Fourthwall vs Steady
Fourthwall
fourthwall.comSteady
steady.pageSide by side
| Figure | Fourthwall | Steady |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $15/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 1 |
| Spec score · Membership Site Platforms | 8.9 (#12) | 8.3 (#29) |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Security | Fourthwall’s Trust Center lists a SOC 2 Type I engagement letter plus encryption, vulnerability monitoring, background checks and tested disaster-recovery controls. | Steady’s API is accessible only over HTTPS and uses OAuth 2.0 for application authorization. |
| What it does | Fourthwall is a hosted creator-commerce platform for branded storefronts, merchandise, digital products, memberships and donations. | Steady helps independent media makers build newsletters and memberships to earn directly from their audiences. |
Plans
In their own words
Fourthwall
Fourthwall provides tools for designing and selling catalog products, running a customizable shop, offering memberships and using social selling integrations. Its Free plan includes those functions, and listed storefront connections include YouTube Product Shelf (Merch Shelf), TikTok Shop, Twitch Product Gifting, Facebook Shopping and Instagram Shopping. Fulfillment coverage is global, with white-label shipping and custom branding available. The service also lists design and mockup tools and API access. The Pro plan costs $15 a month and includes 100 GB of digital product storage. The listed platform is API. That platform detail may matter to sellers considering how the service connects with their store or workflow. Customer personalization is not included in the listed offering. The plan details distinguish the free shop and selling functions from Pro's stated digital product storage allowance, while both plans sit within a service that also lists social connections and global fulfillment.
Steady
Steady is a web and API platform for independent media makers, including magazines, newsletters, podcasts and video channels. It helps creators publish newsletters and memberships and earn directly from audiences. Newsletter sending is free without audience limits or escalating costs. Memberships use recurring billing, with monthly or annual charges, and Steady takes a 10% commission on membership revenue once earning begins; payment-provider fees and VAT also apply. The service supports full-site content gating, flexible paywalls, embedded buttons and supporter prompts. Newsletter tools can welcome readers automatically, resurface selected work and re-engage quiet subscribers. Externally hosted podcasts can be gated by membership tier and distributed through Spotify or private RSS. Steady Code adds website layers and embeds regardless of a site’s CMS. Creator income is transferred in lump sums, and failed payments are retried automatically. The Free plan is free. Custom domains are not supported.