🇺🇸 Freelance & Creators · United States
Kickstarter vs Substack fees
Kickstarter is cheaper at every amount we tested, from $10 to $5,000. On a $100 pledge in the US, Kickstarter takes $8.20 and Substack takes $13.90. Use the calculator to compare your own numbers and settings.
$
Kickstarter is cheaper by $5.70 on this amount.
Kickstarter
Cheaper$91.80
you receive · fees $8.20 (8.2%)
- Kickstarter fee−$5.00
- Payment processing−$3.20
Substack
$86.10
you receive · fees $13.90 (13.9%)
- Substack fee−$10.00
- Stripe card processing−$2.90
- Stripe fixed fee−$0.30
- Stripe Billing (recurring)−$0.70
Kickstarter vs Substack fees at common amounts
| Amount | Kickstarter fees | Substack fees | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| $10 | $1.00 | $1.66 | Kickstarter (−$0.66) |
| $25 | $2.20 | $3.71 | Kickstarter (−$1.51) |
| $50 | $4.20 | $7.10 | Kickstarter (−$2.90) |
| $100 | $8.20 | $13.90 | Kickstarter (−$5.70) |
| $250 | $20.20 | $34.30 | Kickstarter (−$14.10) |
| $500 | $40.20 | $68.30 | Kickstarter (−$28.10) |
| $1,000 | $80.20 | $136.30 | Kickstarter (−$56.10) |
| $5,000 | $400.20 | $680.30 | Kickstarter (−$280.10) |
Kickstarter fee structure
| Fee | How it’s charged |
|---|---|
| Kickstarter fee | 5% of the sale price |
| Payment processing | 5% + $0.05 if $9.99 or less; 3% + $0.20 above that |
Substack fee structure
| Fee | How it’s charged |
|---|---|
| Substack fee | 10% of the sale price |
| Stripe card processing | 2.9% of the sale price |
| Stripe fixed fee | $0.30 per order |
| Stripe Billing (recurring) | 0.7% of the sale price |
Frequently asked questions
Is Kickstarter or Substack cheaper?
Kickstarter is cheaper at every amount we tested, from $10 to $5,000. On a $100 pledge, Kickstarter charges $8.20 and Substack charges $13.90, so Kickstarter saves you $5.70.
What does Kickstarter charge?
Kickstarter charges 8% + $0.20 with default settings in the US.
What does Substack charge?
Substack charges 13.6% + $0.30 with default settings in the US.