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About Medium
What is Medium & How It Works
Medium is a publishing platform that combines a clean writing tool with a social network for ideas. Writers publish long-form articles on any topic, and readers discover them through a personalized, algorithm-driven feed. The platform solves the problem of building an audience from scratch — writers can reach millions of readers without managing their own blog or SEO.
Best For: Writers & Thought Leaders
Medium is ideal for writers, journalists, and companies who want to build thought leadership and reach an engaged audience without technical overhead. Readers benefit from an ad-free, distraction-free reading experience. It is less suited for businesses needing native e-commerce, lead capture forms, or full design control.
Key Use Cases & Features
Writers use the simple editor to publish stories, public or behind a metered paywall. The Partner Program pays writers based on member reading time. Readers can clap, comment, highlight, and follow topics. Curated publications gather stories around specific themes, and the algorithm surfaces relevant content based on reading history.
Key features
- Writing editor — Simple, distraction-free interface with rich formatting
- Partner Program — Earn money based on member reading time
- Personalized feed — Algorithm recommends stories based on your interests
- Claps and highlights — Readers can show appreciation and save passages
- Publications — Curated collections of stories on specific topics
- Metered paywall — Free readers get a limited number of stories per month
SaaSpartout Score
6.6
/10
Editorial score from our review methodology — not user ratings.
Medium Pricing
Medium pricing: Free to read (metered) · $5/mo for unlimited · Free to write. Billing model: Freemium.
Free (Metered Reading)
Read a limited number of stories per month for free. No cost to write and publish.
Medium Membership – $5/month
Unlimited access to all stories, ad-free reading, offline saves, and supports writers via the Partner Program. No free trial specified on scraped page.
Writing & Publishing
Free for all authors. Earnings possible through the Partner Program based on member reading time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Medium free to use?
Yes, Medium is free to read with a metered limit (a few stories per month) and completely free to write and publish.
How much does Medium cost?
Medium costs $5 per month for the Membership plan, which gives unlimited reading and ad-free experience. Writing is always free.
Who is Medium best for?
Medium is best for writers, journalists, and thought leaders who want to reach a built-in audience of over 100 million monthly readers without managing their own blog or SEO.
What are the top alternatives to Medium?
Popular alternatives include Substack (for newsletters), WordPress (full blog control), and Ghost (for creators). Each offers different monetization and customization options.
Can you make money on Medium?
Yes, through the Medium Partner Program. Writers earn based on the reading time of Medium Members who read their stories.
What is a key limitation of Medium?
Medium offers limited design customization, no native e-commerce or lead capture forms, and writers do not own their domain or full analytics.
