Paid Newsletter Revenue Calculator (Substack-Style)
Enter your subscribers, conversion to paid and price.
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Paid Newsletter Revenue Calculator (Substack-Style) by TheCalcTools
How the Paid Newsletter Revenue Calculator (Substack-Style) works
Paid subscribers = list size × conversion rate. Monthly payers pay 12 times a year; yearly payers pay once, usually at a discount. Platforms take a percentage and card processors take a percentage plus a fixed fee per charge.
Many newsletters convert a few percent of free readers to paid; your own rate depends on the value and exclusivity of paid posts.
The formula
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator:
| Free subscribers | 8000 |
|---|---|
| Share who pay | 5 % |
| Monthly price | $8 |
| Share of payers on yearly plans | 40 % |
| Yearly plan discount | 17 % |
| Platform fee | 10 % |
| Card processing | 2.9 % |
| Fixed fee per charge | $0.3 |
- 8,000 readers with 5% paying 8 a month: 400 paid subscribers.
- Net of fees: $30,260 a year ($2,522 a month).
Result:
| Net yearly revenue | $30,260 |
|---|---|
| Net per month | $2,522 |
| Paying subscribers | 400 |
| Gross yearly revenue | $35,789 |
| Fees per year | $5,529 |
Frequently asked questions
Why do yearly plans help?
Fewer charges mean fewer fixed fees and less churn, even with a discount.
Sources and further reading
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This calculator gives estimates for information only. Check important results independently before you rely on them. See our disclaimer.