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Medium stands out as one of the writer-friendly platforms in our complete best blogging platforms roundup. In contrast to conventional running a blog instruments, it capabilities extra like a social community for long-form content material, the place your tales can attain tens of millions with none advertising effort.
Our reviewers have examined 140+ of the best website builders and running a blog instruments giving us deep perception into what makes every platform distinctive. What units Medium aside for us is its deal with content material over customization. You will not discover the design flexibility of Wix, our prime decide for 2025. However the tradeoff’s not for nothing.
As a substitute, Medium prioritizes discovery and engagement by way of its algorithm-driven feed system. The platform at present serves over 100 million month-to-month guests and pays writers greater than $2 million month-to-month by way of its Accomplice Program.
What’s Medium?
Medium is basically a hybrid between a running a blog platform and a social media community, designed particularly for long-form written content material. Based by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams in 2012, it removes the technical boundaries of conventional running a blog by dealing with all of the internet hosting, design, and infrastructure for you. You merely create an account and begin writing. No coding, no theme choice, no server administration required.
Consider Medium as a digital journal the place anybody can contribute articles, referred to as “tales” in Medium’s terminology. Your content material seems not simply in your private profile but additionally will get distributed by way of Medium’s advice system to readers who is perhaps fascinated by your matters. This built-in viewers discovery is Medium’s largest benefit. Your first article may probably attain hundreds of readers with none promotional effort in your half.
Options
Medium’s characteristic set displays its philosophy of simplicity over complexity, providing simply sufficient instruments to create participating content material with out overwhelming writers with choices.
The platform excels at content material creation and discovery options however falls brief on customization and branding capabilities that enterprise customers usually want. At $5 month-to-month for the fundamental membership, Medium gives cheap worth for writers targeted purely on content material creation, although it might’t compete with full-featured platforms for companies requiring in depth customization.
The platform’s power lies in its community-driven options like publications, follower techniques, and engagement instruments that assist writers construct audiences organically. Nonetheless, you will miss superior options like customized domains, detailed analytics, or ecommerce integration that rivals provide. Medium’s pricing turns into extra justifiable when you think about the built-in viewers and monetization potential by way of the Accomplice Program, although critical bloggers might finally outgrow these limitations.
Content material editor
Medium’s editor stands out for its clear, distraction-free interface that focuses fully on writing. The editor makes use of a easy plus-sign system so as to add multimedia parts like photographs, movies, and code blocks, whereas textual content formatting seems once you spotlight content material. This method eliminates the complexity present in conventional CMS platforms, letting you focus purely on crafting your message.
Publications system
Publications operate like digital magazines the place a number of writers can contribute content material round particular themes or matters. You’ll be able to both create your individual publication or submit tales to current ones with established audiences. This technique gives a superb option to attain focused readers past your private followers, with some publications boasting hundreds of devoted subscribers.
Accomplice program monetization
The Accomplice Program permits writers to earn cash based mostly on studying time from paying subscribers, with earnings calculated by way of components like engagement, follower bonuses, and story boosts. Writers can earn anyplace from a number of {dollars} to hundreds month-to-month, with prime performers making substantial incomes. This system requires a $5 month-to-month membership and at the least one printed story to qualify.
Social options
Medium incorporates social networking parts like following different writers, clapping for tales (much like likes), and highlighting particular textual content passages for feedback. These options create a extra interactive expertise than conventional blogs, encouraging group constructing and reader engagement. The platform additionally gives audio narration for tales, increasing accessibility for several types of content material consumption.
Ease of use
Medium prioritizes simplicity above all else, making it one of the beginner-friendly publishing platforms out there. The onboarding course of takes simply minutes. You create an account, select matters to observe, and may instantly begin writing or studying. The interface feels extra like utilizing a phrase processor than managing a fancy web site, with all technical features dealt with mechanically within the background.
