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Medium vs Substack
Compare Medium and Substack to find the best tool for your needs.
Medium
A popular publishing platform connecting readers with writers and their ideas through a clean, minimalist interface.
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Substack
Publishing platform that combines newsletters, blogs, and podcasts with built-in monetization via paid subscriptions.
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Pricing
Free to publish, $5/month for unlimited reading
Free to use, 10% of subscription revenue + payment processing fees
Pros & Cons
Medium
Pros
- Built-in audience and distribution
- Clean reading experience
- Partner Program for monetization
- Simple to use with no technical setup
Cons
- Limited customization options
- Platform owns the audience relationship
- Monetization requires membership
- Limited SEO control
Substack
Pros
- Integrated newsletter and blog
- Simple paid subscription model
- Full ownership of subscriber list
- Easy to start and use
Cons
- Limited design customization
- 10% fee on all paid subscriptions
- Basic analytics
- Limited content organization options