Substack vs Medium
Substack and Medium are both places to publish writing, but they monetize very differently. Substack lets you own an email list and charge readers directly, while Medium gives you a built-in audience and pays through its Partner Program based on reading time. The choice is really about ownership versus reach.
Quick answer
Substack lets you own your email list and charge readers directly, keeping 10%, while Medium gives you a built-in audience but pays through its Partner Program based on reading time with no list ownership. Choose Substack to build your own brand, Medium for reach. If you want to sell products, bookings and tickets from one link while keeping 100% of sales, OneSol is a free all-in-one alternative that pays out to your own Stripe.
Substack vs Medium at a glance
| Feature | Substack | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Free | Free |
| Own audience / list | Yes | Limited |
| Paid subscriptions | Built-in | Partner Program |
| How you earn | Reader subs | Read time |
| Cut / payout | 10% on paid | Platform pays |
| Own payments | Own Stripe | No |
| Ease of use | Very easy | Very easy |
Competitor features and pricing can change — check their current plans before deciding.
1. Who Substack is best for
Substack suits writers who want to own their relationship with readers via an email list and, optionally, charge for subscriptions. It's free to publish and takes 10% of paid subscriptions plus Stripe fees. You control your list and can take it with you if you leave.
2. Who Medium is best for
Medium fits writers who want a built-in audience and don't want to manage a list or billing. You earn through the Partner Program based on member reading time rather than selling directly, and Medium handles payouts. You trade ownership and direct monetization for reach and simplicity.
3. The cost that's easy to miss
On Substack the 10% cut only applies to paid subscriptions, but you're responsible for growing your own audience. On Medium you don't set prices or own the payment relationship, and earnings depend on Medium's program, which can change. Neither lets you sell products, tickets or bookings directly.
The verdict
OneSol turns one link into a full storefront — sell products, take bookings, run forms and sell tickets while capturing emails. Payments go straight to your own Stripe account with no OneSol cut, so you keep 100% of sales, and it's free to start.
FAQ
Do I own my audience on Substack or Medium?
Substack lets you export and keep your email list, so your audience travels with you. Medium keeps readers inside its platform, so you have far less direct ownership.
How do you make money on each?
Substack lets you charge readers directly for paid subscriptions (it keeps 10%), while Medium pays writers through its Partner Program based on member reading time. They're very different income models.
Which is better for building a long-term brand?
Substack, because you own the list and the subscriber relationship. Medium is better for reach and discovery, but you're building on rented land.
Is there a free all-in-one alternative?
Yes — OneSol is free and lets you sell, run forms, take bookings and capture emails from one link, with money going to your own Stripe account so you keep 100% of sales (only Stripe's fee).