Substack Adds Cheaper Web Subscriptions on iOS

August 18, 2025 – Writers on Substack can now direct U.S. readers to web-based subscription options—often at cheaper rates—inside the iOS app. This change comes after Apple updated its App Store rules, following the Epic Games antitrust case, which now allows apps to include external purchase links outside Apple’s payment system.

Other major platforms, including Spotify, Patreon, and Amazon Kindle, have already introduced similar options. Substack’s rollout ensures that readers can choose between Apple’s in-app payments or the platform’s own web-based system—where fees are lower and creators keep more control over subscriber details.

For subscriptions made through the iOS app, Substack automatically adds a markup to cover Apple’s commission unless writers opt out. The company has also introduced migration tools to help creators shift subscribers from Apple’s billing system to web-based payments.

Currently, more than 30,000 Substack publications support in-app payments. While Substack hasn’t disclosed exact figures, early tests show a noticeable increase in paid signups when offering the cheaper web-based subscription path.

For now, the new payment option only applies to new subscriptions on iOS, and creators don’t need to make changes unless they want to adjust pricing. Apple still requires that in-app payments remain available, so Substack cannot fully abandon Apple’s billing system. The platform is also evaluating whether to expand this feature to the EU and UK, where regulations around external payments are more complex.

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