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Medium alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Medium: no direct paid subscriptions you control, and earnings and distribution depend on changing platform rules. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Medium, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Substack currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Ghost logoGhostOpen sourceYesWeb, Self-hosted5 of 559.6
  1. Ghost logo

    1. GhostTop pick

    Best for: Independent publishers who want their own branded site, newsletter and memberships

    Open sourceSelf-hostableWeb, Self-hosted

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Medium

    Your own branded site and memberships, without depending on another site's algorithm.

    Pros

    • No transaction fees from Ghost on paid memberships
    • Open source and self-hostable for full control
    • Custom themes and a large integration marketplace
    • Fast sites with strong SEO defaults

    Cons

    • No discovery network to bring in readers
    • Starter plan lacks custom themes and paid subscriptions
    • Self-hosting needs a server and some sysadmin work
    Visit Ghost Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Ghost a good Medium alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Starting price
    $18/month (Starter, billed yearly)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Publisher plan
    $29/month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Transaction fees
    0% from Ghost (processor fees apply)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Self-hosting
    Yes, Ubuntu or Docker
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)
    Open source
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026ghost.org(opens source in a new tab)

The best Medium alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Substack logo

Best Medium alternative for most people

Substack

Also offers a reader network, but lets you charge your own subscription and own the list.

Ghost logo

Best Medium alternative for a free option

Ghost

Your own branded site and memberships, without depending on another site's algorithm.

Hashnode logo

Best Medium alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Hashnode

Free blog on your own domain, with Markdown export so you can leave anytime.

Ghost logo

Best Medium alternative for open source

Ghost

Your own branded site and memberships, without depending on another site's algorithm.

Ghost logo

Best Medium alternative for self-hosting

Ghost

Your own branded site and memberships, without depending on another site's algorithm.

Tumblr logo

Best Medium alternative for iPhone and Android

Tumblr

Free blogging with a built-in social audience through reblogs and tags.

Write.as logo

Best Medium alternative for working in the browser

Write.as

Distraction-free, privacy-first blogging with no paywalls or engagement metrics.

Medium alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Medium?

Substack ranks first right now. Also offers a reader network, but lets you charge your own subscription and own the list. Hashnode and Ghost follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Medium?

Yes. Substack (free plan + paid), Hashnode (free plan + paid), Ghost (open source) and Bear Blog (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Medium?

Yes: Ghost. Ghost can also be self-hosted.

Why do people switch from Medium?

The complaints we hear most: no direct paid subscriptions you control; earnings and distribution depend on changing platform rules; little control over design and branding.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Medium, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.