Klaviyo vs Substack: cost by list size
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; Klaviyo at 5,000 subscribers costs Klaviyo Email at $1,200/yr ($100/mo billed monthly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $1,000/mo in paid subscriptions.
Last checked 2026-10-18 on the official pages.
The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from Klaviyo ↗ and Substack ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-18. Base plans only; features differ between plans.
| Subscribers | Klaviyo | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | Email: $240/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 1,000 | Email: $360/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 2,500 | Email: $720/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 5,000 | Email: $1,200/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 10,000 | Email: $1,800/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 25,000 | Email: $4,800/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 50,000 | Email: $8,640/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 100,000 | Email: $16,560/yr (billed monthly; no yearly price stated) | 10% of paid revenue |
| 250,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
Visit Klaviyo ↗ · 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 Klaviyo and Substack pages. Alternatives: Klaviyo · Substack
Frequently asked questions
Is Klaviyo cheaper than Substack?
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; Klaviyo at 5,000 subscribers costs Klaviyo Email at $1,200/yr ($100/mo billed monthly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $1,000/mo in paid subscriptions.
Is Klaviyo free?
Yes, up to 250 active profiles. Free plan: 500 email sends per month.
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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