Why creators leave Substack
- The 10% fee never caps. Substack takes 10% of subscription revenue, plus Stripe’s 2.9% + $0.30 and 0.7% Stripe Billing on recurring payments.
- Branding and design control. Your publication looks like Substack; a custom domain is a $50 add-on.
- Monetisation beyond subscriptions. Ad networks, sponsorship tools, product sales and automations are stronger elsewhere.
The best Substack alternatives compared
| Tool | Pricing | Free plan / trial | Fees on sales | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| beehiiv | Free up to 2,500 subscribers; paid plans from $49/mo (annual) | Yes, up to 2,500 subscribers, unlimited sends | 0% of paid-subscription revenue on paid plans; Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 still applies | Growth-focused newsletters that want ads and paid subs without a revenue cut |
| Kit | Free up to 10,000 subscribers; Creator from $39/mo | Yes, up to 10,000 subscribers, unlimited broadcasts, sell products & subscriptions | Commerce (products & paid newsletters), 3.5% + $0.30 per USD transaction, all-in, on every plan including Free | Creators who sell products and need automations/sequences |
| Ghost (Ghost(Pro)) | From $18/mo billed yearly; 0% transaction fees on paid plans | No hosted free plan (Ghost is also open-source if you self-host) | 0% Ghost transaction fee on paid subscriptions (Publisher and up); payment processor fees still apply | Publishers who want their own branded site, themes and 0% revenue share |
| Substack | Free to publish; 10% of paid-subscription revenue | Yes, publishing is free at any list size | 10% Substack fee on each subscription payment + Stripe processing (2.9% + $0.30 US cards) + 0.7% Stripe Billing | Writers who want zero upfront cost and Substack's built-in network (Notes, recommendations) |
Official sources, checked Nov 2026. beehiiv · Kit · Kit help · Ghost (Ghost(Pro)) · Substack. Prices in USD unless shown otherwise. Vendors change pricing, so confirm on their site before buying.
beehiiv
Best for replacing Substack 1:1Free up to 2,500 subscribers; paid plans from $49/mo (annual)
- 0% take on paid subscriptions (Lite and up)
- Generous free plan (2,500 subscribers) incl. website, podcast and digital products
- Ad monetisation and automations from Lite
- Paid subscriptions need a paid plan
- Price steps up with list size
- Removing beehiiv branding needs Pro
beehiiv is the closest like-for-like swap, newsletter-first, a hosted website, paid subscriptions with a 0% beehiiv take (on paid plans), plus an ad network, recommendation network, podcast hosting and digital products. Paid subscriptions require at least Lite ($49/mo yearly or $59 monthly at 1,000 subscribers).
Kit
Best for creators who sell productsFree up to 10,000 subscribers; Creator from $39/mo
- Free plan up to 10,000 subscribers
- Selling products and paid newsletters works even on Free
- Free migration service on paid plans
- No sending limits on any plan
- Automations beyond the basics need Creator
- Price rises with subscriber count
- 3.5% + $0.30 per sale, higher than raw Stripe
Kit is the best value if you’re still under 10,000 subscribers, the free plan includes paid subscriptions and product sales at 3.5% + $0.30 all-in. Its strength is automation, welcome sequences, tags and funnels.
Ghost (Ghost(Pro))
Best for owning your brandFrom $18/mo billed yearly; 0% transaction fees on paid plans
- 0% Ghost fee on paid subscriptions
- White-label branding on every plan
- Open-source, you can self-host
- No free hosted plan
- Paid subscriptions need Publisher or higher
- Member limits mean price rises as you grow
Ghost gives you a fully branded publication and website, 0% Ghost fee on paid subscriptions from the Publisher plan ($29/mo billed yearly, 1,000 members), and it’s open-source if you ever want to self-host.
When should you stay on Substack?
If you don’t yet earn from paid subscriptions, Substack costs you nothing and its network (recommendations, Notes, the app) can drive growth. The switch usually pays off once your monthly Substack fee is larger than a flat plan elsewhere, check with the fee calculator.
beehiiv for most Substack refugees; Kit if you sell products
beehiiv matches Substack’s newsletter-and-website model without the 10% cut. Kit is cheaper while you’re under 10,000 subscribers and better for automations. Ghost is for publishers who want full brand ownership.
beehiiv vs SubstackSubstack vs GhostSubstack fees
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to Substack?
For most writers, beehiiv, it’s newsletter-first like Substack but takes 0% of paid subscription revenue on paid plans. Kit is cheaper under 10,000 subscribers; Ghost is best for a branded publication.
Can I take my paid subscribers off Substack?
You can export your subscriber list, and paid subscriptions are billed through your own Stripe account. The receiving platforms publish migration guides, follow theirs.
Is there a free Substack alternative?
Kit (free up to 10,000 subscribers) and beehiiv (free up to 2,500) both have free plans. Paid subscriptions on beehiiv need a paid plan; Kit allows them on Free.
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