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Email Marketing

Drip vs Substack: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Drip and Substack. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Substack starts at $5/mo, making it $34/mo cheaper than Drip ($39/mo). Drip offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Drip vs Substack: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureDripSubstack
Starting Price$39/mo$5/mo
Number of Plans27
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelusage-basedusage-based
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Substack is the more affordable option, starting at $5/mo compared to Drip's $39/mo. Both are Email Marketing tools with 9 combined pricing plans and 33 features compared.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Email Marketing needs.

Pricing Plans
Substack
Substack
Try it free
Tier 1
Free Trial
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • 14-day free trial
  • Limited features during trial
  • No credit card required
Start with Free Trial
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Set up paid subscriptions
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Own your content
  • Choose free or paid posts
Start with Free
Tier 2
Basic
$39/month
$39 / year
Includes
  • 1-2,500 people
  • Unlimited email sends
  • Email support
  • Dynamic segments
  • Onsite campaigns
  • Up to 50 workflows
  • Unlimited sub-accounts
  • Open API access
Start with Basic
Basic
$5/monthCheapest
$5 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 50 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Basic
Tier 3
Standard
$7/monthCheapest
$7 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 100 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Standard
Tier 4
Advanced
$10/monthCheapest
$10 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 200 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Advanced
Tier 5
Pro
$15/monthCheapest
$15 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 400 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Pro
Tier 6
Premium
$30/monthCheapest
$30 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 800 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Premium
Tier 7
Enterprise
$75/monthCheapest
$75 / year
Includes
  • Earn from 2000 subscribers
  • Keep 90% of revenue
  • Direct payments from subscribers
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Drip

Ecommerce email marketing and automation platform

View all Drip plans

Substack

Newsletter and publishing platform with paid subscriptions (10% cut)

View all Substack plans
Our Pick

Substack

Substack offers a free plan, starts at $34/mo lower ($5/mo vs $39/mo), offers 7 tiers vs 2.

Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.

Best value: Substack

Try Substack free

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Drip if:

  • You prefer Drip's free tier features—14-day free trial, Limited features during trial
  • Drip's 2-tier usage-based structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
  • Drip's focused feature set keeps your team in control without tool bloat

Choose Substack if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Substack starts at $5/mo, saving $34/mo compared to Drip at $39/mo
  • You prefer Substack's free tier features—Set up paid subscriptions, Keep 90% of revenue
  • You need 7 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • You want more features built-in—Substack offers 11 additional features across its plans

Both Drip and Substack offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Drip includes 3 features, while Substack includes 4 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Drip vs Substack

Which is cheaper, Drip or Substack?
As of March 2026, Substack starts at a lower price point. Drip starts at $39/mo while Substack starts at $5/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Drip have vs Substack?
Drip offers 2 pricing plans, while Substack offers 7 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Drip or Substack offer a free plan?
Yes, both Drip and Substack offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Can I save money by paying annually for Drip or Substack?
Both Drip and Substack offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
How do Drip and Substack compare for Email Marketing?
Both Drip and Substack are Email Marketing tools. Drip offers 2 plans starting at $39/mo, while Substack offers 7 plans starting at $5/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Email Marketing needs.

Sources

  1. Drip Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Substack Official PricingVendor pricing page

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