Spawned vs Substack Creator Revenue: A Complete Breakdown
Choosing a platform for your creator business depends heavily on how you get paid. Spawned and Substack represent two distinct models: one built on tokenized community ownership on Solana, and the other on traditional newsletter subscriptions. This breakdown examines the specific revenue structures, fees, and long-term financial potential for creators on each platform.
- •Spawned creators earn 0.30% from every token trade and a separate 0.30% in ongoing holder rewards.
- •Substack creators keep 90% of subscription revenue, paying a 10% platform fee plus Stripe payment processing.
- •Spawned offers asset ownership via a Solana token; Substack retains control over your audience and content delivery.
- •Spawned includes an AI website builder, saving $29-99/month compared to separate web hosting services.
Quick Comparison
Verdict: Which Revenue Model is Better for You?
Two platforms, two fundamentally different approaches to creator pay.
The better platform depends entirely on your goals as a creator. Choose Spawned if your priority is building a scalable, community-owned asset with revenue tied to trading activity and long-term holder loyalty. The model is designed for creators who want to move beyond time-for-money exchanges. Choose Substack if you prefer a predictable, subscription-based income from a dedicated reader base and want to focus solely on writing without managing a token or community treasury. It's a proven model for consistent, recurring revenue from content.
Spawned Creator Revenue: The Tokenomics Model
On Spawned, your primary creator asset is a Solana SPL token you launch for your brand or community. Revenue is generated through a dual-fee structure embedded in the token itself.
Creator Fee (0.30%): Every time your token is bought or sold on the open market, 0.30% of the trade value is automatically sent to a wallet you control. This creates a direct, automated revenue stream from community activity.
Holder Rewards Fee (0.30%): A separate 0.30% from each trade is allocated to reward long-term token holders. This mechanism incentivizes holding over short-term trading, aligning your community's success with your own.
Post-Graduation Fees: After your token reaches certain milestones and 'graduates' from the launchpad, a 1% perpetual fee is enabled via Solana's Token-2022 program. A portion of this can be directed to the creator, establishing a sustainable, long-term revenue source.
Example: If your token has $100,000 in daily trading volume, the 0.30% creator fee generates $300 per day, or approximately $9,000 per month, directly to your wallet, plus the benefits of the holder reward system building loyalty.
Substack Creator Revenue: The Subscription Model
Substack operates on a familiar subscription model. Creators set a monthly or annual price for their newsletter, and readers pay to access it.
Platform Fee (10%): Substack takes a 10% cut of all subscription revenue you generate. This is their primary business model.
Payment Processing Fees (~2.9% + $0.30): On top of the platform fee, Stripe (the payment processor) charges its standard fees per transaction. This typically amounts to 2.9% + $0.30 per payment.
Effective Creator Take-Home: After both fees, creators typically net approximately 87% of the total subscription price.
Example: A creator with 1,000 subscribers paying $10/month generates $10,000 in gross revenue. After Substack's 10% ($1,000) and estimated Stripe fees (~$290), the creator takes home about $8,710 per month. Revenue is stable and predictable, based solely on subscriber count and price.
Side-by-Side: Spawned vs. Substack Features
Beyond just fees, the core value proposition and ownership differ significantly.
| Feature | Spawned (Solana Launchpad) | Substack (Newsletter Platform) |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Revenue Source | 0.30% fee on token trades + holder rewards. | 87% net of subscription fees. |
| Creator Asset | You own the Solana token and its smart contract. | You own the content; Substack owns the audience relationship & delivery system. |
| Upfront Cost | 0.1 SOL launch fee (~$20). | Free to start; fees only on earned revenue. |
| Additional Tools | AI website builder included (saves $29-99/mo). | Built-in newsletter publishing, analytics, and basic website. |
| Community Model | Token-based ownership and governance. | Reader/subscriber relationship. |
| Revenue Scalability | Tied to token utility and market activity (high upside potential). | Linear, tied to marketing for new subscribers. |
| Platform Lock-in | Low. Your token exists on the Solana blockchain independently. | High. Your email list and payment system are inside Substack. |
| Best For | Creators building community-owned brands, projects, and digital economies. | Writers, journalists, and experts seeking a direct publishing and payment pipeline. |
Long-Term Value & Creator Ownership
This is the most critical differentiator. Your platform choice dictates who truly owns the value of your audience and work.
