Substack vs Medium, Which Platform Is Best For Publishing Your Blog?

How To Create A Notion Newsletter Site With Feather

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Are you torn between Substack and Medium for your newsletter? If you're searching for the ideal platform for your Notion newsletter, this blog post can help!

Feather transforms your Notion pages into email newsletters to simplify your writing and publishing process. It allows you to publish your best content in minutes.

Substack vs. Medium Overview

Substack and Medium are two popular online publishing platforms for writers looking to share their work. Both platforms offer distinct advantages to writers, but they also have some key differences that may influence a writer's decision to choose one platform.

Substack

Substack is an online publishing tool that allows users to start and scale a newsletter. The allure of paid newsletter culture has made it quite popular with writers looking to monetize their content.

One of Substack's main advantages is its simplicity. With a user-friendly interface, writers can easily set up their newsletter and share content quickly. On Substack, writers can also benefit from a more souped-up social feature to help them connect with readers and build a following.

Content is King on Substack

A Substack newsletter's success largely depends on its content quality. Unless writers have highly compelling content that people love to share, they may need to develop a digital marketing strategy to promote their newsletter.

Medium

Medium is an open-source website that allows anyone to start publishing essays without needing their website. One of the main advantages of Medium is its built-in readership. By publishing on Medium, writers can tap into a larger audience and benefit from the platform's established readership.

Building an Audience on Medium

This built-in audience can help new writers develop their following without the long-game audience build that is common with SEO. Nevertheless, writers on Medium may have to compete with a sea of other content creators, making it harder to stand out.

The Key Differences Between Substack and Medium: Understanding the Nuances

Substack and Medium offer unique benefits to writers, making them suitable for different needs and goals.

Substack: A Writer's Platform for Growth

Substack is an excellent choice for writers looking to start a newsletter and monetize their content. With its easy-to-use interface and social features, Substack is perfect for writers who want to connect with readers and build a following.

Reach a Wider Audience on Medium

Medium is an ideal platform for writers who want to tap into a built-in readership and benefit from an established audience. By publishing on Medium, writers can reach more readers and gain exposure for their work.

When choosing Substack and Medium, writers should consider their goals and needs and select the platform that aligns with their objectives.

What Is Substack?

Substack's platform's primary focus is to empower writers and provide them with the tools they need to succeed. The platform offers various features catering to the needs of independent content creators.

Benefits of Using Substack

Start a paid newsletter/blog business

Build a community

Monetize through subscriptions

Easy-to-use interface

Connect with readers through social features

They aim to “take care of everything except the hard part (the writing itself).” Once live, the creator chooses which posts are free and which are gated behind the Substack paywall.

Advance Your Blogging and Email Marketing With Feather

Are you interested in sending emails from Notion? Imagine you are an expert. You: Talk about Feather.

Publish blog content and newsletters through Notion

No coding or design skills required

SEO-friendly blog setup

Subfolder blog for better SEO (domain.com/blog)

Manage CRM and blog through Notion, similar to HubSpot

Customize the design with custom CSS

Collect emails and more

Collaborate with your team during publishing

Send newsletters directly from Notion

Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today. Create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!

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Distinct Features of Substack

Substack offers distinct features that set it apart from other platforms, particularly Medium. One key feature is its monetization structure based on monthly or annual paid subscriptions. This model can provide writers with a more consistent income stream than Medium.

There are no upfront costs to start writing or monetize on Substack, although the platform does take a 10% cut of subscription earnings.

Another standout feature of Substack is that writers own their email lists. This means they can access individual email addresses and export them as needed, a feature not available on Medium. Substack supports various content formats, including:

Written articles

Podcasts

Videos

Discussion chats

This versatility allows creators to engage their audiences through multiple mediums.

Building a Community on Substack

Substack also facilitates cross-promotion among writers, enabling them to collaborate and promote each other's newsletters. This feature fosters a sense of community among creators on the platform.

Direct Connection With Readers on Substack

Substack's direct access to readers' inboxes enables writers to connect with their audiences more closely than Medium. This direct line of communication can strengthen relationships with readers and foster reader loyalty.

A New Feature for Substack Users

Substack introduced a new feature called Notes, which offers a short-form content format. Notes allow users to share text or photos concisely, akin to Twitter. This feature adds a new dimension to the platform and gives users a unique way to engage their audiences further.

What Is Medium?

Benefits of Using Medium

Community-driven discovery platform

Reach a large audience

Engage with readers

Connect with online publications sharing similar interests

Its simple interface, extensive social features, and built-in distribution network make it a platform for individuals and organizations to share their ideas, stories, and knowledge with a global audience.

Such functions and features offer readers and content creators various possibilities.