The writing expertise facilities round Medium’s elegant editor, which reveals formatting choices solely when wanted. New paragraphs present a plus signal for including multimedia, whereas highlighting textual content reveals choices for daring, italic, headers, and hyperlinks. This progressive disclosure method prevents interface litter whereas conserving highly effective options accessible once you want them.
Medium’s method to publishing displays founder Evan Williams’ imaginative and prescient of eradicating friction from content material creation. In contrast to conventional running a blog platforms that require selections about themes, plugins, and internet hosting, Medium handles all the things mechanically. You write, hit publish, and Medium’s algorithm instantly begins exhibiting your content material to probably readers based mostly on their studying historical past and adopted matters.
The platform does have some accessibility issues value noting. Whereas the clear design works nicely for many customers, the restricted customization choices imply you’ll be able to’t alter fonts, colours, or layouts for particular accessibility wants. Nonetheless, Medium’s built-in audio narration characteristic helps serve customers preferring listening to studying.
Pricing
|
Plan |
Beginning charge (paid yearly) |
Renewal charge (paid yearly) |
|
Free |
$0/month |
$0/month |
|
Medium Member |
$5/month |
$5/month |
|
Good friend of Medium |
$12.50/month |
$12.50/month |
Medium’s pricing construction is refreshingly easy in comparison with most running a blog platforms. The free tier permits limitless publishing and studying of non-member tales, however limits you to 3 member-only articles month-to-month. A freemium method enables you to take a look at the platform completely earlier than committing to a paid plan.
The $5 month-to-month membership unlocks limitless studying of all tales, permits Accomplice Program participation for incomes cash, and consists of audio narrations. The $15 month-to-month “Good friend of Medium” tier gives the identical options however pays writers 4x extra once you learn their content material, making it extra of a supporter tier than a characteristic improve.
In contrast to conventional running a blog platforms, Medium has no transaction charges, internet hosting prices, or further cost. The membership price covers all the things.
Buyer assist
Medium’s buyer assist operates primarily by way of electronic mail and social media channels, with no stay chat or cellphone assist out there for quick help. You’ll be able to attain their assist crew by filling out a kind at assist.medium.com or contacting them instantly at yourfriend@medium.com. For particular points like complaints or suggestions, they supply devoted electronic mail addresses together with belief@medium.com for platform considerations and authorized@medium.com for authorized issues.
The standard of buyer assist receives blended evaluations from customers. In keeping with buyer satisfaction knowledge on TrustPilot, Medium scores simply 1.7 out of 5 stars for customer support, with most customers reporting dissatisfaction with response occasions and concern decision. Solely 5% of shoppers who contacted assist reported having their points resolved on PissedConsumer, which is regarding for a platform serving tens of millions of customers. The common name time when reaching their cellphone line is simply 1 minute, suggesting restricted depth in assist interactions.
Medium’s assist construction displays their deal with self-service options relatively than hands-on buyer care. They keep a complete information base for widespread questions and troubleshooting. Nonetheless, this method can frustrate customers coping with account points, billing issues, or content material disputes that require human intervention. The dearth of real-time assist choices like stay chat makes Medium much less appropriate for companies requiring quick technical help.
For critical publishers or companies contemplating Medium, the restricted assist infrastructure represents a major downside. You will have to rely closely on group boards and self-help sources when issues come up. This hands-off method works advantageous for informal writers however turns into problematic when coping with monetization points, publication administration, or account safety considerations that demand immediate decision.
Options
Medium occupies a singular place within the running a blog panorama as a social publishing platform relatively than a conventional content material administration system. With over 99,522 corporations utilizing Medium globally as of 2025, it holds a modest market share in comparison with rivals like Tumblr (72.09%) and Google Blogger (5.33%). Medium’s power lies in its built-in viewers of 100 million month-to-month readers and its deal with content material discovery over customization.
The platform works greatest for particular person writers, thought leaders, and content material creators who prioritize reaching audiences over constructing branded web sites. It is significantly beneficial for freelance writers constructing portfolios, startup founders establishing thought management, and journalists sharing insights with out technical overhead. Medium’s Accomplice Program makes it enticing for writers searching for quick monetization alternatives based mostly on reader engagement relatively than conventional promoting fashions.
