How video and podcast creators are bringing their paid subscription audiences to Substack
Tips and tricks to help you make the switch from Patreon, Beehiiv, Ghost and more
Why move to Substack?
Substack is designed to help creators and podcasters grow and connect with a powerful suite of publishing, community, and discovery tools. You can expand your reach through the Substack network, which drives more than 50% of all subscriptions on the platform, engage directly with your audience through chat and live videos, and seamlessly publish or migrate your posts, podcasts, and videos—all while maintaining full ownership of your business. It’s free to start, and when you choose to turn on paid subscriptions, you keep 90% of what you earn. Because Substack only makes money when you do, our incentives are directly aligned with yours.
Video podcasters like Split Zone Duo and Under the Desk News have successfully switched to Substack from other subscription-based platforms like Patreon, Supercast, and Circle, bringing their audiences with them and building thriving communities on the platform.
“We love Patreon — they were great to us…But you’re in your silo on Patreon; there’s no way that other people who follow similar things are finding you, and that has been an enormous benefit of Substack.” — Alise Napp, Managing Director of Pantsuit Politics, who switched from Patreon.
Thinking about making the move? Check out the step-by-step guide below, or watch the video to learn more.
Set up your transition
1. Announce your move
Start by letting your audience know you’re making the switch to Substack. Share the news on your current platform, whether it’s Patreon, Supercast, Circle, or elsewhere, and explain why this is a positive change. Whether it’s for better tools, more creative freedom, or a stronger connection with your community, make it clear why you’re making this move and how it will benefit them.
Lisa Hanawalt, the creator of Tuca & Bertie and designer and producer of BoJack Horseman, shared why she decided to make the switch in a dedicated post on her Patreon, saying:
“While Patreon has been great in helping me grow to this point, I’m excited about the fun capabilities of Substack (video! chat!) and want to expand this newsletter to be even more interactive, with drawing prompts to help you explore your creativity and demos showing my process and techniques.”
2. Migrate your subscribers
Export your paid member list from your current platform and import it into Substack. If you’re transitioning from a platform like Patreon, where you don’t own subscriber payment details, offering a free month on Substack can help ensure that your subscribers don’t lose access during the move. When the free period ends, they’ll be prompted to update their payment details. A few reminders and a personal note from you can go a long way in encouraging them to continue their support.
How do I move from Beehiiv to Substack?
How do I move from Ghost to Substack?
How do I move from Mailchimp to Substack?
If you have a free subscriber email list, import it to Substack next so those followers continue receiving your updates and content without any gaps.
How do I import my mailing list from another platform, such as Mailchimp, Ghost, or Beehiiv?
3. Set up payments on Substack
Stripe is the sole payment provider for Substack. If you used a Stripe account on your previous platform, you’ll be able to connect it to your Substack in just a few minutes.
If you are coming from Ghost, Beehiiv, or a custom build where you owned your Stripe account, you can visit your settings and connect your Stripe account by signing in.
If you are coming from a platform like Memberful, or one that uses Stripe but where the platform owns the payment account, there are a few additional steps. Contact support, and our team can help you bring your payment relationships over.
If you’re coming from Patreon, you can find our comprehensive guide here. We’ve worked with a number of writers and creators to develop a strategy that will help you get the word out about your move.
Did you run into problems while importing your email list or content or connecting your Stripe account? Visit our support page.
4. Make an announcement with a launch video
Once everything is set up, make a big announcement with a launch video on Substack. Treat this as a fresh start: welcome your audience, share your excitement, and clearly explain why this move matters. Most importantly, remind paid subscribers to re-enter their payment details to continue their membership. Send this message to everyone—both free and paid subscribers–—so no one misses it.
The creators of Drop Your Buffs, Sean Ross and Evan Ross Katz, used this approach when migrating. They welcomed their community with a video post, setting the tone for their new home on Substack.
5. Share the news on your external channels
Spread the word on your social media channels to let everyone know they can now find you on Substack. Put your Substack link in your bio across every platform. It pays to clear out other links: creators who remove competing links, including Linktree, see significantly more of their audience follow them over. When followers have multiple options, they often choose none. For more platform-specific best practices and a deeper look into bringing your social following to Substack, see our comprehensive guide:
Retain and engage your audience
Remind your subscribers to update their payment info, if applicable
People are busy, and not everyone will update their payment details right away. Remind your audience several times over the course of the first month to re-enter their payment info so they don’t lose access. A single announcement isn’t enough; keep it top of mind with follow-ups via email, posts, and even a quick video message.
Make your first 30 days on Substack big
Your first month on Substack is your chance to set the tone for what’s to come. Lean into live video, Substack Chat, and Notes to create excitement and show your audience that you’re doing bigger and better things here.
Hailee Steinfeld launched with a paid-only subscriber Chat to give her community a dedicated space to connect. When Ashley Graham launched her Substack, she immediately jumped into live video to take her community behind the scenes of her whirlwind schedule traveling between Brazil, Paris, L.A., and Austin. She made it clear that she’s embracing Substack’s interactive features, saying, “Lives are going to be my new thing on Substack.”
By staying active and engaged in your first month, you’ll help subscribers see the value of your move and encourage more of them to stick around for the long term.