Medium

A large open publishing site where anyone can post articles and members pay to read without limits.

Free plan + paidNewsletter and creator publishing platforms

Verified facts: 0 of 0
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Medium

Medium is a long-running blogging platform with a built-in audience. Anyone can write for free and publish to their own profile or to publications run by others, and readers can follow writers and get new posts by email. Revenue comes from a reader membership that removes the paywall on member-only stories; writers in the Partner Program earn a share based on how members engage with their work. The appeal is reach without setup: the clean editor, recommendations and topic pages can put a first post in front of readers quickly. The downside is control. You don't own a paid relationship with readers, cannot charge your own subscription price, have limited design and domain options, and depend on Medium's distribution and payout rules, which have changed several times. It runs in the browser with iOS and Android apps. It suits writers who want readers more than a business of their own.

Best for: Writers who want an existing audience for essays without running their own site or list.

What works

Large existing readership and topic-based discovery
Free to write, with a clean editor
Partner Program pays writers from member reading

Why people leave

No direct paid subscriptions you control
Earnings and distribution depend on changing platform rules
Little control over design and branding

Top Medium alternatives

See all 6

1
Substack
Also offers a reader network, but lets you charge your own subscription and own the list.
66.5
2
Hashnode
Free blog on your own domain, with Markdown export so you can leave anytime.
62.6
3
Ghost
Your own branded site and memberships, without depending on another site's algorithm.
59.6
4
Write.as
Distraction-free, privacy-first blogging with no paywalls or engagement metrics.
57.2
5
Bear Blog
Tiny, fast, ad-free blog with a custom domain and a free tier.
55.3

Why people left Medium

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Medium: common questions

Is Medium free?

Medium has a free plan and paid plans.

Is Medium open source?

No, Medium is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Ghost.

What platforms does Medium run on?

Medium is available for Web, iOS and Android.

What are the best alternatives to Medium?

The highest-ranked Medium alternatives right now are Substack, Hashnode and Ghost. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Medium alternatives