Medium vs ConvertKit
type: Article
description: Medium is a free, algorithm-driven publishing platform ideal for reaching broad audiences, while ConvertKit is a paid email marketing platform designed specifically for creators to monetize and own their subscriber relationships. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Medium for content discovery, ConvertKit for audience ownership and revenue generation.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-08T09:31:40.546Z
date created: 2026-06-08T09:31:40.546Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T17:35:39.242Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T17:35:39.242Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Medium
about: ConvertKit
abstract: Medium is a free, algorithm-driven publishing platform ideal for reaching broad audiences, while ConvertKit is a paid email marketing platform designed specifically for creators to monetize and own their subscriber relationships. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Medium for content discovery, ConvertKit for audience ownership and revenue generation.
text: Primary Purpose. Audience Ownership. Monetization Model. Starting Cost. Email Subscriber Management. Learning Curve & Setup Time. Data Portability
conclusion text: Choose Medium if you want free publishing with algorithmic discovery and are content-focused without monetization urgency. Choose ConvertKit if you're a serious creator seeking direct audience ownership, subscriber monetization, and want to build an independent business asset—the paid investment pays off through retained audience control and multiple revenue streams.
additional property: Creator Revenue Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (pool-based) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Audience Discovery for New Writers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: High (algorithmic reach) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Subscriber List Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: No | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Content Monetization Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 30-90 (eligibility required) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Content Format Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Articles, audio, multimedia (3) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Estimated Monthly Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100M+ | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Algorithm Dependency Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: High (platform-dependent) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Platform Content Diversity Trend (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Declining (Category counts down 20-38%) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Starting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Free ($0) | ConvertKit: $300 minimum
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Monthly Active Users (Platform Reach)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100+ million | ConvertKit: 0 (creator-owned only)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Audience Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0% (platform owned) | ConvertKit: 100% (creator owned)
  value reference: ConvertKit
additional property: Email Marketing Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: None; platform follows only | ConvertKit: Full-featured email marketing with automation
additional property: Setup Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5-10 minutes | ConvertKit: 60-120 minutes
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Subscriber List Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited/not available | ConvertKit: Full export available
additional property: Maximum Revenue Potential (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $5,000+ (top writers) | ConvertKit: Unlimited (creator-controlled)
additional property: Cost per 10,000 Subscribers/Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $0 | ConvertKit: $360
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5 minutes | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Annual Hosting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Free (or $5-12/month premium) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 15-20 official templates | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Plugin/Extension Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited to native features | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Revenue Share on Ad Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (Medium takes 50%) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Content Export Difficulty
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Very difficult (2/10) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Technical Maintenance Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0 hours (fully managed) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100+ | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Creator Revenue Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (Member program) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Custom Domain Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $5-12 (Pro required) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Platform Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 2012 | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Content Ownership Rights
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Medium retains rights (creators license) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Web3/NFT Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: None | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Custom Domain
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: No (requires paid membership) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Primary Target Audience
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: General interest + business + tech | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Base Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $168/year (Premium membership) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Customization Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 3/10 (template-based) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 2-5 minutes (sign up and publish) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50+ (official partnerships) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Content Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Shared (Medium retains platform rights) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $50-500 (Medium Partner Program) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: SEO Customization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5/10 (limited meta controls) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100+ | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Customizable Themes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 15-20 built-in templates | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited native features | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Minimum Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $0 free, $120 premium optional | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: SEO Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 4/10 (limited meta control) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 3/10 (difficult export) | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0.6% | ConvertKit: N/A
additional property: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $0 (free plan) | ConvertKit: $29/month (1,000 subscribers)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Time to First Publication
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5 minutes (sign up and publish) | ConvertKit: 60-120 minutes (setup, integrations, templates)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Platform Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 180M monthly active users | ConvertKit: 500K+ creators (estimated 15M engaged readers)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Email Automation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Basic digest, no automation workflows | ConvertKit: Advanced sequences, conditional logic, behavioral triggers
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/medium
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/medium
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/convertkit
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/convertkit
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/medium-vs-convertkit
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/medium-vs-convertkit
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-substack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/activecampaign-vs-convertkit
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/convertkit-vs-substack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-beehiiv
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-wordpress
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-hashnode
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/constant-contact-vs-convertkit
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/convertkit-vs-klaviyo
teaches: How to choose between Medium and ConvertKit
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Medium vs ConvertKit — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Medium
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Ad-supported publishing platform with 100M+ monthly readers and revenue-sharing model.
subject of: Medium vs ConvertKit

