Substack
A free publishing platform and reader network that makes its money by keeping 10% of paid-subscription revenue.
Pricing
| Plan | Per month | Limits | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | unlimited subscribers | 10% of paid-subscription revenue |
Checked 24 September 2026. Stripe adds 2.9% + $0.30 per payment, plus 0.7% on recurring billing.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- +Free to publish at any size, with no monthly fee even once readers pay.
- +Paid subscriptions work from day one, with nothing to pay until you earn.
- +Other writers can recommend your publication, and new recommendations reach their subscribers in a digest email.
Limitations
- −Keeps 10% of every paid-subscription payment, on top of Stripe’s fees, and no plan removes it.
- −At $1,000 a month in subscriptions the 10% share is $100 a month, and it grows with every paying reader.
- −Using your own domain costs a one-off $50.
Capability scores
| Dimension | Score | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | 5/5 | |
| Paid subscriptions | 5/5 | |
| Audience growth tools | 5/5 | |
| Ease of use | 5/5 | |
| Value for money | 3/5 | |
| Publication website | 2/5 | |
| Low transaction fees | 1/5 | |
| Automation | 1/5 | |
Substack compared
Alternatives
beehiiv
A newsletter platform built around growth, with a recommendation network, referral programme and ad network built in.
Kit
An email platform built for creators, with strong automation and a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers.
MailerLite
A low-cost email marketing platform that also runs paid newsletters, websites and landing pages.
Ghost
Open-source publishing software — a full website and newsletter in one — sold as managed hosting called Ghost(Pro).
Common questions
How much does Substack cost?
Substack is free to use and has no paid plan; instead it takes 10% of paid-subscription revenue. Stripe adds 2.9% + $0.30 per payment, plus 0.7% on recurring billing. Checked against the vendor's pricing page on 24 September 2026.
Does Substack have a free plan?
Yes. Publishing is free however many subscribers you have. Paid subscriptions cost nothing a month; Substack takes 10% of each payment.
Is Substack any good?
It scores 71 out of 100 on our weighted capability scoring, ranking fifth of 5 for newsletter platforms. Writers starting a paid newsletter who would rather give up a share of revenue than pay a monthly bill. Its main limitation: keeps 10% of every paid-subscription payment, on top of Stripe’s fees, and no plan removes it.
Sources & verification
- support.substack.com — checked 24 September 2026Publishing is free however many subscribers you have. Paid subscriptions cost nothing a month; Substack takes 10% of each payment.
- support.substack.com — checked 24 September 2026One-time $50 fee to use your own domain.
- support.substack.com — checked 24 September 2026Writers recommend other publications; new recommendations reach their subscribers in a digest email.