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Email Marketing

EmailOctopus vs Substack: Pricing Comparison 2026

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

Bottom line: Substack starts at $5/mo, making it $4/mo cheaper than EmailOctopus ($9/mo). EmailOctopus offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

EmailOctopus vs Substack: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureEmailOctopusSubstack
Starting Price$9/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 EmailOctopus' $9/mo. Both are Email Marketing tools with 9 combined pricing plans and 31 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
EmailOctopus
EmailOctopus
Try it free
Substack
Substack
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • EmailOctopus branding on emails
  • Reports available for 30 days
  • Create up to 3 landing pages and forms
  • Access for 1 user
Start with Free
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
$9
$9/month
Includes
  • Full control over your email design
  • Reports available forever
  • Unlimited landing pages and forms
  • Add unlimited users
  • Cancel any time
Start with $9
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 →

EmailOctopus

Simple, affordable email marketing for small businesses

View all EmailOctopus 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 $4/mo lower ($5/mo vs $9/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 EmailOctopus if:

  • You prefer EmailOctopus's free tier features—EmailOctopus branding on emails, Reports available for 30 days
  • You prioritize EmailOctopus's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
  • EmailOctopus's usage-based pricing lets you match exact team size without tier gaps

Choose Substack if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Substack starts at $5/mo, saving $4/mo compared to EmailOctopus at $9/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 13 additional features across its plans

Both EmailOctopus 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: EmailOctopus includes 4 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: EmailOctopus vs Substack

Which is cheaper, EmailOctopus or Substack?
As of March 2026, Substack starts at a lower price point. EmailOctopus starts at $9/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 EmailOctopus have vs Substack?
EmailOctopus offers 2 pricing plans, while Substack offers 7 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does EmailOctopus or Substack offer a free plan?
Yes, both EmailOctopus 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 EmailOctopus or Substack?
Both EmailOctopus and Substack offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
How do EmailOctopus and Substack compare for Email Marketing?
Both EmailOctopus and Substack are Email Marketing tools. EmailOctopus offers 2 plans starting at $9/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. EmailOctopus Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Substack Official PricingVendor pricing page

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