Substack vs Medium: What I Learned Publishing on Both
It's Not Just About a Transaction; It's About Building Trust and Creating Lasting Loyalty
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| Substack vs. Medium: What I Learned Publishing on Both. Image by the author |
Introduction: The Early Struggles of an Aspiring Writer
When I first decided to start writing online, I thought it would be simple: write a story, publish it, and readers would naturally come. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Writing is one thing, but deciding where to publish your work? That’s a whole new battle.
As a Pakistani woman who writes to express, connect, and yes, sometimes to make a living, I had to figure out where my words could truly find a home. The two platforms that came up in nearly every conversation were Medium and Substack—both promising me a stage, an audience, and maybe even money. But after trying both, I realized that although they both serve writers, they feel like completely different worlds.
So, I did what any writer would do: I dove in. I published on Medium, and I published on Substack. Today, I want to share my honest experience—not as an expert, but as a fellow writer who’s navigating the ups and downs of online publishing.
This isn’t about statistics or selling you on one platform. It’s about sharing the raw, personal journey of standing on two very different stages and asking, “Where do my words belong?”
The Allure of Medium: A Marketplace of Voices
When I first joined Medium, it felt like walking into a massive, already-established library where every shelf was brimming with readers. You don’t need to drag people in from the street—they’re already there, looking for stories. This is one of Medium’s biggest advantages: the built-in audience.
Medium works on a simple model: people pay for a monthly subscription, and writers earn money based on how much time members spend reading their work. This means if someone reads your story to the end, that matters more than just a click.
At first, this concept gave me butterflies. The idea of being paid because people enjoyed my writing felt revolutionary. No chasing clients, no spamming links, and no begging friends to subscribe. Just write and let the platform connect me with readers. Sounds perfect, right?
But here's the flip side: Medium is crowded. You're competing in a marketplace with hundreds of voices, from professional journalists to seasoned bloggers, and then there's you—the newcomer, trying to carve out your space.
What I learned quickly: On Medium, consistency is survival. If you disappear for a few weeks, your readers will forget you exist. But if you show up consistently, your presence grows. Medium doesn’t just reward great writing—it rewards commitment. This became both motivating and exhausting.
The Charm of Substack: Personal, Direct, and Intimate
Substack, on the other hand, felt like a completely different world. Instead of a busy marketplace, it was like stepping into a cozy living room where I could invite people in, have a chat, and feel connected to them. There are no algorithms, no feeds, just a direct email from me to the subscribers who chose to be there.
This was refreshing. I didn’t feel lost in a crowd. I wasn’t competing with headlines from strangers. Instead, my words landed directly in people’s inboxes—something that felt intimate and real.
But Substack has its own challenge: getting subscribers. Unlike Medium, where readers are already there, Substack requires you to build your audience from scratch. You have to market yourself—on Twitter, Instagram, or wherever your audience hangs out. For someone like me, who isn’t comfortable constantly spamming links or begging for subscriptions, this part felt uncomfortable. Without doing that work, your list just doesn’t grow.
Substack also lets you charge directly for your newsletter. People pay you, not the platform. While this can be incredibly rewarding, it’s only effective if you already have a loyal audience. Starting from zero? It can feel like shouting into the void.
Writing for People vs Writing for Algorithms
Here’s the biggest difference I noticed:
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On Medium, you’re writing for both people and the platform. You’re constantly thinking about SEO, catchy titles, tags, and how to keep people reading until the end. The platform decides how far your work travels.
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On Substack, you’re writing directly for the people who already chose you. You don’t have to worry about SEO or getting lost in the algorithm. Instead, your main focus is nurturing your relationship with your readers.
What I found: On Medium, I tended to be more polished and careful about what might trend. On Substack, I wrote more freely, like I was talking to a friend.
Both styles have value, but I had to ask myself, which one felt more like me?
The Emotional Journey: The Highs and Lows
I’ll be honest: Medium made me feel like a tiny fish in a huge ocean. Sometimes my stories were picked up by publications, and suddenly I had thousands of readers. Those moments felt magical. Other times, I poured my heart into a piece and barely got a handful of views. That was hard to swallow.
On the flip side, Substack gave me fewer readers—but they felt more real. If five people replied to my newsletter, it felt like I was sitting at chai with them, sharing stories. I might not have had thousands, but I had a true connection.
As writers, isn’t that what we crave? To be seen, to be heard, to touch someone’s heart?
Money Matters: How Medium and Substack Pay
Let’s not pretend money doesn’t matter. It does. As much as I write for passion, I also want to contribute to my household without feeling guilty about pursuing this dream.
On Medium, income trickles in based on the time members spend reading your work. Some months were a nice surprise, while others felt like I worked hard for very little.
On Substack, you get paid directly by your subscribers. If you can convince 100 people to pay you $5 a month, that’s $500 steady, direct income. But getting those 100 people? That’s the hard part.
So, which is better? Honestly, it depends on where you are in your writing journey. For beginners, Medium offers more visibility and less effort to find readers. For established writers with a loyal following, Substack offers the potential for more direct and consistent revenue.
What I Learned the Hard Way
There is no magic platform. Both Medium and Substack require patience, consistency, and effort.
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Medium is great for discovery. It helps you find new readers without requiring a large following from day one.
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Substack is great for relationships. It helps you grow and nurture a community of loyal readers.
One thing I learned: Money doesn’t come overnight. On both platforms, income builds slowly, but with consistency and trust, it does come.
My Personal Choice: Medium for Growth, Substack for Intimacy
After months of experimenting with both platforms, I found myself leaning towards Medium for growth and Substack for intimacy.
So, I didn’t choose one. I chose both, but in different ways:
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On Medium, I write articles that can reach strangers and help me grow.
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On Substack, I write letters for friends who want to stay connected.
And maybe that’s the real lesson: you don’t have to pick sides. You can use both, as long as you know what each platform is offering you.
Final Thoughts: Keep Writing, No Matter the Platform
At the end of the day, writing online isn’t just about money or fame. It’s about finding your people, sharing your truth, and building something that lasts. Medium and Substack are just two doors—and which one you walk through depends on where you are in your journey.
If you’re starting out, Medium may feel easier—like a stage already lit. But if you’re ready to grow deeper roots, Substack can be your living room.
And if you’re like me, you might just stand in both places, speaking to crowds some days and whispering to friends on others.
At the end of the day, the platform matters less than this: keep writing. Because someone, somewhere, needs your words.
Ready to Take Your Writing Journey Further?
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