- Canada sits in Stripe's main list
- Domestic cards versus international cards
- Canadian dollars on the price tag
- In-app purchases work for Canadian Stripe accounts
- When the money lands in your Canadian bank
- GST/HST and the thirty thousand dollar small supplier line
- What the Canadian pages don't tell you
- Other routes for Canadian creators
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Canadian writers can charge for a Substack. Stripe's global page lists Canada as a supported country, and Substack says in-app purchases are open to Canadian Stripe accounts. Expect Substack's 10% fee plus Stripe's card fees, and ask an accountant about GST/HST.
If you're a Canadian writer thinking about charging for a newsletter, you've probably wondered whether Substack treats you the same as a US writer. For the big questions it does. I've read through what Substack, Stripe and the Canada Revenue Agency say on their own pages, so here's how it looks from a Canadian address.
Canada sits in Stripe's main list
Substack's help pages say paid subscriptions run on Stripe, its payments provider, and point you to Stripe's list of supported countries. On Stripe's global page, Canada appears with no label, unlike the countries marked Extended network or Preview. In practice that means a Canadian publisher connects Stripe in the normal way and doesn't need a workaround to turn on paid subscriptions.
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Stripe doesn't define the Extended network and Preview labels on its global page, so I won't guess what they mean in practice. What I can say is that Canada carries neither, and the Substack help pages don't list Canada as an exception to the Stripe country list.
Domestic cards versus international cards
Stripe's Canadian pricing page lists domestic cards at 2.9% + 30 Canadian cents per successful transaction. International cards carry an additional 0.8% on top of that, and a further 2% applies whenever currency conversion is required. Substack then keeps 10% of paid subscription revenue, and Stripe Billing adds 0.7% for recurring payments according to Substack's fee page.
| What I checked | What Stripe lists for Canada |
|---|---|
| Domestic cards | 2.9% + 30 Canadian cents |
| International cards | Additional 0.8% |
| Currency conversion | Extra 2% when required |
| Standard payouts | Free |
| Instant Payouts | 1% of volume, minimum fee of 60 Canadian cents |
The mix of readers decides your real cost. A newsletter read mostly in Canada will mostly hit the domestic row. One with a large American or British audience will pay the international uplift on those cards, plus the conversion charge if the reader's currency differs from yours.
Canadian dollars on the price tag
Substack's localized pricing list includes the Canadian dollar, alongside the pound, Australian dollar, euro and several others. Prices are converted at Substack's exchange rates and rounded up, and Stripe charges between 1% and 2% for currency conversion. It's on by default, prices are refreshed roughly every three months, and you can switch it off under Settings and then Payments if you'd rather show one fixed price.
In-app purchases work for Canadian Stripe accounts
Substack says in-app purchases are available for publications whose Stripe accounts are based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and most of the European Union. So readers on an iPhone can subscribe inside the app to a Canadian publication.
Apple's cut is the catch. Substack says Apple takes a 30% commission in the first year of a subscription and 15% from the second year of continuous billing, while Substack's own 10% is calculated on your original web price. Apple pays Substack monthly, typically up to 45 days after the month ends, and those earnings sit as Held until they reach 100 US dollars.
When the money lands in your Canadian bank
Substack says payments usually arrive in your bank account within 48 hours of each transaction. The first deposit is the one to watch, so check the estimated date Stripe shows you. Stripe emails the amount and estimated date for each payout.
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GST/HST and the thirty thousand dollar small supplier line
The Canada Revenue Agency says that if you don't exceed the 30,000 threshold over four consecutive calendar quarters, you're a small supplier and you don't have to register for GST/HST. Cross it and the rules change, with different timing depending on whether you pass it in a single quarter or across four. Substack's fee page notes that writers may add sales tax or VAT to the price, so this is worth a conversation with a Canadian accountant before you launch.
What the Canadian pages don't tell you
It's worth being clear about the gaps. Neither Substack nor Stripe says how long a Canadian bank will take to show a deposit once Stripe has sent it, and they don't say which currency your payout arrives in. Your Stripe dashboard shows both, and your bank can tell you its own cut-off times. I'd rather point you to the place that knows than guess.
Here's the short list of things to settle before you charge anyone:
- Connect Stripe first and read the payout details it shows you.
- Decide whether to leave localized pricing on or show one fixed price.
- Decide whether to offer in-app purchases, remembering Apple's commission.
- Talk to a Canadian accountant about GST/HST before you pass the threshold.
- Keep a note of what each reader pays, because card type changes your fees.
Other routes for Canadian creators
Substack is a writing tool first. If you want tiered memberships and perks around your work, how Patreon works for Canadian creators covers that model, and how Amazon KDP pays authors in Canada is the one to read if you're turning your writing into books. For the bigger picture, how newsletters make money shows what revenue streams exist.
Frequently asked questions
Is Substack available to Canadian writers?
Yes. Stripe's global page lists Canada as a supported country with no Extended network or Preview label, and Substack runs paid subscriptions through Stripe.
What does Stripe charge on a Canadian card payment?
Stripe's Canadian pricing page lists domestic cards at 2.9% + 30 Canadian cents, an additional 0.8% on international cards, and 2% extra when currency conversion is required.
Can readers pay in Canadian dollars on Substack?
Substack's localized pricing list includes the Canadian dollar. It's on by default and you can turn it off under Settings and then Payments.
Does Substack offer in-app purchases in Canada?
Substack says in-app purchases are available for publications whose Stripe accounts are based in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and most of the European Union.
Do I need to charge GST/HST on a paid newsletter?
The Canada Revenue Agency says you're a small supplier if you don't exceed 30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters, and small suppliers don't have to register. Ask a Canadian accountant how it applies to your income.
