Substack vs. Medium for writers and readers. A comparison guide.

Today, more time is being spent on typing and scrolling than ever before. Whether it’s on a laptop, a phone, a tablet, or just a piece of paper, it seems like the appetite for reading and writing has surged following the pandemic, which forced people to spend long hours at home, exploring ways to fill their time. With such a trend continuing to become the norm, various tools have been introduced to accommodate the growing number of writers, offering monetization programs to authors and promising readers the best possible content quality in return for their money. From the subscription-based world of Substack, where authors can find a dedicated audience, to LinkedIn’s professional networking powerhouse that fosters networking and thought leadership, and Medium’s open content-sharing community where voices find a platform — the options are diverse.

In this article, we will examine how these three distinct platforms address the unique needs and goals of both readers and authors, offering different ways to publish, network, and even monetize. Whether you’re looking for freelance opportunities, professional connections, or a platform for mass reading, there’s a platform to suit your writing aspirations

Substack

For writers:

Substack (dot com) is a platform that empowers authors and journalists to publish subscription-based newsletters. Authors can create and distribute their content to a dedicated audience of clients. Substack is known for its emphasis on editorial independence, allowing authors to control content, pricing, and subscriber lists. It provides a way for authors to monetize their work by charging clients for access. This platform is well-suited for authors who want to build a loyal clientele and have the potential to earn income from their content.

For readers:

Substack offers an escape from typical social media posts, whether in long-form or bullet-point formats. On Substack, users are promised creative work, challenging ideas, and top-of-the-line editorial content that challenges the conventional press and mainstream media. Readers can also form something of a “reading cult” around the writer by sharing their voices and opinions, either in support or opposition to the topics discussed by the writer.

Unique features and purposes for professional writers (and future writers) to consider on Substack:

1. Monetization on Substack: Substack is primarily used to monetize content, including editorials, opinions, interviews, and more. Writers who embrace the Substack concept can create landing pages and newsletters accessible only through reader payments (monthly, annually, etc.). For example, if you have 800 subscribers and charge $7 a month for each, writers can estimate earning around $4,639 monthly.

A better model for writing.

2. Independence: Writers on Substack enjoy a high degree of editorial independence. They have control over their content, subscriber lists, and pricing. They also have ownership of their subscriber lists and readers, deciding how to communicate with them and even taking them out of the platform if they choose to leave Substack. Writes can benefit from a high level of financial independence, keeping 90% of the revenues generated by their editorials.

3. Content Style: Substack is well-suited for long-form content, including essays, newsletters, and opinions. It can also be used to publish interviews and Q&A sessions with a design that caters to specific target audiences.

Medium

For Writers:

Medium (dot com) serves as a versatile platform for authors to publish articles on a wide array of topics, typically using text, photos, and embedded videos. It caters to both professional and amateur writers. Unlike Substack, Medium employs a curation system, enabling the publication and monetization of high-quality articles based on engagement from Medium subscribers. The Medium Partner Program empowers writers to earn money based on reader engagement (known as Engagement Rate Monetization). This means your article must be compelling, attracting a substantial number of impressions and interactions. Joining the Medium Partner Program is free, but writers must meet eligibility criteria to apply and earn.

For Readers:

Medium is a vibrant community where over 100 million individuals share their stories, opinions, and experiences daily. While not all of these 100 million are professional writers, many are CEOs, scientists, novelists, and people with unique insights to share with the world. This diversity provides readers with a valuable perspective on a wide range of topics from those with firsthand experiences to those who share deep interests with users. Subscribing as a reader is affordable, at just $5 a month, granting access to the entire platform, free from ads, with the ability to read offline, and more.

Unique features and purposes for professional writers (and future writers) to consider on medium:

1. Content Discovery: Medium serves as a content discovery platform where your articles can be found by people interested in the topics you discuss. It’s a space for both seasoned professionals and aspiring writers (like myself!). Here, you can share your thoughts, expertise, and ideas with the world, and those who share your interests will discover your content. Just like any online tool, understanding how to deliver content, to whom, and optimization techniques are crucial for reaching a wider audience.

Newsletters are easy to create and powerful to use. Any Publication on Medium can start a newsletter and correspond with their subscribers directly in their inbox.

2. Monetization Program: As mentioned earlier, Medium offers the “Partner Program,” which is free for writers to join if they meet specific conditions (Being a Medium member, having published a story within the last 6 months, residing in an eligible country, and being at least 18 years old). Regarding writer pay, Medium provides the following insights: Less than 1% of Medium writers, the top performers, earn between $5,000 to $30,000 a month. Achieving this level of income typically takes top writers 1 to 2 years of consistent writing for Medium. Around 94% of writers earn under $100 per month.

3. Community Building: Medium has fostered a thriving community of readers and writers who engage almost instantly. Over the years, Medium has cultivated a dedicated “reader-writer cult” to maximize content engagement, and reach, and encourage user participation in content reviews.

In summary, the key distinctions between Substack and Medium revolve around their primary purposes and monetization models. Substack places a strong emphasis on subscription-based newsletters and teaser content designed to entice readers to subscribe to authors’ content. In contrast, Medium serves as a content discovery platform with a curation system and a revenue-sharing model. This model incentivizes authors to produce compelling and high-quality pieces to gain visibility among audiences.

Writers should select the platform that best aligns with their goals, whether it’s monetization, professional networking, or reaching a broader readership.

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