When does Beehiiv become cheaper than Substack?

Beehiiv's Scale plan costs $99/month with 0% commission. Substack charges 10% + Stripe fees (~2.9% + $0.30/transaction). The crossover point is roughly $1,100–$1,200 in monthly gross revenue — above that, Beehiiv is cheaper. At $5,000/month gross, you save about $400/month with Beehiiv.

What is Substack's fee on paid subscriptions?

Substack charges 10% of gross subscription revenue. On top of that, Stripe processes the payments and charges approximately 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction. For an annual subscription, the Stripe fee is charged once per year. Substack's 10% is charged on all recurring revenue.

Does Beehiiv charge per email sent?

No. Beehiiv's Scale plan ($99/month) includes up to 100,000 subscribers with unlimited email sends. There's no per-email fee. The Max plan ($299/month) removes subscriber limits entirely.

Are there hidden fees on Substack beyond the 10%?

The main hidden cost is Stripe's payment processing fee (2.9% + $0.30 per transaction), which is separate from Substack's 10% cut. Substack also charges for some premium features. Writers on paid plans effectively pay around 13% total when combining Substack's cut with Stripe processing.

Substack vs Beehiiv Revenue Calculator

Calculate and compare your newsletter net revenue on Substack vs Beehiiv based on paid subscriber count and subscription price.

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Substack vs Beehiiv Revenue Calculator — Newsletter Platform Fee Comparison

Substack's 10% commission sounds modest but compounds significantly as your newsletter grows. Beehiiv charges a flat $99/month with zero commission — once you cross roughly $1,000/month in revenue, Beehiiv saves you money every month. This calculator shows your actual net revenue on both platforms based on your subscriber count and subscription price.

Side-by-side comparison

See your exact net monthly revenue on both Substack and Beehiiv at the same inputs.

All fees included

Stripe processing fees (2.9% + $0.30) are included in the Substack calculation — not just the headline 10%.

Crossover point

Instantly see whether your current revenue is above or below the breakeven point where switching saves money.

For newsletters below $1,000/month in revenue, Substack's zero upfront cost is hard to beat. For established newsletters, migrating to Beehiiv's flat fee can add thousands to your annual take-home.