SWITCH FROM STEADY
Steady to Calisto Direct
Direct sells memberships, posts, courses, digital products, pay-per-view and ticketed streams on the creator’s own site and domain, paid through the creator’s own payment provider.
Feature by feature
Calisto Direct beside Steady
- 14 In both
- 6 Only in Steady
| 20 features | Calisto Direct | Steady |
|---|---|---|
| Memberships | ||
| Membership PlansCalisto: tiers named and priced by the creator, each with what it includes (1:1 messaging, premium video, premium podcast) and an access level that decides what each fan sees.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Monthly and Annual BillingCalisto: each tier has a monthly and an annual price, and a fan picks one at checkout.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Free TrialsCalisto: a trial link starts a paid membership free for its trial days, once per fan per page; the first charge falls when the trial ends.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Content | ||
| Members-Only PostsCalisto: posts in text, image, video, audio and polls, published now or scheduled, each open to everyone or from a minimum tier up.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Audience | ||
| Posts by EmailCalisto: a published post is emailed once to the audience the creator picked; a post can be re-sent.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Free MembersCalisto: a free tier fans follow, and posts set public, for every member, or from a minimum tier up.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Import MembersCalisto: Import Members takes a CSV from another platform onto the creator’s tiers, keeping the time already paid for.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic MessagesCalisto: every automatic message is a rule shown and changed in Direct ▸ Automations, and sequences are built with Automations.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Apps | ||
| An App for FansCalisto: fans install the creator’s page as the creator’s own app, with the creator’s name, icon and push notices.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Community | ||
| Members’ CommunityCalisto: a members’ space per tier, with threads and replies, who may start threads, approval of posts, and pin, lock, hide, mute and ban.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Messages with MembersCalisto: Direct Messages with members whose tier includes messaging, a paid message a fan unlocks, and Bulk Send to a list or a tier.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Site & Brand | ||
| Checkout on the Creator’s Own SiteCalisto: the membership and store checkouts are on the creator’s own site and domain.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | ||
| AnalyticsCalisto: Analytics for audience and content, Revenue with recurring revenue and each tier’s share, Statements, and Reports with an export.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Money | ||
| Getting PaidCalisto: every sale is paid to the creator’s own payment provider account, so there is no balance held and no payout to wait for.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | Yes | Yes |
| Gaps | ||
| Introductory Offer for Several MonthsAn introductory offer for a new member’s first 1 to 12 months. Calisto’s promo code applies to the first charge only.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
| Fans Buy Memberships as GiftsA supporter buys a month or a year of membership for someone else.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
| Members-Only Podcast FeedPaid episodes reach members through a private RSS feed. Calisto plays them on the creator’s page.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
| A Paywall on Another WebsiteA script or WordPress plugin that hides content for non-members on a site the creator runs elsewhere.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
| RecommendationsRecommendations of other publications to the audience.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
| ZapierA Zapier integration for no-code automations with other services.Checked Oct 28, 2026Source | No | Yes |
What moves
Bringing your data from Steady
Your data is read in your own browser and sent to your Calisto account. Calisto never sees your login for the old system.
From an export file
Export your data from Steady and drop the file in. It is read in your browser and mapped onto Calisto.
Any spreadsheet you export from Steady can be mapped onto Calisto, column by column.
Moving from Steady
Questions about switching
Can I bring my members?
Yes. Import Members takes a CSV onto your tiers, and each member keeps the time already paid for. When it ends, they renew on your page.
Who holds the money?
Your own payment provider. Each sale is paid into your provider account, so there is no balance held for you and no payout to request.
Where do fans find me?
On your own site and domain, built in Direct’s site builder, which fans can also install as your own app.
Learn more
Everything Calisto does here
The pages behind this comparison: the sector, the apps and the guides.