Medium
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About Medium
Medium is an online publishing platform founded in 2012 by Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, designed to make long-form writing and reading accessible to anyone. Medium hosts millions of articles across topics ranging from technology and business to personal essays, politics, and fiction. The platform introduced the 'claps' engagement system and pioneered the concept of reading time estimates. Medium's Partner Program allows writers to earn money based on how much time paying Medium members spend reading their content — creating a passive income model for writers without requiring them to build their own subscription base. The platform has over 100 million readers per month and has launched specialized publications including Better Programming, Better Marketing, and Towards Data Science. Medium's SEO reach is significant — articles published on Medium can rank quickly due to the domain's authority. The free tier allows limited article reads per month; Medium membership is $5/month or $50/year for unlimited access. Writers keep most of the Partner Program earnings. Despite competition from Substack and Ghost, Medium's built-in audience and discovery remain its key advantages for writers who don't yet have their own following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you make money on Medium?
Yes, through Medium's Partner Program, writers earn based on reading time from paying members. Earnings vary widely — most writers earn a few dollars per month, while top writers earn thousands. Medium is not a reliable primary income source for most writers, but can supplement income from an owned newsletter or blog.
Is Medium free to publish on?
Yes, publishing on Medium is free with no limits on articles. Readers get 3 free articles/month before hitting the paywall; a Medium membership ($5/month) gives unlimited access. The Partner Program is opt-in and free to join — writers enable it to earn from their content.
Medium vs Substack: which is better for writers?
Medium is better for writers who want built-in discovery without building an audience first — your articles can reach Medium's 100M readers. Substack is better for writers who want to build a direct relationship with subscribers and earn through paid subscriptions. Medium's earnings depend on platform algorithm; Substack's depend on your own audience growth.
Top Alternatives to Medium
Substack
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Beehiiv
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ConvertKit
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All Comparisons
Substack vs Medium
technology