Substack
Substack Inc.
Start publishing in five minutes; pay 10% if you charge.
Price
Free
Last checked
June 2026
Best for
Paid newsletters, zero setup
Category
For creators
About Substack
Substack made the paid newsletter mainstream, and it is still the fastest way to start one: sign up, write, publish, done. The network effect is real, with recommendations between publications driving meaningful growth. The catch is the business model: Substack is free until you charge your readers, then takes 10% of subscription revenue on top of payment fees. Serious publishers eventually feel that cut, and your subscriber relationship lives on Substack’s platform. Great place to start; think twice before you scale on it.
“The fastest way from zero to a paid newsletter, with a real discovery network behind it. But the 10% cut of paid revenue stings once you grow, and the platform owns the relationship with your readers.”Editorial team, via MailShortlist
Where to get it
Free
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