Substack terms

Substack Pro

A premium service offering advanced features.

What is Substack Pro?

Substack Pro is a program launched by Substack, a platform that allows writers to send digital newsletters directly to their subscribers. The Pro program is designed to provide financial support to writers, enabling them to focus on creating content without worrying about initial subscriber count or income.

Under the Substack Pro model, selected writers receive an upfront payment to support their first year on the platform. In return, Substack takes a larger percentage of their subscription revenue during that year. After the first year, the writers transition to the standard Substack model, where they keep a higher percentage of their subscription revenue. This model aims to encourage and support independent writers, fostering a diverse range of voices and content.

How much does Substack Pro cost?

Substack Pro is not a service that is directly available to all users for a set price. Instead, Substack Pro is a program where Substack invests in selected writers, paying them an upfront sum to provide their content on the platform for a certain period of time. The writers then pay back this advance from their subscription revenues.

The cost for readers to subscribe to these Pro writers varies, as each writer on Substack sets their own subscription price. Therefore, the cost to access content from a Substack Pro writer depends on the individual pricing set by that writer.

What features are included in Substack Pro?

Substack Pro is a premium version of Substack that offers a variety of features to its users. It includes advanced analytics, which allows users to track their newsletter's performance and understand their audience better. It also provides priority support, meaning users get faster responses to their queries or issues.

Another significant feature of Substack Pro is the ability to monetize content. Users can set up paid subscriptions for their newsletters, allowing them to earn revenue directly from their audience. Additionally, Substack Pro offers design customization options, enabling users to personalize their newsletter's look and feel. It also includes promotional tools to help users grow their subscriber base.

Is Substack Pro worth it?

Whether Substack Pro is worth it or not largely depends on your individual needs and goals as a writer. If you are a professional writer or journalist with a substantial following, Substack Pro can be a great platform to monetize your work. It allows you to create a subscription-based newsletter where your readers can pay to access your content. The platform also offers a range of tools to manage your subscriber list, analytics to track your performance, and the ability to host podcasts and discussion threads.

However, it's important to note that Substack Pro takes a 10% commission on your earnings, which is something to consider when deciding if it's worth it for you. Additionally, building a paying subscriber base can take time and effort, so it may not be the best choice for those just starting out or those who write more as a hobby. It's also worth noting that while Substack Pro does offer a degree of editorial independence, it does not provide the same level of exposure or promotional support as traditional publishing platforms.

If you also work with videos...

You should try Tella.tv - your all-in-one screen recorder, to create launch videos, product demos, social media videos, 1:1s for customers, and more!

Tella isn't just a screen recorder. It combines the simplicity of Loom with the creativity of Canva to create great looking videos with no effort.

With Tella, you can record your screen and/or camera, combine separate clips and quickly remove mistakes, apply beautiful backgrounds, change the camera layout, add zoom effects - almost instantly.

Tella screen recorder

< Back to Substack glossary

Try Tella today!

Screen recording for creators — simple and powerful.

7-day free trial — no credit card required