Medium vs WordPress
type: Article
description: Medium is a hosted blogging platform with built-in audience and monetization, while WordPress is a self-hosted content management system requiring more technical setup but offering complete control. Medium prioritizes simplicity and discoverability; WordPress prioritizes customization and ownership.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-07T21:34:52.763Z
date created: 2026-07-07T21:34:52.763Z
date modified: 2026-07-07T21:34:52.793Z
content reference time: 2026-07-07T21:34:52.793Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Medium
about: WordPress
abstract: Medium is a hosted blogging platform with built-in audience and monetization, while WordPress is a self-hosted content management system requiring more technical setup but offering complete control. Medium prioritizes simplicity and discoverability; WordPress prioritizes customization and ownership.
text: Hosting & Setup. Monetization Options. Customization. Built-in Audience. SEO Control. Cost (Annual). Data Ownership
conclusion text: Choose Medium if you want to start writing immediately with minimal technical skills and access a built-in readership of 100M+ users—ideal for writers prioritizing discoverability over monetization. Choose WordPress if you need full customization, complete data ownership, unlimited monetization options, and SEO control—essential for serious publishers, businesses, and content creators building long-term brands.
additional property: Creator Revenue Retention
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (pool-based) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Audience Discovery for New Writers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: High (algorithmic reach) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Subscriber List Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: No | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Content Monetization Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 30-90 (eligibility required) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Content Format Flexibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Articles, audio, multimedia (3) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Estimated Monthly Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100M+ | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Algorithm Dependency Risk
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: High (platform-dependent) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Platform Content Diversity Trend (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Declining (Category counts down 20-38%) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Starting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Free ($0) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users (Platform Reach)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100+ million | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Audience Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0% (platform owned) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Email Marketing Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: None; platform follows only | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5-10 minutes | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Subscriber List Export
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited/not available | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Maximum Revenue Potential (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $5,000+ (top writers) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Cost per 10,000 Subscribers/Year
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $0 | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5 minutes | WordPress: 30-60 minutes
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Annual Hosting Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Free (or $5-12/month premium) | WordPress: $60-300+ per year
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Design Templates Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 15-20 official templates | WordPress: 90,000+ themes
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Plugin/Extension Ecosystem
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited to native features | WordPress: 60,000+ plugins
additional property: Revenue Share on Ad Revenue
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (Medium takes 50%) | WordPress: 100% (you keep all)
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Content Export Difficulty
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Very difficult (2/10) | WordPress: Easy via XML export (9/10)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Technical Maintenance Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0 hours (fully managed) | WordPress: 2-5 hours (updates, security, backups)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: Monthly Active Readers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100+ | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Creator Revenue Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50% (Member program) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Custom Domain Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $5-12 (Pro required) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Platform Founded
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 2012 | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Content Ownership Rights
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Medium retains rights (creators license) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Web3/NFT Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: None | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Custom Domain
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: No (requires paid membership) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Primary Target Audience
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: General interest + business + tech | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Base Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $168/year (Premium membership) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Customization Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 3/10 (template-based) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Time to First Publish
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 2-5 minutes (sign up and publish) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Available Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 50+ (official partnerships) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Content Ownership
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Shared (Medium retains platform rights) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Average Writer Earnings (Partner Program)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $50-500 (Medium Partner Program) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: SEO Customization
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 5/10 (limited meta controls) | WordPress: N/A
additional property: Monthly Active Users
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 100M | WordPress: 43% of all websites (self-hosted instances)
additional property: Customizable Themes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 15-20 built-in templates | WordPress: 60,000+ available themes
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: Limited native features | WordPress: WordPress plugins
additional property: Minimum Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: $0 free, $120 premium optional | WordPress: $100-200 (domain + basic hosting)
  value reference: Medium
additional property: SEO Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 4/10 (limited meta control) | WordPress: 9/10 (full control + advanced plugins)
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 3/10 (difficult export) | WordPress: 10/10 (complete ownership & backup)
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: 0.6% | WordPress: 43%
  value reference: WordPress
additional property: Web Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 43%
additional property: Customization Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 5/5
additional property: Ease of Use Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 3/5
additional property: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $100-200 (hosting only)
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/wordpress
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/wordpress
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/medium-vs-wordpress)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/medium-vs-wordpress)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-wordpress
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/wordpress-vs-wix
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-substack
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/framer-vs-wordpress
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/ghost-vs-wordpress
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-beehiiv
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-convertkit
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-hashnode
teaches: How to choose between Medium and WordPress
genre: Software

