{ "name": "PaywallCompass Creator Economy Benchmarks", "title": "Creator Economy Benchmarks", "url": "https://paywallcompass.com/datasets/creator-economy-benchmarks/", "csv": "https://paywallcompass.com/datasets/creator-economy-benchmarks.csv", "markdown": "https://paywallcompass.com/datasets/creator-economy-benchmarks/index.md", "computed_at": "2026-10-05", "license": "https://paywallcompass.com/terms", "headline": "The Creator Economy Benchmarks carries 8 published figures read from 2 sources' own pages, from 0.18 to 4.29 percent, read 12 September 2026.", "quotes": [ "The Creator Economy Benchmarks carries 8 published figures read from 2 sources' own pages, from 0.18 to 4.29 percent, read 12 September 2026.", "2 of the 13 named sources read in full publish a figure; 10 publish none, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric free-to-paid-conversion: median 0.62 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric paid-newsletter-monthly-price: median 10 USD across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric paid-newsletter-annual-price: median 100 USD across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric annual-churn-saas: median 3.04 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric annual-churn-b2b-services: median 3.21 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric annual-churn-ecommerce: median 4.25 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric annual-churn-enterprise-saas: median 3.54 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric involuntary-churn-250-plus-arpc: median 0.18 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric involuntary-churn-10-25-arpc: median 1.30 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026.", "Creator Economy Benchmarks, metric annual-churn-highest-cohort: median 4.29 percent across 1 source, read 12 September 2026." ], "citation": "\"PaywallCompass Creator Economy Benchmarks\", updated 2026-10-05, https://paywallcompass.com/datasets/creator-economy-benchmarks/.", "changed_since": null, "national": { "unit": "%", "n": 8, "median": 3.125, "min": 0.18, "max": 4.29, "p25": 0.79, "p75": 4.0725, "mean": 2.5537, "units": { "%": 8, "USD": 2 }, "published_sources": 2, "named_sources": 14, "read_sources": 13, "not_published": 10, "published_share": 0.154 }, "by_axis": { "metric": { "free-to-paid-conversion": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 0.62, "min": 0.62, "max": 0.62, "p25": 0.62, "p75": 0.62, "mean": 0.62 } }, "paid-newsletter-monthly-price": { "USD": { "n": 1, "median": 10, "min": 10, "max": 10, "p25": 10, "p75": 10, "mean": 10 } }, "paid-newsletter-annual-price": { "USD": { "n": 1, "median": 100, "min": 100, "max": 100, "p25": 100, "p75": 100, "mean": 100 } }, "annual-churn-saas": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 3.04, "min": 3.04, "max": 3.04, "p25": 3.04, "p75": 3.04, "mean": 3.04 } }, "annual-churn-b2b-services": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 3.21, "min": 3.21, "max": 3.21, "p25": 3.21, "p75": 3.21, "mean": 3.21 } }, "annual-churn-ecommerce": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 4.25, "min": 4.25, "max": 4.25, "p25": 4.25, "p75": 4.25, "mean": 4.25 } }, "annual-churn-enterprise-saas": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 3.54, "min": 3.54, "max": 3.54, "p25": 3.54, "p75": 3.54, "mean": 3.54 } }, "involuntary-churn-250-plus-arpc": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 0.18, "min": 0.18, "max": 0.18, "p25": 0.18, "p75": 0.18, "mean": 0.18 } }, "involuntary-churn-10-25-arpc": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 1.3, "min": 1.3, "max": 1.3, "p25": 1.3, "p75": 1.3, "mean": 1.3 } }, "annual-churn-highest-cohort": { "%": { "n": 1, "median": 4.29, "min": 4.29, "max": 4.29, "p25": 4.29, "p75": 4.29, "mean": 4.29 } } } }, "rows": [ { "source": "beehiiv.com", "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/the-state-of-paid-newsletters-2026", "figure": "0.62%", "value": 0.62, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "free-to-paid-conversion" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "Median free-to-paid conversion is 0.62%, but the top 10% in finance and investing hit 18-20%.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "a042f3f6ebbc4a873316cc5634edc080e4b8eeaa41b5d3a3a041f43750f8ce89" }, { "source": "beehiiv.com", "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/the-state-of-paid-newsletters-2026", "figure": "$10.", "value": 10, "unit": "USD", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "paid-newsletter-monthly-price" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "The median monthly price is $10.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "a042f3f6ebbc4a873316cc5634edc080e4b8eeaa41b5d3a3a041f43750f8ce89" }, { "source": "beehiiv.com", "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/the-state-of-paid-newsletters-2026", "figure": "$100.", "value": 100, "unit": "USD", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "paid-newsletter-annual-price" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "The median yearly price is $100.", "source_class": "primary-government", "text_sha256": "a042f3f6ebbc4a873316cc5634edc080e4b8eeaa41b5d3a3a041f43750f8ce89" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "3.04%", "value": 3.04, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "annual-churn-saas" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "For SaaS specifically: The Recurly network shows a median overall annual churn rate of 3.04% for software businesses, with top-quartile performers at 1.78% or below.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "3.21%", "value": 3.21, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "annual-churn-b2b-services" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "For B2B: Business and Professional Services on the Recurly network showed a 3.21% median annual churn rate, with best-quartile performance at 1.83%.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "4.25%", "value": 4.25, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "annual-churn-ecommerce" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "For subscription boxes and direct-to-consumer: Ecommerce on the Recurly network showed a 4.25% median annual churn rate.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "3.54%", "value": 3.54, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "annual-churn-enterprise-saas" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "For enterprise SaaS: Within the $250+ ARPC cohort on the Recurly network, median annual churn sits at 3.54%, with involuntary churn at just 0.18%.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "0.18%", "value": 0.18, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "involuntary-churn-250-plus-arpc" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "At $250+ ARPC, involuntary churn is just 0.18%.