How Substack pays creators in 2026

⚡ Quick answerSubstack is free to start. On paid subscriptions it takes 10%, and Stripe charges card processing (2.9% + $0.30 per US card) plus a 0.7% Billing fee. Payouts go through your Stripe account.

Requirements

Requirement	Details	Status
Followers	None	✓ Official source
Payments	Connect a Stripe account	✓ Official source

Revenue streams

Paid subscriptions

You set the price; Substack keeps 10%

✓ Official source

Payouts & fees

Via Stripe. Per Substack, first payouts take 7–14 days.

Official sources

Last checked Oct 14, 2026. Platforms change rules often; always confirm on the official page. Badge key: ✓ Official source = confirmed on the platform's own page; Secondary = only third-party reports found; Unverified = not confirmed.