If you’ve been following the creator economy, you’ve probably heard of Substack. It’s one of the most popular platforms for writers, journalists, and creators who want to build paid newsletters or monetize their audience through subscriptions.
But how much does Substack cost in 2025? And how does it compare to other options like Patreon, Ghost, or Beehiiv?
In this article, we’ll cover:
- The Substack pricing structure in 2025
- How Substack’s fees actually work
- Whether there are hidden costs
- And some cheaper alternatives that might be better depending on your goals
By the end, you’ll know if Substack is the right fit for you, or if another platform could save you money while offering more flexibility.
Substack Pricing Plans in 2025
Unlike many creator platforms with multiple tiers, Substack keeps things extremely simple. There are no monthly subscription fees for creators. Instead, they take a percentage of your revenue.
That’s it, one plan for everyone. You don’t pay upfront to use Substack, but when you start earning, Substack takes a cut.
Substack Free Plan
The free plan is the only plan Substack offers, and it is available to everyone. It is free to use for both creators and readers (on free newsletters).
You can publish newsletters without charging readers anything, and Substack won’t take a cut unless you start charging for subscriptions.
So if you just want to share your writing with the world without monetizing yet, you can use Substack indefinitely without paying a dime.
- Price: $0/month
- Platform Fee: 10% of all paid subscriptions
- Payment Processing: Stripe fees (~2.9% + 30¢ per transaction)
This means Substack only makes money when you make money.
What’s Included?
Even though there’s no paid upgrade, Substack gives you a full suite of tools:
- Newsletter publishing (email + web)
- Paid subscriptions and memberships
- Community features (comments, discussions, threads)
- Podcast hosting and paid audio subscriptions
- Analytics and reporting on subscribers
- Integration with Stripe for payments
- Simple website/blog layout built-in
Essentially, you can launch and monetize a newsletter with zero upfront investment.
Who is the Free Plan Best For?
- Writers testing the waters without upfront costs
- Journalists or bloggers who want a monetization-first platform
- Creators who like Substack’s built-in community vibe
- People who don’t want to deal with tech headaches like hosting or website building
Are There Any Hidden Fees?
Substack’s model is straightforward, but you need to account for Stripe processing fees in addition to Substack’s 10% cut.
Example:
- You charge $10/month for a newsletter subscription.
- Substack takes 10% ($1).
- Stripe takes ~2.9% + 30¢ (about $0.59).
- You keep $8.41 per subscriber.
That means a good chunk of your revenue goes to fees.
For small creators, that’s fine since you’re paying nothing upfront. But for bigger earners, the fees can add up quickly.
Which Creators Should Use Substack?
Substack is best for:
- Writers and journalists: If your main product is a newsletter or written content.
- Podcasters: Substack supports paid podcast subscriptions too.
- Community-focused creators: The platform is designed for interaction and discussion.
- Low-risk creators: If you want to avoid monthly costs until you’re profitable.
But if you’re earning $1,000+/month, you’ll likely save money with alternatives that charge flat monthly rates instead of revenue shares.
Substack Transaction Fees
The fee structure is simple but important to understand:
- 10% platform fee on paid subscriptions
- ~2.9% + 30¢ Stripe payment processing fee
Combined, that’s around 13%–16% of your income.
So if you’re charging $100/month and have 100 subscribers:
- Revenue = $10,000/month
- Substack cut = $1,000
- Stripe cut = ~$300
- You keep ~$8,700
At scale, this makes a big cost difference compared to flat-fee competitors.
Cheaper Alternatives to Substack
If Substack’s 10% fee feels steep, there are other platforms that might be more affordable in the long run. Here are some popular alternatives in 2025:
1. Ghost: Starts at $9/month
- Price: $9–$25/month depending on plan
- Transaction Fees: 0% (only Stripe fees apply)
- Best For: Writers who want a self-hosted newsletter with more control
- Why It’s Good: You keep more of your revenue, and Ghost has powerful membership tools.
2. Beehiiv: Free or Paid Plans
- Price: Free with limited features, $42–$84/month for advanced plans
- Transaction Fees: 0% (only Stripe fees)
- Best For: Newsletter creators who want growth tools and analytics
- Why It’s Good: Built for scaling newsletters, with referral programs and advanced analytics.
3. Patreon: Free to Start
- Price: Free to join, flat 10% platform fees
- Transaction Fees: Payment processor fees also apply
- Best For: Creators who want to monetize with memberships beyond newsletters
- Why It’s Good: More flexibility in what you can offer supporters.
4. Ko-fi: Free or $12/month Gold
- Price: Free with 5% fee, or $9/month for 0% fees
- Best For: Creators who monetize through donations and extras, not just newsletters
- Why It’s Good: Cheaper than Substack once you’re earning consistently.
5. ConvertKit: Starts at $29/month
- Price: $29–$119/month depending on subscribers
- Transaction Fees: 0% (only Stripe fees)
- Best For: Email marketers and creators who want automation
- Why It’s Good: Far more powerful email marketing features than Substack.
Is Substack Worth It in 2025?
That depends on your stage and goals:
- If you’re a beginner, Substack is perfect. No upfront cost, no technical setup, and you can start publishing immediately.
- If you’re a hobbyist writer, you can use Substack for free indefinitely.
- If you’re a professional creator, the 10% fee adds up quickly. In that case, Ghost, Beehiiv, or ConvertKit will likely save you money.
Substack is worth it for simplicity, but not for cost efficiency once you scale.
Conclusion
Substack in 2025 remains one of the most accessible newsletter platforms. It is free to use, with a 10% cut of revenue plus Stripe fees. For beginners, it is a no-brainer but for professionals, the fees are expensive compared to flat-fee alternatives.
If you want to start a newsletter quickly and risk-free, Substack is fantastic. But if you’re aiming to build a long-term business, platforms like Ghost, Beehiiv, or ConvertKit may be better value.
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