Substack

Start a paid newsletter

Freemium 0

About Substack

Substack democratized paid newsletters by making monetization dead simple—just write, publish, and collect subscriptions with zero upfront cost. The platform takes 10% of revenue (plus Stripe fees ~3%), but you keep full ownership of your subscriber list and can export it anytime. With 5 million paid subscriptions across the platform (March 2025), Substack proves creators can earn meaningful income. Features include built-in website, livestreaming (Sept 2024), video monetization (Feb 2025), and podcasts. Unlike ConvertKit or Beehiiv which charge monthly fees, Substack's model aligns with creators—they only profit when you do. The simplicity is both strength and weakness: easy to start, but limited customization compared to dedicated email platforms. Most creators convert 2-4% of free subscribers to paid ($5-15/month typical).

Key Features

Newsletter publishing and email delivery

Built-in website for your publication

Paid subscriptions and monetization

Reader comments and discussions

Livestreaming and video posting

Podcast hosting and distribution

Mobile apps for readers

Export subscribers anytime

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No upfront costs—only pay when you earn
• You own your subscriber list forever
• Simple, distraction-free writing interface
• Massive reader network (5M+ paid subs)
• Built-in discovery and recommendations
• Video and podcast support

Cons

• 10% fee expensive at scale vs flat-fee tools
• Limited design and customization
• No advanced automation or segmentation
• Fewer integrations than competitors
• No affiliate program for promotion
• Discovery favors established writers

Best For

Writers and journalists monetizing work Newsletter creators starting from zero Content creators building direct relationships Independent media and reporters Anyone wanting simple paid newsletters