Why Platform Fees Matter: A Full Cost Breakdown (Substack vs. Ghost vs. Postion)

Choosing a platform is one of the most consequential decisions a creator can make. It's not just about features; it's a long-term financial partnership. High fees and hidden costs can quietly siphon thousands of dollars from your business every year.

Many creators default to the most familiar option without running the numbers. Let's change that.

Here is a transparent, head-to-head cost breakdown of three popular choices: the simple starter (Substack), the DIY powerhouse (Ghost), and the all-in-one growth engine (POSTION).

1. Substack: The Simple Starter (with a Scaling Penalty)

Substack's appeal is its simplicity. It's free to start, and the interface is clean. But this simplicity comes at a steep, scaling price.

• Platform Fee: 10%
• Payment Processing (Stripe): ~2.9% + $0.30
• Total Fee: ~13% of your total revenue.

This percentage-based model means Substack punishes your growth. The more you earn, the more they take in absolute dollars.

Earning $5,000/month? You're paying Substack ~$6,000 per year. That's not a small fee; that's a significant business expense for what is essentially a simple newsletter tool with poor SEO and no customization.

2. Ghost: The DIY Powerhouse (with Hidden Costs)

Ghost is a powerful, open-source alternative for creators who want full control. It has a 0% platform fee, which sounds incredible. But "free" is not the same as "no cost."

• Platform Fee: 0%
• Hosting Costs (Ghost Pro): $9 to $249+ per month, depending on your subscriber count.
• Payment Processing (Stripe): ~2.9% + $0.30
• Hidden Costs: Premium themes ($50-$200+), plugin maintenance, and the time cost of technical setup and management.

For a non-technical creator, Ghost can quickly become a complex and expensive project. The fixed monthly hosting fee also means you pay even when you're just starting and not earning much.

3. POSTION: The All-in-One Growth Engine (The Smart Balance)

We built POSTION to offer the best of both worlds: the ease of use of Substack with the power and low cost of a modern growth platform.

• Platform Fee: 5% (Half of Substack)
• Payment Processing (Stripe, etc.): Standard rates (~2.9% + $0.30)
• Hosting Costs: Included. No matter if you have 100 or 100,000 subscribers.
• Key Features Included: Free custom domain binding, built-in advanced SEO tools, AI writing assistants, and multiple monetization options.

POSTION provides a predictable, low-cost model that scales with you, not against you. You get a powerful suite of tools without the technical headache or punitive fees.

At-a-Glance Comparison

Let's put it all in a table. Assume a creator is earning $2,000 per month.

Wait, Ghost looks cheaper annually? Only if you ignore the value of your time and the cost of missing features. Ghost requires technical upkeep and lacks the integrated AI and growth tools that POSTION provides out of the box. For most creators, the value of built-in SEO, AI assistance, and an all-in-one solution far outweighs the small cost difference, which vanishes as you scale.

The Choice is Clear

• Substack is for hobbyists who don't mind overpaying for simplicity.
• Ghost is for developers who enjoy technical tinkering and managing their own stack.
• POSTION is for serious creators who want to build a sustainable business with powerful tools, minimal hassle, and fair, transparent pricing.

Don't let platform fees silently eat away your hard-earned income. Make the smart business decision.

Ready to switch and save? See how easy it is to migrate to POSTION today.