How much does Substack take from creators?

Substack takes flat 10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe payment processing additional ~2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. On $8 monthly price with 100 monthly subs: gross $800 monthly, Substack $80, Stripe $800×2.9%=$23.20 + 100×$0.30=$30 total $53.20, fees $133.20 total, net $666.80 effective 16.65%. Effective drops as price rises because $0.30 fixed spreads. At $15 monthly same 100 subs: gross $1500, Substack $150, Stripe $43.50+$30=$73.50, fees $223.50, net $1276.50 effective 14.9%.

Should I offer annual discount on Substack?

Yes for retention — annual subscribers stick longer and churn less. Offer 15% to 20% off to incentivize annual. Example: $8 monthly = $96 yearly, 16% discount annual $80.64 ($6.72 monthly equivalent). You lose $1.28 monthly equivalent per annual sub but gain predictable cash and lower churn. 35 annual subs at $80.64 = $2822.40 gross yearly upfront vs monthly $96×12 need retention. Many Substacks see 30% to 50% choose annual if discount 15%+ offered. Model both using this calculator: compare total net yearly with and without annual mix.

What is a good free to paid conversion rate on Substack?

Typical Substack conversion 5% to 15% for good newsletters, top 20%+. This calculator shows: free 2000 + paid 155 (120 monthly +35 annual) total 2155, conversion 7.19%. Below 5% focus on stronger paid benefits, clearer paywall, testimonials. Above 10% you have tight niche and strong value. To improve, add weekly paid-only post, archive paywall, community threads, and keep free 50%+ to grow top of funnel. Use conversion rate as north star monthly.

How do I calculate Substack annual revenue projection?

Monthly subs ×12 plus annual subs × annualPrice gives gross annual. Example: 120 monthly ×$8=$960 monthly gross $11520 annual gross from them, 35 annual ×$80.64 annual price=$2822.40, total gross annual $14342.40. Substack fee 10% $1434.24, Stripe annual fee 2.9% $415.93 + (120×12 +35)×$0.30 =1475×$0.30=$442.50 total Stripe $858.43, total fees $2292.67, net annual $12049.73, net monthly $1004.14 average. This calculator does monthly view and annual projection automatically.

How does Substack compare to other platforms fees?

Substack 10% is middle. Patreon 5% Lite to 12% Premium, Beehiiv 0% fee (you pay Stripe only) but charges platform monthly, Ghost 0% if self-hosted plus Stripe only. Substack 10% feels high but includes hosting, email, payments, discovery. For writer wanting no ops, 10% worth it early. At 500+ paid subs $4000 monthly gross, 10% = $400 monthly you could save on Beehiiv $99 plan. So at scale consider migration, but early discovery worth fee for many writers.

Substack Revenue Calculator

Substack takes 10% flat platform fee on paid subscription revenue. Stripe takes about 2.9% + $0.30 per recurring payment. Annual plans often have a discount you offer, like 15% off. Enter free subscriber count, paid monthly subscribers, monthly price, annual subscriber count, annual discount, and see gross monthly revenue, Substack fees, Stripe fees, net monthly, net annual projection, and blended revenue per subscriber.

Best for

Make the next pricing or planning decision with context

Turn volume and rate assumptions into a revenue scenario for your Substack sales. It covers Substack newsletter revenue from free and paid subscribers — including monthly, annual plans, Substack's 10% fee, Stripe fees, and net take-home.

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.

Currency

Audience

Free subscribers

Total free subscribers (for conversion context, not billed).

Paid subscribers

Paid monthly subscribers

Subscribers on monthly billing plan.

Paid annual subscribers

Subscribers on annual plan.

Pricing

Monthly subscription price

USD

Monthly price per paid subscriber.

Annual plan discount % you offer

Discount vs 12× monthly price, e.g. 15%.

Fees

Substack platform fee %

Substack takes 10% flat.

Stripe processing %

Stripe percent, typically 2.9%.

Stripe fixed per transaction

USD

Fixed per charge, typically $0.30.

Results

Live estimates based on your inputs and editable fee assumptions.

Gross monthly revenue (monthly subs)

$960.00

Monthly subs × monthly price.

Annual subs monthly equivalent gross

$235.20

Annual revenue spread monthly.

Total gross monthly

$1,195.20

Monthly + annual equivalent.

Substack 10% fee monthly

$119.52

10% of total gross monthly.

Stripe fees monthly

$71.54

Processing percent + fixed per sub.

Total fees monthly

$191.06

Substack + Stripe.

Net monthly revenue

$1,004.14

Gross minus all fees.

Net annual projection

$12,049.73

Net monthly ×12 + annual net normalized.

Free to paid conversion rate

7.2%

Paid / (free+paid).

Net per paid subscriber

$6.48

Net monthly per paid sub.

