Substack Fee Calculator
Substack takes 10% platform fee on paid subscription revenue plus Stripe processing around 2.9% + $0.30 per recurring charge. This fee-only calculator isolates those fees. Enter monthly subscription price, monthly paid subscribers, annual subscribers and discount you offer, plus fee rates to see total gross monthly, Substack fee monthly, Stripe percent and fixed portions, total fees monthly, effective fee rate, fee per paid subscriber, total annual fees, and net after fees.
Best for
Make the next pricing or planning decision with context
Estimate what Substack keeps from each sale before you set a price or list a product. It covers exactly how much Substack's 10% platform fee and Stripe processing costs you per subscriber and monthly — see the fee-only breakdown.
Instant calculations · Editable fee assumptions · Export-ready results
Inputs
Values update results instantly. Adjust fee assumptions to match your seller dashboard.
Your figures are saved in this browser on this device.
Pricing
Monthly price per paid subscriber.
Discount vs 12× monthly, e.g. 16%.
Audience
Subscribers on monthly plan.
Subscribers on annual plan.
Fees
Substack takes 10% flat.
Stripe percent, typically 2.9%.
Fixed per charge, typically $0.30.
Results
Live estimates based on your inputs and editable fee assumptions.
Monthly subs gross monthly
$1,200.00
Monthly subs × price.
Annual plan price
$80.64
Monthly×12×(1-discount).
Annual monthly equivalent gross
$268.80
Annual revenue spread monthly.
Total gross monthly
$1,468.80
Monthly + annual equivalent.
Substack 10% fee monthly
$146.88
10% of total gross.
Stripe percent portion monthly
$42.60
Percent of gross.
Stripe fixed portion monthly
$46.00
Fixed per transaction.
Total Stripe fees monthly
$88.60
Percent + fixed.
Total fees monthly
$235.48
Substack + Stripe.
Net after fees monthly
$1,233.32
Gross minus all fees.
Effective fee rate
16.0%
Total fees ÷ gross monthly.
Fee per paid subscriber (monthly)
$1.24
Total fees ÷ total paid.
Total annual fees
$2,825.70
Fees projected yearly.
Net annual after fees
$14,799.90
Net monthly ×12.
What this means
Gross monthly $1468.80 (monthly $1200.00 + annual equiv $268.80 at $80.64 annual). Substack $146.88 (10%) + Stripe $88.60 ($42.60 % + $46.00 fixed from 153.3 trans) = $235.48 total, effective 16.0%, $1.24/sub/month, net $1233.32 monthly, annual fees $2825.70, net annual $14799.90.
Substack fees breakdown
Interactive breakdown of fees, costs, and remaining profit.
Distribution
- Substack fee$146.8810.0%
- Stripe %$42.602.9%
- Stripe fixed$46.003.1%
- Net to creator$1,233.3284.0%
Total $1,468.80 · 4 segments · interactive
Line-item breakdown
Dollar amounts, share of revenue, and visual proportion.
- Monthly price
- $8.00
- Paid monthly subs
- 150
- Monthly subs gross
- $1,200.00
- Annual subs
- 40
- Annual discount
- 16.0%
- Annual price
- $80.64
- Annual gross yearly
- $3,225.60
- Annual monthly equiv
- $268.80
- Total gross monthly
- $1,468.80
- Substack fee monthly
- $146.88
- Stripe % monthly
- $42.60
- Stripe fixed monthly
- $46.00
- Stripe total monthly
- $88.60
- Total fees monthly
- $235.48
- Net monthly
- $1,233.32
- Effective fee rate
- 16.0%
- Fee per sub
- $1.24
- Total annual fees
- $2,825.70
- Net annual
- $14,799.90
Assumptions used
- • Annual $80.64 = $8.00×12×84%
- • Total gross monthly $1200.00 + $268.80 = $1468.80
- • Substack 10% $146.88 + Stripe 2.9% $42.60 + 153.3×$0.30=$46.00
Your next best moves
Use your Substack Fees result to make the next decision. These Substack tools follow the same cost and pricing thread.
Keep the decision moving with the free Etsy Seller Toolkit
Download a practical checklist for pricing, hidden cost leaks, and healthier profit decisions alongside this result.
More Substack calculators and guides are in the category hub.
