Substack vs Beehiiv Fees in 2026: Which Newsletter Platform Saves You More?
Substack vs Beehiiv fees come down to one number: $430/month. Below that revenue, Substack's 10% cut costs less than Beehiiv Scale's $43/month subscription. Above it, Beehiiv saves you more but the gap widens fast. At $2,500/month, Substack takes $250 in platform fees while Beehiiv takes $43.
Stripe processing fees (approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction, plus 0.7% for recurring billing) apply equally to both platforms and are excluded from the break-even calculation.
All figures in USD. Revenue = gross paid subscription income. Stripe fees apply to both platforms identically.
Fee Comparison at a Glance
Substack vs Beehiiv fees on paid newsletter subscriptions in 2026
| Monthly Revenue | Substack Platform Fee | Substack Net | Beehiiv Scale Cost | Beehiiv Net | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $100/mo | $10.00 (10%) | $90.00 | $43.00 (flat) | $57.00 | Substack |
| $250/mo | $25.00 | $225.00 | $43.00 | $207.00 | Substack |
| $500/mo | $50.00 | $450.00 | $43.00 | $457.00 | Beehiiv |
| $1,000/mo | $100.00 | $900.00 | $43.00 | $957.00 | Beehiiv |
| $2,500/mo | $250.00 | $2,250.00 | $43.00 | $2,457.00 | Beehiiv |
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How Substack Fees Work in 2026
Substack charges a flat 10% platform fee on all paid subscription revenue. There are no tiers, no volume discounts, and no way to reduce the rate regardless of how much you earn.
On top of the 10%, Stripe handles all payment processing:
- Stripe card processing: 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction
- Stripe recurring billing fee: 0.7% per recurring charge (added July 2024)
Worked Example: $10/Month Subscription on Substack
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Substack platform fee (10%) | $1.00 |
| Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30) | $0.59 |
| Stripe recurring billing (0.7%) | $0.07 |
| Total fees | $1.66 |
| You keep | $8.34 |
For a deeper breakdown, see our complete Substack fee guide.
How Beehiiv Fees Work in 2026
Beehiiv offers three tiers, each with different capabilities:
Launch (Free): Beehiiv's free tier supports up to 2,500 subscribers with email newsletters, a custom website, and basic analytics. The Launch plan does not support paid subscriptions therefore you must upgrade to Scale or Max to monetize with recurring subscriptions.
Scale ($43/month annual / $49/month monthly): Scale unlocks paid subscriptions with a 0% platform fee on subscription revenue. You only pay Stripe processing fees. Scale also includes advanced automations, custom domains, the Boost network for paid growth, and up to 100,000 subscribers.
Max ($96/month annual): Everything in Scale, plus priority support, advanced reporting, and API access. Same 0% platform fee on paid subscriptions.
Worked Example: $10/Month Subscription on Beehiiv Scale
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beehiiv platform fee (0%) | $0.00 |
| Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30) | $0.59 |
| Stripe recurring billing (0.7%) | $0.07 |
| Total fees per subscriber | $0.66 |
| You keep per subscriber | $9.34 |
Is Beehiiv Cheaper Than Substack?
Yes — once you earn more than $430/month in paid subscription revenue. The math is straightforward:
$43 (Beehiiv monthly cost) ÷ 0.10 (Substack's platform rate) = $430 break-even
Below $430/month, Substack's percentage-based fee costs less than Beehiiv's flat subscription. Above $430/month, every additional dollar earned saves you 10% compared to Substack.
Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30 + 0.7% recurring) apply identically to both platforms, so they cancel out in the comparison.
At $1,000/month revenue: Substack takes $100 in platform fees. Beehiiv costs $43. You save $57/month with Beehiiv — $684/year.
At $5,000/month revenue: Substack takes $500. Beehiiv still costs $43. You save $457/month — $5,484/year.
When Should Creators Pick Substack?
Substack is the better choice when:
- You earn less than $430/month from paid subs. Below this threshold, Substack's 10% costs less than Beehiiv's $43 monthly subscription.
