What exactly is the SUBSTACK* charge on my bank statement?

The SUBSTACK* charge is a billing from Substack, the newsletter platform. It reflects a paid subscription to one or more Substack publications you or someone with access to your card signed up for.

Why does the charge say SUBSTACK* instead of just Substack?

Banks and card networks truncate merchant names in statements. The 'SUBSTACK*' format is how Substack's payment processor — typically Stripe — reports the charge, sometimes followed by the specific newsletter name after the asterisk.

Can I get a refund for a SUBSTACK* charge?

Substack's refund policy varies by publication, but you can request a refund through support.substack.com. Many writers and Substack itself will issue refunds for accidental or recently renewed subscriptions if contacted promptly.

How do I cancel my Substack subscription to stop the charge?

Log into substack.com, go to your profile, and click 'Subscriptions.' Find the paid newsletter generating the SUBSTACK* charge, click 'Manage,' and select 'Cancel Subscription' to stop future billing.

How do I make sure I don't get future SUBSTACK* charges I don't recognize?

Regularly review your active subscriptions on substack.com and cancel any you no longer want. You can also set up bank alerts for any new SUBSTACK* transactions to catch unexpected charges immediately.

Home›Browse Charges›News›SUBSTACK*

SUBSTACK* Charge (What It Is + Is It Legit?)

✓ Legitimate

The "SUBSTACK*" charge is from Substack. Substack newsletter subscription.

🌍 US🕐 7 min read📅 Updated May 22, 2026

Substack

Substack newsletter subscription.

SUBSTACK*

What is this charge?

When you subscribe to a paid newsletter on Substack, your payment is processed through Stripe, which truncates merchant names to fit within the character limits imposed by banking and card network systems. Because Substack operates as a platform hosting thousands of individual newsletters, the billing descriptor is standardized as "SUBSTACK*" followed by additional identifying characters, rather than displaying the name of the specific newsletter author you subscribed to. If you see this charge on your statement and recognize signing up for any paid Substack newsletter at around $5.00 per month, the charge is legitimate and reflects your ongoing subscription.

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How to handle this charge

Identify the Substack newsletter

Log in to your account at substack.com and review your active subscriptions to identify which specific newsletter the SUBSTACK* charge is associated with, as you may be subscribed to one or more paid Substack publications.

Check your Substack billing history

Visit substack.com and navigate to your account settings to view your billing history. Confirm the charge amount and date match what appears on your bank statement under SUBSTACK* to ensure there are no duplicate or unexpected charges.

Manage or cancel your Substack subscription

If you no longer want the newsletter tied to the SUBSTACK* charge, go to substack.com/account to manage your paid subscriptions and cancel any you no longer wish to keep before the next billing cycle.

Contact Substack support if needed

If the SUBSTACK* charge still does not match any newsletter you recognize after reviewing your account at substack.com, reach out to Substack's support team directly through their website to clarify the charge before considering a dispute with your bank.

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How to cancel Substack

Substack bills you Monthly. To stop future charges, cancel from your account directly.

Cancel at Substack

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Quick fraud check

No, this is a legitimate charge from Substack. However, if you did not authorize this charge or cancelled your subscription, you may be eligible for a refund.

Is the SUBSTACK* Charge Legitimate or Fraud?

A SUBSTACK* charge on your bank or credit card statement is almost always a legitimate billing from Substack, the popular newsletter and media platform where writers publish paid content directly to subscribers. The "SUBSTACK*" descriptor appears because payment processors truncate merchant names, often followed by the specific newsletter or writer's name. Here are the most common reasons you'd see this charge:

You subscribed to a paid Substack newsletter (monthly or annual plan)
A free trial period on a Substack publication ended and converted to a paid subscription
A family member or household user subscribed to a Substack newsletter using your card
You previously supported a Substack writer and the recurring billing has continued

How to Verify the SUBSTACK* Charge

1
Log into your Substack account
Visit substack.com and sign in. Navigate to your profile settings and select 'Subscriptions' to see all active paid newsletters and their billing amounts.
2
Search your email for Substack receipts
Search your inbox for emails from 'Substack' or 'no-reply@substack.com'. Substack sends a receipt for every charge that will match the SUBSTACK* amount on your statement.
3
Check household members
Ask family members or anyone who may have access to your card if they subscribed to a Substack newsletter, as the SUBSTACK* charge may be linked to their email account.
4
Review the full charge descriptor
Look at the full SUBSTACK* entry on your statement — text after the asterisk often identifies the specific Substack publication name, helping you pinpoint exactly which newsletter billed you.
5
Contact your bank for details
If you still can't identify the SUBSTACK* charge, call your bank and ask for the full merchant descriptor and transaction date, which can help you trace it back to a specific Substack subscription.

How to Dispute a SUBSTACK* Charge

1
Act within 60 days
Most banks require disputes to be filed within 60 days of the SUBSTACK* charge appearing on your statement. Don't wait — acting quickly improves your chances of a successful resolution.
2
Contact Substack support first
Reach out to Substack directly at support.substack.com before escalating. Substack's support team can identify the subscription tied to the SUBSTACK* charge and may issue a refund, especially for accidental or forgotten subscriptions.
3
File a chargeback with your bank
If Substack doesn't resolve the issue, contact your bank or card issuer to dispute the SUBSTACK* charge as unauthorized. Provide any email receipts or account screenshots as supporting evidence.
4
Request a new card number
If you believe the SUBSTACK* charge is the result of unauthorized card use, ask your bank to issue a replacement card to prevent any further unrecognized Substack or other recurring charges.

Tips for Managing Substack Charges

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Enable email notifications from Substack so every SUBSTACK* charge triggers a receipt directly to your inbox.

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Audit your Substack subscriptions quarterly — go to 'Subscriptions' in your account to cancel any newsletters you no longer read.

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Use a single dedicated email for your Substack account so all billing activity and SUBSTACK* receipts are easy to find.

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Choose annual Substack plans cautiously — they bill once a year, so the SUBSTACK* charge may catch you off guard if forgotten.

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Use a virtual card number for Substack subscriptions to limit exposure and easily block charges if needed.

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Use WhatIsThisCharge.net to identify any other unfamiliar SUBSTACK* or related charges on your statement.

ℹ️ Note

In most cases, a SUBSTACK* charge is simply a routine billing from Substack for a newsletter subscription you signed up for — often a publication you may have forgotten about. A quick check of your Substack account subscriptions will typically clear up any confusion within minutes.