Mailchimp vs Substack: cost by list size
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; Mailchimp at 5,000 subscribers costs Mailchimp Essentials at $900/yr ($75/mo billed monthly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $750/mo in paid subscriptions.
Last checked 2026-10-17 on the official pages.
The lowest stated yearly-billing price for each list size, from Mailchimp ↗ and Substack ↗ official pricing, checked 2026-10-17. Base plans only; features differ between plans.
| Subscribers | Mailchimp | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| 500 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 1,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 2,500 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 5,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 10,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 25,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 50,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 100,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
| 250,000 | no plan / pending | 10% of paid revenue |
Visit Mailchimp ↗ · Visit Substack ↗
Disclosure: the beehiiv sign-up link is an affiliate link, 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 Mailchimp and Substack pages. Alternatives: Mailchimp · Substack
Frequently asked questions
Is Mailchimp cheaper than Substack?
Substack charges no fee but takes 10% of paid revenue; Mailchimp at 5,000 subscribers costs Mailchimp Essentials at $900/yr ($75/mo billed monthly). Substack is cheaper unless you earn over $750/mo in paid subscriptions.
Is Mailchimp free?
Yes, up to 250 contacts.
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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