ConvertKit
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Convertkit
language: en-US
description: Creator-focused email marketing platform with advanced automation and audience management.
subject of: Medium vs ConvertKit

Medium vs ConvertKit — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Medium vs ConvertKit. Contains 134 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Creator Revenue Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Audience Discovery for New Writers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Growth
variable measured: Subscriber List Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Control
variable measured: Content Monetization Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Content Format Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Estimated Monthly Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach
variable measured: Algorithm Dependency Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Stability
variable measured: Platform Content Diversity Trend (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Content
variable measured: Starting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Monthly Active Users (Platform Reach)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience Reach
variable measured: Audience Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ownership & Control
variable measured: Email Marketing Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Marketing Tools
variable measured: Setup Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Subscriber List Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Portability
variable measured: Maximum Revenue Potential (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Cost per 10,000 Subscribers/Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing Efficiency
variable measured: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Developer Experience
variable measured: Annual Hosting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design
variable measured: Plugin/Extension Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Revenue Share on Ad Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Content Export Difficulty
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Ownership
variable measured: Technical Maintenance Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Monthly Active Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience & Reach
variable measured: Creator Revenue Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Custom Domain Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Platform Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: History
variable measured: Content Ownership Rights
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Legal & Rights
variable measured: Web3/NFT Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Free Tier Custom Domain
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Primary Target Audience
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Base Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Customization Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Content Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Legal
variable measured: Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: SEO Customization
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: SEO
variable measured: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience
variable measured: Customizable Themes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Minimum Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: SEO Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: SEO
variable measured: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ownership
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Time to First Publication
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Platform Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Reach
variable measured: Email Automation Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Average Creator Annual Earnings
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Subscriber Segmentation & Tagging
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Built-in Content Discovery
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Audience Growth
variable measured: Average Email Open Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Custom Domain Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Branding
variable measured: Content Export Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Data Ownership
variable measured: Partner Program Threshold
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Platform Ads Display
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Analytics Metrics Depth
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Analytics
variable measured: Free-to-Start Publishing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Story-Level Paywall Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Monetization
variable measured: Base Monthly Price
variable measured: Contacts/Subscribers (Base Plan)
variable measured: Native Integrations
variable measured: CRM & Deal Pipeline
variable measured: Automation Workflow Complexity
variable measured: Setup Time to Productivity
variable measured: Cost at 10,000 Subscribers
variable measured: Starting Monthly Cost
variable measured: Free Subscriber Limit
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-convertkit

Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Medium vs ConvertKit.
has defined term: Monetization
has defined term: Growth
has defined term: Control
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Reach
has defined term: Stability
has defined term: Content
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Audience Reach
has defined term: Ownership & Control
has defined term: Marketing Tools
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Data Portability
has defined term: Pricing Efficiency
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Data Ownership
has defined term: Audience & Reach
has defined term: History
has defined term: Legal & Rights
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Legal
has defined term: SEO
has defined term: Audience
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Audience Growth
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Branding
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Analytics
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Pricing & Access
has defined term: Integrations
has defined term: Service
has defined term: Onboarding
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Reputation
has defined term: Privacy & Compliance
has defined term: Developer
has defined term: Developer Tools
has defined term: Publishing
has defined term: Pricing at Scale
has defined term: Pricing & Limits
has defined term: Automation
has defined term: Referral Program
has defined term: AI Features
has defined term: Templates

