---
title: "How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Substack? | UniqueSide"
description: "MVP of an app like Substack costs $20,000-$40,000 in ~10 weeks. Features, tech stack, and timeline breakdown."
url: "https://www.uniqueside.io/cost-to-build/substack-clone"
canonical: "https://www.uniqueside.io/cost-to-build/substack-clone"
type: "cost-to-build"
date: "2026-05-19"
lastmod: "2026-05-22"
---

# How Much Does It Cost to Build an App Like Substack?

Building an app like Substack costs between $20,000 and $40,000 for a production-ready MVP, and takes roughly 10 weeks. Publish newsletters and grow paid subscribers.

## Core Features of a Substack Clone

- Newsletter editor
- Email delivery
- Subscriptions
- Payments
- Analytics
- Comments

## Cost & Timeline

- Frontend only (Figma to Frontend): from $3,000, 1-2 weeks
- Core MVP: $20,000, focused feature set
- Full Substack MVP: $20,000-$40,000, ~10 weeks
- Complexity: Medium

## Recommended Tech Stack

- Next.js
- Node.js
- PostgreSQL
- Stripe

## Monetization

Typical model: Subscription commission.

## Build It Lean with UniqueSide

UniqueSide ships production-ready MVPs in 15 days, fixed price from $8,000, with direct engineer access and 100% code & IP ownership. 40+ products shipped.

[MVP development service](https://www.uniqueside.io/services/mvp-development) · [Cost guide](https://www.uniqueside.io/cost/mvp-development) · [Pricing](https://www.uniqueside.io/pricing) · [Start a project](https://tally.so/r/wdaQ1N)