vs
Medium vs Substack: which one to pick in 2026?
Substack to build an email list. Medium to reach an existing audience quickly.
What each does better
Medium
In my stack
Better at: Built-in organic audience, your articles circulate without SEO or active marketing
Worse at: You do not own your audience, Medium controls the distribution
Based on my Medium review
Substack
Competitor
Better at: Built-in newsletter, an audience you own (email), clearer monetization
Worse at: Less organic distribution, no built-in audience at the start
Compared from my Medium review
My verdict
Substack to build an email list. Medium to reach an existing audience quickly.
My rating
Medium
I only rate the tools I really use. Substack is not in my stack, so it has no rating here.
Pricing
Medium
€0
Entry price
Plan I pick: Writer (Free) at €0
Authors who want to publish without subscribing
Substack
No pricing sheet on my side: I do not use it day to day, so I do not put a price on it here.
Compatibility
Medium
Go further
Other comparisons
· Dim’s.Build
The newsletter that does not waste your time.
Once a month. SaaS, Flutter, AI, build in public.