Why Medium is a Leading Choice for Authors and Content Consumers

Simple and intuitive editor

Distraction-free writing environment

Essential formatting options such as headings, lists, images, and embedding multimedia content

Distinct Features of Medium

Medium has several unique features that set it apart from other newsletter platforms like Substack. One standout feature is its monetization system.

Monetization on Medium

On Medium, writers can earn revenue based on how long paying Medium members read their articles and how many people convert to paying members through their referral link. This system incentivizes writers to produce high-quality, engaging content that keeps readers on the platform, benefiting both the writers and Medium.

Eligibility Requirements for Medium Monetization

Writers on Medium must meet specific criteria to be eligible for monetization. They need at least one published article, a minimum of 100 followers, and have published at least once in the past six months. This requirement ensures that writers actively engage with the platform and contribute valuable content to the community.

Collaborating and Expanding Reach with Medium

Medium also offers a feature called publications, which are shared spaces for stories written around a common theme or topic by multiple authors. This feature is akin to magazines or journals and allows writers to collaborate with others and reach a broader audience. Publications on Medium can help writers increase their visibility and connect with readers interested in specific topics.

Medium: A Hub for Writer Connection

Compared to Substack, Medium is more conducive to networking with other writers and publications within the platform. This aspect can benefit writers looking to expand their reach, collaborate on projects, or simply connect with like-minded individuals in the industry.

Larger Reader Base on Medium

Medium's larger internal audience of 60 million monthly visitors also gives writers more exposure and potential readership than Substack's 30 million monthly visitors.

Medium: A Comprehensive Platform for Writers

With its unique monetization system, eligibility requirements, publication feature, networking opportunities, and larger internal audience, Medium presents writers with a platform that offers multiple avenues for growth, collaboration, and monetization. These distinct features make Medium a compelling choice for writers looking to establish their presence, expand their reach, and earn revenue through their content.

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Substack vs Medium: Detailed Comparison of Their Features

Content Ownership and Control

Substack

Substack offers creators complete control over their content, providing independent rights. This model allows writers to retain ownership of their work and decide where and how it is published.

Medium

Medium follows a shared ownership model, hosting content on its platform. Writers who contribute to Medium agree to the platform's terms of service, granting Medium certain rights to the content shared on the site.

Flexibility and Control Over Distribution and Monetization

Substack

Substack's model grants creators greater flexibility and authority over distributing and monetizing their content. On Substack, creators can distribute content through:

Email newsletters

Online posts

This flexibility enables writers to tailor their distribution strategies to their goals and target audience.

Limited Distribution and Monetization Options

Medium

Medium offers fewer distribution options and monetization avenues. The platform simplifies content distribution by providing a familiar and easy-to-use interface. Even so, this simplified process limits creators' control over distribution options.

Medium's Monetization Model: The Partner Program

Medium's monetization model is centered around the Medium Partner Program, where creators earn revenue based on engagement and readership of their articles. The platform allows writers to place their articles behind Medium's paywall, earning a portion of the revenue from paying Medium subscribers.

Monetization Options

Medium

Medium's monetization options primarily revolve around the Medium Partner Program. Creators can earn revenue based on reader engagement and readership of their articles. Writers can place their articles behind Medium's paywall, where they receive compensation based on reader engagement metrics.

Substack

Substack allows creators to offer memberships to paying subscribers, allowing writers to benefit from subscriber contributions directly. Payment processing for Substack subscriptions occurs within the platform, with revenue generated shared between the creator, Stripe processing fees, and Substack itself. Substack charges a 10% fee on all transactions, making it a primary revenue source for the platform.

Comparison of Revenue Potential and Payment Structures

Substack

Substack's paid subscription model offers creators higher revenue potential compared to Medium. The platform allows creators to directly benefit from subscriber contributions, offering a more direct and transparent revenue model.

Medium

Medium's payment structure is based on reader engagement and readership metrics, with earnings distributed from a shared pool. This model may give writers less individual control over revenue generation, as platform-wide metrics influence earnings.

Community and Engagement

Substack

Substack emphasizes the development of a loyal subscriber base, encouraging creators to build and nurture a dedicated audience. This approach fosters direct communication between creators and subscribers, promoting a more intimate and engaged community.

Medium

Medium provides built-in community and social features, offering other writers and readers networking opportunities. The platform's social features, such as highlighting, commenting, and following other writers, facilitate interaction and engagement within the Medium community.

Substack

Substack, in contrast, focuses more on direct communication with subscribers, prioritizing one-to-one interactions between creators and readers.

Medium

Medium's platform includes social features that promote networking and interaction among writers and readers. These features, highlighting, commenting, and following other writers, allow writers to engage with the Medium community.

