Payhip vs Substack: Which is right for you? (1970)
TL;DR
- Choose Payhip if keeping fees low matters most.
- Choose Substack if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
- Both work for: teams in their respective categories.
Payhip
Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%
More customizable than Gumroad with better fee structure at volume. Does not handle VAT globally.
Substack
10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe handles payments.
Simplest way to launch a paid newsletter. Large built-in discovery network. 10% fee at scale makes it expensive compared to Ghost or Beehiiv.
Pricing comparison
Feature comparison
Best for
Payhip is best for ebooks, templates, Courses, Memberships, Creators, Digital products. Substack is best for Newsletters, writers, podcasts, new creators, Creators, Digital products.
FAQ
Is Payhip better than Substack?
Neither is universally better. Payhip is the right pick if keeping fees low matters most; Substack wins if paywall conversion optimization is the priority.
Which is cheaper, Payhip or Substack?
Payhip ranks higher on fee competitiveness (4/5). Payhip pricing: Free: 5% fee. Plus $29/mo: 2%. Pro $99/mo: 0%. Substack pricing: 10% of paid subscription revenue. Stripe handles payments..
Can I switch from Payhip to Substack?
Yes — most subscription and billing tools support migration via CSV import or API. Expect to reconfigure webhooks, paywalls, and entitlements. Check both vendors' migration docs before committing.
Does Payhip handle sales tax?
No. Payhip does not handle tax registrations — you handle those yourself or via a separate tool.
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