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The details that decide it.
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| Your shortlist | NewslettersSubstack |
|---|---|
| General starting cost | Free |
| Billing and eligibility | View recorded plans (1)
|
| The verdict | A letter, a room of readers, and a free place to host the show. |
| Free tier | Available. Check the plan limits below. |
| Best for | Writer-hosts who want the letter, the comments, and a free place to put the files, in one login. |
| Not the best fit | A sponsor-first show that needs a download number a brand will trust, or anyone who needs the player on their own website. |
| The gotcha | Leaving later is messier than it looks on day one. |
| Public plans | Read public plan notes
|
| Pricing notes | No self-serve hosting ladder with dollar tiers on the public going-paid page. |
| Category | Newsletters |
| Tool type | Newsletter platforms |
| Also listed in | Hosting, Monetization |
| Revenue methods | Memberships and private feeds |
| Monetization requirements | Can host both public and paid podcast episodes. Paid subscriptions have platform and payment-processing fees. |
| Price checked | 2026-09-05 |
| Next step | Visit Substack |