Medium vs Substack ~ 2026

ByLeanne
Get Writing Today ~ Mastering Digital Communication Focused Female Employee Reading Information On Computer In Office

Which Platform Fits Your Writing Style?

Ever found yourself staring at a blank page, wondering “Where should I post this story?”

If you’re anything like me a bit story-driven, reflective, and slightly cheeky then choosing between Medium and Substack isn’t just a tech decision, it’s a style decision.

My Writing Style Snapshot

Before diving into the platform battle, here’s a quick snapshot of my style:

  • Story-driven, personal, reflective
  • Slightly cheeky, warm, relatable
  • Sometimes longer, thought-out threads or guides
  • Builds rapport and trust gradually
  • Enjoys experimenting with ideas and humor

Medium — What Fits

Medium works best if you’re looking to share essays, insights, and mini-narratives that new readers can discover via tags or publications.

The Road To Publishing Is Choices

Pros

  • Wider exposure fast: Readers stumble upon your work naturally.
  • Experimentation friendly: Test topics, styles, or story formats.
  • Natural discoverability: Medium’s algorithm and tags can bring in curious eyes.

Cons

  • Audience is borrowed: You don’t own the readers’ emails or attention.
  • Algorithm-dependent: Visibility can fluctuate.
  • Harder to nurture loyalty: Building deep connections is tricky.

[Image suggestion: screenshot of Medium homepage with stories/tags highlighted]

Substack — What Fits

Substack shines if you want a dedicated audience, ongoing series, or a direct-to-reader storytelling experience.

Pros

  • Own your audience: Collect emails and build a loyal following.
  • Deep connections: Readers know you personally, not just your stories.
  • Series-friendly: Perfect for ongoing posts, journals, or guides.
  • Monetization potential: Paid subscriptions when ready.

Cons

  • Slower initial growth: You need to actively drive traffic.
  • More responsibility: Managing your audience and schedule rests on you.

[Image suggestion: a cheerful illustration of a newsletter inbox with “New from Zak”]

Quick Takeaway for Me (and Maybe You)

  • Medium: Test ideas, be discovered, share essays.
  • Substack: Build loyal readers, ongoing series, monetize your expertise.

CTA

If you want to follow my experiments and stories, you can subscribe to my Substack or check out my essays on Medium. Let’s explore stories together — one post at a time.

💡Pro tip:

“Want to start publishing your own articles? Check out how I did it on Medium — it’s a simple way to get your ideas out there.”

Blogger

I am an animal lover who enjoys blogging. I create content on writing and farming. If you want to know more about chickens, farming, writing or business, keep reading my blog. I also enjoy helping business startups.

Similar Posts