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

A Versus B
type: Organization

Medium
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Hosted blogging platform with built-in audience and revenue-sharing monetization
subject of: Medium vs WordPress

WordPress
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: Wordpress
language: en-US
description: Open-source content management system powering 43% of websites with visual editor and plugin ecosystem.
image: ImageObject
  caption: WordPress
subject of: Medium vs WordPress
image: ImageObject
  caption: WordPress

Medium vs WordPress — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Medium vs WordPress. Contains 129 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: Usability
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: Functionality
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: Integrations
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 Size
variable measured: Customizable Themes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Customization
variable measured: Available Plugins/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Minimum Annual Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: SEO Customization Level
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Search Optimization
variable measured: Data Portability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ownership
variable measured: Global Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Web Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Customization Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Ease of Use Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Starting Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: SEO Capabilities Rating
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Current Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Release Cycle
variable measured: Hosting Management
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maintenance
variable measured: Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Total Annual Cost (All-In)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Average Page Load Speed
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: CMS Content Item Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Maximum Pages
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Setup Time (Professional)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Monthly Maintenance Hours Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operations
variable measured: Monthly Cost (Entry Level)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Time to Live Website
variable measured: Global Market Share (CMS)
variable measured: Available Plugins/Integrations
variable measured: Native CMS Included
variable measured: Real-Time Collaboration (2026)
variable measured: Page Load Speed (Average)
variable measured: AI-Powered Features (Native)
variable measured: Average Monthly Cost (Managed)
variable measured: Setup Time for Beginners
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-wordpress)

Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Medium vs WordPress.
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: Usability
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Functionality
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: Integrations
has defined term: Legal
has defined term: SEO
has defined term: Audience Size
has defined term: Customization
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Search Optimization
has defined term: Ownership
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Release Cycle
has defined term: Maintenance
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Speed
has defined term: AI Capabilities
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Development
has defined term: Expertise
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: SEO & Marketing
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: E-Commerce
has defined term: Reliability
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Community Adoption
has defined term: Capability
has defined term: Infrastructure

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audience Size
type: DefinedTerm
term code: audience-size
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Search Optimization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: search-optimization
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Release Cycle
type: DefinedTerm
term code: release-cycle
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maintenance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maintenance
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Speed
type: DefinedTerm
term code: speed
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

AI Capabilities
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ai-capabilities
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Development
type: DefinedTerm
term code: development
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Expertise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: expertise
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

SEO & Marketing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: seo-&-marketing
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

E-Commerce
type: DefinedTerm
term code: e-commerce
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary
name: E-commerce

Reliability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: reliability
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-adoption
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capability
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Medium vs WordPress — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-07T21:34:52.793Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: medium-vs-wordpress)
main entity: Can I export my content from Medium to WordPress?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Medium allows exporting posts to HTML or JSON, but the process is manual and doesn't preserve formatting perfectly. WordPress can import RSS feeds and some HTML, but custom formatting, images, and links often require manual cleanup. This is one of Medium's main limitations for writers building long-term brands.
    language: en-US
main entity: How much money can I make on Medium vs WordPress?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: On Medium, writers in the Partner Program earn from subscription revenue sharing—typically $0.50-$3 per 1,000 reads (varies by member engagement). Most writers earn $50-500/month unless they have massive followings. On WordPress, you control all monetization: ads (Google AdSense: $1-10 per 1,000 views), affiliate commissions (10-50%), sponsorships ($500-5,000+), and digital products. WordPress has unlimited earning potential but requires driving your own traffic.
    language: en-US
main entity: Is WordPress really better for SEO than Medium?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: WordPress offers more SEO control (custom meta tags, XML sitemaps, canonical URLs), but Medium articles rank very well due to its high domain authority. Medium is better for initial discoverability (algorithm boost); WordPress is better for long-term, targeted SEO growth. For earning organic traffic, WordPress wins when combined with proper SEO strategy.
    language: en-US
main entity: What happens to my content if Medium shuts down or changes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Your Medium content is stored on Medium's servers. While Medium has been stable since 2012, you have limited control. If policies change (paywall removed, monetization altered, content policy shifts), you're affected. With WordPress, you own the server/data and can migrate anywhere. This is critical for serious publishers building brand equity.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can beginners manage WordPress without technical skills?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Managed WordPress hosting (Bluehost, SiteGround, Kinsta) handles technical maintenance automatically. Many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation. However, plugins, updates, and troubleshooting may require basic problem-solving or hiring support ($50-200/hour). Medium requires zero technical knowledge, making it better for non-technical writers.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Medium and WordPress
type: HowTo
description: Medium is a hosted blogging platform with built-in audience and monetization, while WordPress is a self-hosted content management system requiring more technical setup but offering complete control. Medium prioritizes simplicity and discoverability; WordPress prioritizes customization and ownership.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Hosting & Setup
step: Consider: Monetization Options
step: Consider: Customization
step: Consider: Built-in Audience
step: Consider: SEO Control
step: Consider: Cost (Annual)
step: Consider: Data Ownership
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Medium if you want to start writing immediately with minimal technical skills and access a built-in readership of 100M+ users—ideal for writers prioritizing discoverability over monetization. Choose WordPress if you need full customization, complete data ownership, unlimited monetization options, and SEO control—essential for serious publishers, businesses, and content creators building long-term brands.

