For creators
Substack creators with payments enabled can now allow subscribers to purchase paid subscriptions directly within the iOS app using Apple’s in-app payment system.
This update makes it easier for mobile-first readers to subscribe, and we hope that the seamless app upgrade flow will earn writers more revenue overall—but there are key differences in how payments are processed and how subscriber relationships are managed compared to the current Stripe and desktop experience.
In this guide, we’ll explain:
What to know about in-app payments
Apple fees
Apple applies a service fee for in-app purchases, which, along with Substack’s fee, is deducted from your take-home revenue. You can choose to adjust your in-app prices to account for the fee—or keep prices the same and accept a lower per-subscriber payout.
Payout timing
When readers subscribe on the web, payouts go directly into your Stripe account. For subscriptions bought in the App Store, readers are paying Apple.
Apple then pays Substack for a month's worth of subscriptions at a time, up to 45 days after the end of the month. Once Apple pays Substack, we'll deposit your earnings into your Stripe account. This means that for all App Store subscriptions bought in January, you can expect to see earnings in your Stripe account by mid-March.
Substack will always deposit your earnings as soon as we receive them from Apple.
Subscription management
In-app subscriptions are managed by Apple. You’ll still have access to the subscriber’s email address and payment history, but not their payment method. If you leave Substack, you will not be able to take their billing information with you.
Apple subscriptions cannot be paused. If you pause payments on your publication, this will not apply to subscriptions managed by Apple.
Subscribers cannot change their web subscriptions in the iOS app at this time. However, they can follow these steps to manage their in-app subscription on the iOS app.
Things to note:
- Founding subscriptions are not currently available in the app. This functionality will be built in the future.
- On your Settings page, you can switch between adjusted pricing or keeping the prices the same, as well as disable in-app payments at any time.
Enabling paid subscriptions in the Substack iOS app
To let people pay for subscriptions in the iOS app, follow these steps:
1. Head to your Substack’s Settings page and scroll to the Billing section. Slide the toggle next to “Enable in-app payments”.
2. Select whether to adjust prices for in-app purchases or keep prices the same.
- Adjusted pricing: Apple charges additional fees to use in-app purchases on its platform and keeps prices at $X.99. We’ll automatically adjust the pricing tiers to be as close as possible to your existing pricing plans for your in-app subscribers.
Example: If your regular monthly plan on the web is $6.00, your subscribers will see an option to purchase a monthly plan for $8.00 on the app.
- Keep prices the same: In-app subscribers will pay exactly the same as subscribers on the web, as long as it’s a price point supported by the App Store. Otherwise, the price will be rounded up to the nearest supported price point. View more information on App Store price points here.
How can I manage my in-app subscribers?
On your Subscribers dashboard on the web version of Substack, you can view more details about the in-app subscriber by clicking on their email address. We’ll display that they subscribed via the app and when their paid subscription will automatically renew. If you have the “New paid subscriber” notification enabled on your publication's Settings page, you’ll also receive an email and activity notification every time an in-app subscription is made.
Apple handles in-app subscriptions and subscription management directly. Readers can make changes, such as canceling their subscription or requesting a refund, directly on the App Store.