Medium Review 2026
Where good ideas find you.
The Verdict
Medium is a publishing platform with a built-in audience. Unlike WordPress or Ghost where you need to drive your own traffic, Medium has 100+ million monthly readers who discover content through the platform's recommendation algorithm.
For writers who want distribution without dealing with SEO, social media, or website management, Medium offers an incredibly low-friction experience. Write, publish, and Medium handles distribution. If you join the Partner Program, you can earn money based on engagement from paying Medium members.
The downside is ownership. You're publishing on Medium's platform, under their rules, subject to their algorithm. You don't control your audience relationship, you can't monetize however you want, and your content competes with every other article on the platform.
✓Pros
- +Built-in audience
- +Beautiful reading experience
- +Zero maintenance
✕Cons
- −You don't own the domain
- −Paywall friction
- −Hard to monetize directly
Pricing & Plans
| Plan | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | Publishing · Partner program |
Who Should Use Medium
- →Writers who want built-in distribution and don't want to manage SEO, hosting, or social media promotion.
- →Thought leaders and professionals using content for career visibility rather than direct monetization.
- →New writers building credibility who benefit from Medium's existing audience and social proof.
- →Anyone who wants to test content ideas before investing in their own publishing platform.
Who Should NOT Use Medium
- ✕Writers building a brand who need custom design, a custom domain, and full audience ownership.
- ✕Creators who want to monetize through their own subscriptions, sponsors, or products — Medium's model is limiting.
- ✕SEO-focused content marketers — Medium's domain gets the SEO benefit, not yours.
What to Consider
- ●Medium retains significant control over distribution — algorithm changes can drastically affect your views.
- ●Partner Program earnings vary widely. Most writers earn very little; top writers can earn thousands per month.
- ●You can use a custom domain, but setup is cumbersome and Medium still controls the experience.
- ●Medium's clean reading experience benefits your content — no distracting ads, popups, or sidebars.
Conclusion
Medium is the easiest way to reach readers if you don't have an existing audience. For thought leadership, professional visibility, and testing content ideas, it's unmatched.
But for building a sustainable content business, you need your own platform. Use Medium for distribution, not as your primary home.
Try Medium →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own domain?
At a Glance
- Free Plan
- Yes
- Skill Level
- Beginner
- Best For
- bloggingwritingaudience