In 2026, Substack takes 10% of every paid-subscription transaction. Writers also pay Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 card-processing fee and Substack’s 0.7% recurring billing fee. Publishing and free subscribers cost $0, while paid plans start at $5 per month or $30 per year for US-dollar Stripe accounts.
Last verified August 2026.
What are Substack’s fees at a glance?
| Fee | Amount | When it applies | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform fee | 10% | Every paid-subscription transaction | Substack Support — How much does Substack cost? |
| Payment processing through Stripe | 2.9% + $0.30 | Every card transaction | Substack Support — How much does Substack cost? |
| Recurring billing fee | 0.7% today | Recurring subscription payments | Substack Support — How much does Substack cost? |
| Minimum subscription price | $5/month or $30/year | Paid subscriptions for US-dollar Stripe accounts | Substack Support — setting up a paid publication |
| iOS in-app purchase | In-app price is raised to help cover Apple’s cut; Substack does not state an exact percentage | Subscriptions bought inside the Substack iOS app | Substack Support — paying on the iOS app |
| Free newsletter | $0 | Publishing and serving free subscribers | Substack Support — How much does Substack cost? |
All rows were verified in August 2026. Substack can change its terms, so the linked Support Center pages remain the sources of record.
How much is Substack’s platform fee?
Substack’s platform fee is 10% of each paid-subscription transaction, while publishing, free posts, and free subscribers cost nothing (Substack Support — How much does Substack cost?, verified August 2026).
On a $5 monthly subscription, Substack’s 10% platform fee is $0.50 before payment-processing and recurring-billing fees are deducted.
What are Substack’s payment-processing and billing fees?
Stripe charges 2.9% + $0.30 per credit-card transaction, and recurring subscription payments also incur a 0.7% billing fee (Substack Support — How much does Substack cost?, verified August 2026).
Writers who enabled payments before July 10, 2024 were previously grandfathered into a 0.5% billing rate, but that legacy pricing expired June 30, 2025. The listed recurring billing rate is now 0.7%, according to the same Substack Support page.
For a $5 monthly subscription, the listed deductions work as follows:
- Substack’s 10% platform fee: $0.50
- Stripe’s 2.9% percentage fee: $0.145
- Stripe’s fixed processing fee: $0.30
- The 0.7% recurring billing fee: $0.035
- Approximate writer proceeds: $4.02 before refunds or chargebacks
The fixed $0.30 processing charge has a proportionally larger effect on lower-priced subscriptions. For a broader comparison, see creator platform fees compared.
What is the minimum price for a paid Substack subscription?
The minimum paid Substack price is $5 per month or $30 per year for US-dollar Stripe accounts, although pricing in other currencies can vary (Substack Support — How do I set up a paid publication?, verified August 2026).
That floor prevents writers from setting a standard $1 or $2 paid-subscription tier. A Founding Member tier can be priced higher than the publication’s standard monthly or annual plans.
Does Substack take more from subscriptions bought in the iOS app?
Subscriptions bought inside Substack’s iOS app include an additional App Store layer: the reader pays Apple, and Substack raises the in-app subscription price to help offset Apple’s cut (Substack Support — Can my subscribers pay on the Substack iOS app?, verified August 2026).
Substack’s cited support documentation does not publish the exact effective reader markup or a specific Apple commission percentage for these purchases. It does confirm that an iOS subscription can cost the reader more than the same subscription purchased on the web and that App Store payouts follow a longer timeline.
Where might Substack’s subscription model leave a gap?
Substack’s paid model centers on recurring newsletter subscriptions billed monthly or annually, with a $5 monthly floor for US-dollar Stripe accounts. Creators who also want to sell smaller, one-off interactions may therefore use a separate product alongside Substack.
FanBell supports a paid private question, personalized shoutout, creator service, tip, or project support. FanBell has no follower minimum (how it works, verified August 2026), is free to start with no monthly fee, and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing, verified August 2026). Payouts are handled through Stripe (how it works, verified August 2026).
For more context, see is Substack worth it for a small newsletter, how much do Substack writers make, and accept tips without starting a membership.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Substack take from writers?
Substack takes 10% of every paid-subscription transaction. Stripe also charges 2.9% + $0.30 per card transaction, and recurring payments incur a 0.7% billing fee (Substack Support — How much does Substack cost?, verified August 2026).
What is the minimum I can charge for a Substack subscription?
The minimum is $5 per month or $30 per year for US-dollar Stripe accounts. A Founding Member tier can be priced higher than the standard monthly or annual plan (Substack Support — How do I set up a paid publication?, verified August 2026).
Does Substack charge more when someone subscribes through the iOS app?
Indirectly, yes. Substack raises the iOS in-app price to help cover Apple’s cut, but its support documentation does not publish the exact effective markup or commission percentage (Substack Support — Can my subscribers pay on the Substack iOS app?, verified August 2026).
Can fans pay me for one-off requests instead of a subscription?
Yes. FanBell supports one-off questions, shoutouts, services, tips, and project support with no follower minimum (how it works, verified August 2026). It is free to start and charges a 12% platform fee only when a fan pays (pricing, verified August 2026), with payouts handled through Stripe.
Ready to get paid for the one-off things a $5/month subscription doesn't fit? Create your free FanBell page and set up your first paid offer in minutes.
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