Substack Review 2026 — 7.2 / 10
7.2
/ 10
$0Base Price
10%Revenue Cut
35M+Active Subscriptions
2017Founded
The good and the bad
+ Completely free to use for free newsletters — zero cost to start
+ Built-in discovery network — Substack recommends your work to readers
+ Dead simple — write, publish, done. No learning curve.
+ Added podcasting, video, and Notes (social feed)
− Takes 10% of paid subscription revenue — FOREVER, with no cap
− Minimal design customisation — every Substack looks the same
− No automations, no segmentation, no A/B testing
− You don’t own the platform — Substack can change terms or algorithm at any time
Pricing
$0Free newsletters
10%of paid subscription revenue
Free to use. Substack takes 10% of any paid subscription revenue + Stripe fees.
The verdict
Substack is perfect for writers who want zero setup and don’t mind handing over 10% of their revenue. If you’re starting from scratch with no audience, the discovery network genuinely helps. But once you’re earning real money, that 10% cut adds up fast — a writer making $10,000/month loses $1,000/month to Substack. At that point, Beehiiv ($49/mo flat) or Kit ($39/mo) saves you $950/month. Start on Substack if you need discovery. Leave when you need margins.