Medium Pricing 2026
Plans, costs, and free options for Medium
Last updated: January 23, 2026
TL;DR: Medium Pricing
Pricing Model
Freemium
Starting Price
$5/mo
Free Option
Yes ✓
Freemium
Pricing Model
Medium offers a free tier with basic features, plus paid plans for users who need more advanced functionality.
Free Tier Available
Basic features included at no cost
Paid Upgrades
Premium features with paid plans
Available Plans
Free
Free
- Limited article access
- Publish unlimited articles
- Basic stats
Member
$5/mo
- Unlimited reading
- Audio articles
- Exclusive content
Medium vs Competitors: Pricing Comparison
See how Medium pricing compares to similar tools in Blogging Platforms
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
MediumCurrent Publishing platform for ideas and storie... | Yes | $5/mo | —/100 | Details → |
Hashnode Blogging platform for developers | Yes | $9/mo | —/100 | Pricing → |
DEV CommunityBest Value Community for software developers | Yes | Free | —/100 | Pricing → |
WordPressTop Rated The worlds most popular CMS | Yes | Free | 90/100 | Pricing → |
Substack Newsletter platform for writers | Yes | 10%/mo | 82/100 | Pricing → |
 Ghost Professional publishing platform | Yes | $18/mo | 87/100 | Pricing → |
Prices shown are starting prices. Actual pricing may vary based on features and team size.
See all alternatives →Medium Pricing FAQ
How much does Medium cost?
Medium offers the following plans: Free (Free), Member ($5/mo). A free tier is available.
Is there a free version of Medium?
Yes, Medium offers a free Free plan that includes Limited article access, Publish unlimited articles, Basic stats.
Does Medium offer a free trial?
Check Medium's official website for current trial offers.
What are cheaper alternatives to Medium?
Free or freemium alternatives include Hashnode, DEV Community, WordPress. View our full comparison to find the best value.
Is Medium free?
Publishing on Medium is free. Readers can access some articles free, but full access requires $5/month membership.