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ActiveCampaign vs Substack: cost by list size

Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; ActiveCampaign at 5,000 subscribers costs ActiveCampaign Starter at $948/yr ($79/mo billed yearly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $790/mo in paid subscriptions.

Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.

The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from ActiveCampaign ↗ and Substack ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-18. Base plans only; features differ between plans.

Subscribers	ActiveCampaign	Substack
500	Starter: $180/yr	10% of paid revenue
1,000	Starter: $180/yr	10% of paid revenue
2,500	Starter: $468/yr	10% of paid revenue
5,000	Starter: $948/yr	10% of paid revenue
10,000	Starter: $1,788/yr	10% of paid revenue
25,000	Plus: $4,668/yr	10% of paid revenue
50,000	Plus: $7,308/yr	10% of paid revenue
100,000	no plan / pending	10% of paid revenue
250,000	no plan / pending	10% of paid revenue

Visit ActiveCampaign ↗ · Visit Substack ↗

Disclosure: the beehiiv and AWeber sign-up links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you subscribe through it. Prices, tiers and the cheapest-first ordering are calculated identically for every platform and never depend on affiliate status. Other platform links are plain.

See the per-plan tiers with sources on the ActiveCampaign and Substack pages. Alternatives: ActiveCampaign · Substack

Frequently asked questions

Is ActiveCampaign cheaper than Substack?

Is ActiveCampaign free?

No. ActiveCampaign's pricing page lists the Starter, Plus, Pro and Enterprise plans and a free trial, not a free plan.

Is Substack free?

Yes. Substack charges no subscription fee; it takes 10% of paid-subscription revenue, so a free newsletter costs $0.