For indie writers, bloggers, and newsletter creators, Substack and Medium are two of the most popular platforms for sharing content and building an audience. But each platform has unique features, monetization models, and audiences, so choosing between them can be tricky. Here, we’ll break down Substack vs. Medium in terms of ease of use, monetization, SEO capabilities, community engagement, and customization, along with insights from recent statistics to help you make an informed decision.
- Overview of Substack and Medium
- Ease of Use
- Monetization Options
- SEO Capabilities
- Community and Audience
- Customization
- Pricing Comparison
- Final Thoughts: Which Platform is Right for You?
Substack is primarily a newsletter platform that allows writers to create, distribute, and monetize content via email. Launched in 2017, it’s grown rapidly in popularity, especially among independent writers seeking control over their subscriber lists and monetization. With built-in monetization tools and a referral network, Substack is ideal for creators who want a straightforward platform to build a paying subscriber base.
Medium, on the other hand, is a content-sharing platform launched in 2012 by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams. Medium attracts writers across all genres, aiming to reach a broader audience with less focus on subscription-based monetization. Instead, Medium’s Partner Program rewards writers based on reader engagement, making it attractive to those looking to maximize reach and accessibility without the need for personal marketing.
Substack is built with simplicity in mind, making it easy for writers to start publishing and monetizing without technical knowledge. Its email-focused distribution keeps your audience connected to your content, and it offers built-in tools for writing, publishing, and subscriber management. Substack’s minimalist interface keeps the focus on the writing itself, appealing to creators who prioritize simplicity and direct engagement.
Medium’s user-friendly editor is praised for its clean, professional layout and rich formatting options. Publishing on Medium is straightforward: just sign up, create a post, and hit publish. Medium’s design automatically formats posts for an engaging reader experience across devices, so writers can focus on content creation without design worries. Medium also has built-in analytics to track engagement, making it simple to see how your content is performing.
Key Insight: For writers seeking an easy, quick start without managing email lists, Medium may be the better choice. Substack is ideal if you want an email-focused connection with subscribers and prefer managing your audience directly.
Substack’s monetization model is straightforward: you can charge subscribers for access to premium content, with Substack taking a 10% cut of paid subscriptions. Substack handles all payment processing, making it easy to set up a paid subscription. Writers retain full control over their subscriber lists and revenue streams, which is a major plus for those looking to establish a direct relationship with readers and build an independent income source.
Medium offers monetization through the Medium Partner Program, which pays writers based on reading time and engagement from Medium members. Rather than earning through subscriptions, Medium’s earnings are tied to audience reach and interaction, and statistics show that writers in the top 5% of Medium creators make over $100 per month (Source: Medium). However, this model relies on maintaining high engagement, and writers may not receive as much per reader compared to direct subscriber payments on Substack.
Key Insight: Substack is best for creators focused on building direct, monetizable relationships with readers. Medium’s monetization is more variable, appealing to those aiming for broad reach without managing subscriptions.
Substack has limited SEO tools, focusing instead on email-based distribution. While posts are indexed by search engines, custom meta descriptions and SEO settings are minimal. This can make it harder to attract organic search traffic. Substack relies more on email sharing, referral networks, and word-of-mouth growth rather than search engine optimization.
Medium offers more SEO advantages than Substack. Medium articles are often highly ranked in Google search results, thanks to the platform's strong domain authority (DA) of 94 (Moz). This ranking advantage means Medium posts often reach wider audiences via search engines. However, writers don’t have individual SEO control, and Medium owns the content and ranking authority.
Key Insight: Medium has an SEO advantage thanks to high domain authority. If organic search reach is critical to your strategy, Medium may be the better choice.
Substack has a built-in referral network, recommending newsletters to readers based on their interests and subscription history. This feature helps creators grow their audience through platform-based discovery. Additionally, Substack has launched Notes, a social-style feature that allows for shorter, interactive posts, and podcasting, adding versatility to the platform and increasing engagement opportunities.
Medium has a large and active community of readers, providing a built-in audience. Through the Medium Network, articles can be distributed to followers and surfaced to readers with related interests. Medium readers tend to expect diverse topics and professional writing, giving creators broad exposure, but it’s more challenging to build a personalized following compared to Substack’s subscriber-centric approach.
Key Insight: Substack helps writers build a community through referrals, newsletters, and direct engagement, while Medium’s vast audience reach and reader-driven recommendations offer wider but less personalized exposure.
Customization on Substack is limited to basic branding elements, such as adding a logo and adjusting header colors. This makes it easy to create a professional look, but it’s not ideal for those wanting extensive design options. However, Substack’s streamlined design can help build a distinct identity focused solely on writing, appealing to creators who want a minimalistic approach.
Medium’s design is uniform across the platform, ensuring a consistent look for all articles but limiting customization. The streamlined design is optimized for readability but offers little in terms of branding or personalized layout. Medium prioritizes a cohesive reader experience over individual branding, which can benefit content visibility but limits brand-building for individual creators.
Key Insight: For creators wanting a unique, branded experience, Substack’s limited design customization may still be more flexible than Medium’s uniform design.
Substack is free to start, with a 10% fee on paid subscriptions. The only cost is tied to income, making it cost-effective for those starting out or focusing on premium content subscriptions.
Medium is also free to join, but readers must subscribe to the platform for full access to Medium content. Creators earn through Medium’s Partner Program, which doesn’t charge a percentage of income but relies on engagement metrics. This structure allows writers to earn without direct subscriber management but limits revenue control.
Key Insight: Substack is a strong choice for monetizing direct subscriptions with low upfront costs, while Medium’s revenue model is suited for those focusing on broad audience reach.
Choosing between Substack vs. Medium depends on your content strategy, audience-building approach, and income goals:
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Choose Substack if: You want to build an email subscriber base, monetize directly, and engage readers with newsletters or podcasts. Substack’s simplicity and subscriber-focused approach work well for those seeking a dedicated audience relationship.
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Choose Medium if: You prioritize maximizing reach, SEO advantages, and the flexibility to publish on a high-authority domain. Medium is ideal for creators who want a broad audience and can earn based on engagement.
Both platforms offer unique benefits and limitations, so the right choice depends on your goals as a writer or newsletter creator.
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Which platform offers better SEO?
- Medium has higher domain authority, which helps posts rank more effectively on search engines.
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Is Substack better for beginner writers?
- Yes, Substack’s simple, subscription-focused setup is ideal for beginners looking to monetize and grow through direct engagement.
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Can I switch from Medium to Substack?
- Yes, both platforms allow content exports, though formatting adjustments may be necessary during migration.
- W3Techs. (2023). Domain Authority Comparison.
- Medium. (2023). Medium Partner Program Statistics.
- Substack. (2023). Substack Features.
By understanding the pros and cons of each platform, indie writers can choose the best one to meet their publishing, monetization, and audience-building goals.