WordPress.com takes on Substack with new paid newsletter feature

WordPress, the popular website platform used by 43% of all websites around the world, is introducing a major update to its newsletter feature. Users will now be able to add paid subscriptions and premium content to their newsletters, regardless of their plan, including the free plan.

This new feature allows users to kickstart their newsletters without spending a penny, build their audience, and then add paid subscriptions at any point. Until now, Substack was one of the most popular platforms to let users send paid newsletters. However, with this new update, WordPress is taking on Substack.

WordPress will provide themes and plugins to build and customize newsletters to users' needs. This is a significant advantage for WordPress, as its users can now create newsletters that match their website's design and branding.

WordPress will charge transaction fees as low as 10% of revenue on the free plan, decreasing as users level up to the paid plans, down to a 0% fee on the Commerce plan. Payments are processed through Stripe and are available in the countries where Stripe is currently supported. As a comparison, Substack charges a 10% fee for its customers, also processed through Stripe.

This new update from WordPress is a game-changer for newsletter creators who want to monetize their content. With WordPress's vast user base and customization options, it's likely that many creators will switch from Substack to WordPress.