newsletter · Last free-plan check 2026-10-28 Substack pricing
Writer platform; 10% of paid sub revenue, no monthly ESP fee
Revenue-share plan ladder
Monthly vs annual-equivalent. Intentional blanks use honest labels linked to the vendor pricing page (e.g. “No annual price listed”, “See vendor”). Other cells with notes are unverified or volume-based — confirm live before buying.
| Subscribers | Monthly | Annual /mo | Bucket / plan | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 1k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 2.5k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 5k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 10k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 25k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 50k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
| 100k | $0 | $0 | Free+10% | No contact-based fee; 10% of paid subscription revenue |
Gotchas
- 10% platform fee on paid subscriptions
- Limited automation vs Kit/beehiiv
- Less control over branding/domain historically improving
Features (high level)
- https://substack.com/about — fee model · checked 2026-10-28
Prices change. Always confirm on the vendor page before purchasing. Outbound Visit links may earn a commission; See disclosure.
Nearby alternatives
Recent pricing notes
2026-10: No traditional ESP seat price — $0 platform cost; Substack takes a cut of paid subscriptions.
FAQ
Does Substack have a free plan?
Yes — publicly listed free headroom is unlimited with unlimited sends/month. Free to publish. Monetization: Substack takes 10% of paid subscription revenue + Stripe fees. Not a traditional ESP.
How much does Substack cost at 10,000 subscribers?
At 10,000 subscribers Substack can still be $0 if you stay on the free plan we cite.
What Substack plan does ListCost use for comparisons?
Paid columns use Revenue-share. At 1,000 contacts that ladder is $0/mo when verified. See the tool page sources for last-checked dates.