Monetization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: monetization
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: growth
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: control
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reach
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Stability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: stability
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Content
type: DefinedTerm
term code: content
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-reach
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership & Control
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership-&-control
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Marketing Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: marketing-tools
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Portability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-portability
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-efficiency
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Customization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: customization
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Data Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: data-ownership
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience & Reach
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-&-reach
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

History
type: DefinedTerm
term code: history
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Legal & Rights
type: DefinedTerm
term code: legal-&-rights
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Legal
type: DefinedTerm
term code: legal
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

SEO
type: DefinedTerm
term code: seo
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ownership
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ownership
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Audience Growth
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-growth
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Branding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: branding
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Analytics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: analytics
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Access
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-access
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integrations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integrations
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Service
type: DefinedTerm
term code: service
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Onboarding
type: DefinedTerm
term code: onboarding
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Reputation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reputation
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Privacy & Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: privacy-&-compliance
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Tools
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-tools
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Publishing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: publishing
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing at Scale
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-at-scale
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-limits
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Automation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: automation
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Referral Program
type: DefinedTerm
term code: referral-program
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-features
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Templates
type: DefinedTerm
term code: templates
in defined term set: Medium vs ConvertKit — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T17:35:39.242Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: medium-vs-convertkit
main entity: Can I use Medium and ConvertKit together?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes, absolutely. Many creators use Medium for algorithmic discovery and traffic generation, then funnel interested readers into ConvertKit for email nurturing and direct monetization. You can add ConvertKit signup forms to Medium articles or redirect Medium readers to opt-in landing pages built in ConvertKit.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform pays creators more money?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: ConvertKit typically generates higher revenue for serious creators because you own and control all monetization. Medium's Partner Program can generate $500-$5,000+/month for top writers, but income is unpredictable and platform-dependent. ConvertKit allows unlimited revenue through sponsorships, product sales, and paid newsletters with no platform cut.
    language: en-US
main entity: What happens to my audience if Medium shuts down or changes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: On Medium, you lose access to algorithmic distribution and follower relationships since the platform owns that data. ConvertKit prevents this risk because you own your complete email subscriber list and can export it anytime to another service like Substack or Mailchimp without losing any contacts.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is ConvertKit worth $25-$300/month for small creators?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: For creators with under 500 subscribers just starting out, Medium's free model is better to test audience-building. Once you reach 1,000+ engaged subscribers and want to monetize or build independence from algorithms, ConvertKit's investment typically pays for itself through 2-3 paid newsletter conversions or sponsorships monthly.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I build an email list on Medium?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No, Medium doesn't have native email list building—followers exist only within the platform. You'd need to redirect Medium readers to an external ConvertKit, Substack, or similar service to capture emails. This requires extra steps compared to platforms designed for email collection.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Medium and ConvertKit
type: HowTo
description: Medium is a free, algorithm-driven publishing platform ideal for reaching broad audiences, while ConvertKit is a paid email marketing platform designed specifically for creators to monetize and own their subscriber relationships. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Medium for content discovery, ConvertKit for audience ownership and revenue generation.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Purpose
step: Consider: Audience Ownership
step: Consider: Monetization Model
step: Consider: Starting Cost
step: Consider: Email Subscriber Management
step: Consider: Learning Curve & Setup Time
step: Consider: Data Portability
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Medium if you want free publishing with algorithmic discovery and are content-focused without monetization urgency. Choose ConvertKit if you're a serious creator seeking direct audience ownership, subscriber monetization, and want to build an independent business asset—the paid investment pays off through retained audience control and multiple revenue streams.

Consider: Primary Purpose
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Purpose: Medium has Content discovery & publishing platform, while ConvertKit has Creator-focused email marketing & monetization.

Consider: Audience Ownership
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Audience Ownership: Medium has Medium owns algorithmic distribution; limited audience data access, while ConvertKit has 100% creator-owned subscriber list with full contact details.

