Tool profile
Substack: cost, fit and limits
Substack is a publishing platform made by Substack, Inc. that lets writers send newsletters, charge for paid subscriptions and reach readers through a reader app with Notes and discussions. It is aimed at individual writers and small publications that prefer to pay a share of revenue instead of a monthly fee.
What to know first
Substack charges no monthly fee: the pricing page says writers keep 90 percent of their revenue minus credit card fees, so Substack takes 10 percent. There are no plan tiers on that page, only a calculator with price points from $5 to $75 a month. The writer owns the list and content according to the site. Pages we read mention no AI features, and the privacy policy lists generative AI services among its service providers.
Substack at a glance
| Maker | Substack, Inc., United States |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free to start, with 10 percent of paid revenue taken |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Newsletter Platforms in 2026, rank 10 of 10 |
| Website | substack.com |
Who Substack is best for
Writers testing a paid audience
With no monthly fee, a writer pays only when subscribers pay, which removes fixed cost during the months before a list is large.
Writers who want in-platform discovery
The home page shows Notes, discussions and a reader app, so a newsletter can reach readers inside Substack as well as through email.
Anyone who values simplicity
The going-paid page covers choosing which posts are free or paid-only, with one fee statement and no tier matrix to compare.
Writers who want to own their list
The home page says you always own your intellectual property, mailing list and subscriber payments, though the export steps sit in the help center.
Substack plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free to publish | $0 | Writers can publish and send without paying a monthly fee, and choose which posts are free or paid-only. |
| Paid subscriptions | 10 percent of revenue plus card fees | The page says writers keep 90 percent of their revenue minus credit card fees; the card processing rate is not stated. |
| Price points | $5, $7, $10, $15, $30 or $75 per month for readers | The earnings calculator uses these monthly subscriber prices to estimate gross annual revenue, before fees. |
Checked November 2026.
What Substack does
- Paid and free posts
- A writer decides post by post whether an issue is free or paid-only, so a free feed can sit beside a paywalled archive. That choice can change from one issue to the next.
- Notes
- Short posts appear in a feed, and the navigation includes a Chat section, which gives writers a way to reach readers without sending an email.
- Discussions
- The home page invites readers to join discussions, which keeps a community inside the platform instead of in separate social accounts. Discussion threads keep readers engaged between issues.
- Reader app
- The site links to a mobile app for readers, so subscribers can follow a publication outside their inbox. Reading inside the app also exposes a publication to the platform's own recommendation features, according to the home page navigation.
- Ownership claim
- The home page states that writers always own their intellectual property, mailing list and subscriber payments. That claim covers content, the list and payment relationships, though the export steps themselves sit elsewhere, in the help center.
How Substack handles your data
Substack's privacy policy names Substack, Inc. as the data controller, gives a San Francisco address and says the company is established in the US. It lists generative AI services among its service provider categories, states that no final content moderation decisions are made without human review of automated decisions, and says it may profile users to suggest relevant content. It does not name a hosting location, publish a sub-processor list or give retention periods beyond as long as reasonably necessary. Substack states that it complies with the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework for transfers.
Where Substack falls short in practice
- Percentage fee grows with success. A 10 percent share stays flat as revenue rises, so a writer with a large paid list may pay far more than on a flat monthly plan elsewhere.
- Few automation and AI tools. The pages we read mention no AI features and no automation builder, so segmentation and sequences are limited compared with marketing platforms. Writers who want drip courses will need another tool.
- Export steps unclear on the page. The pricing page says you own your list but does not explain how to export it. The help center was not available to us, so test the export before you commit.
Works with
Alternatives to Substack
Substack: common questions
How much does Substack take from paid subscriptions?
The going-paid page says Substack takes 10 percent of revenue, so writers keep 90 percent minus credit card fees. The page does not state the card processing rate, so the final amount depends on Stripe's fee at checkout. The final payout therefore depends on Stripe's rates.
Does Substack have a monthly plan?
No. The pages we read list no plan tiers or monthly subscription for writers. A calculator shows reader prices of $5, $7, $10, $15, $30 and $75 a month, and the writer pays only through the revenue share. There is no tier to outgrow, which also means no paid support plan.
Does Substack offer AI writing tools?
The home and pricing pages mention no AI features. The privacy policy lists generative AI services among service providers, which describes vendors Substack uses, not a tool offered to writers. Check the help center for current features. Ask Substack directly about any tool inside the editor.
Who owns my subscriber list on Substack?
The home page says you always own your intellectual property, mailing list and subscriber payments. The pages we read did not explain the export procedure, so confirm that the file includes paid status before relying on it. Test an export with a small list first.
Where does Substack process data?
The privacy policy says Substack is established in the US, names a San Francisco address and says information may be shared internationally. It names no hosting location and cites the EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework for transfers. Review the transfer terms if you write for EU readers.