Medium’s major rivals serve totally different wants throughout the running a blog spectrum. WordPress.org dominates for customers wanting full management and customization, whereas platforms like Ghost cater to skilled publishers searching for pace and membership options. Substack competes instantly within the publication house, and newer platforms like Bullet.so goal Notion customers wanting SEO management with customized domains. Newer options like Wix provide extra design flexibility for brand-focused creators.
For companies requiring customized branding, website positioning management, or superior options, Medium’s limitations develop into obvious shortly. The platform’s algorithm-dependent distribution and lack of customized domains make it unsuitable for corporations constructing long-term digital belongings. Nonetheless, for writers prioritizing content material creation over technical administration, Medium stays one of the accessible publishing platforms out there, particularly when mixed with its built-in monetization and discovery options.
Medium: Abstract
Medium succeeds as a streamlined publishing platform that removes technical boundaries between writers and their audiences. Its clear editor, built-in readership, and Accomplice Program monetization create an interesting bundle for content material creators targeted purely on writing. The platform’s social networking options and algorithmic distribution assist new writers acquire publicity that may take months or years to realize on unbiased blogs.
Nonetheless, Medium’s limitations develop into vital for customers requiring management, customization, or long-term model constructing. The dearth of customized domains, restricted design choices, and algorithm dependency make it unsuitable for companies or critical bloggers planning sustainable content material methods. Whereas Medium works excellently for particular person writers and thought leaders, its constraints finally place it as a stepping stone relatively than a everlasting resolution for {most professional} content material creators.
Medium evaluate: FAQs
Can I take advantage of my very own area with Medium?
Medium gives customized area assist just for publications, not particular person author profiles. This implies you’ll be able to join a customized area in case you create a Medium publication, however your private Medium profile will all the time use the medium.com/@username format. This limitation considerably impacts branding efforts for companies {and professional} writers who need to construct their very own digital presence relatively than counting on Medium’s platform.
How a lot cash can I make by way of Medium’s Accomplice Program?
Earnings by way of Medium’s Accomplice Program range dramatically based mostly in your content material high quality, viewers engagement, and publishing frequency. Prime writers can earn hundreds of {dollars} month-to-month, whereas most members make anyplace from a number of {dollars} to some hundred {dollars}. Your earnings depend upon studying time from paying subscribers, with components like follower bonuses and story boosts affecting your whole compensation. You want a $5 month-to-month membership and at the least one printed story to qualify for this system.
Can I export my content material from Medium if I resolve to depart?
Medium permits you to export your tales, however the course of has limitations. You’ll be able to obtain your knowledge by way of your account settings, which incorporates your printed tales in HTML format. Nonetheless, you will lose the engagement metrics, feedback, and social proof constructed up on the platform. The exported content material additionally requires reformatting to be used on different platforms, and you will not retain the website positioning advantages or backlinks generated by way of Medium’s area authority.
Is Medium good for website positioning?
Medium gives blended website positioning advantages resulting from its excessive area authority however restricted management over optimization. Whereas your content material advantages from Medium’s robust search engine presence, you’ll be able to’t customise meta descriptions, URLs, or implement superior website positioning methods. Medium mechanically handles primary website positioning parts like canonical tags and meta titles, however you are restricted to their format and construction. For critical website positioning efforts, devoted running a blog platforms provide significantly better management and long-term visibility potential.
What is the distinction between Medium’s free and paid memberships?
Medium’s free tier permits limitless publishing and studying of non-member tales, however limits you to 3 member-only articles month-to-month. The $5 month-to-month membership unlocks limitless studying of all tales, permits Accomplice Program participation for incomes cash, and consists of audio narrations of articles. The $15 month-to-month “Good friend of Medium” tier gives the identical options however pays writers 4x extra once you learn their content material, functioning extra as a supporter tier than providing further options to your personal content material creation.