Consider: Monetization Model
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Monetization Model: Medium has Revenue share from Medium Partner Program (50% of membership fees), while ConvertKit has Direct control: email sales, affiliate links, sponsorships, courses.

Consider: Starting Cost
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Starting Cost: Medium has Free; optional $168/year for Premium membership, while ConvertKit has $25/month minimum ($300/year) for up to 1,000 subscribers.

Consider: Email Subscriber Management
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Email Subscriber Management: Medium has No email list building; limited to platform followers, while ConvertKit has Unlimited email marketing with advanced segmentation.

Consider: Learning Curve & Setup Time
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Learning Curve & Setup Time: Medium has 5-10 minutes to start publishing; minimal learning needed, while ConvertKit has 1-2 hours for complete setup; moderately complex interface.

Consider: Data Portability
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Data Portability: Medium has Limited export; algorithmic reach not transferable, while ConvertKit has Full subscriber list export; 100% portable audience.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Medium vs ConvertKit
review body: Medium is a free, algorithm-driven publishing platform ideal for reaching broad audiences, while ConvertKit is a paid email marketing platform designed specifically for creators to monetize and own their subscriber relationships. They serve fundamentally different purposes: Medium for content discovery, ConvertKit for audience ownership and revenue generation.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Medium vs ConvertKit

Average Creator Annual Earnings
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: $1,000 (Medium Partner average) | ConvertKit: $15,000+ (ConvertKit creator average)
value reference: ConvertKit

Subscriber Segmentation & Tagging
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Not available | ConvertKit: Unlimited tags, dynamic segments, behavioral rules

Built-in Content Discovery
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Algorithmic feed with 180M+ potential readers | ConvertKit: None - requires external traffic sources

Average Email Open Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: 15-20% (industry standard) | ConvertKit: 40-50% (ConvertKit creator average)
value reference: ConvertKit

Custom Domain Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Not available | ConvertKit: N/A

Content Export Capability
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Limited (restricted deletion/export) | ConvertKit: N/A

Partner Program Threshold
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: 100+ followers required | ConvertKit: N/A

Platform Ads Display
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Yes, throughout platform | ConvertKit: N/A

Analytics Metrics Depth
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Basic (views, reads, engagement) | ConvertKit: N/A

Free-to-Start Publishing
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Yes, free tier available | ConvertKit: N/A

Story-Level Paywall Option
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: Yes (Member-only stories) | ConvertKit: N/A

Base Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25 (paid plan)

Contacts/Subscribers (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 1,000

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 50+

CRM & Deal Pipeline
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Basic subscriber management

Automation Workflow Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Standard (simple sequences, tags)

Setup Time to Productivity
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 1-3 days

Cost at 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $119 (10k subscriber tier)

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $33/month (Creator plan, billed yearly)

Free Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 1,000 subscribers

Platform Fee on Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 0%

Email Automation Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Advanced (sequences, conditionals, tags, delays)

Third-party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 150+

Native Product/Course Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes - full course and digital product platform

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 4-6 hours

Customer Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Email, help center, community forum

Base Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 14 days

Automation Workflows (Basic Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Unlimited

Landing Page Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 12

SMS Marketing Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No (third-party required)

Shopify Integration Quality
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Basic API integration only

Subscriber Segmentation Levels
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Tags, purchase history, custom fields

Customer Support Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 12-18 hours average

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25/month

Email Integrations Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 300+

Behavioral Automation Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Tag-based (limited)

API Rate Limits
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 100

SMS Deliverability Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: N/A

Free Trial Length
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 14 days

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25

Included Subscribers at Free Tier
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: None (paid only)

Email Deliverability Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 99.5%

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 100+

Automation Workflows Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Creator sequences

SMS Marketing Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Paid add-on ($9+/mo)

Customer Support Channels
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Email only

API Rate Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 100

Built-in Paywall/Paid Subscriptions
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes, native feature

A/B Testing on Landing Pages
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Limited