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "1.30%", "value": 1.3, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "involuntary-churn-10-25-arpc" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "At $10 to $25 ARPC, it is 1.30%.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" }, { "source": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "figure": "4.29%", "value": 4.29, "unit": "%", "vat": null, "axis": { "metric": "annual-churn-highest-cohort" }, "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "quote": "This cohort shows the highest overall median (4.29%) in the table.", "source_class": "first-party-index", "text_sha256": "1546b2ff334860977dace84a05c9cdae69b9de2f0606c9f3449c64ac19d631c7" } ], "not_published": [ { "source": "beehiiv: The State of Newsletters 2026", "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/beehiiv-the-state-of-newsletters-2026", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "every candidate on the page was refused" }, { "source": "Memberful: membership metrics", "url": "https://memberful.com/blog/membership-metrics", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "every candidate on the page was refused" }, { "source": "US Census Bureau quarterly retail e-commerce sales", "url": "https://www.census.gov/retail/ecommerce.html", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "US Census quarterly e-commerce release (current PDF)", "url": "https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/data/pdf/ec_current.pdf", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "ONS: internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales (J4MC)", "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/timeseries/j4mc/drsi", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "ONS Retail Sales Index internet sales dataset", "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/datasets/retailsalesindexinternetsales", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "ABS retail trade, Australia", "url": "https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/retail-and-wholesale-trade/retail-trade-australia/latest-release", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "Statistics Canada retail e-commerce sales", "url": "https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2010007201", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "US BLS occupational employment and wages: writers and authors", "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273043.htm", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" }, { "source": "MGI Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report", "url": "https://www.marketinggeneral.com/knowledge-bank/reports", "retrieved_at": "2026-09-12", "reason": "read in full and no accepted figure on the page" } ], "sources": [ { "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/the-state-of-paid-newsletters-2026", "label": "beehiiv: The State of Paid Newsletters 2026", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/beehiiv-the-state-of-newsletters-2026", "label": "beehiiv: The State of Newsletters 2026", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.podia.com/articles/how-much-should-you-charge-for-your-online-course", "label": "Podia: how much should you charge for your online course", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://recurly.com/research/churn-rate-benchmarks/", "label": "Recurly churn-rate benchmarks", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://memberful.com/blog/membership-metrics", "label": "Memberful: membership metrics", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.census.gov/retail/ecommerce.html", "label": "US Census Bureau quarterly retail e-commerce sales", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.census.gov/retail/mrts/www/data/pdf/ec_current.pdf", "label": "US Census quarterly e-commerce release (current PDF)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/timeseries/j4mc/drsi", "label": "ONS: internet sales as a percentage of total retail sales (J4MC)", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/retailindustry/datasets/retailsalesindexinternetsales", "label": "ONS Retail Sales Index internet sales dataset", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/industry/retail-and-wholesale-trade/retail-trade-australia/latest-release", "label": "ABS retail trade, Australia", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=2010007201", "label": "Statistics Canada retail e-commerce sales", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes273043.htm", "label": "US BLS occupational employment and wages: writers and authors", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.marketinggeneral.com/knowledge-bank/reports", "label": "MGI Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" }, { "url": "https://www.beehiiv.com/blog/the-state-of-paid-newsletters-2026", "label": "beehiiv.com", "license": "the publisher's own terms; quoted for reporting and comment" } ], "methodology": "Every row is a verbatim sentence read from the named source's own page through our fetch service on the date shown, hash-pinned to the stored read (the sha of the page's visible text; the raw page is mirrored to R2). 2 of the 13 named sources that could be read published a usable figure; 10 published none and are recorded as not published, never filled in; 1 could not be read (blocked, dead or unreachable) and count nowhere. The headline figures (median, minimum, maximum, quartiles) are over ONE figure per source in % (a source's median where its page yielded several accepted sentences), so N counts sources, never sentences; 23 candidate sentence(s) were refused by a reviewer with the reason recorded. The fuller derivation this dataset is chartered to grow into (not yet what the figures above are; they are each source's own published figure as read): one row per metric per segment - paid-newsletter monthly and annual price, course price, membership price, free-to-paid conversion, monthly and annual churn, share of creators monetising - each quoted from the party that computed it over its OWN book of business, with the population and the period named, and NEVER averaged across incompatible populations. The derivation nobody publishes is the RECONCILIATION: beehiiv's platform median beside Recurly's billed-subscription churn beside MGI's association renewal beside the national statistical agencies' online-sales denominator, with the definitional gap stated (a 'churn rate' quoted monthly and one quoted annually differ by a factor of six before anyone is wrong), plus the spread between the median and the top decile, which is the figure a creator pricing a first product is actually asking for. A dated series across reads makes 'changed since last year' answerable at all.", "embed": "

0.18 to 4.29 percent

8 published figures, Creator Economy Benchmarks, across 2 sources, read 12 September 2026

Source: PaywallCompass Creator Economy Benchmarks
" }