AWeber vs Substack: cost by list size
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; AWeber at 5,000 subscribers costs AWeber Lite at $600/yr ($50/mo billed yearly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $500/mo in paid subscriptions.
Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.
The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from AWeber ↗ and Substack ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-18. Base plans only; features differ between plans.
| Subscribers | AWeber | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Lite: $150/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 1,000 | Lite: $250/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 2,500 | Lite: $350/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 5,000 | Lite: $600/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 10,000 | Lite: $1,000/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 25,000 | Lite: $2,100/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 50,000 | Lite: $3,750/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 100,000 | Lite: $6,000/yr | 10% of paid revenue |
| 250,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
Visit AWeber (affiliate link) ↗ · 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 AWeber and Substack pages. Alternatives: AWeber · Substack
Frequently asked questions
Is AWeber cheaper than Substack?
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; AWeber at 5,000 subscribers costs AWeber Lite at $600/yr ($50/mo billed yearly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $500/mo in paid subscriptions.
Is AWeber free?
Pending. AWeber's pricing page shows paid Lite and Plus plans and a 14-day free trial; it does not state a free plan or its limits.
Is Substack free?
Yes. Substack charges no subscription fee; it takes 10% of paid-subscription revenue, so a free newsletter costs $0.
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