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Substack VS Medium

Compare Substack VS Medium and see what are their differences

Substack

With Substack, anyone can start a publication that combines a personal website, blog, and email newsletter or podcast. It's quick and simple.

Rating
0 reviews
Alternatives Is it good?
Medium

Welcome to Medium, a place to read, write, and interact with the stories that matter most to you.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Alternatives Is it good?
TermsBuilder
TermsBuilder is an attorney-built legal document generator for online businesses that need Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policies, hosted legal pages, and managed legal updates. sponsored

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Medium seems to be a lot more popular than Substack. While we know about 3148 links to Medium, we've tracked only 109 mentions of Substack.

social mentions
109 vs 3,148
Blogging popularity
7% vs 93%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Substack
Medium
Website substack.com medium.com
Pricing —
Open source
Company Startup from the United States Startup from the United States
Listed in
Creators Blogging Paid Newsletters CMS +1
Blogging Blogging Platform CMS Blogging Tools +1

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Substack 6 features
Medium 5 features
  • Ease of Use
    Substack offers a user-friendly interface that makes it easy for writers to publish and monetize their newsletters.
  • Built-in Monetization
    Writers can easily charge readers for subscriptions, allowing for straightforward monetization.
  • Direct Audience Connection
    Substack allows writers to build a direct relationship with their audience via email, which can lead to a more engaged readership.
  • Discovery and Community
    Features like staff picks and recommendations help writers get discovered by new readers.
  • No Upfront Costs
    Substack does not charge upfront fees; instead, it takes a percentage of subscription revenues, making it easier to start.
  • Content Ownership
    Writers retain full ownership of their content, giving them more control over their work.

Possible disadvantages

  • Revenue Share
    Substack takes a 10% cut of subscription revenues, which can add up for writers with a large subscriber base.
  • Limited Customization
    The platform has limited customization options compared to building a custom website or using more flexible CMS options.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying on Substack means depending on its policies and infrastructure, which could pose risks if the platform changes its terms or features.
  • Competition
    As more writers join Substack, it can become challenging to stand out amidst the growing competition.
  • Email Deliverability
    Writers may face issues with email deliverability, as some newsletters may end up in spam folders.
  • Payment Processing Fees
    Besides Substack's fee, payment processors like Stripe also take a percentage, further reducing net earnings for writers.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Medium offers an easy-to-use interface that makes it simple for anyone to start writing and publishing content without any technical knowledge.
  • Built-in Audience
    The platform has a large and active user base, so new content has the potential to reach a wide audience quickly.
  • Publishing Tools
    Medium provides versatile publishing tools that support text, images, and various media formats, which helps in creating rich and engaging content.
  • SEO Benefits
    Articles posted on Medium tend to rank well in search engine results, thanks to the platform's high domain authority.
  • Community and Interaction
    Medium encourages reader engagement through comments, claps, and highlights, fostering a sense of community among writers and readers.

Possible disadvantages

  • Monetization
    While Medium has a Partner Program, it may not be as lucrative as other methods of monetization available on independent blogging platforms.
  • Control and Customization
    Medium offers limited customization options compared to dedicated blog platforms like WordPress, restricting how you can brand and personalize your blog.
  • Content Ownership
    By publishing on Medium, you agree to their terms and conditions, which may include giving up some control over how your content is used and distributed.
  • Paywall Issues
    Some articles are placed behind a paywall, which might limit the reach of your content if you want it to be freely accessible to everyone.
  • Dependency on Platform
    Relying solely on Medium means that any changes to the platform's policies or algorithms can directly impact your reach and engagement.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Substack
Medium

Overall verdict

  • Substack is a good choice for writers seeking autonomy and a straightforward way to monetize their content. However, it may not be the best fit for those who prefer working within the framework of a larger publication or those unfamiliar with the challenges of building and maintaining a subscriber base.

Why this product is good

  • Substack is a platform that allows writers, journalists, and content creators to publish and monetize their newsletters. It is praised for its ease of use, built-in subscription system, and direct-to-consumer model which enables writers to retain control over their audience and content. The platform has attracted both independent writers and established journalists seeking the freedom to monetize their work without traditional media constraints.

Recommended for

  • Independent writers and journalists
  • Content creators looking to monetize their work
  • Individuals seeking a direct relationship with their audience
  • Those who appreciate simplicity in publishing

Overall verdict

  • Medium can be considered a good platform for those who enjoy a wide array of content and appreciate quality writing on diverse subjects. However, the value of Medium depends on individual preferences and whether the topics and writing styles align with what the reader is looking for.

Why this product is good

  • Medium offers a diverse range of articles from both professional and amateur writers, providing readers with numerous perspectives on various topics. Its clean user interface and ease of use make it an appealing platform for both writers and readers. The platform also supports monetization for writers, allowing them to earn from their content.

Recommended for

    Medium is recommended for avid readers seeking a variety of topics ranging from personal development to technology. It's also ideal for writers looking to publish their work to a broad audience and potentially earn revenue through the platform's Partner Program.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Substack 5 videos + Add
Medium 5 videos + Add

Monetizing Podcasts and Newsletters - Chris Best of Substack and Jonathan Gill of Backtracks

More videos

  • - E1016 Substack CEO Chris Best empowers writers via email newsletter platform, raised $15M from a16z
  • - Why EVERYONE should be on Substack | What it is, How it Works, $$$
  • - Beehiiv vs Substack (2024) - Which is Better?
  • - My Experience with SUBSTACK: An Honest Review of Substack

Medium Review - with Tom Vasel

More videos

  • - Starting a blog on Medium.com? Watch this FIRST.
  • - The Medium Review
  • - The Medium - Before You Buy
  • - I recommend: The Medium (Review)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Substack
Medium
7% 7%
Blogging
93% 93%
17% 17%
CMS
83% 83%
0% 0%
Blogging Platform
100% 100%
100% 100%
Creators
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Substack and Medium. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Substack no reviews yet
Medium no reviews yet

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Substack 109 mentions
Medium 3148 mentions

View more

  • 3rd Yandex Cloud Data Center Was Hit
    It's also been instrumental in supplying Ukraine to the point they had to schedule Russian and Ukrainian delegations around each other in their factories when they were visiting at the same times. [0] China is the only true winner of... - Source: Hacker News / 1 day ago
  • The Early History of Smalltalk
    Yeah...wouldn't we all like to find a Tek 4404 :-)? You might like to live vicariously through this guy: https://medium.com/@adambillyard/restoring-an-ai-workstation-from-40-year-ago-125abb5c89b4. - Source: Hacker News / 6 days ago
  • How I built a chatbot that remembers you between sessions (Walrus Memory + Qwen on Groq)
    Originally published on Medium: https://medium.com/@quanghuyaz909/how-i-built-a-chatbot-that-remembers-you-between-sessions-walrus-memory-qwen-on-groq-c12d140845e9. - Source: dev.to / 7 days ago

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Alternatives to Substack and Medium

When comparing Substack and Medium, you can also consider the following products.

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