Why I Chose Medium Over Substack: My Story | by Content Creator | Oct, 2025
When I first decided to get serious about writing, I dove into the Medium vs. Substack debate. Everyone had an opinion, and I was torn. Should I build a newsletter from scratch on Substack, or join a community on Medium? I decided to give both a try, and my experience quickly made the choice clear.
Built-in Audience vs. Self-Promotion
My first experience with Substack was an eye-opener. I spent days setting everything up, crafting the perfect welcome email, and then… nothing. I realized the only people who would ever see my newsletter were the ones I personally convinced to subscribe. I was constantly on social media, begging friends and family to sign up, feeling more like a salesperson than a writer. It was exhausting.
Then I published my first post on Medium. Within hours, it had reads, claps, and comments from complete strangers. I was stunned. I had not promoted it anywhere, yet Medium’s algorithm was already at work, putting my story in front of people interested in the topics I was writing about. I finally felt like I could just write and trust that my words would find their way to the right readers.
Flexibility Over Niche
One of the biggest pressures I felt on Substack was the need to pick a single, profitable niche. My first Substack was all about productivity. But what if I wanted to write about my love for film, or my thoughts on travel? I felt trapped. The “brand” I was building felt more like a cage.
On Medium, I discovered the freedom to explore. One week I might write a deep dive into productivity tools, and the next, I’d share a personal essay about a trip I took. Medium’s topic-based system means readers who follow “Productivity” will see my first story, and those who follow “Travel” will see the second. I don’t have to pigeonhole myself. I can be the person I truly am someone with many interests.
Writing Without Pressure
My Substack experience also felt like being on a treadmill. With every new subscriber, the pressure to deliver “premium content” on a strict schedule increased. Writing started to feel like a job, not a passion. I was constantly thinking, “What can I write this week to make sure no one unsubscribes?” It took all the joy out of the process.
Medium has been a refreshing change. I write when I’m inspired. I can publish a short reflection or a long-form article whenever the mood strikes me. This freedom to write without the grind has made the experience more fun and more rewarding.
Ultimately, I chose Medium because it lets me focus on the most important part of being a writer: the writing itself. I don’t have to be an expert marketer or stick to a rigid plan. I just get to share my stories with a global community.