On Spawned:
- You Own the Token: The financial asset representing your community is yours. It exists on the decentralized Solana blockchain.
- Portable Community: Your token holders are your community, not the platform's users. You can build interfaces, tools, and experiences anywhere.
- Built-in Treasury: The token model can include a treasury for community-funded projects, creating a flywheel for growth.
On Substack:
- You Own the Content, Substack Owns the Relationship: Your subscriber email list is managed by Substack. Migrating it is possible but can be disruptive.
- Platform-Dependent Revenue: If you leave Substack, you leave its built-in discovery and payment systems behind.
- Limited Monetization Avenues: Revenue is strictly from subscriptions. You cannot easily sell merchandise, offer tiered token benefits, or create other economic layers without external tools.
For a deeper look at community-owned models, see our guide on community token benefits.
- Spawned: Creator owns the core financial asset (the token).
- Substack: Creator owns content, but platform controls audience access.
- Spawned's model enables portable, on-chain community building.
- Substack offers simplicity but within a walled garden.
How to Start Earning on Each Platform
Starting on Spawned:
- Connect Wallet: Visit Spawned.com and connect your Solana wallet (like Phantom).
- Launch Token: Use the launchpad to create your SPL token. Set your 0.30% creator fee and 0.30% holder reward. Cost: 0.1 SOL.
- Build Your Site: Use the included AI website builder to create a hub for your community at no extra monthly cost.
- Grow & Engage: Share your token with your audience. Revenue from trading begins automatically.
Starting on Substack:
- Sign Up: Create a free account on Substack.com.
- Set Up Publication: Choose a name, design your newsletter, and import any existing email list.
- Configure Payments: Connect Stripe to enable paid subscriptions. Set your subscription price.
- Publish & Market: Start publishing content and actively market your newsletter to gain paying subscribers.
The initial effort on Spawned involves understanding basic tokenomics, while Substack requires expertise in writing and audience marketing. For a simpler start, consider our AI website builder overview.
Build Your Own Economy, Not Just a Newsletter
If the idea of owning your digital nation—where your community has a real financial stake in your collective success—resonates with you, then Spawned's model is worth serious consideration. It moves beyond renting audience attention to building a shared asset.
Ready to launch your token and start earning from community activity? Launch your token on Spawned today for 0.1 SOL and get your AI website built for free.
If you prefer the established, straightforward path of writing for subscriptions, Substack remains a strong option. Evaluate which model aligns with your vision for ownership, community, and financial growth.
Related Topics
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no single answer; it depends on your community's activity. Substack offers predictable, linear income based on subscriber count. Spawned offers potentially higher, non-linear income if your token gains significant trading volume and utility. A Spawned token with $1M daily volume earns the creator $3,000/day from the 0.30% fee alone, which would require over 3,400 $10/month subscribers on Substack to match net earnings.
Not exclusively. While the mechanism uses crypto, the audience can be anyone interested in your brand. The token can represent access, rewards, or status within your community. The included AI website builder creates a mainstream-friendly front door, while the token operates in the background as a membership and revenue engine.
Yes, some creators do. You could use Substack for your core written content and newsletter delivery, while using a Spawned token to represent a premium 'inner circle' community, offer special perks, or fund special projects via a community treasury. This hybrid approach leverages Substack's reach and Spawned's deep engagement and funding tools.
The primary risk is volatility. Your 0.30% creator fee revenue depends on trading volume, which can fluctuate. If community activity slows, revenue decreases. This contrasts with Substack's stable subscription income. However, Spawned's holder reward model is designed to incentivize long-term holding, which can stabilize volume over time. You also carry the responsibility of managing a token and its community.
No. Substack only charges its 10% platform fee on revenue from paid subscriptions. It is free to publish a free newsletter on Substack, though you still give Substack control over your audience delivery and relationship management.
The 0.30% creator fee mechanism is permanent and automated within the token's smart contract. As long as the token is traded, the fee is sent to your designated wallet, even if you are no longer actively promoting it. This creates the potential for passive, enduring revenue from an asset you created.
You cannot automatically 'convert' subscribers to token holders. However, you can market your Spawned token to your existing Substack audience as a new, upgraded tier of membership or ownership. This is a business development and marketing effort, not a technical import. You maintain your Substack while offering the token as an additional option.
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