A paid newsletter charges subscribers a recurring fee (monthly or annual) for access to premium content, community, or perks. Platform fees vary: Substack takes 10%, Beehiiv 2.9%, Kit 3.5%, InfluencersKit 0%. Paid newsletters work best when free content demonstrates value and the premium tier offers clear additional benefit — exclusive analysis, early access, community, or archives. Conversion from free to paid typically runs 2–10% depending on niche and pricing.