Email Marketing Software
Substack
Free to publish, no monthly fee — Substack takes a 10% cut of paid subscription revenue instead.
Solo / FreelancerGlobalNorth America
Last reviewed Jul 16, 2026 · Pricing verified Jul 16, 2026
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DEV-TOP · horizontalOur take
The lowest-risk way to start a paid newsletter — no upfront cost, but the 10% revenue cut becomes more expensive than a flat-fee platform once you're earning a meaningful amount, so revisit the math as you grow.
Choose this if...
- Writers just starting out who don't want to commit to a monthly subscription before earning revenue
- Creators who value Substack's built-in discovery/recommendation network for growth
Look elsewhere if...
- You already earn several hundred dollars a month or more from subscriptions — a flat-fee platform likely costs less
- You want deep email-marketing features (automation flows, segmentation, A/B testing) beyond newsletter publishing
Visit Substack
We don't earn anything from this link — we list it because it's good.
Pricing
Verified Jul 16, 2026 against Substack's own pricing page.
| Plan | Monthly | Annual | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free to publish | Free | Free | No subscription fee to use the platform · Substack takes a 10% cut of paid-subscription revenue · Stripe processing fees (~2.9% + $0.30, plus a 0.7% recurring-billing fee) apply on top |
Free tier reality
There's no monthly platform fee at all — writers keep publishing for free and Substack only takes a cut (10%) when a reader pays for a subscription, on top of standard Stripe processing fees. Net take-home is roughly 87-88% of gross subscription revenue after both cuts. This revenue-share model tends to cost less than a flat-fee competitor (beehiiv, Kit) below a few hundred dollars a month in reader revenue, and more above that threshold.
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DEV-MID · rectanglePros
- Zero cost to start — no subscription fee at any list size
- Strong built-in discovery network for growing a paid audience
- Simple, distraction-free writing and publishing experience
Cons
- 10% revenue cut becomes expensive relative to flat-fee competitors once revenue grows
- Much thinner marketing-automation feature set than dedicated email tools
- Limited control over list portability/export compared to standalone ESPs
Key features
- Zero platform fee — pay only as a percentage of what you actually earn
- Built-in reader discovery and recommendation network
- Podcast and video publishing alongside newsletters
- Reader/writer mobile apps
- Simple, minimal publishing interface
Integrations
- VERIFY
Platforms
- web
- ios
- android
Regional fit
Payouts run through Stripe; VERIFY current country/currency payout support outside major markets.
- Global
- North America
Best for
Alternatives
Mailchimp
Pick this instead if: Small businesses wanting one all-in-one marketing tool, not just email
Klaviyo
Pick this instead if: Ecommerce brands, especially on Shopify, wanting flows tied to purchase behavior
HubSpot Marketing Hub
Pick this instead if: Businesses already using (or planning to use) HubSpot's CRM/Sales Hub
Brevo
Pick this instead if: Budget-conscious small businesses with large contact lists but modest send volume
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Substack FAQ
Questions about this tool
Is Substack free?
Yes, there's a free tier. There's no monthly platform fee at all — writers keep publishing for free and Substack only takes a cut (10%) when a reader pays for a subscription, on top of standard Stripe processing fees. Net take-home is roughly 87-88% of gross subscription revenue after both cuts. This revenue-share model tends to cost less than a flat-fee competitor (beehiiv, Kit) below a few hundred dollars a month in reader revenue, and more above that threshold.
How much does Substack cost?
Free. We verify pricing directly against Substack's own pricing page — see the pricing table above for the full breakdown of plans, and check the verified date before making a decision, since software pricing changes often.
Who is Substack best for?
Writers just starting out who don't want to commit to a monthly subscription before earning revenue Creators who value Substack's built-in discovery/recommendation network for growth
Who should avoid Substack?
You already earn several hundred dollars a month or more from subscriptions — a flat-fee platform likely costs less You want deep email-marketing features (automation flows, segmentation, A/B testing) beyond newsletter publishing
Does Substack work well outside the US?
Payouts run through Stripe; VERIFY current country/currency payout support outside major markets.
What are the best alternatives to Substack?
Worth comparing: Mailchimp, Klaviyo, HubSpot Marketing Hub, Brevo. See the Alternatives section above for why you might pick one of these instead.