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Circle vs Substack
Circle and Substack are both creator platforms. On a $1,000 payment you keep about $960–$995 on Circle and $900 on Substack, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Updated · from each platform’s published fees and payout terms · how we verify
Key differences
- On a $1,000 payment you keep about $960–$995 on Circle and $900 on Substack, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
- Both pay out via Stripe.
- Substack is the older platform — founded in 2017, 2 years before Circle (2019).
Which should you choose?
Choose Circle if…
- Keeping more of each payment matters most — its fee is lower.
Side by side
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Circle
A community platform where creators charge members for access to courses and discussions.
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Substack
A newsletter and media platform where writers and podcasters publish free and paid subscriptions. Writers own…
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|---|---|---|
| Type | Creator platforms like Patreon | Creator platforms like Patreon |
| Category | Creator Economy | Creator Economy |
| Vetted | No | No |
| Work from home | Yes | Yes |
| Fees | From $89/mo + 0.5-4% transaction fee | 10% of paid subscriptions |
| Withdraw via | Stripe | Stripe |
| Availability | Worldwide | Worldwide |
| Founded | 2019 | 2017 |
| Headquarters | New York, United States | San Francisco, California, United States |
| Popularity | 52 views · 0 likes | 49 views · 0 likes |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper, Circle or Substack?
On a $1,000 payment you keep about $960–$995 on Circle and $900 on Substack, before withdrawal or currency-conversion costs.
Where are Circle and Substack available?
Circle: Worldwide. Substack: Worldwide.