Have you ever wondered why some popular authors stopped posting on Medium? You’ve seen it — writers with thousands of followers suddenly ghost the platform.
They go from daily posts to radio silence, and you’re left thinking, “What happened?”
You’ve heard the pitch: write on Medium, and you’ll get paid for doing what you love. Simple, right? But as with most things that seem too good to be true, there’s a catch.
Medium isn’t the writer’s paradise it promises to be — especially if you’re serious about building a long-term career in writing.
There are the reasons why you should consider other options.
The Myth of Easy Money
First of all Medium’s Partner Program is supposed to be the solution to the struggling writer’s dilemma: it pays based on reading time and engagement.
But ask around, and you’ll hear stories about writers who’ve barely made enough for a cup of coffee after posting dozens of articles.
Here’s the truth: unless you’re in the top 1% of writers churning out viral content on Medium, the payout is minimal.
It’s a lottery system. Sure, some make a decent income, but the majority are left fighting for scraps.
If you’re hoping to pay your rent with Medium earnings, you might want to look elsewhere.
You’re Building on Borrowed Land
Medium is a platform, not your platform.
When you write on Medium, you’re at the mercy of their rules, algorithms, and business model. Medium decides who sees your work, how it’s promoted, and even how much you get paid.
If their algorithm changes, your traffic can drop overnight — no warning, no explanation.
You wouldn’t build your dream home on rented land, right? So why build your writing career on a platform you don’t control? Your personal blog or website is real estate you own. You call the shots.
If you’re serious about writing, owning your platform is non-negotiable.
The Algorithm Isn’t Your Friend
In a perfect world, quality writing would rise to the top.
But we don’t live in a perfect world — we live in the age of algorithms. And Medium’s algorithm isn’t necessarily designed to promote the best writing; it’s designed to promote the writing that gets the most clicks, shares, and engagement quickly.
If you’re writing nuanced, thoughtful content that doesn’t fit neatly into a trending topic, good luck.
The algorithm is a game, and unless you’re willing to play it, you’ll struggle to get your work noticed. Even if you win today, the rules could change tomorrow. Writing for an algorithm is exhausting, and it stifles creativity.
You Don’t Own Your Audience
Let’s say you do manage to build an audience on Medium.
Maybe you’ve got thousands of followers who eagerly await your next post. That’s great — until Medium changes how it delivers content or starts charging more for access.
Suddenly, that audience isn’t yours anymore.
The biggest mistake writers make on Medium is thinking they’re building a following. In reality, you’re building Medium’s following, not your own. If the platform shuts down or changes course (which it has done multiple times), all that hard work goes up in smoke.
Instead, focus on building an email list or community that you own.
These are the people you can reach out to directly, regardless of what happens to the platform of the day.
Paywall Problems
Medium’s paywall might help generate income, but it can also lock potential readers out.
If your work is behind a paywall, only Medium members or readers using their limited free reads can access it. This barrier can stop people from discovering your work — especially new readers who aren’t ready to subscribe yet.
If your goal is to reach as wide an audience as possible, the paywall can be a double-edged sword, limiting your reach in favor of small payouts.
Is it really worth the trade-off?
Limited Customization for Branding
Medium’s minimalist design looks clean, but it doesn’t do much for your personal branding.
You can’t tweak your articles’ layout or design to reflect your own style. Every article looks the same, no matter who wrote it.
When you build your own blog or website, you have full control over the user experience — everything from fonts to formatting reflects you.
That’s a big deal if you want to create a recognizable brand that sticks in your readers’ minds.
SEO and Long-Term Traffic
Here’s the thing about Medium: it’s built for immediacy, not longevity.
Sure, you might get some instant traffic if your article gets featured, but what happens six months or a year down the road? Medium articles often get buried, with limited long-term SEO value.
When you write on your own platform, your content can be optimized for search engines and continue to draw in traffic for years.
You’re building something sustainable — something that keeps working for you long after the initial post.
Revenue Caps for Niche Writers
If you write in a specific niche that doesn’t attract a massive audience, Medium’s Partner Program might not be worth it.
The payout structure favors popular, shareable content. That’s bad news for niche writers whose audience might be small but loyal.
On other platforms like Patreon, Substack, or a personal blog, you can cater to that niche and monetize more effectively, whether it’s through direct subscriptions, donations, or targeted sponsorships.
The Competition Is Brutal
Medium is crowded.
Every day, thousands of articles get published, and the competition for readers’ attention is fierce. Even if your content is high-quality, it can easily get lost in the noise.
Without a solid following or the boost from Medium’s curation team, getting noticed can be a challenge. And let’s be honest, constantly fighting for attention can be draining — especially when you know your work is worthy of more eyes.
Community Engagement Isn’t What You Think
You might think Medium is a great place to engage with readers and build a community, but the reality can be underwhelming.
The engagement on Medium is often limited to a few claps and comments, which doesn’t build the deeper connections many authors are looking for.
Other platforms, like Substack or a personal blog with a dedicated email list, allow for more direct interaction with your readers.
You can create real relationships that last, without relying on fleeting social interactions.
No Control Over Changes
Medium has a history of shifting its business model and priorities.
From changing the way they pay writers to adjusting how content gets promoted, Medium’s focus has fluctuated.
This unpredictability can make it hard to rely on Medium as a long-term solution for your writing career.
If the platform pivots again (and it likely will), your visibility or income could take a hit. When you rely on a platform you don’t control, you’re constantly at the mercy of someone else’s decisions.
Building Your Own Platform Is Smarter in the Long Run
At the end of the day, writing on Medium can be a good stepping stone.
But if you’re serious about building a sustainable writing career, Medium shouldn’t be your main plan.
Here’s the move: use Medium if it suits your short-term goals, but don’t stop there.
Build your own platform. Own your email list. Engage directly with your readers. Create a space where your work isn’t lost in a sea of content or buried behind an algorithm.
When you own your platform, you set the rules. You’re in control. And that’s the freedom every writer deserves.