Consider: Hosting & Setup
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Hosting & Setup: Medium has Fully hosted, no setup required, while WordPress has Self-hosted, requires server and domain.

Consider: Monetization Options
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Monetization Options: Medium has Medium Partner Program (revenue sharing), subscriptions, paid newsletters, while WordPress has Ads, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, digital products (user controls all).

Consider: Customization
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Customization: Medium has Limited themes and templates, minimal branding control, while WordPress has Unlimited themes, plugins, custom code, full design control.

Consider: Built-in Audience
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Built-in Audience: Medium has Access to 100M+ monthly Medium readers through algorithm, while WordPress has No built-in audience, must drive traffic independently.

Consider: SEO Control
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: SEO Control: Medium has Limited SEO customization, relies on Medium's domain authority, while WordPress has Full SEO control with Yoast, All in One SEO, custom meta tags.

Consider: Cost (Annual)
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Cost (Annual): Medium has $120/year for premium membership (optional for monetization), while WordPress has $100-500/year (domain + hosting minimum), plus optional plugins.

Consider: Data Ownership
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Data Ownership: Medium has Medium owns your content and data, limited export options, while WordPress has You own all content and data, full control and export.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Medium vs WordPress
review body: Medium is a hosted blogging platform with built-in audience and monetization, while WordPress is a self-hosted content management system requiring more technical setup but offering complete control. Medium prioritizes simplicity and discoverability; WordPress prioritizes customization and ownership.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Medium vs WordPress

SEO Capabilities Rating
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 5/5

Current Version
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 6.9 (RC 7.0 March 2026)

Hosting Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Self-hosted (user managed)

Base Monthly Cost (Annual Billing)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $4 (WordPress.com) + $20-100 hosting

Total Annual Cost (All-In)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $260-2200+ (hosting, plugins, maintenance)

Average Page Load Speed
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 3.4 seconds

CMS Content Item Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Unlimited

Maximum Pages
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Unlimited

Setup Time (Professional)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 40-100+ hours

Monthly Maintenance Hours Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 5-20+ hours

Monthly Cost (Entry Level)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $4 (managed) / $0 (self-hosted)

Time to Live Website
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 24-72 hours

Global Market Share (CMS)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 43%

Available Plugins/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 58,000+

Native CMS Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Yes - requires plugins for advanced features

Real-Time Collaboration (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Yes - Yjs CRDT engine in WP 7.0

Page Load Speed (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2.5-4.0s (varies with plugins)

AI-Powered Features (Native)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Partial - WordPress 7.0 adds core AI (plugin-dependent before)

Average Monthly Cost (Managed)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $24.50

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 4-8 hours

Native Membership Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Via plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress)

SEO Plugin Options
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 15+ top options

Page Speed (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2500-3500

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $0-15

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2-3% via Stripe/PayPal plugins

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 58,000+

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 7-21 days

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 10 (full code access)

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: You manage updates, SSL, backups

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Unlimited

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $240 + hosting ($10-50/month)

Average Development Time (Basic Site)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 1-2 days

Required Developer Experience Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Beginner (0-6 months experience)

Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 156 plugin/theme CVEs

Monthly Hosting Cost (Basic)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $2-10

Maximum Concurrent Users (Optimized)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 10,000-50,000

Customization Without Code
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Extensive—drag-drop, theme customizer, page builders

Monthly Cost (Entry-Level Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $5-15 (hosting only)

