Substack
Hard to leave Stage 2
Substack’s 10% + fees bargain beat ad media for many writers. Notes, video, and discovery nudge writers toward living entirely on Substack—stage 2 with stage 3 hints.
- Since
- 2017
- Function
- Creator economy
- VC-backed
- Yes
- Public
- No
News signals
Jan 9, 2024
Substack removes newsletters flagged for pro-Nazi content amid creator pressure
Governance shiftCreator squeeze
Dec 21, 2023
Substack's moderation choices draw scrutiny as extremist newsletters monetize
Governance shiftSelf-preferencing
More in Creator economy
-
Ghost
1 Plenty for usersOpen-source publishing platform run by a nonprofit foundation; self-hostable for free, Ghost Pro managed hosting funds the foundation without taking a cut of creator revenue.
-
Ko-fi
2 Hard to leaveTips and memberships with lighter branding than Patreon; Gold tier and shop features add platform dependency over time.
-
OnlyFans
3 Cashing inCreator subscriptions with high take rate and policy whiplash; payment processors and brand risk shape who can stay on platform.
-
Patreon
3 Cashing inMembership platform: take rates, discovery limits, and policy risk sit between creators and their audiences.
