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Substack made newsletter writing cool again. But in 2026, with ConvertKit offering better monetization and Beehiiv closing the gap fast, is Substack still the right choice for freelance writers?
I have been on Substack for two years. Here is the honest review.
What Is Substack?
Substack is a newsletter platform that lets writers send paid subscriptions directly to readers. It handles payment processing, delivery, and discovery — you just write. Founded in 2017, it popularized the "write-to-earn" model and still hosts some of the biggest paid writing newsletters on the internet.
Quick Comparison
| Substack | ConvertKit | Beehiiv | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | Unlimited subscribers | Up to 1,000 subscribers | Up to 2,500 subscribers |
| Paid Plans | 10% of revenue | Free up to $1k rev/mo | Free up to $1k rev/mo |
| Transaction Fee | 10% + payment fees | $0 platform fee | $0 platform fee |
| Best For | News, political commentary | Creators, course builders | Newsletter-first writers |
| Discovery | Substack Reader app | Limited | Boosts feature |
Pros of Substack for Freelance Writers
1. Zero Cost to Start
Substack is free until you earn. You can build a full newsletter with unlimited subscribers at no charge. When you start making money, Substack takes 10% of your paid subscriptions. This is genuinely low barrier to entry — perfect for freelance writers just starting their email list.
2. Built-In Paid Subscriptions
Setting up paid subscriptions on Substack takes about five minutes. No third-party integration needed. Readers can subscribe with a credit card, and Substack handles the receipts, receipts, and payout. If you want to go paid quickly, Substack makes it frictionless.
3. Substack Reader App
Substack has its own app where readers discover and consume newsletters. This is a genuine advantage — your newsletter can get recommended to new readers through the app's recommendation engine. ConvertKit and Beehiiv don't have anything equivalent.
4. Community Features
Substack includes free and paid community threads, a chat room for paid subscribers, and robust comments on posts. For freelance writers building a loyal audience, these engagement features help convert free readers to paid ones.
Cons of Substack for Freelance Writers
1. The 10% Revenue Cut Is Steep
Once you go paid, Substack takes 10% of your revenue — on top of payment processing fees (typically 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction). On a $10/month subscription, Substack takes $1, leaving you with roughly $6.80 after payment fees. Compare that to ConvertKit, which charges $0 in platform fees on its Creator plan.
2. No Native Landing Pages
Substack's sign-up pages are basic. You cannot customize them much, and there is no A/B testing. If you want high-converting lead magnets and custom landing pages, Substack will frustrate you. Beehiiv wins here with its built-in landing page builder.
3. Limited Email Automation
Substack does not have robust automation. You can schedule posts and send one-off emails, but complex welcome sequences, sales funnels, and tagging-based automation are missing. If you want to nurture leads into clients, Substack is the wrong tool.
4. Design Limitations
Your newsletter design options are limited to Substack's templates. You can customize colors and logo, but full design control is not there. For freelance writers who want a professional, branded look, this feels restrictive.
Pricing Breakdown
Free: Unlimited subscribers, unlimited emails. Substack takes nothing until you earn.
Paid: 10% of paid subscription revenue. No monthly fee.
Example: You have 500 paid subscribers at $8/month = $4,000/month revenue. Substack takes $400. You keep $3,600. That is still solid money, but you could keep all of it on ConvertKit's Creator plan ($29/month).
Who Should Use Substack in 2026?
Use Substack if:
- You are a journalist, essayist, or political writer
- You want the lowest barrier to going paid
- You value the Substack Reader app for discovery
- You prefer a simple, no-frills writing interface
Look elsewhere if:
- You want to sell services (not just subscriptions)
- You need landing pages, lead magnets, and sales funnels
- Email automation matters to your business
- You are building a freelance writing business beyond just newsletters
My Recommendation
Substack is excellent for a specific type of writer: the independent journalist or essayist who wants to go direct-to-reader with a paid newsletter. If that is you, Substack's frictionless paid model and built-in audience make it the fastest path to revenue.
But for most freelance writers building a business — combining client work, digital products, affiliate income, and email marketing — ConvertKit or Beehiiv give you more tools to grow and monetize that business beyond just subscriptions.
Start on Substack if you want to test whether people will pay for your writing specifically. Switch to ConvertKit once you have an audience and want to build a real business around it.
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Have experience with Substack? I would love to hear it — drop a comment below.