Ready to take the next step and turn on paid posts on your publication? This guide covers exactly the steps you need to take with Stripe– from linking your receiving bank account to managing payouts.
In this guide
Connecting to Stripe
It takes just minutes to set up your Stripe account. Before you get started, Stripe will ask for information about your business and customer support details.
Customer support details such as a phone number, email address, and address may appear on subscriber receipts/invoices and card statements.
- You can hide the public support phone number on Stripe, but you can set up a Google Voice number for extra privacy.
- You can also change your support email address to your Substack alias after completing Stripe onboarding.
- An address is mandatory, but you can set up a virtual mailbox for extra privacy.
Learn more here on how to edit your public details after you connect to Stripe.
1. Sign in to your Substack account and navigate to your publication's Settings page.
2. Select Payments in the left navigation bar, and once in your Payments section, click on the button that says "Connect with Stripe".
3. Enter the requested information such as a registered business address and personal details.
Note: You can use a home address if you don't have a business address. However, a virtual mailbox is recommended, as readers may see your address on receipts and invoices.
Depending on the country you reside in, Stripe will tailor the details they need to verify your identity and meet requirements from regulators.
4. Link your bank account using your online banking credentials or manually add your routing and account number for payments (Stripe refers to these as payouts).
5. Provide customer support details that help subscribers recognize the charges on their credit card statements.
Tip: A statement descriptor explains charges or payments on bank statements. Make it easy for a subscriber to recognize!
6. Once you submit your information, you'll be directed back to your publication's Settings page on Substack, where you can set up your subscription plans.
Managing your Stripe Account
All payouts for paid subscriptions can be viewed on your Stripe account.
How to access Stripe
You can access your Stripe account anytime by selecting the Connected account link under
"Subscription plans" on your Settings page.
How to view payouts
Once on Stripe, navigate to the left dashboard and select Payouts.
Here, you'll see all the payments sent from Stripe to your bank account.
Tip: Click on the individual payout to view a detailed ledger of payment details, such as fees and the ETA for the payout.
Frequently asked questions
Are there any fees?
If you add paid subscriptions, we charge 10%, and Stripe charges a credit card fee.
How long do payouts take?
Payments usually arrive in your bank account within 48 hours of each transaction; you can read more information from our payment processor here.
The first payout for every new Stripe account takes 7-14 days to deposit in your bank account.
Will I be notified once a payout is on its way?
Yes! You can set your payouts to be sent daily or weekly. Once a payout is on its way, Stripe will notify you via email of the amount and the estimated deposit date to your bank account.
What can I do if Stripe isn't supported in my country?
Stripe is our sole payment provider, and we rely on many of their features to make Substack work. and their entire feature set may only be available in some countries.
As a workaround,, consider using Stripe Atlas, which helps you set up a company and bank account in the US and is designed to work with Stripe.
How do I edit or hide my phone number and email on Stripe?
To keep your support phone number private, go to Public details in your Stripe Settings.
Click on the toggle next to "Show phone number on receipts and invoices". If you see a purple toggle, this indicates that the phone number in this section will be visible on receipts and invoices. A gray toggle indicates that the phone number will be hidden.
In the Public details section, you can also change the support email. We recommend using your Substack alias if you entered your personal email address during Stripe onboarding.
Note: Stripe requires an address for receipts and invoices– this is not optional. However, in the Public details sections, you can use your business address or enter a new one.
Learn more here on how to edit your public details on Stripe.
Can I use my Substack Stripe account for something else?
While you can have more than one Stripe account linked to your email address, we recommend keeping your Substack account separate. Per Stripe, "You must use separate Stripe accounts for projects, websites, or businesses that operate independently from one another. When you activate a new account, it’s subject to Stripe’s standard policies and pricing—it doesn’t inherit any special status or other similar considerations that might apply to your existing account."
You can review the benefits of using separate accounts on Stripe's FAQ.
Who do I contact if I need help with payouts?
Have a question about your Stripe account? Click on "Contact Support" here, where you can chat, call, or email Stripe Support.