Is Medium Still Worth It in 2025?

An overview

I am a Medium guy.

Since I found the platform in early 2021, I've been amazed by the earning potential and ease of use.

That being said, Medium has seen its share of evolution and controversy over the years.

Launched in 2012 by Twitter co-founder Ev Williams, Medium aimed to become the main place for thoughtful writing and meaningful stories.

Writers flocked to the platform with hopes of building audiences and, through the Medium Partner Program, earning money for their work without relying on Google, SEO, and ads.

But fast forward to 2025, and writers are left asking: is Medium still worth it?

Some of my early Medium colleagues have already or are planning to leave the platform.

Many of them to Substack.

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Why

What went wrong?

With new payout structures, changes to the Partner Program, and ongoing challenges around earnings transparency, it’s a valid question.

While some writers find consistent success, many others are frustrated by shrinking payouts, unclear algorithms, and the limitations of writing for Medium alone.

Let's have a deeper look at what Medium offers writers in 2025, discuss its challenges, and see whether it’s still a worthwhile platform you.

The Medium Vision

I love the idea behind Medium.

Simple writing, an easy-to-use platform, engagement, and the potential to earn money directly instead of ads, sponsors, etc.

But... that's not how the internet works. Mostly.

Medium was built to be somewhat different. Unlike other blogging platforms or social media sites, its goal wasn’t to chase viral content or clickbait in the beginning.

Medium promised writers:

• Quality over quantity: Thoughtful, well-written pieces would thrive.

• Community engagement: Readers and writers could interact meaningfully.

• Earnings potential: The Medium Partner Program allowed writers to make money based on paying members’ engagement with their stories.

For many, Medium’s mission to reward value was a key point.

In its heyday, Medium stories went viral organically, writers saw thousands of dollars in monthly earnings, and a thriving community fueled the platform’s momentum.

But today, the reality for writers feels far more complex.

Content issues

Despite major changes and ongoing work, Medium has been and keeps getting flooded with low-quality, AI-driven content.

Recommended stories can vary vastly in terms of quality and fit. And even boosted stories — a relatively recent addition to the Medium universe — are not always the ones I would have picked or distributed.

Subjective, of course.

Confusing Earnings

Perhaps the biggest challenge for writers on Medium is understanding how earnings work.

And let's be real, writers want to make money. Medium can't expect writers to do everything for free.

Quick breakdown of the current earning model for 2025:

1. Member Reading Time

At its core, Medium pays writers based on the amount of time paying Medium members spend reading (or listening to) their stories.

Sounds simple, right? Well, not exactly.

• The 30-second rule: For a “read” to count, a paying member must spend at least 30 seconds on a story.

• Shortform struggles: Stories under 150 words (or skim-worthy pieces) rarely reach that threshold. This has all but killed short, punchy content that once thrived on Medium.

• While longform pieces can still earn, even those suffer if readers skim too quickly or lose interest.

2. Engagement Points

Medium introduced engagement points to factor in claps, highlights, and responses. In theory, this is great for writers who inspire conversation and interaction.

However:

• Engagement points can be “hacked” with clap exchanges or spammy responses.

• Writers now feel pressure to beg for claps or comments, which often compromises authenticity.

3. Boosts and Curation

Medium’s “boost” feature allows human curators to highlight exceptional stories. Boosted pieces receive greater visibility and significantly higher payouts.

While a good idea in concept, the system has sparked mixed feelings:

• Many talented writers feel overlooked by curation.

• Certain topics are overlooked as well

• Boosting can feel subjective, leading to frustration among those left out.

Is Writing on Medium Sustainable?

Many writers entered Medium in its earlier years to earn steady income and build audiences.

That includes me. I was making 4 figures a month regularly back in the day (around 2 years ago).

For a while, it worked.

But as Medium’s earnings structure grew more nuanced, writers began seeing drastic fluctuations in their monthly payouts. Of course, the growth, new writers, less readers, and the influx of AI content have a lot to do with it as well.

Still, I see some issues on Medium's side:

1. Transparency: Writers don’t always understand where their earnings come from or why they’ve dropped.

2. Earnings volatility: The difference between a curated, “boosted” story and one with lower engagement can be significant.

3. Limited external views: Since only paying Medium members contribute to earnings, traffic from outside Medium (social media or newsletters) may not convert into income.

As a result, many writers who once relied on Medium as a large income source have been forced to diversify—exploring platforms like Substack, traditional blogging, social media, or newsletters.

Frankly, Medium lost some of its greatest writers.

Is There Hope?

So, where does this leave Medium in 2025?

I truly don't know. I understand why many jump ship. Especially those who move to Substack.

Despite this, Medium still holds value for certain writers:

New writers

For beginners, Medium remains one of the easiest places to publish and get discovered. Its built-in audience and SEO ranking give stories a chance to gain traction.

It's so much easier to start blogging on Medium than on WordPress or other blogging platforms for search engine traffic.

That being said, Substack is similarly easy. And that shows.

Quality longform content 

Thoughtful, engaging long-form writing can still thrive under the current algorithm—especially if it’s boosted or attracts strong engagement.

Community and connection

Medium’s community of writers and readers is one of its biggest strengths. It has suffered, but it's not completely lost.

For those who value interaction over income, it’s still a worthwhile platform.

But the issues...

Writers who want to earn sustainable income may need to adjust their strategies or find another place to write.

Some ideas ti adjust are:

1. Write longer content: Stories that hold readers’ attention for 2-5 minutes are more likely to succeed.

2. Focus on engagement: Encourage claps, highlights, and responses without coming across as spammy.

3. Leverage boosts: Optimize your work for curation by choosing trending topics and prioritizing high-quality writing.

4. Diversify your income streams: Medium alone may not be enough. Build a presence on Substack, monetize newsletters, or create digital products.

Medium itself must also adapt to retain its writer base. This means addressing concerns around transparency, refining its curation system, and ensuring that all writers—new and experienced—feel valued.

And for the love of god, get stricter with spam.

Is Medium Worth It in 2025?

Medium is not what it was a few years ago.

Earnings are harder to predict, shortform content has largely disappeared, and writers must work smarter to succeed.

Yet, the platform isn’t entirely without hope.

For those willing to navigate its complexities, Medium still offers:

• A free (or low-cost) platform to share thoughtful, high-quality writing.

• Access to a built-in audience of engaged readers.

• The opportunity to earn (albeit unpredictably) through the Partner Program.

In 2025, Medium is best viewed as one tool in a writer’s toolkit—a place to publish, connect, and grow, but not the sole source of income or audience growth.

For those of us who love writing and the community it builds, Medium can still be worth it.

However, for writers focused primarily on earning money, the platform requires more effort and strategy than ever before, and frankly, it isn't worth it anymore.

The Bottom Line

Medium’s future depends not only on its algorithms and payouts but on whether it can regain the trust and enthusiasm that made it a writer’s paradise in the first place.

We'll see how that goes. If we know anything about Medium, it's that they're willing to change things drastically over and over again.

That's not always a bad thing.

What’s Your Take?

Are you still writing on Medium in 2025?

Do you think it’s worth it, or have you shifted to other platforms like Substack?

Let me know in the comments or connect with me via my newsletter—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Because, at the end of the day, a writer is nothing without their readers.

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