing at a Glance

Substack Plans & Costs Reviewed

Here’s what I like about Substack’s approach: unlike traditional email marketing platforms that charge based on subscriber count or email volume, Substack uses a simple revenue share model. 

There are no tiered plans or subscriber limits—the free plan is completely free to use until you start charging subscribers.

Free Publishing Model

This is where Substack really shines if you’re just getting started. You can publish unlimited content, grow your subscriber list as large as you want, and access the full suite of publishing tools—all without paying a dime. 

I appreciate that Substack only makes money when you make money. There’s no financial barrier to getting started, which takes a lot of pressure off when you’re still figuring things out. 

It’s also great for community building through features like Substack Notes and comments on your Substack publication.

Paid Subscription Model

Once you flip the switch on paid subscriptions, Substack’s cut is 10% of your revenue. On top of that, Stripe (the payment processor) takes approximately 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction—these Stripe fees add up. 

I think this model makes sense if you’re just starting to monetize your paid content—there’s no upfront cost, and you only pay when you earn. But as you’ll see below, those percentages add up fast.

Revenue Share Comparison

Look at those numbers. The higher you earn, the more painful that percentage becomes. If you’re making serious money, flat fee platforms start to make a lot more financial sense. 

I always tell people to run their own numbers before committing—especially when you look at the annual totals.

Substack Pro Model

Substack Pro is invite-only. They reach out to high-profile writers and offer them advances to start publishing on the platform. These aren’t small amounts—some creators reportedly got advances in the millions, significantly boosting their earnings.

The fee structure is different for Pro users, though the exact terms aren’t public. Usually, Substack recoups the advance first, then the standard 10% applies. This has caused some controversy because regular creators don’t get the same deal.

For most of us reading this, Pro isn’t an option. You’re working with the standard revenue share, which is fine—just know that the playing field isn’t completely level.

Substack Hidden Fees & Extra Costs

While Substack’s pricing looks straightforward on the surface, there are a few extra costs you should know about. Beyond the 10% revenue share, you’re also paying Stripe’s processing fees (approximately 2.9% + 30¢ per transaction). 

These transaction fees bring your total to roughly 13% of subscription revenue. If you’re using third-party integrations, paying for a custom domain, or adding analytics tools, those costs stack up too. I’d recommend factoring all of this into your budget before you commit.

How Much Do You Keep? Pricing by Subscriber Count

Substack Fee Calculator

I find fee calculators helpful for getting a realistic picture of what you’ll actually take home. With Substack’s 10% revenue share plus Stripe’s ~3% payment processing, you’re looking at approximately 13% in total subscription fees. 

Plug in your expected monthly revenue and you’ll quickly see how much you’re giving up—and whether it makes sense to compare other platforms.

When Flat-Fee Platforms Cost Less

Here’s where things get interesting. Substack’s ~10% total fee might seem reasonable when you’re just starting out, but flat fee platforms often become the smarter choice as your revenue grows.

Platforms like Sender charge a fixed monthly rate based on subscriber count, not a percentage of what you earn. As your revenue climbs, Substack’s fees climb with it—but flat fee platforms stay the same. If you’re focused on maximizing what you keep, this is worth paying attention to.

Substack vs Competitors: Which Costs Less?

Substack vs Sender

The biggest difference I see here is pricing and scalability. Substack charges a 10% revenue share (plus ~3% payment processing), while Sender uses flat-rate pricing based on subscriber count. That makes Sender more predictable and often more affordable as you grow your paid subscribers. 

Sender also gives you more customization options, automated workflows, and an intuitive email builder. If you want greater flexibility and tighter budget control, it’s worth a look.

Substack vs Beehiiv

Beehiiv does a lot of the same things Substack does—newsletter publishing, monetization, audience growth. But the pricing model is more flexible. While Substack takes 10% (plus payment processing), Beehiiv operates on a flat-fee basis with plans that often start lower. 

You also get more customization options, better analytics, and solid integrations. If you want more control and fewer fees as you scale, Beehiiv is a strong contender.

Substack vs Ghost

Ghost is the option I point people to when they want full control over their site. Unlike Substack’s 10% revenue share(plus payment processing), Ghost offers a self-hosted option or a subscription model with no revenue share at all. The trade-off? You need to be comfortable managing hosting and development, or at least willing to learn. 

But if design flexibility matters to you and you want to avoid percentage-based fees as you grow, Ghost is hard to beat.

Is Substack Worth the Price?

Here’s my take: Substack is great if you’re focused on content monetization and want something simple that just works. It’s especially good for startups and personal brands where ease of use matters more than advanced features. 

If you’re just building an audience, you really can’t beat the zero upfront cost. But as your revenue grows, I’d seriously consider alternatives like Sender or Beehiiv for more flexibility and predictable pricing. 

And if you want full design control with no revenue sharing, Ghost is the way to go. One tip: consider offering discounted annual plans to boost retention and reduce per-subscriber transaction fees.

Substack Pricing FAQs