Substack fee calculator
See what you actually keep on Substack. Published fee: 10% of paid subscriptions. Verified Sep 2026.
Estimates use each platform’s published fee; payment-processing costs and taxes are not included.
Worked examples on Substack
| Amount | Estimated fee | You keep (est.) |
|---|---|---|
| $100.00 | $10.00 | $90.00 |
| $500.00 | $50.00 | $450.00 |
| $1,000.00 | $100.00 | $900.00 |
| $5,000.00 | $500.00 | $4,500.00 |
Based on: 10% of paid subscriptions. Ranges reflect tiered or category-dependent fees.
Compare with other creator platforms like Patreon
All fees →| Platform | Published fee | |
|---|---|---|
| beehiiv | 0% fee on paid subscriptions | Calculator → |
| Ko-fi | 0% on donations | Calculator → |
| Circle | From $89/mo + 0.5-4% transaction fee | Calculator → |
| Mighty Networks | From $95/mo + 0.5-2% transaction fee | Calculator → |
| Boosty | ~10% platform fee incl payment fees | Calculator → |
| Gumroad | 10% + $0.50 per sale plus card processing, 30% flat on Discover sales | Calculator → |
| Fanvue | Keep 80-85% (15-20% platform fee) | Calculator → |
| Memberful | $49/mo + 4.9% transaction fee | Calculator → |
Frequently asked questions
How much does Substack take in fees?
Substack's published fee is: 10% of paid subscriptions. Fees can vary by category, seller level, or country — always check the platform's current pricing page.
How much do I keep from $1,000 on Substack?
Based on the published fee, you would keep approximately $900.00 from a $1,000 sale or project on Substack — before payment-processing costs and taxes.
How does Substack pay out?
Substack pays via: Stripe.
Is this calculator official?
No — it is an independent estimate by FreelanceSites.net based on Substack's published fee at the time we last verified it. Actual fees can differ by region, category, promotions, and payment method.