What If Substack Does Not Support Your Country via Stripe? There Is an Alternative Monetization Solution.
I conversed with a freelance writer who solved this difficult problem as a workaround with rigor, successfully implemented the solution, and documented it in an e-book.
Written by Dr Mehmet Yildiz as a giveback activity to the Substack community. If you want to read such stories, please subscribe; if not, you can unsubscribe. I also write on Medium.
Dear freelance writers, this short story aims to serve as a catalyst for addressing a global problem faced by creators on writing platforms: the challenges of monetization and money transfer, particularly through Stripe. By exploring the promising alternative solution of PayPal, I hope to raise awareness and inspire change. Please consider sharing this post with those struggling with Substack monetization.
It was an absolute pleasure when Medium recently announced the addition of 77 new countries to the partner program. When I shared this news in a newsletter, thousands of writers expressed their gratitude for this empowering update. However, many writers raised concerns about Substack, as their countries are not included in its supported regions. I have deep compassion for those writers, so I continued investigating possible solutions.
I checked Substack’s documentation, and unfortunately, they only support Stripe, which is not available in all countries. This has been a hot issue on Medium for several years and is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive. Now, the Substack issue is also generating substantial inquiries through email, my website, and our Slack workspace.
I found her content valuable, so I subscribed as a free member. But there was no paid subscription option. I asked her why she didn’t monetize her substantial and valuable content, given her professional background as an economist with multiple business qualifications and years of writing experience.
She explained that it was because Substack doesn’t support Stripe in her country, Serbia. However, she mentioned she was exploring the possibility of using PayPal. I admired her experimentation and asked her to contact me if she found a solution, as many other writers, especially from India, face the same constraint despite their wonderful stories.
A week later, she contacted me with a potential solution, but she needed to test, validate, and implement it. I liked her systematic approach, which increased my respect for her diligence and professionalism.
We discussed some technical details. Interestingly, a few days later, she reached out again to say the proof of concept had worked, and it was time for her to implement it. This made me very happy, and I asked her to keep me updated on how it went.
In another conversation, she shared that the implementation was successful and that she was very pleased. I suggested she document the process and monetize it in a paid newsletter to reap the benefits of her intellectual capital. She thought it was a great idea. The solution revolved around adding a code to her newsletter.
With her entrepreneurial spirit, she also repurposed her solution into an ebook published on Gumroad, a platform thousands of creators use globally. I remember using that service years ago when I self-published one of my books, but it didn’t work for me, so I stopped using it. However, many friends have said it works well, so I plan to use Gumroad again.
Evidence of Mladena’s Solution
The name of this brilliant creator is
. Based on my invitation, she also joined Medium recently to repurpose her content from Substack. She will be contributing to my publications soon.Mladena and I discussed the details of her solution, and she provided me with multiple screen captures that I was allowed to share in my story.
Here is how she added the monetization button to her Substack newsletters.
Mladena also provided me with proof of payment from PayPal, which increased my confidence in her solution.
I will soon share the script of my detailed interview with Mladena in a story highlighting her challenges, progress, and success as a freelancer writer as I did many others. You can save this collection to access my interviews.
Invitation to Explore Mladena’s Solution
If you are interested in learning about her solution, you may contact
on Substack by clicking on the Message button of her profile. She will be happy to help and guide you.If you want to support her intellectual property for this solution, you can support her through Gumroads in an e-book titled How To Monetize Writing On Substack Even If You Don’t Have Access to Stripe. She also provided a discount code for those who can’t afford it.
If you know creators from countries that cannot monetize their content on Substack, please share this story with them. If you know writers who are unaware of Medium’s recent update on Stripe, please share this story titled Medium Now Supports 77 New Countries, Including India.
Conclusions: Why Should We Support Creators Who Struggle Monezing Their Content
This is a topic close to my heart because supporting creators who struggle to monetize their content is crucial. These kind souls bring unique, authentic voices to the conversation—voices that might otherwise go unheard in a landscape dominated by well-funded or more visible content producers.
These creators invest immense time, passion, and effort into their work, often driven by a deep commitment to their craft and a desire to make a meaningful impact.
By supporting them, we help level the playing field and encourage the diversity of thought and creativity that enriches our collective experience.
Moreover, when we stand behind these creators, we empower them to continue their work, contribute to a richer cultural landscape, and inspire others facing similar challenges.
Ultimately, supporting struggling creators is an investment in a more inclusive and vibrant future where creativity and innovation can thrive without being stifled by financial barriers.
Thank you for reading my perspectives. I wish you a healthy and happy life.
You can contact me via my website when you need help.
I wrote this story as a give-back to the writing community as I owe my success to my mentors. Mentorship and collaboration can enhance our knowledge, make awareness and skill-building easy, and make the journey enjoyable on different platforms. I wrote several stories like this for writers and readers on Medium.com and linked them to a list titled Writing, Content Development & Marketing Strategies. I also distill them in my newsletter Content Strategy, Development, & Marketing Insights
If you are a writer on Medium and Substack, we have a new publication called Substack Mastery. You are welcome to join and share your Substack experience with your fellow writers and discerning readers.
Welcome to “Substack Mastery” Publication by the ILLUMINATION Network on Medium
Here is why I resigned from the Boost program on Medium.
Here’s why I closed my best publication, ILLUMINATION-Curated.
Join me on Substack, where I offer experience-based content on health, content strategy, and technology topics to inform and inspire my readers.
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This is a wonderful piece of our freelance writers and a helpful post. Thank you.
I too had this inquiry from many freelance writers especially from India. I am glad there is a solution. Thanks for creating this awareness. I hope this info helps many. Stripe is a bit restrictive but PayPal comes to the rescue.