Spotify for Podcasters vs Substack

Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.

Spotify for Podcasters
podcast
Visit Spotify for Podcasters →
Substack
newsletter
Visit Substack →
Platform fee
0% on subs · 50% ad split
10% · of revenue
Payout speed
monthly
weekly
Minimum payout
$10 via Stripe
$0 (Stripe)
Countries
US, UK, CA, AU, plus 9 EU/NZ markets
Stripe-supported
Email list export
Limited
Full access
Custom domain
No
Yes ($50 one-time)
Community features
Comments, polls, Q&A
Comments, paid Chat, DMs
Best for
Podcasters already distributing on Spotify seeking subs plus ad revenue
Newsletter writers, podcasters, established creators who want audience ownership

Spotify for Podcasters vs Substack: which one wins?

Spotify for Podcasters charges 0% on subs (50% ad split) versus Substack at 10% (of revenue).

On payout speed, Spotify for Podcasters pays monthly while Substack pays weekly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.

For audience ownership, Spotify for Podcasters offers limited email export and Substack offers full access. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.

Best for: Spotify for Podcasters suits podcasters already distributing on spotify seeking subs plus ad revenue. Substack fits newsletter writers, podcasters, established creators who want audience ownership.