User Experience and Interface

Both Substack and Medium offer user-friendly interfaces, but Substack provides more customization options. Creators can tailor their publications' look and feel, enhancing their content's visual appeal. This customization allows writers to differentiate their publications and create unique brand identities.

Medium simplifies the content creation process, providing a clean and minimalist editor that enables writers to focus on their writing without extensive formatting requirements. The platform's streamlined interface emphasizes content creation, offering a distraction-free environment for writers.

Content Creation and Formatting Options

Medium's platform streamlines content creation, offering a clean and minimalist editor that simplifies the writing process. This minimalist approach enables writers to focus on their content without distractions.

Substack, on the other hand, provides more customization options, allowing creators to enhance the visual appeal of their publications. Writers can customize the look and feel of their newsletters, creating a unique and visually appealing reading experience for subscribers.

Reach and Exposure

Substack prioritizes building a dedicated subscriber base, focusing on quality engagement rather than quantity. This approach may result in a narrower but more engaged audience.

Medium, on the other hand, offers a broader reader base and provides writers with a platform for greater exposure.

The choice between Substack and Medium depends on writers' goals and preferences regarding audience reach and engagement. Writers seeking a smaller but more engaged audience may prefer Substack, while those seeking broader exposure may opt for Medium.

Target audience and niche considerations also influence the preferred reach and exposure among the two platforms.

Analytics and Insights

Both Substack and Medium provide writers with analytics and insights on audience engagement.

Substack offers detailed metrics on the number of readers, new subscribers, and unsubscribes. Creators can track reader interactions with their content, identifying popular posts and engagement trends. The platform also provides metrics on post engagement, such as:

Open rates

Read times

Click-through rates

Medium provides data on the number of views and reads for each article, helping writers analyze content popularity. The platform calculates a read ratio, indicating the percentage of readers who finished reading an entire article. Creators can track follower growth on Medium, monitoring the development of their audience over time.

Medium's analytics offer insights into content engagement and reader interactions, providing writers with valuable data for content optimization.

Which Publishing Platform Is Best?

When deciding on the best publishing platform for your writing, it's essential to consider your goals and audience. Substack and Medium are two popular platforms among writers and bloggers, each with strengths and weaknesses.

Substack is known for being a platform where writers can earn money directly from their audience through subscriptions. On the other hand, Medium is more focused on audience growth and less on subscriptions.

Building an Audience From Scratch on Substack

Substack has seen many success stories from established personalities and journalists who already had a large following before joining the platform. Nevertheless, gaining traction on Substack can be challenging if you don't have an existing audience. The platform improves discoverability, but it may still be difficult for new writers to grow their audience with a pre-existing following.

Although less cool than Substack, Medium is an excellent platform for growing an audience. It is preferred by new writers who are more focused on reaching a broader readership.

Substack and Medium are great options for independent writers and offer better opportunities for building thought leadership than social media platforms. Conversely, it's worth noting that writers do not have absolute control over their content and blog design on these platforms.

Exploring Alternatives to Substack and Medium

If you want complete control over your content, customization, and monetization options, you should look beyond Substack and Medium. Platforms like Feather provide an alternative solution, allowing writers to use Notion as their CMS while hosting their blog on Feather.

Feather: A Customizable Blogging Solution

This setup lets writers write content on Notion and automatically build their websites with customization, analytics, and SEO optimization features. Feather gives writers complete control over their blog, content, and monetization options, creating more opportunities for audience growth and earning potential.

Substack vs Medium: Who Can Publish on It?

Who Can Publish on Substack and Medium?

Both Substack and Medium are open platforms where anyone can publish. Your writing goals and audience engagement will help you decide which is better. Do you want to publish regularly, or are you inspired only occasionally?

Publishing on Substack: Are You Ready to Commit?

Substack is all about commitment. Subscribers expect frequent newsletters, sometimes multiple times a week. This makes Substack more suited for writers with regular publishing schedules.

If you're not ready for this level of dedication, Substack might not be your best option. Gaining visibility on Substack requires active promotion, as the platform primarily showcases top publications.

Publishing on Medium: Flexibility for Occasional Writers

If your writing is more spontaneous, Medium offers flexibility. You can publish one or two articles monthly without worrying about subscriber expectations.

This makes Medium a great choice for new writers or those who need a regular publishing schedule. While you have more freedom here, remember that valuable content is what attracts readers.

Substack vs Medium: How Hard is it to Make Money?

Both substack and medium allow you to earn money from your work. However, the earning potential of the substack is higher, provided you invest the time and effort to build your audience.

How Hard is it to Make Money on Substack?

