Substack vs. Medium: Best Platforms for Newsletter-Focused Writers
When deciding between Substack and Medium for newsletter-focused writers, it's essential to consider your goals, audience, and monetization strategies. Here's a comparison of the two platforms:
Overview
- Substack: A platform designed for writers to create and monetize newsletters through paid subscriptions. It allows direct communication with subscribers via email and offers features like podcast hosting and video integration.
- Medium: An open platform where writers can publish articles and essays, leveraging a built-in audience. It offers a Partner Program for monetization based on engagement.
Key Features
| Feature | Substack | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to Start | Free | Free |
| Monetization | Paid subscriptions | Medium Partner Program, referred memberships |
| Audience Control | Full control over subscriber list | Limited control, no direct email access |
| Built-in Audience | No built-in audience | Yes, large existing audience |
| Email Newsletter Functionality | Yes, with direct email distribution | Limited email functionality |
| SEO | Better SEO control | Limited SEO control |
| Additional Features | Podcast and video hosting | No podcast or video hosting |
Choosing the Right Platform
-
Substack is ideal for writers who want to:
- Build a dedicated, niche audience.
- Monetize their content through paid subscriptions.
- Have full control over their subscriber list.
- Use features like podcast and video hosting.
-
Medium is suitable for writers who:
- Seek broad exposure and discoverability.
- Want to leverage a built-in audience without managing subscriptions.
- Are focused on engagement-based monetization.
Ultimately, the choice between Substack and Medium depends on your specific goals and preferences regarding audience control, monetization, and content distribution.
