What it's for
Zero upfront cost and built-in discovery, our default first platform for a paid newsletter.
- Starting a free or paid newsletter
- Podcast hosting
- Building on Substack's network
Plans and prices
| Plan | Price (USD unless shown) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Free publishing | $0 | Free newsletters, podcasts and posts |
| Paid subscriptions | 10% of revenue + Stripe fees | Only when you charge readers |
Read on the official pricing page on . Prices change; check before you buy.
Free plan in real output
Free to publish with no subscriber limit. Substack takes 10% of paid subscriptions, plus Stripe fees.
- 50 paid subscribers at $5/mo = $250; Substack keeps $25 plus Stripe fees.
- At $1,000/mo paid revenue, Substack's cut is $100, more than beehiiv Lite ($49/mo yearly).
Cost at your stage
| Plan | Monthly cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 (testing, low volume) | Free | $0 |
| Month 12 (working volume) | 10% of paid revenue | $0 |
Break-even: Nothing to break even on; you pay only as you earn.
Month-12 plan is our estimate of what a solo seller at steady weekly output needs, based on the plan limits above. Costs exclude tax.
Commercial use and output rights
Not a content generator. You own your posts and list (exportable).
Your data and AI training: Not checked.
This is a summary of public terms, not legal advice. Terms change; re-read the clause before client work.
First-hour setup
- Create a publication.
- Write an About page and a welcome email.
- Publish 3 free posts before turning on paid.
- Connect Stripe when you go paid.
- Use Notes and recommendations to grow.
Competitors compared
| Tool | Pricing model | Free plan | Starting price | Difficulty | Output rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | Free to join, fee per sale | Yes | $0 · then 10% of revenue + Stripe fees | 1/5 | Not a content generator | Starting a paid newsletter for free |
| beehiiv | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then $49/mo billed yearly ($59 monthly) | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Growing and monetizing a newsletter |
| Ghost | Paid plans only | Trial only | See official site | – | – | An owned site plus paid newsletter, 0% cut |
| Kit | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | $0 · then from $39/mo | 2/5 | Not a content generator | Creators selling products by email |
| Buttondown | Free plan + paid plans | Yes | See official site | – | – | Simple, developer-friendly newsletters |
Head to head: beehiiv vs Kit vs Substack
Learning difficulty
1/5: Very simple.
When not to use it
Once paid revenue is meaningful, a flat-fee platform keeps more of it.
Cheaper or free alternatives:
- beehiiv: Growing and monetizing a newsletter (yes free plan)
- Ghost: An owned site plus paid newsletter, 0% cut (trial only free plan)
- Kit: Creators selling products by email (yes free plan)
- Buttondown: Simple, developer-friendly newsletters (yes free plan)
Which of our hustles use it
- Paid AI-assisted newsletter: Free to start; takes 10% of paid subscriptions
Price history
Each monthly check adds rows here. Older rows are never edited, so you can see when prices changed.
Sources
- Substack (read 17 October 2026)
- Substack Help Center: cost (read 17 October 2026)
Last verified . Anything we couldn't confirm on an official page is marked "not published", "not shown" or "not verified".