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.

    Instant calculations · Editable fee assumptions · Export-ready results

    Inputs

    Values update results instantly. Adjust fee assumptions to match your seller dashboard.

    Pricing

    USD

    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%.

    USD

    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
      $146.88
      10.0%
    • Stripe %
      $42.60
      2.9%
    • Stripe fixed
      $46.00
      3.1%
    • Net to creator
      $1,233.32
      84.0%

    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

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    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

    1. 1Calculate annual price from monthly and discount
    2. 2Monthly gross = paidMonthly × monthlyPrice
    3. 3Annual gross total yearly = annualSubs × annualPrice, monthly equivalent = total ÷12
    4. 4Total gross monthly = monthly gross + annual equivalent
    5. 5Substack fee = totalGross × substack%
    6. 6Stripe percent portion = totalGross × stripe%
    7. 7Stripe fixed portion = effective transactions × fixed
    8. 8Total Stripe = percent + fixed
    9. 9Total fees = substack + stripe
    10. 10Net monthly = gross - fees
    11. 11Effective rate = totalFees ÷ gross ×100
    12. 12Per subscriber = totalFees ÷ totalPaid
    13. 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

    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

    Monthly gross $1200, annual price $80.64, annual monthly equiv $268.80, total gross monthly $1468.80. Substack $146.88 (10%), Stripe percent $42.60 + fixed $46 = $88.60, total fees $235.48, effective 16.0%, fee per sub $1.24/month, net monthly $1233.32, net annual $14799.84 before detailed annual fixed calc.

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