Substack Alternatives (2026)
Substack is free to start and takes 10% of what your readers pay you. For a free newsletter that costs nothing. Once paid subscriptions take off, that 10% becomes the biggest bill you have. The other reason people leave is ownership: Substack’s app, recommendations and branding sit between you and your readers.
Here is what to move to, depending on which of those two reasons is yours.
Conflict of interest: we make Broadcast, one of the options below. Broadcast doesn’t sell paid subscriptions, so if paid subscriptions are your business, one of the other tools will suit you better.
The short answer
- You sell paid subscriptions: Ghost or Beehiiv. Neither takes a cut of subscription revenue. You pay a monthly plan and Stripe’s fees.
- You sell courses or products alongside the newsletter: Kit.
- You want a simple, writer-focused tool: Buttondown.
- You run a free newsletter and want to own everything: a self-hosted tool like Broadcast, on your own server and domain.
Substack alternatives compared
| Platform | Paid subscriptions | How it charges | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substack | Yes | Free, then 10% of paid revenue plus Stripe fees | Writers who want discovery through Substack’s network |
| Ghost | Yes, no platform cut | Ghost(Pro) plans by member count, or free to self-host | Publishers who want a website and newsletter in one |
| Beehiiv | Yes, no platform cut on paid plans | Free up to 2,500 subscribers, then monthly plans | Newsletters that grow with referrals and ads |
| Kit | Yes, with a transaction fee | Free up to 10,000 subscribers, then by subscriber count | Creators selling courses and digital products |
| Buttondown | Yes | Monthly plans by subscriber count | Writers who want a small, simple tool |
| MailerLite | Yes | Free up to 250 subscribers, then by subscriber count | Newsletters that also need a website and automations |
| Broadcast | No | $250 once, self-hosted, you pay your own sending | Free newsletters that want to own the list, domain and data |
Platform plans change often. Check each one’s pricing page before you move.
What Substack really costs
Substack charges nothing for free newsletters. For paid ones it takes 10% of subscription revenue, and Stripe takes its processing fees on top.
At $5,000 a month in paid subscriptions, Substack’s cut is $500 a month, $6,000 a year. A platform with a flat monthly fee costs a fraction of that at the same revenue. Below a few hundred dollars a month in revenue, Substack’s model is usually the cheaper one.
Beehiiv vs Substack
Both are hosted newsletter platforms with paid subscriptions. The difference is how they make money. Substack takes 10% of your subscription revenue. Beehiiv charges a monthly plan and takes no cut, and it adds growth tools: a referral program, an ad network and more design control. Beehiiv suits a newsletter run like a business. Substack suits a writer who wants to publish and be found through Substack’s network. See our Beehiiv pricing breakdown for the plan costs.
Ghost vs Substack
Ghost is open-source publishing software with built-in newsletters and paid memberships. It takes no cut of revenue. You either pay for Ghost(Pro) hosting, priced by member count, or run it yourself for free. Ghost gives you a real website on your own domain, with themes and full control. Substack is simpler and has a discovery network Ghost doesn’t. Pick Ghost when you want your publication to be a site you own. Pick Substack when you want the least setup.
Where Broadcast fits
Broadcast is self-hosted email marketing software. It fits a free newsletter that wants to own everything: the subscriber list lives in your database, emails go out from your domain through your own sending service, and nothing sits between you and your readers. It adds what Substack doesn’t have: segments, automated sequences, an API and webhooks.
It doesn’t sell subscriptions, publish a website or offer a discovery network. If you earn from sponsors, your own products or a separate membership tool, that works. If readers pay you through the newsletter itself, use Ghost or Beehiiv.
How to leave Substack
Substack lets you export your subscriber list as a CSV from your publication’s settings, including paid subscribers’ emails. Your posts export as well. Paid subscriptions run through your own Stripe account, so moving them to a platform that connects to the same Stripe account keeps them billing. Import the CSV into your new tool, set up your domain’s SPF, DKIM and DMARC, and send a short note telling readers where you went. Our guide to bringing an existing list covers the import.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best Substack alternative?
For paid newsletters, Ghost or Beehiiv, since neither takes a cut of subscription revenue. For free newsletters that want ownership, a self-hosted tool. For creators selling products, Kit.
How much does Substack take?
10% of paid subscription revenue, plus Stripe’s processing fees. Free newsletters cost nothing.
Can I move my paid subscribers off Substack?
Usually, yes. Substack’s paid subscriptions run on your own Stripe account, so platforms that connect to that account can take over billing without readers signing up again. Check the destination platform’s migration guide.
Is Substack free?
Yes, for free newsletters. It earns money only when you charge readers.
