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Medium vs Substack
Comparing Medium and Substack to help you pick the right Blogging Platforms for your needs.
| Feature | Medium | Substack |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Freemium | Freemium |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | Web, iOS, Android |
| Editorial rating | ★ 4 / 5 | ★ 4 / 5 |
| Starting price | $0 | $0 |
| Community votes | 28 | 356 |
Medium Pros & Cons
- Built-in distribution to 100M+ readers without building an audience from scratch
- Clean, distraction-free reading and writing experience
- Monetization through Partner Program based on reading time
- No technical setup required
- Medium controls the distribution algorithm and can reduce reach without notice
- Own brand subordinated to Medium platform branding
- 30% revenue cut on Partner Program earnings
- Building owned audience is limited compared to self-hosted alternatives
Substack Pros & Cons
- No upfront cost to start — Substack only takes a percentage of revenue from paid subscriptions
- Built-in payment processing eliminates needing a separate e-commerce or billing integration
- Discovery features (recommendations, the Substack app) can drive new readers beyond a writer's existing audience
- Discussion threads and chat features build community around a publication beyond just email
- Writers retain their subscriber list and can export it if they ever leave the platform
- 10% revenue share is a meaningful ongoing cost compared to platforms with flat subscription fees
- Less design customization than a fully custom website or dedicated CMS
- Discovery algorithm changes can significantly affect a publication's growth unpredictably
- Some writers have raised concerns about content moderation policies and platform editorial decisions
- Less suited to non-newsletter content formats compared to a general blogging platform
Verdict: Medium vs Substack
Medium and Substack both serve the Blogging Platforms category well, but suit different priorities. Based on community engagement, Substack is currently the more widely adopted choice (356 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which is cheaper, Medium or Substack?
- Medium and Substack use a similar pricing model (both freemium), so the cheaper choice depends on which specific plan tier and feature set you need rather than the base pricing model.
- Is Medium or Substack rated higher?
- Medium and Substack currently hold comparable editorial ratings, so neither has a clear edge — the right pick depends more on which specific features and pricing fit your use case.
- Which platforms do Medium and Substack support?
- Medium is available on Web, iOS, Android. Substack is available on Web, iOS, Android. Both tools cover a similar range of platforms.
- Can I switch from Medium to Substack (or vice versa)?
- Most blogging platforms tools, including Medium and Substack, support data export in standard formats, making migration possible though rarely fully automatic. Expect to manually verify that custom configurations, integrations, and historical data transfer correctly, and budget time for the team to adjust to workflow differences between the two products.
- Should I choose Medium or Substack?
- Medium and Substack both serve the Blogging Platforms category well, but suit different priorities. Based on community engagement, Substack is currently the more widely adopted choice (356 votes), but the better fit ultimately depends on your specific pricing, platform, and feature requirements.