Steady
Berlin platform for independent media to build paid memberships, with payment methods German-speaking audiences actually use
Quick Overview
| Company | Steady Media GmbH |
|---|---|
| Category | Newsletter Platforms |
| Headquarters | Berlin, Germany |
| Founded | 2016 |
| EU Presence | Yes - Germany (EU) |
| Data Location | EU (Germany) |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | No |
| Main Features | Membership tiers, paid newsletters, SEPA direct debit and local payment methods, paywall integration, member management, works with any website, analytics |
| Pricing | Revenue share on membership income; no monthly fee |
| Best For | Independent journalists, podcasters and media in German-speaking Europe |
| Replaces | Substack, Patreon, Memberful |
Detailed Review
Steady is the European answer to Patreon and paid Substack for independent media. Founded in Berlin in 2016 by people from the German media world, it handles memberships, paid newsletters and paywalls for journalists, podcasters and small publications.
Its practical differentiator is payments: SEPA direct debit and other locally expected methods, which matter enormously in Germany and Austria where card penetration for recurring payments is much lower than in the US.
Payment Methods That Convert
A German audience asked to enter card details for a recurring payment converts substantially worse than one offered SEPA direct debit. Substack and Patreon are card-first products, and for German-speaking publishers that is a real revenue difference rather than a preference.
Steady supports the methods its market uses, which is the single most important reason to choose it in the DACH region.
Works With Your Existing Site
Steady does not require you to publish on its platform. It integrates with an existing WordPress site, a Ghost publication or anything else, handling memberships and the paywall while your content stays where it is.
That is a different model from Substack, which wants to be the publication as well as the payment layer.
Built for Media
Its customer base is independent journalism, podcasts and small publications, and the product reflects that: member communication, tier management and analytics oriented towards a publication's relationship with its readers rather than towards creator merchandise or perks.
Limitations to Consider
Steady takes a revenue share, which at scale costs more than a flat-fee platform. It provides no publishing tools of its own, so you need a site or newsletter platform alongside it. Its reach and brand recognition are concentrated in German-speaking Europe, and it brings no audience discovery — every member is one you found.
Who Should Use Steady
Independent journalists, podcasters and small publications in German-speaking Europe who need paid memberships with locally appropriate payment methods, on top of a site they already run.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- SEPA and local payment methods that convert
- Works with any existing website
- Built specifically for independent media
- No monthly fee, revenue share only
- German company, EU data
Cons
- Revenue share costs more at scale
- No publishing tools of its own
- Reach concentrated in DACH
Alternatives to Steady
Other European newsletter platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Ghost
United Kingdom · Open-source publishing with native paid subscriptions
MailerLite
Lithuania · Clean newsletter builder with a generous free tier
Brevo
France · Email, SMS and automation from a French provider
GetResponse
Poland · Newsletters, funnels and webinars in one platform
See all European newsletter platforms or compare them directly against Substack on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Payment methods. Substack is card-first, and German-speaking audiences convert substantially better with SEPA direct debit. For a DACH publisher that is a revenue difference, not a preference. Steady also works with your existing site rather than replacing it.
No. It handles memberships, payments and the paywall while your content stays on your own site — WordPress, Ghost or anything else.
A revenue share on membership income with no monthly fee, which suits publications starting out and costs more than a flat fee once revenue is substantial.
No. Like Ghost and unlike Substack, it provides no discovery network — every member is one you found yourself. That is the trade for owning the relationship.