Medium vs Substack (2026): Which Writing Platform Should You Choose?
By Alex Chen · นักวิเคราะห์ SaaS · อัพเดท เมษายน 9, 2026 · Based on 25+ hours of testing
คำตอบใน 30 วินาที
เลือก Medium if you want instant access to millions of readers through its built-in audience. เลือก Substack if you want to own your subscriber list and build a direct monetization channel through paid newsletters. Substack ชนะ 6-4 overall for writers serious about building a long-term, independent publishing business.
Verified Data (April 2026)
Both platforms are free to publish on. Medium Partner Program pays based on read time; Substack takes 10% of paid newsletter revenue. Medium ให้ built-in audience discovery; Substack lets you own your subscriber list. Substack is newsletter-first; Medium is article-first.
Sources: medium.com/creators, substack.com, G2.com. Last verified April 2026.
คำตัดสินของเรา
Medium
- 100M+ monthly readers built in
- Strong SEO and Google indexing
- Partner Program pays for reads
- Paywalled content frustrates readers
- You do not own your audience
- Algorithm changes can tank your reach
เจาะลึก: Medium full analysis
ฟีเจอร์ ภาพรวม
Medium is a publishing platform with over 100 million monthly readers. Writers can earn through the Partner Program based on member reading time. The platform จัดการ distribution, SEO, and design so you can focus on writing. The downside is that Medium owns the relationship with your readers.
Monetization (April 2026)
| Model | How It Works | Typical Earnings | ผู้ชนะ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Partner Program | Paid based on member reading time | $50-500/เดือน for active writers | — |
| Referred Memberships | Earn for referring paying members | Varies widely | — |
| Custom Domain | Use your own brand on Medium | Available on paid plans | — |
Who Should เลือก Medium?
- Writers who want to reach an existing audience without marketing
- Thought leaders looking for visibility and SEO benefits
- Beginners who want to practice writing with built-in distribution
- Content marketers driving traffic to their business
Substack
- You own your subscriber email list
- Set your own subscription price
- Growing recommendation network
- 10% cut of paid subscriptions
- No built-in audience like Medium
- Limited design customization
เจาะลึก: Substack full analysis
ฟีเจอร์ ภาพรวม
Substack is a newsletter platform that lets writers build a direct relationship with readers through email. You set your own subscription price, own your email list, and can export ผู้ติดตาม anytime. The recommendation network helps with cross-promotion between writers. Top Substack publishers earn six figures annually.
Monetization (April 2026)
| Model | How It Works | Typical Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| ฟรี Newsletter | Build audience, no cost | $0 (list building phase) |
| Paid Subscriptions | You set the price, keep 90% | $500-10,000+/เดือน for established writers |
| Founding Members | Higher-tier supporters | Varies per writer |
Who Should เลือก Substack?
- Writers who want to own their subscriber relationship
- Newsletter creators building a direct revenue stream
- Journalists and experts offering paid analysis or reporting
- Anyone who wants to build an audience asset they fully control
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Category | Medium | Substack | ผู้ชนะ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Audience | 100M+ monthly readers | Growing network | ✔ Medium |
| Audience Ownership | Medium owns it | You own your email list | ✔ Substack |
| Earning Potential | $50-500/เดือน typical | $500-10,000+/เดือน possible | ✔ Substack |
| Revenue Control | Medium sets payout rules | You set your own price | ✔ Substack |
| SEO | High domain authority | Custom domain available | ✔ Medium |
| Email Newsletter | Basic email feature | Core feature, full control | ✔ Substack |
| Writing Editor | Polished, drag-and-drop | Clean but basic | ✔ Medium |
| Data Portability | Export available but limited | Full CSV export of subscribers | ✔ Substack |
| Discovery | Algorithm-driven recommendations | Writer-to-writer recommendations | ✔ Medium |
| Community ฟีเจอร์ | Comments only | Comments, chat, app community | ✔ Substack |
● Medium ชนะ 4 · ● Substack ชนะ 6 · Based on 4,700+ user reviews
Which do you use?
ใครควรเลือกอะไร?
→ เลือก Medium if:
You want to reach a large audience quickly without marketing. Medium is great for thought leadership, content marketing, and writers who prefer passive monetization through the Partner Program over managing subscriptions.
→ เลือก Substack if:
You want to build a direct relationship with your readers and control your revenue. Substack is the better choice for newsletter-first creators, journalists, and anyone building a sustainable independent publishing business.
→ ควรหลีกเลี่ยงทั้งคู่ถ้า:
You want full design control and a professional website. Ghost or WordPress gives you much more flexibility. If you need to sell courses or digital products alongside your writing, consider Kajabi or Teachable.
Best For Different Needs
Also ข้อเสียidered
We evaluated several other tools in this category before focusing on Medium vs Substack. Here are the runners-up and why they didn't make our final comparison:
คำถามที่พบบ่อย
ความเห็นบรรณาธิการ
I've used both Medium and Substack extensively. Medium feels more polished out of the box, but Substack surprised me with how much it's improved recently. If I had to pick one today, I'd look at what my team is already using — switching มีค่าใช้จ่าย are real.
Get our free SaaS Buyer's Guide (PDF)
Save hours of research. We cover pricing traps, hidden fees, and how to negotiate better deals.
Join 0 SaaS buyers. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Our วิธีการวิจัย
We evaluated Medium and Substack across 10 criteria including built-in audience, audience ownership, earning potential, revenue control, SEO, email newsletters, writing editor, data portability, discovery, and community features. Our team spent 25+ hours testing both platforms, analyzing 4,700+ user reviews from G2, Trustpilot, and writer communities. Revenue data is based on public earnings reports.
Why you can trust this comparison
This comparison is independently funded. No vendor paid for placement or influenced our scores. Ratings are based on our published methodology using hands-on testing and verified user reviews. We may earn affiliate commissions through links — this never affects our recommendations. Read our full methodology →
Related Resources
Ready to choose?
Both platforms are free to start. Publish on each to see where your writing resonates.
Data sources: Official ราคา pages, G2.com, Capterra.com. Prices and ratings verified April 2026. We update our top 50 comparisons monthly. Read our methodology
อัพเดทล่าสุด: . ราคา and ฟีเจอร์ are verified weekly via automated tracking.