Medium isn’t the only place writers can showcase their work. Maybe you’re weary of their limitations, or perhaps you adore them but want to expand your reach by joining another community of like-minded scribes.
A plethora of fantastic platforms await you, offering features and flexibility that rival or even surpass Medium. Stay tuned to see a variety of options so you can find the best Medium alternatives for your writing needs.
What is Medium?
Medium is a blogging hotspot that lets writers share their stories with a vast, ready-made audience. It’s packed with features that make crafting and formatting articles a breeze while connecting you with fellow writers. Medium also lets readers follow specific topics and authors, making it a treasure trove for discovering new voices.
Monetizing your work on Medium is a piece of cake, with payments based on the time members (key word: members) spend reading your content. Just pop your article behind a paywall, and voilà! You’ll also earn some cash from new users who sign up using your custom landing page, as you receive half of their $5 monthly subscription fee.
Is Medium Still Relevant?
Absolutely! Medium remains a beloved platform for blogging, article writing, idea sharing, and uniting writers and readers around the globe.
In fact, many businesses now use Medium as their go-to blogging platform, and its pay structure for independent writers is among the fairest out there.
How Our List of the Best Medium Alternatives is Organized
We’ve divided our list of Medium alternatives into two sections.
The first includes blogging platforms with monetization structures similar to Medium (built-in monetization options), while the second features platforms that excel in their own ways but require different marketing and monetization methods. Let’s dive in!
Best Medium Alternatives with Built-In Monetization:
1. HubPages
HubPages shares similarities with Medium, boasting a built-in community of writers and readers—ideal for sharing, exploring, engaging in discussions, and possibly getting discovered.
But don’t expect to make a fortune from their platform. HubPages even suggests treating it as a hobby and source of supplemental income.
To make money, simply write your posts, sign up for their monetization program, and watch as ads are inserted into your content. You’ll earn a portion of the ad revenue when readers click on one.
2. Vocal.Media
Vocal.Media is another community-driven blogging platform, prominently displaying various topics upon sign-in, so you can quickly join conversations, read, and contribute to categories that excite you. They’re all about uniting like-minded individuals to share their stories.
Vocal.Media offers several ways to make money. First, they pay you per 1,000 views—typically around $3-$4. Additionally, their tipping feature lets readers show their appreciation directly through your post.
And finally, you can link to your products, services, courses, or other offerings outside of Vocal.Media to generate sales from the community.
3. NewsBreak
NewsBreak believes that local news should come from local writers, both amateurs and professionals. Their platform is dedicated to writers covering events in their own areas.
With a strong focus on news, it’s more niche compared to other platforms, but it might be the perfect fit if that’s your jam.
To earn money on NewsBreak, you’ll need to apply for their monetization program. To qualify, you’ll need 10 articles under your belt as well as at least 100 registered followers.
If accepted, you’ll start earning a certain amount per 1,000 views. They rank each post on a 1-10 scale and pay varying amounts based on your score. From our experience and others’, they usually pay out between $3-$5.
4. Steemit
This platform is for the writer looking for something completely different. Steemit takes after Reddit, with features like up and down voting content.
The platform features a mix of long and short-form posts, which may not be ideal for bloggers, but if used correctly, you can certainly earn some money.
Steemit pays out in STEEM coins, their own cryptocurrency. You can swap these coins for other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, and then cash out in your local currency on an exchange.
To earn STEEM coins, create content and get paid for views, engagement, comments, upvotes, and more. Users can also earn coins by upvoting content, especially if the post gains significant traction and views.
Best Medium Alternatives without Built-In Monetization:
1. Write.as
Write.as is a no-frills alternative to Medium that lets you blog anonymously without sacrificing privacy. Built on the belief that everyone has something to say, Write.as offers a minimalist platform for writers to share their thoughts with the world.
Whether you want to blog about your latest hobby or document your views on current events, Write.as is the perfect place. Its simple layout and focus on privacy make it an increasingly popular choice for anonymous blogging.
2. Ghost
Ghost is another popular Medium alternative designed specifically for bloggers looking to turn their passion into a business.
They have first class marketing tools that are unbelievably easy to implement. Another selling point is the platform’s stunning themes, giving your blog a polished look and feel.
Whether you’re seeking an alternative to Medium or a more powerful blogging platform, Ghost is definitely worth considering.
3. Revue
Revue is an editorial newsletter service that, while not a traditional blogging platform, deserves a mention. Some writers have even ditched blogs entirely in favor of Revue.
The platform allows you to set up a paywall through subscription fees for your newsletter. Consistently producing captivating content can help you build and manage your subscriber list right from your Revue account, and you’ll own that list forever.
Revue also offers integrations with Twitter, enabling followers to subscribe to your newsletter directly from your tweets or profile. If you already have a following on Twitter or Medium, you can potentially transfer some of them to your email list. This is a fantastic way to generate relatively consistent and predictable income each month if you can build your list.
4. Substack
If you’re considering leaving Medium to explore different types of media, Substack could be your ideal choice. It’s perfect for bloggers, podcasters, and video creators who want to monetize through subscriptions.
Substack has a built-in audience, claiming that around 30% of new free subscriptions and 10% of paid subscriptions come from within their community. So, if you create high-quality content, this platform could give you a head start.
5. WordPress
WordPress is a popular Medium alternative for blogging. While both platforms have pros and cons, WordPress offers several key advantages over Medium.
First, WordPress is highly customizable. They offer a vast range of themes to create a unique look for your blog, as well as plugins to add countless features. You also have more control over content layout and organization.
WordPress may be more expensive, as you’ll need to pay for hosting, but the flexibility and customization options are unparalleled.
A potential downside is the absence of a built-in community, meaning you’re solely responsible for marketing your blog and building your following.
6. Blogger
Blogger could be for you if you just want a basic blogging platform and don’t need tons of features.
Blogger offers a variety of templates, but the selection is not as extensive as WordPress, and the plugins and customization options are far less robust.
They do allow you to monetize through Google Adsense, so it’s still worth a look.
We see Blogger as a simplified version of WordPress, which could be great if you just want a place to write. But if building a business is important to you, try one of the others.
7. Simily
Simily is a niche platform specifically designed for fiction short story writers. If this is your style, Simily could be an excellent place to start.
With a built-in community of readers and writers, posting a story on Simily gives you a chance to be discovered and gain followers. The community is welcoming and always willing to provide suggestions and engage in conversations.
Simily is relatively new and currently pays published writers $0.02 for every unique view their story receives. However, they plan to switch to a revenue-sharing model once they have enough paying subscribers.
8. Patreon
Patreon is a nifty platform where creators can earn money for their creations via subscriber support.
Creators can offer exclusive content, early access, project funding from supporters (similar to Kickstarter for creatives), and any other perks that resonate with their audience.
While you’ll still need another platform to write your posts, Patreon can be an excellent way to earn money from your work if you can build up your supporter list.
Final Thoughts
That concludes our list of fantastic Medium alternatives to consider if you’re thinking about trying something new. We hope this list gives you a phenomenal starting point to begin your journey towards a new home for your blog. With the right platform, we truly believe you can achieve success with your blogging. Have you tried any of these platforms? Let us know on our Instagram!
Looking for more blogging tips? Check them out here!
