Medium
Medium is a publishing platform for reading and writing on the web, iOS, and Android.
What Medium is
Medium is a publishing platform for reading and writing on the web, iOS, and Android. Its free plan is accompanied by tools for custom domains, basic theme customization, scheduled posts, built-in memberships, and blog analytics. Writers can create stories, contribute to publications, connect a custom domain, and use URL-based embeds from services such as GitHub Gists, CodePen, SoundCloud, Google Drive, and Airtable. Published work can reach followers and email subscribers and may appear in Medium feeds, emails, topic pages, and apps. The Partner Program shares part of membership dues when members read a writer’s stories; members-only stories earn after a member reads for at least 30 seconds, with longer reads and positive interactions potentially increasing earnings. Medium also offers Medium Member and Friend of Medium plans. Member includes unlimited stories, ad-free reading, audio, offline reading, custom domains, and publication creation. Friend adds four-times-more support for writers and Friend Links. Instagram embeds, embed code, and scripts are not supported.
Good
- Free plan available
- Custom domains supported
- Built-in memberships and analytics
- Scheduled publishing
- iOS, Android, and web access
Watch out
- Theme customization is basic
- Instagram embeds are unsupported
- Embed code and scripts are not allowed
- Users must be at least 13
Who it suits
Medium suits readers and writers who want a hosted publishing platform with memberships, analytics, custom domains, and scheduled posts. It works across web, iOS, and Android.
Verdict
Medium combines writing, distribution, memberships, and reader subscriptions in one platform. Its publishing tools are broad, but embedding and customization have the listed restrictions.
Plans and prices
From Medium's own pricing page, checked 11 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Medium Member | $35 a year | Read member-only stories · support writers · audio narrations · offline reading · Mastodon community · custom domain · create publications · $50$35 for 1 year; then $50/year |
| Friend of Medium | $105 a year | All Medium member benefits · writers earn 4x when you read their stories · TK writing app · share member-only stories · custom app icons · $150$105 for 1 year; then $150/year |
The facts
Each one read from Medium's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Account age requirement
- Medium’s Terms of Service say users must be at least 13 years old to use the services.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Medium says over 100 million people connect and share their wisdom on the platform each month.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Blog analytics
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Built-in memberships
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Custom domain
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Distribution
- Published stories can reach followers and email subscribers and may also be recommended through Medium’s feeds, emails, topic pages, and apps.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Earnings criteria
- Members-only stories earn when a member reads for 30 seconds or more, and earnings may increase with longer reads and positive interactions.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Embed limit
- Medium does not support Instagram embeds or embedding content using embed code, and it does not allow users to run scripts on the site.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Importing
- The import tool can bring in a story from another site, backdate it to its original date, and add a canonical link; users must have the right to import the content.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The editor supports URL-based embeds from third-party providers, including GitHub Gists, CodePen, SoundCloud, Google Drive, and Airtable.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Post scheduling
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
- Purpose
- Medium describes itself as a home for human stories and ideas where people can read and write.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Reader features
- Membership includes access to member-only stories, audio narrations, offline reading in the Medium app, and a Mastodon community.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Security and privacy
- Medium’s terms direct users to its Privacy Policy for details about how it collects, uses, shares, and processes information.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Support
- Medium’s Help Center provides product guides and lets users submit a request for help.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Theme customization
- basicchecked 22 Sep 2026
- Writer earnings
- The Partner Program shares a portion of membership dues when Medium members read a writer’s stories.checked 11 Oct 2026
- Writing and publishing
- Medium says its publishing tools let writers create and contribute to publications and connect a custom domain to their profile.checked 11 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 22 Sep 2026
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