SendGrid vs Substack: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of SendGrid and Substack. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Substack starts at $5/mo, making it $15/mo cheaper than SendGrid ($19.95/mo). SendGrid offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
SendGrid vs Substack: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | SendGrid | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $19.95/mo | $5/mo |
| Number of Plans | 4 | 7 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | usage-based |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Substack is the more affordable option, starting at $5/mo compared to SendGrid's $19.95/mo. Both are Email Marketing tools with 11 combined pricing plans and 38 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 |  SendGrid Try it free |  Substack Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free Trial $0/monthCheapest Includes
| Free $0/monthCheapest Includes
|
| Tier 2 | Essentials $20/month Includes
| Basic $5/monthCheapest $5 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | Pro $90/month Includes
| Standard $7/monthCheapest $7 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | Premier Custom pricing Includes
| Advanced $10/monthCheapest $10 / year Includes
|
| Tier 5 | — | Pro $15/monthCheapest $15 / year Includes
|
| Tier 6 | — | Premium $30/monthCheapest $30 / year Includes
|
| Tier 7 | — | Enterprise $75/monthCheapest $75 / year Includes
|
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Substack
Substack offers a free plan, starts at $14.95/mo lower ($5/mo vs $19.95/mo), offers 7 tiers vs 4.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Substack
Try Substack freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose SendGrid if:
- •You prefer SendGrid's free tier features—Additional teammates: 1, Event webhook: 1
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—SendGrid offers negotiated terms for large deployments
- •You want SendGrid's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 4 pricing tiers
Choose Substack if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Substack starts at $5/mo, saving $14.95/mo compared to SendGrid at $19.95/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 6 additional features across its plans
Both SendGrid 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: SendGrid 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: SendGrid vs Substack
Which is cheaper, SendGrid or Substack?
How many pricing plans does SendGrid have vs Substack?
Does SendGrid or Substack offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for SendGrid or Substack?
Does SendGrid or Substack offer custom enterprise pricing?
How do SendGrid and Substack compare for Email Marketing?
Sources
- SendGrid Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Substack Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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