The One (Big) Advantage Medium Has Over Substack
And that’s huge for writers
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Remember when blogging meant writing, not launching a multimedia empire with a subscriber funnel, premium tiers, a podcast, a YouTube channel, six social media accounts and ten different calls to action?
Me too.
There’s something comforting about a platform that stays steady, isn’t it?
Platforms shift gears, pile on features, and try to be everything to everyone. It’s rather uncommon that one stays close to its original promise.
A Place for Words
From the beginning, Medium was about writing.
The platform was designed to elevate thoughtful pieces over quick takes, and reading over scrolling.
And over the years, Medium has modernized its design and added programs like the Partner Program to support writers financially, but at its core, it has stayed true to the craft.
You show up, you write, you publish. Readers discover your work based on interests and curation. That’s it.
I like that.
Growing Fast, Expanding Wide
Substack, by contrast, has been evolving rapidly.
What started as a newsletter platform has become much more. Writers can now publish audio, offer video, build communities via chats, and use “Notes” to share short updates in a social media-like feed.
For some, this is great. Finally, a writing platform with all the tools to build a full creator business as well.
But for others, and that’s many writers, the expansion feels like a shift away from the writing-first model that made Substack attractive in the first place.
Substack still supports great writing, of course.
But the growing set of features can create a sense of pressure to do more. Record a podcast. Engage on Notes. Launch a video. Build a “stack.” It’s exciting, but it’s also… a lot.
Why Focus Still Matters
To me, Medium’s strength lies in its clarity.
It’s not trying to be the next all-in-one creator hub. At least not yet. Fingers crossed.
It’s a platform where the writing is the product.
This clarity helps both new and experienced writers. There’s no pressure to add more layers to your content strategy. No need to manage subscriber tiers or moderate group chats. You can just write, edit, publish — and connect with readers who came for the same reason.
They did add a subscriber feature. But that’s really only helping the writing system, not hindering it.
This is all not to say that Substack’s direction is wrong. Different creators need different tools.
But in a moment when so many platforms are expanding their features, Medium’s choice to stay focused feels intentional and valuable.
Pros & Cons
Here’s how the two platforms stack up in 2025:
✅ Medium’s Pros
Writing-focused: No extra features pulling you in different directions.
Great for discovery: Topic-based browsing and editorial curation still help new writers get seen.
Clean interface: Easy on the eyes, pleasant to use.
Minimal pressure: No need to market heavily or manage community tools.
❌ Medium’s Cons
Limited monetization options: Most income comes from the Partner Program, which is unpredictable.
Less control over your audience: Medium owns the relationship, not you. Except for the subscriber list.
Few customization options: Can’t design your own newsletter or landing page.
✅ Substack’s Pros
Multiple formats supported: Write, record, film, and engage.
Built-in growth tools: Substack Notes and recommendations help cross-promotion.
Newsletter options: While not a full-fledged email marketing tool, Substack does offer more newsletters features and functionality than Medium.
❌ Substack’s Cons
Feature complexity: Can feel cluttered or confusing for writers who just want to write.
Changing identity: No longer just a newsletter platform — some writers miss the simplicity.
Time demands: The more tools you use, the more you have to manage.
What’s Better
If you’re the kind of writer who just wants to focus on ideas and let the words speak for themselves, Medium may be the better fit.
Especially if you’re less interested in managing a subscriber list, experimenting with new content formats, or building a brand.
For writers who enjoy engaging directly with their audience, want more control over their audience and growth mechanisms, and are open to building a full creative business, Substack likely offers more opportunity.
The Bottom Line
Medium hasn’t changed much. And in a world where everything else is, that’s not a weakness, it’s a strength.
There’s still value in simplicity. There’s value in steadiness. And there’s value in continuity.
Not every tool needs to scale into something else. Not every creator wants to be a brand. Sometimes, we just want to write and be read.
Medium gives us that.
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