Affiliate Program for Creators
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes, built-in matching

Form Builder Types
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 5

Average User Satisfaction (G2)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 4.7/5

Platform Fee Structure
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $0 (0-1K subs), then $29-$99/month

Free Tier Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 1,000 subscribers included

Price for 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $79+

Email Template Library Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 100+ templates

Native Membership/Paywall Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No (requires integration)

Setup Time to First Email
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 5-10 minutes

Blog/CMS Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Landing pages only

Data Ownership (Self-Hosted Option)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No (cloud-only, vendor lock-in)

API Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes (API available)

Starting Price (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Free tier available

Contacts/Subscribers at Entry Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Unlimited (free tier)

Onboarding Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 0.5 weeks (2-3 days)

Automation Complexity Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Basic - simple conditional triggers and tags

Native CRM Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No - email only

Paid Subscriber Tiers (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes - built-in subscriber tiers and pricing

API Endpoints Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 50+

Starting Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25 (up to 1,000 subscribers)

Built-in Paywall/Membership
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No - requires third-party tool

Email Automation Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Advanced (conditional logic, behavioral triggers, multi-step)

Content Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Limited (landing pages, basic blog, no custom themes)

Landing Page Builder
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Yes - 50+ templates included

Setup Difficulty (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 2 (sign up and start immediately)

Price at 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $350-$500 (pay-as-you-grow pricing)

Pre-Built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 100+ direct integrations (Stripe, YouTube, Gumroad, etc.)

Free Plan Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 1,000

Creator Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $29

Custom Domain Email Support Entry Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: $25 (Creator plan)

Native Paid Subscription Feature
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No - requires Zapier/API

Advanced Automation Conditional Logic
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: Advanced multi-path sequences

Affiliate Commission Rate (Recurring)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 30%

AI-Powered Writing Assistance (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: No - requires OpenAI integration

Email Template Library Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | ConvertKit: 40+

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

Medium — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

ConvertKit — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Medium vs ConvertKit
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-convertkit
object: Medium
object: ConvertKit

Base Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Contacts/Subscribers (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capacity

Native Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

CRM & Deal Pipeline
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Automation Workflow Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to Productivity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Cost at 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Access

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Platform Fee on Revenue
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Email Automation Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Third-party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integrations

Native Product/Course Hosting
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Customer Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Service

Base Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Trial Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Automation Workflows (Basic Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Landing Page Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

SMS Marketing Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Shopify Integration Quality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Subscriber Segmentation Levels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Support Response Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Starting Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Email Integrations Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Behavioral Automation Triggers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Rate Limits
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

SMS Deliverability Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Free Trial Length
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Onboarding

Starting Price (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Included Subscribers at Free Tier
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Email Deliverability Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Third-Party Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Automation Workflows Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

SMS Marketing Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Customer Support Channels
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

API Rate Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Technical

Built-in Paywall/Paid Subscriptions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

A/B Testing on Landing Pages
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Affiliate Program for Creators
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Form Builder Types
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average User Satisfaction (G2)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reputation

Platform Fee Structure
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Price for 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Email Template Library Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Membership/Paywall Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to First Email
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Blog/CMS Functionality
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Data Ownership (Self-Hosted Option)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Privacy & Compliance

API Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer

Starting Price (USD/month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Contacts/Subscribers at Entry Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Onboarding Time to Proficiency
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Automation Complexity Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native CRM Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Paid Subscriber Tiers (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

API Endpoints Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Tools

Starting Monthly Price
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Built-in Paywall/Membership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Email Automation Workflows
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Content Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Publishing

Landing Page Builder
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Difficulty (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Price at 10,000 Subscribers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing at Scale

Pre-Built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Plan Subscriber Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Creator Plan Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Custom Domain Email Support Entry Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Paid Subscription Feature
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Monetization

Advanced Automation Conditional Logic
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Automation

Affiliate Commission Rate (Recurring)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Referral Program

AI-Powered Writing Assistance (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: AI Features

Email Template Library Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Templates