What this means

Gross monthly $1195.20 (monthly $960.00 + annual equiv $235.20). Substack $119.52 (10%) + Stripe $71.54 = $191.06 fees, net $1004.14 monthly, $12049.73 annual projection. 155 paid of 2155 total = 7.2% conversion, $6.48 net per paid sub, effective fee 16.0%.

Substack monthly revenue breakdown

Interactive breakdown of fees, costs, and remaining profit.

Distribution

Monthly subs
$960.00
40.2%
Annual equiv
$235.20
9.8%
Fees
$191.06
8.0%
Net
$1,004.14
42.0%

Total $2,390.40 · 4 segments · interactive

Line-item breakdown

Dollar amounts, share of revenue, and visual proportion.

Free subscribers: 2,000
Paid monthly: 120
Monthly price: $8.00
Monthly gross: $960.00
Annual subs: 35
Annual price: $80.64
Annual gross total: $2,822.40
Annual monthly equiv: $235.20
Total gross monthly: $1,195.20
Total gross annual: $14,342.40
Substack fee monthly: $119.52
Stripe fee monthly: $71.54
Net monthly: $1,004.14
Net annual projection: $12,049.73
Conversion rate: 7.2%
Net per paid sub: $6.48

Assumptions used

• Annual price $8.00×12×84% = $80.64
• Total gross monthly $960.00 + $235.20 annual equiv = $1195.20
• Fees Substack 10% $119.52 + Stripe 2.9% + $0.30×122.9 trans = $71.54

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Substack Revenue Calculator

Generated 9/10/2026, 8:05:29 PM · Currency USD

Inputs

Free subscribers: 2000
Paid monthly subscribers: 120
Monthly subscription price: 8
Paid annual subscribers: 35
Annual plan discount % you offer: 16
Substack platform fee %: 10
Stripe processing %: 2.9
Stripe fixed per transaction: 0.3

Results

Free subscribers: 2,000
Paid monthly: 120
Monthly price: $8.00
Monthly gross: $960.00
Annual subs: 35
Annual price: $80.64
Annual gross total: $2,822.40
Annual monthly equiv: $235.20
Total gross monthly: $1,195.20
Total gross annual: $14,342.40
Substack fee monthly: $119.52
Stripe fee monthly: $71.54
Net monthly: $1,004.14
Net annual projection: $12,049.73
Conversion rate: 7.2%
Net per paid sub: $6.48

Interpretation

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 annualPrice as monthlyPrice ×12 × (1-discount%)
2Gross monthly from monthly subs = paidMonthly × monthlyPrice
3Gross annual total = paidAnnual × annualPrice
4Annual monthly equivalent = grossAnnual ÷12
5Total gross monthly = monthlyGross + annualEquivalent
6Substack fee monthly = totalGrossMonthly × substack%
7Stripe monthly = totalGrossMonthly × stripe% + (paidMonthly + paidAnnual/12) × fixed
8Total fees = substack + stripe
9Net monthly = totalGrossMonthly - totalFees
10Net annual projection = grossMonthly×12 + grossAnnual - fees annual (substack 10% annual + stripe annual percent + paidAnnual×fixed)
11Conversion = totalPaid ÷ (free+totalPaid) ×100

Formulas

AnnualPrice = monthly×12×(1-discount%)
MonthlyGross = monthlySubs × monthlyPrice
AnnualMonthlyEquiv = (annualSubs × annualPrice) ÷12
TotalGrossMonthly = monthlyGross + annualEquiv
SubstackFee = totalGross ×10%
Stripe = totalGross×2.9% + effectiveTransactions×$0.30
NetMonthly = totalGross - fees

Important assumptions

Substack fee 10% flat on gross paid revenue
Stripe fee = gross ×2.9% + (monthly subs + annualSubs/12) × $0.30 simplified as monthly recurring charges — annual subscribers billed once yearly, but for monthly breakdown we divide annual processing
Annual price = monthlyPrice ×12 × (1 - annualDiscount%)
Monthly equivalent from annual subs = annualPrice × annualSubs ÷12
Net annual projection = netMonthly ×12; total gross annual = monthly×12 + annual×annualPrice
Free subscribers used only for conversion rate = totalPaid ÷ (free+totalPaid)

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.

Calculator model reviewed: August 9, 2026

Official references

Substack support(opens in a new tab)

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

Substack with 2000 free, 120 monthly, 35 annual

2000 free, 120 monthly at $8, 35 annual with 16% discount, 10% Substack, 2.9% + $0.30 Stripe

Monthly gross $960, annual price $80.64, annual total $2822.40, monthly equivalent $235.20, total gross monthly $1195.20. Substack fee $119.52, Stripe fee $1195.20×2.9%=$34.66 + (120+35/12≈122.92)×$0.30=$36.88 total $71.54, total fees $191.06, net monthly $1004.14, net annual projection $12049.71, free to paid conversion about 7.19%, net per paid 155 subs $6.48 monthly equivalent.

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Common questions

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