# Circle vs Substack fees

Page: https://membermath.app/compare/circle-vs-substack.html
Last verified: 2026-10-18

How Circle and Substack fees compare, using each vendor's public pricing. Best plan = highest net at that size.

## 50 members at $19.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Circle (Professional) | $950.00 | $108.00 | $42.55 | $799.45 |
| Substack (Paid subscriptions) | $950.00 | $95.00 | $49.20 | $805.80 |

## 200 members at $29.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Circle (Professional) | $5,800.00 | $205.00 | $228.20 | $5,366.80 |
| Substack (Paid subscriptions) | $5,800.00 | $580.00 | $268.80 | $4,951.20 |

## 1,000 members at $29.00/month

| Platform (best plan) | Gross | Platform plan + fees | Processing | Net / month |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Circle (Business) | $29,000.00 | $489.00 | $1,141.00 | $27,370.00 |
| Substack (Paid subscriptions) | $29,000.00 | $2,900.00 | $1,344.00 | $24,756.00 |

## Frequently asked questions

### Which keeps more at 50 members paying $19.00/month, Circle or Substack?

Substack (Paid subscriptions) keeps about $805.80 per month, versus about $799.45 for Circle (Professional), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

### Which keeps more at 200 members paying $29.00/month, Circle or Substack?

Circle (Professional) keeps about $5,366.80 per month, versus about $4,951.20 for Substack (Paid subscriptions), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

### Which keeps more at 1,000 members paying $29.00/month, Circle or Substack?

Circle (Business) keeps about $27,370.00 per month, versus about $24,756.00 for Substack (Paid subscriptions), using the best plan of each. This follows the assumptions on the method page.

## Circle plans

| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Platform fee | Payment processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Professional | $89.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 2% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |
| Business | $199.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 1% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |
| Scale | $419.00/mo ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | not listed | 1% ([source](https://circle.so/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 2.9% + $0.30 ([source](https://stripe.com/pricing), verified 2026-10-18, assumed) |

### Notes

- Listed prices are for annual billing; Circle's page does not show a monthly-billing price.
- Circle does not say which payment processing fees apply on top of its transaction fee, so Stripe's standard rate is assumed.
- Optional add-ons (Email Hub from $99.00/mo, extra admins or spaces, AI credits) are not included.
- Payment processing: Circle's pricing page lists a transaction fee but not the processor's charge. Stripe's standard 2.9% + $0.30 is assumed on top; check with Circle before relying on it.

### Sources

- https://circle.so/pricing (verified 2026-10-18; verified)
- https://stripe.com/pricing (verified 2026-10-18; assumed)

## Substack plans

| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Platform fee | Payment processing |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Paid subscriptions | $0.00/mo ([source](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | $0.00/mo ([source](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 10% ([source](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost), verified 2026-10-18, verified) | 3.6% + $0.30 ([source](https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost), verified 2026-10-18, verified) |

### Notes

- Processing is Stripe's card fee (2.9% + $0.30) plus Stripe Billing (0.7%), or 3.6% + $0.30 per payment on US cards.
- Subscriptions bought in the iOS app may cost readers more to cover Apple's fees. This is not included.
- Payment processing: Stripe card fee of 2.9% + $0.30 plus 0.7% for Stripe Billing.

### Sources

- https://support.substack.com/hc/en-us/articles/360037607131-How-much-does-Substack-cost (verified 2026-10-18; verified)