Free
Try the whole pipeline.
$0/ forever
- 1 custom publication for your writing
- 5 story or interview drafts per month
- 3 published pieces per month
- Unlimited journalism integrity checks
- Unlimited re-drafts
- Your own masthead
Pricing
Priced for independent reporters
A small monthly base plus usage when you are actually drafting and publishing stories. All usage is metered and shown.
Founding Reporter
Lifetime rate. Locked forever, even as we add features.
$3/ month + usage
Pay only for what you use beyond the base. Transparent metering.
- Everything in Free, plus:
- Generous fair-use allowance
- Up to 10 published stories per month
- Your own masthead
- Distribution to Facebook, Instagram, X, Substack, WhatsApp
- Price locked for life
When they're gone, new reporters pay standard pricing. Founding members keep $3/mo forever.
Reporter Pro
For reporters going all-in on their patch.
$9/ month + usage
Higher base, generous allowances, priority support.
- Everything in Founding Reporter, plus:
- Fair use up to 100 stories per month
- Free distribution through SEO, GEO & media partners
- Custom domain (coming soon)
How we compare
The cheapest serious option for indie newsrooms.
| Platform | Starts at | Built for news? |
|---|---|---|
| Suru (Founding Reporter) | $3/mo + usage | Yes — capture to publish |
| Suru (Reporter Pro) | $9/mo + usage | Yes — capture to publish |
| WordPress.com Personal | $9/mo | Generic blog |
| Ghost Starter | $15/mo | Newsletter-first |
| Substack | 10% of revenue + payment fees | Newsletter-first |
Comparison prices accurate as of May 2026. Suru is the only platform on this list with on-the-ground audio capture, AI drafting, and a journalism quality check built in.
FAQ
- How does usage-based pricing work?
- Your base covers the platform — your masthead, feed, hosting, storage. On top of that, you pay only for what you actually use: audio transcribed, drafts generated, Journo Checks run, redrafts. Every action is metered and shown in your dashboard so there are no surprises at the end of the month.
- Can I switch from Free to paid later?
- Yes — anytime. Your stories, drafts and publication name come with you.
- What if I publish more than 100 stories a month on Reporter Pro?
- We'll get in touch. There's no hard cutoff — it's a fair-use line to keep platform costs sane. Real reporters publishing real stories won't hit it.
- Why this pricing model?
- Suru should be as low cost as possible, or free when you're just using it lightly.
More questions? Full FAQ · Guides for citizen journalists · Email the founder
Still have a question?
The fastest way to understand Suru is to use it. Start a capture — no account needed until you're ready to run the journalism check.