Medium vs Substack: Features, Pricing and User Reviews 2026
Compare features, pricing, reviews, and more to make an informed decision
Medium
Medium is a popular online publishing platform where anyone can write, share stories, and earn money through reader engagement and subscriptions.
Substack
Substack is a free newsletter platform that lets writers publish content, build direct reader relationships, and earn money through paid subscriptions.
Medium
Medium is a popular online publishing platform where anyone can write, share stories, and earn money through reader engagement and subscriptions.
Substack
Substack is a free newsletter platform that lets writers publish content, build direct reader relationships, and earn money through paid subscriptions.
Medium
Simple writing interface with no technical knowledge needed
Partner Program pays writers based on reader engagement
Over 100 million monthly readers worldwide
Follow favorite writers and topics
Publications for niche audiences
Claps, highlights, and comments for interaction
Mobile apps for iOS and Android
Audio narration of stories available
Free and paid membership options
Custom domain support for members
Substack
Free newsletter publishing with no subscriber limits
Paid subscription options with monthly and annual billing
Podcast hosting and distribution
Video upload and recording tools
Short-form Notes feature for quick updates
Mobile app for readers
Comment sections and community chat
Built-in analytics and growth tracking
Custom domain support
Recommendation network for discovery
Email list ownership and export
Medium
Medium offers flexible pricing to suit different needs and budgets. The basic option is completely free, allowing you to read a limited number of stories each month and publish unlimited stories.
Medium Member ($5/month or $50/year): This membership gives you unlimited access to all stories on the platform. You can read member-only content, listen to audio versions of articles, support the writers you enjoy reading, and access the Partner Program to earn money from your own writing. You also get offline reading through the mobile app and can connect a custom domain to your profile.
Friend of Medium ($15/month or $150/year): This premium tier includes all Medium Member benefits plus the ability to give four times more to writers you read, share member-only stories with anyone to drive more earnings for authors, and customize your app icon.
Substack
Substack uses a simple and transparent pricing model that aligns with creator success. Publishing on Substack is completely free regardless of how many subscribers you have. You can send unlimited free newsletters without any charges.
If you enable paid subscriptions, Substack takes 10% of each transaction plus payment processing fees. The payment processing is handled by Stripe, which charges 2.9% plus 30 cents per transaction for credit card payments. Stripe also charges a 0.7% billing fee for recurring subscriptions (as of July 2024).
For non-credit card payment methods like direct debit, iDEAL, Bancontact, and SEPA Direct, different Stripe fees apply based on your country. Writers keep full control over their subscription prices, which many set between $5 and $20 per month or offer annual plans with discounts.