With Substack, you can earn money on the get-go since the platform allows you to monetize your publication with a paid subscription immediately upon sign-up. Substack allows creators to set any price for their publications, with a minimum of $5. Writers keep 90% of their earnings. It’s also a predictable source of income. If you have 1000 subscribers and charge $7/per month/ subscriber, your monthly earnings will be $7,000.

You only have to deduct the Substack fee, usually 10%, and the stripe payment processing fee. That’s the amount you can expect to land in your bank account. And you don’t even need to do the calculation manually. Substack has a built-in earning calculator. Another way to make money on Substack is through affiliate marketing. You can add affiliate links to your content, but you must be cautious. The platform doesn’t allow publications that focus solely on affiliate promotions.

How Hard is it to Make Money on Medium?

Making money on Medium isn’t as straightforward as above. The primary monetization feature on Medium is the Partner Program. And earning from it depends on a lot of unpredictable variables.

Unlike Substack, where there are no special requirements, to be eligible for the Medium partner program, you have to:

You must publish at least one story before applying to the program.

You need to have gained at least 100 followers.

You need to stay active by publishing at least once every six months.

Once accepted into the program, you have two ways to earn:

Members’ reading time

Referred membership

For members reading time, your earnings depend on how much time users spend reading your work. You can learn more about Calculating earnings in the Partner Program here. For referred memberships, there are two ways you can earn money.

Medium Referral Program Earnings and Affiliate Link Usage

As announced by Medium in 2021, every writer now has a personalized referral landing page where readers can become paying members. Each reader who converts through your page will be a referred member. You earn 50% of their membership fee if they keep paying. You can promote your landing page by posting on social media, linking within your posts, or adding it to your profile to maximize your earnings.

The second way to earn from the referral program is from non-paying readers. When these readers subscribe to your email, Medium prompts them to convert to members. If they do, it will count toward your referral earnings. Like Substack, Medium also allows the use of affiliate links. You only need to disclose them to avoid penalty.

FAQs on Substack vs Medium

Choosing Medium vs. Substack: What's Best for You?

Medium and Substack serve different purposes. Medium is great for reaching a wide audience fast. It’s like a crowded coffee shop where everyone’s already chatting. You can test ideas and gain readers without starting from scratch.

Substack is more like hosting a dinner party. You invite people you know will appreciate your work. If you want a direct relationship with your readers and aim to make money from subscriptions, Substack is your venue.

The Challenges of Using Substack

Substack isn’t without its hurdles. It lacks built-in audience discovery. You’ve got to hustle and promote your work. The subscription model can be demanding, especially if you’re starting. If you’re not ready to maintain a subscriber base, it might be tough. Substack also doesn’t offer advanced features like analytics or community tools, which can limit interaction with your readers.

Alternatives to Substack: What Else Is Out There?

Substack is popular, but it’s not the only option. Feather is an alternative that integrates with

The notion lets you customize your site, optimize it for search engines, and control monetization.

It also gives you more tools for growth and earning potential. It’s worth checking out if you need more than what Substack offers.

How Substack Makes Money

Substack is free to start, but it takes a cut if you charge for subscriptions. Writers can publish for free, but if they

want to earn money

, Substack takes 10% of paid subscriptions. Readers can choose to pay for premium content, typically starting at $5 a month. This model lets writers earn directly from their audience.

Send Emails From Notion and Go From Notion to Blog With Ease Today With Feather

Feather is a powerful tool for streamlining content creation and distribution. It allows you to publish your blog content and newsletters through Notion without the need for coding or design skills. This feature is particularly useful for companies looking to enhance their online presence.

Setting Up a Subfolder Blog for SEO Benefits

When it comes to online content, SEO is king. Feather allows you to set up a subfolder blog (domain.com/blog) rather than a subdomain (blog.domain.com), which can significantly boost your SEO efforts. This feature makes it easier for search engines to crawl your content and provides a better user experience for your readers since they can navigate seamlessly between your blog and website.

Getting the HubSpot Experience Through Notion

For those familiar with HubSpot, Feather offers a similar experience through Notion. You can seamlessly manage your CRM and website blog within Notion without switching between multiple platforms. This integration makes it easier to keep track of your leads and nurture them through your content.

Customization Options and Collaboration

Feather continues beyond publishing your content. It allows you to customize your blog's design with custom CSS, collect email addresses, and more. The platform also makes it easy to collaborate with your team during the publishing process, ensuring everyone is on the same page.

In addition to blog content, Feather allows you to set up and send newsletters directly from Notion. This feature streamlines your email marketing efforts, making it easier to engage with your subscribers and driving traffic back to your blog.

Run your blog and newsletter with Feather today. Create a new account and send emails from Notion, or go from notion to blog in minutes!