Medium
by A Medium Corporation · News & Magazines · Reading Platforms
Read and write stories on an open platform for thoughtful essays, personal narratives, and expert insights.
Quick Answer: Medium has a verified Real Score of 3.5/5 based on 44,500 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.5/5. Mixed reviews from verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 44,500 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Medium's App Store rating is 1.0 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Beautiful reading experience
- Diverse topics and perspectives
- Good recommendation engine
- Member-only stories are quality
Common Complaints
- Paywall limits access
- Content quality declining
- Algorithm favors engagement over quality
- Writer monetization is inconsistent
Verified Reviews (20)
Used to be better
Medium was once the home of thoughtful long-form writing. Now its filled with SEO-optimized listicles and productivity advice. The quality has declined significantly.
Reading experience is still the best
Aesthetically Medium remains the best platform for reading. Clean typography, focused layout, no clutter. The reading experience itself is unmatched.
Paywall is annoying
Hit the paywall after 3 articles per month. $5/month to read is reasonable but having to subscribe to another content platform adds to subscription fatigue.
Great for niche topics
For specific topics like machine learning, UX design, or startup culture, Medium has excellent content. The niche communities produce genuinely valuable writing.
Algorithm promotes clickbait
The algorithm increasingly promotes clickbait-style headlines and listicles over thoughtful essays. The incentive structure rewards shallow content.
Publications curate quality
Following specific publications (Better Programming, Towards Data Science) on Medium provides curated quality. The publications model works better than the general feed.
Writer pay is inconsistent
As a writer, my earnings vary wildly based on the algorithm. Quality doesnt correlate with pay. The monetization model is frustrating for creators.
Personal essays shine
For personal narratives and memoir-style writing, Medium is still the best platform. Real stories from real people told beautifully. The human element.
Too many "How I made $10K" articles
The platform is flooded with self-help and income-bragging articles. Every other story is about making money on Medium. Its become an MLM for writers.
Highlights and notes are useful
The highlighting and note-taking features support active reading. Seeing what others highlighted surfaces the most impactful passages.
Identity crisis
Medium doesnt know if its a social network, a blog platform, a news site, or a publishing house. The identity crisis shows in inconsistent content quality.
Clapping system is unique
The clap system where you can clap up to 50 times shows degree of appreciation. More nuanced than simple likes. Unique engagement metric.
Discovery algorithm needs work
The recommended stories are often irrelevant or low quality. Read one article about dogs and now my feed is 50% pet content. Over-indexing on individual reads.
Best for aspiring writers
For aspiring writers building an audience, Medium offers the best starting platform. Built-in readership, clean publishing tools, and potential monetization.
Competing with Substack poorly
Substack has eaten Mediums lunch for premium writers. The best writers are migrating to Substack for better monetization. Medium needs to compete harder.
Series feature is underused
The series feature for multi-part stories is well designed but underutilized. More serialized content would differentiate Medium from competitors.
Mobile app is solid
The mobile reading experience is excellent. The app is fast, clean, and the typography is perfect for extended reading on phones. No complaints about the app itself.
Not the cultural force it was
Medium was once where important conversations happened. Now its more of a content mill. The cultural relevance has faded as quality writers leave for Substack.
Tech writing community is strong
For technology, programming, and design content, Mediums community is still strong. The tech writing niche remains a strength even as other areas decline.
Potential squandered
Medium had the potential to be THE platform for quality writing online. Business model pivots and declining curation have squandered much of that potential.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026