Total Plugins/Apps Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 50,000+

Average Page Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2.5 (optimized)

Required Technical Knowledge
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Intermediate to Advanced

Data Portability / Export
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Full export capability

SEO Control Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Full (robots.txt, schema, redirects)

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 20-40 hours (with learning)

Monthly Cost (Basic Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $5-15 hosting

3-Year Total Cost Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $180-360 (hosting only)

Available Themes/Templates
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 10,000+ free & premium

E-Commerce Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Unlimited (WooCommerce)

Average Website Speed (Page Load)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 1.5-2.5 seconds (optimized)

Monthly Cost (Minimum)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $0 (self-hosted, domain only)

Monthly Cost (Fully Managed Equivalent)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $25-50/month (WP Engine, Kinsta managed hosting)

Plugin/Integration Count
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 58,000+ plugins

Setup Time (No Technical Knowledge)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2-4 hours (theme selection, plugin setup)

E-commerce Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 38% (WooCommerce dominates)

Hosted Server Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 99% (varies by host)

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $120-500/year

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2.9% + $0.30 (Stripe)

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 58,000+ plugins

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Depends on host (typically 99.9%)

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Community forums + paid support

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Complete control via robots.txt, .htaccess, code injection

Average Development Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2 days

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 43%

Minimum Coding Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 0/10 (None)

Hosting Cost (Budget Option)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2-5

Learning Curve for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 2-4 hours

GitHub Stars
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 21,000

Best Use Case Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Simple to Medium (Blogs, Business Sites)

Monthly Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $3-10/month + free software

Available Plugins/Themes
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 58,000+ plugins + 10,000+ themes

Setup Time for Non-Developers
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 60-120 minutes

Hosting Included
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: No, separate purchase

Customization Flexibility Score
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 9.5 out of 10

SEO Control Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 9 out of 10

Base Monthly Cost (Managed Hosting)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: $4-$300/month

Self-Hosted Option
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Yes, completely free

Built-in Membership/Subscription System
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: Requires plugins (WooCommerce, MemberPress)

Developer Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 500,000+

Page Speed (Typical Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 1,200-2,500ms

Available Themes
type: PropertyValue
value: Medium: N/A | WordPress: 100,000+

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

WordPress — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Medium vs WordPress
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/medium-vs-wordpress)
object: Medium
object: WordPress

Time to Live Website
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Speed

Global Market Share (CMS)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Available Plugins/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Native CMS Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Real-Time Collaboration (2026)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Page Load Speed (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

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

Average Monthly Cost (Managed)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Setup Time for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Native Membership Features
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Monetization

SEO Plugin Options
type: PropertyValue
value reference: SEO

Page Speed (Average)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Starting Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Transaction Fees
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time to Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Customization Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Security Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Annual Cost (100K Revenue)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Average Development Time (Basic Site)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

Required Developer Experience Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Expertise

Reported Security Vulnerabilities (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Monthly Hosting Cost (Basic)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Maximum Concurrent Users (Optimized)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Customization Without Code
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

Monthly Cost (Entry-Level Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Total Plugins/Apps Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Average Page Load Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Required Technical Knowledge
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Data Portability / Export
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

SEO Control Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: SEO & Marketing

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Monthly Cost (Basic Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

3-Year Total Cost Ownership
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Themes/Templates
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

E-Commerce Product Limit
type: PropertyValue
value reference: E-Commerce

Average Website Speed (Page Load)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Monthly Cost (Minimum)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Cost (Fully Managed Equivalent)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Plugin/Integration Count
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Setup Time (No Technical Knowledge)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

E-commerce Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: E-commerce

Hosted Server Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Annual Cost (Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Payment Processing Fee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Extensions/Apps
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Customization

Uptime Guarantee
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Reliability

Customer Support Availability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

SEO Customization Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Average Development Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Development

Market Share
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Minimum Coding Knowledge Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

Hosting Cost (Budget Option)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Cost

Learning Curve for Beginners
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Accessibility

GitHub Stars
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community Adoption

Best Use Case Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Capability

Monthly Cost (Base Plan)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Plugins/Themes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Extensibility

Setup Time for Non-Developers
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Hosting Included
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Customization Flexibility Score
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

SEO Control Capabilities
type: PropertyValue
value reference: SEO

Base Monthly Cost (Managed Hosting)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Self-Hosted Option
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Built-in Membership/Subscription System
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Monetization

Developer Community Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Support

Page Speed (Typical Setup)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Available Themes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design