- You're starting from zero. Substack's recommendation network and built-in app help new writers find readers. You pay nothing until readers start paying you.
- You value simplicity over features. Substack's editor is intentionally minimal. You write, hit publish, get paid. No automation builders, no A/B testing, no complex workflows.
- You want free newsletters indefinitely. Substack is genuinely free for free-only newsletters with no subscriber caps.
When Should Creators Pick Beehiiv?
Beehiiv is the better choice when:
- You earn over $430/month from paid subs. The savings compound quickly: at $1,000/month you save $57/month, at $2,500/month you save $207/month.
- You want growth tools. Beehiiv's Boost network lets you earn money by recommending other newsletters and pay for recommendations of your own newsletter. Substack has no equivalent.
- You want ad monetization. Beehiiv's ad network lets you monetize free subscribers alongside your paid ones. Substack does not offer native advertising tools.
- You need advanced automations. Beehiiv supports multi-step email sequences, segmentation, A/B subject line testing, and subscriber surveys. Substack's automation is limited.
The Hidden Factor: Discovery vs Growth Tools
The fee comparison tells only half the story. Each platform offers a fundamentally different growth model:
Substack's advantage: the recommendation network. When a Substack writer recommends your newsletter, their readers see it directly in the app and in post footers. Substack's app has millions of users browsing and subscribing to newsletters. For new writers, this organic discovery can be worth more than the 10% fee.
Beehiiv's advantage: paid growth infrastructure. Beehiiv's Boost network is a two-sided marketplace where you earn money for recommending newsletters, and you can pay to have your newsletter recommended by others. Combined with native ad placements, Beehiiv gives you tools to actively accelerate growth rather than waiting for organic discovery.
The real question isn't just "which platform charges less?", it's "which platform helps me earn more total?" A creator earning $300/month on Substack might earn $600/month on Beehiiv with the same content, thanks to ad revenue and Boost income offsetting the subscription cost.
Related Reading
- Substack Fees in 2026: What Writers Actually Keep Per Subscriber - complete breakdown of Substack's 10% + Stripe fee stack
- Creator Platform Fees 2026: The Complete Guide - real take-home across every major creator platform
- Ko-fi vs Patreon: Which Pays Creators More? - side-by-side membership fee comparison
{{faq}}
[
{
"question": "Does Beehiiv take a percentage of paid subscriptions?",
"answer": "No. Beehiiv charges 0% platform fee on paid subscription revenue on both the Scale ($43/month) and Max ($96/month) plans. You only pay Stripe processing fees of approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction plus 0.7% for recurring billing."
},
{
"question": "Is Substack really free?",
"answer": "Yes, for free newsletters. Substack charges nothing for publishing free content with no subscriber limits. The 10% platform fee only kicks in when you enable paid subscriptions."
},
{
"question": "Which is better for beginners, Substack or Beehiiv?",
"answer": "Substack is generally better for beginners because it costs nothing until you monetize and its recommendation network helps new writers find readers organically. Beehiiv requires a paid plan ($43/month) to offer paid subscriptions."
},
{
"question": "Can I switch from Substack to Beehiiv?",
"answer": "Yes. Both platforms let you export your subscriber list. Beehiiv offers a direct Substack import tool that migrates your subscribers, content, and even paid subscription billing. Most creators complete the switch within a few days."
},
{
"question": "When does Beehiiv become cheaper than Substack?",
"answer": "Once you earn more than $430/month in paid subscription revenue. At that point, Substack's 10% fee ($43) exceeds Beehiiv Scale's flat $43/month subscription cost. Above $430/month, every additional dollar saves you 10% with Beehiiv."
},
{
"question": "Does Beehiiv have a free plan?",
"answer": "Yes. Beehiiv's Launch plan is free for up to 2,500 subscribers and includes email newsletters and a custom website. However, the Launch plan does not support paid subscriptions — you need the Scale plan ($43/month) or Max plan ($96/month) to monetize."
}
]