Explore SubstackSubstack Fee Calculator
Generated 9/16/2026, 7:46:04 AM · Currency USD
Inputs
- Monthly subscription price: 8
- Paid monthly subscribers: 150
- Paid annual subscribers: 40
- Annual plan discount % you offer: 16
- Substack platform fee %: 10
- Stripe processing %: 2.9
- Stripe fixed per transaction: 0.3
Results
- Monthly price: $8.00
- Paid monthly subs: 150
- Monthly subs gross: $1,200.00
- Annual subs: 40
- Annual discount: 16.0%
- Annual price: $80.64
- Annual gross yearly: $3,225.60
- Annual monthly equiv: $268.80
- Total gross monthly: $1,468.80
- Substack fee monthly: $146.88
- Stripe % monthly: $42.60
- Stripe fixed monthly: $46.00
- Stripe total monthly: $88.60
- Total fees monthly: $235.48
- Net monthly: $1,233.32
- Effective fee rate: 16.0%
- Fee per sub: $1.24
- Total annual fees: $2,825.70
- Net annual: $14,799.90
Interpretation
Gross monthly $1468.80 (monthly $1200.00 + annual equiv $268.80 at $80.64 annual). Substack $146.88 (10%) + Stripe $88.60 ($42.60 % + $46.00 fixed from 153.3 trans) = $235.48 total, effective 16.0%, $1.24/sub/month, net $1233.32 monthly, annual fees $2825.70, net annual $14799.90.
How it works
Methodology & formulas
This calculator is transparent by design. Review the steps and formulas so you can trust the estimate and adjust assumptions when your dashboard differs.
Calculation steps
- 1Calculate annual price from monthly and discount
- 2Monthly gross = paidMonthly × monthlyPrice
- 3Annual gross total yearly = annualSubs × annualPrice, monthly equivalent = total ÷12
- 4Total gross monthly = monthly gross + annual equivalent
- 5Substack fee = totalGross × substack%
- 6Stripe percent portion = totalGross × stripe%
- 7Stripe fixed portion = effective transactions × fixed
- 8Total Stripe = percent + fixed
- 9Total fees = substack + stripe
- 10Net monthly = gross - fees
- 11Effective rate = totalFees ÷ gross ×100
- 12Per subscriber = totalFees ÷ totalPaid
- 13Annual fees = monthly gross×12 fee + annual gross fee calculated yearly for accurate fixed count
Formulas
- AnnualPrice = monthly×12×(1-discount%)
- MonthlyGross = monthlySubs × monthlyPrice
- AnnualMonthlyEquiv = annualSubs×annualPrice ÷12
- TotalGrossMonthly = monthlyGross + annualEquiv
- SubstackFee = totalGross ×10%
- Stripe% = totalGross ×2.9%
- StripeFixed = (monthlySubs + annualSubs/12)×$0.30
- TotalFees = substack + stripe% + fixed
- Effective% = totalFees ÷ gross ×100
Important assumptions
- Annual price = monthlyPrice ×12 × (1 - annualDiscount%)
- Annual monthly equivalent = annualSubs × annualPrice ÷12
- Total gross monthly = monthlyGross + annualEquivalent
- Substack fee = totalGrossMonthly × substackFeePercent
- Stripe percent = totalGrossMonthly × stripePercent
- Stripe fixed = (monthlySubs + annualSubs/12) × stripeFixed
- Effective fee rate = totalFeesMonthly ÷ totalGrossMonthly ×100
- Fee per subscriber = totalFeesMonthly ÷ totalPaidSubscribers
Sources & review
Know what this estimate is built on
Use these official references to locate the policy, plan, or help details behind the editable inputs.
Official references
Use the current terms
These official references are starting points for published policies, pricing, or help. They do not validate every default in this calculator. Rates, plans, eligibility, regions, and account terms can change, so compare the editable fields with your account before relying on the result.
Defaults are editable estimates. Match them to your current account, provider statement, official authority, lender, or adviser before making a pricing or investment decision.
Calculator model reviewed: August 9, 2026. This date covers the page and calculator guidance, not a guarantee that every live platform rate or term was re-audited on that date.
Worked example
$8/mo, 150 monthly + 40 annual at 16% discount
Monthly $8, 150 monthly, 40 annual, 16% discount, 10% Substack, 2.9% + $0.30 Stripe
FAQ
Common questions
Related guides
Read the guide behind the number
Use these practical guides to check the assumptions behind Substack Fees before you make the next decision.
Platform Comparisons
Beehiiv vs Substack: Pricing, Fees & Monetization Compared (Calculator Guide for Creators)
Beehiiv vs Substack: Pricing, Fees & Monetization Compared (Calculator Guide for Creators) Imagine hitting send on your 10,000th newsletter, watching sub...
Read guidePlatform Comparisons
Gumroad vs Payhip vs Substack: 2024 Fee Comparison & Profit Guide for Digital Creators
Gumroad vs Payhip vs Substack: 2024 Fee Comparison & Profit Guide for Digital Creators Picture this: you've poured hours into crafting the perfect Notion...
Read guide