Substack
NewsletterSubstack is a newsletter platform where readers can pay you. Substack says writers keep 90% of their revenue minus credit card fees. That is a 10% cut, and Substack has no monthly plan price as of October 26, 2026.
The verdict
Pick Substack if you want no monthly bill and accept a 10% cut. Substack keeps 10% of paid revenue, and card fees come on top. A flat plan costs less once 10% of your paid revenue is bigger than the plan price. The math, on October 26, 2026 prices: Ghost Publisher is $29 a month billed yearly at 1,000 members.
10% of $290 is $29, the monthly price of Ghost Publisher billed yearly. So above about $290 a month in paid revenue, Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly costs less than Substack. beehiiv Lite is $49 a month billed yearly, so its line is about $490 a month in paid revenue.
Best for
Writers who want no monthly bill and earn less than about $290 a month from paid readers, since Substack’s 10% then costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly. Writers who accept a 10% cut to skip a monthly plan price.
Not for
Writers above about $290 a month in paid revenue, where Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly costs less. Patreon creators who want a smaller cut. Substack keeps 10%, the same as Patreon on new pages.
When we use it
- No monthly plan price as of October 26, 2026.
- Below about $290 a month in paid revenue, the 10% cut costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly.
Margin notes
- Substack keeps a 10% cut, its share of every paid subscription, and card fees come on top. Above about $290 a month in paid revenue, that cut costs more than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly.
- The 10% is the same cut Patreon takes on pages published after August 4, 2025. A move from Patreon to Substack saves nothing on fees.
What to do next
Add up what paid readers sent you last month. If 10% of it is under $29, Substack costs less than Ghost Publisher at $29 a month billed yearly. If it is more, price a flat plan before you start. Compare the options on Substack alternatives and beehiiv vs Substack.