16 Websites Like Medium 2023 [Start Your Free Blogging Journey]

The thirst for engaging, thought-provoking content is unquenchable in the digital age. Websites like Medium have paved the way for content creators and readers, offering a space to share, explore, and celebrate ideas. 

But what if you're looking for alternatives? Well, you're in luck! I've compiled a list of the top 15 websites, like Medium, where you can create and consume content that tickles your fancy. 

Before we dive in, let's clarify why we're on this quest. Medium is a fantastic platform, no doubt. It's user-friendly, diverse, and rich with quality content. However, it's always good to have options. 

Whether you're a content creator seeking new platforms to share your work or a reader yearning for fresh perspectives, exploring websites like Medium can open up a world of possibilities. 

Medium: A Brief Overview

Medium is a popular online publishing platform launched in 2012 by Twitter co-founder Evan Williams. The platform allows writers, bloggers, journalists, experts, and enthusiasts to share their thoughts, ideas, and stories. 

Unlike traditional blogging platforms, Medium operates on a hybrid model. It's part social media, part blogging platform. It allows users to create their content while providing a feed of stories tailored to their interests. 

One of the key features of Medium is its clean, clutter-free interface. This makes it easy for readers to focus on the content and for writers to publish their work without worrying about design or formatting. 

Another noteworthy aspect is Medium's Partner Program. This allows writers to earn money based on how members engage with their content. 

In a nutshell, Medium is a platform that fosters high-quality content and a community of engaged readers. It's a place where you can share your thoughts, learn from others, and potentially earn money.

Best Websites Like Medium

Here, we delve into the best websites like Medium that offer a similar or even enhanced experience. 

HubPages

HubPages, a platform established in 2006, is another ideal place to create and share your content. Much like Medium, HubPages is a user-generated content and revenue-sharing website.

It transitioned from a single-site to a multi-site business model around 2016. This platform allows users to publish their articles and earn money based on the number of views these articles receive.

Interestingly, while HubPages might not be as popular as Medium, its built-in monetization system is a viable option for anyone seeking an income stream from their written content.

The payment system here specifically concentrates on page views and the potential success of display advertisements.

This impact can prove significantly lucrative for writers who produce engaging and compelling work.

Even if you're not chasing popularity and wish to share your pieces with interactive readerships outside Medium, HubPages could be what you're looking for.

Quora 

Quora is a thriving, community-driven platform where questions meet answers. Unlike Medium's emphasis on long-form articles, Quora tends to cater to the insatiably curious individuals seeking concise, reliable, and valuable responses. 

Launched in 2009 by former Facebook employees, Quora has built a reputation for being a reliable knowledge hub.

You'll find a wide variety of topics covered here, and the platform even boasts contributions from reputed personalities in various fields.

Sure, its popularity has resulted in an influx of lower-quality responses over time, but carefully choosing your topics and following reputable contributors can filter out less worthwhile content.

What's more? Quora offers a premium subscription called Quora+. This grants you access to exclusive content from select creators and provides an ad-free experience. It’s not exactly like Medium, but it’s worth checking out!

NewsBreak

NewsBreak is a powerful player in the world of digital content creation. This versatile platform specializes in local news aggregation, catering to an impressive network of over 10,000 content providers.

One of the unique aspects of NewsBreak is its focus on mobile accessibility, with over 99% of its global 50 million installs coming from the US.

Not one to shy away from incentivizing quality content, NewsBreak initially offered a $1,000 monthly guarantee for writers who ticked off specific publishing requirements.

Although the model has since evolved into assigning CV scores to each article — naturally considering factors like page views and referrals — it still ensures a minimum payment for every article.

With a user base of 23 million every month, there's no shortage of readers eager for stimulating content on NewsBreak.

So whether it's local news you're interested in or looking to reach an engaged audience with your own written pieces, NewsBreak is undoubtedly worth your consideration.

DEV Community

The DEV Community has chiseled a niche as a beloved hub for developers to share ideas, learn, and network.

It's a close-knit community buzzing with rich content around popular programming languages. From enlightening posts and engaging discussions to videos and podcasts - it's all here!

But there's more to DEV than only content. Job listings, mentorship opportunities, it's like the complete package! You can even save posts for future reference by bookmarking them.

Everyone gets their profile here; yes, you can publish your own posts too! Just make sure you're playing by the community rules, though.

For anyone who wants to customize their blog or get their domain, you might want to check out Hashnode as an alternative.

It offers some extra features that DEV doesn't. Whether you're coding your first hello world or an experienced developer, there's something valuable for everyone in the DEV Community.

Typepad

Typepad, launched in 2003, has established itself as a reliable and versatile blogging platform catering to various content creators.

With user-friendly tools and templates, it empowers bloggers to create and manage their online presence effortlessly.

Offering a balance between simplicity and customization, Typepad suits both beginners and seasoned bloggers.

Its intuitive interface allows users to focus on crafting compelling content while handling technical aspects behind the scenes.

Additionally, Typepad provides built-in SEO features, mobile-responsive designs, and analytics, enabling bloggers to reach a wider audience and monitor their blog's performance.

If you seek a flexible and accessible platform for your blogging journey, Typepad could be the perfect choice.

Steemit

Steemit is next on my list, which differs from your average blogging platform. This unique website cleverly intertwines social networking with cryptocurrency. Think of it as a fusion of Medium and Reddit with a monetary twist. 

Here you can dive deep into topics that pique your interest, upvote or downvote content like you would on Reddit, and follow categories that align with your passions.

What sets Steemit apart is that you stand to receive a share of the platform's revenues as a content creator, curator, or commenter.

The way this works is simple yet ingenious; users can earn Steem cryptocurrency through various activities on the platform.

Whether posting compelling articles, insightfully curating posts, or engaging in fruitful discussions in the comments section, Steemit offers an exciting way to monetize your unwavering participation and contribution to the community.

Vocal Media

Vocal Media is a robust content platform that prioritizes and values the work of writers. Like Medium, Vocal hosts a rich and diverse range of topics, including tech, music, beauty, sports, nature, education, and much more.

The content on the platform is carefully curated, ensuring fresh, quality articles for readers at all times.

From a writer's perspective, Vocal offers an attractive monetization scheme with its premium Vocal+ subscription model.

With this membership (priced at $9.99/month), writers can potentially earn more per 1000 reads ($6) compared to regular users ($3.80).

Coupled with a lower minimum withdrawal balance threshold, creators can access their earnings faster.

What sets Vocal apart is its focus on helping writers produce their best work rather than highlighting trendy topics or viral content. Interested? Peek at Vocal and discover the endless possibilities of creating and consuming engaging content!

Joomla

Joomla, a robust open-source content management system (CMS), offers powerful tools for creating and managing websites, including blogging capabilities through extensions.

Initially released in 2005, Joomla has become popular among website developers and bloggers.

With a user-friendly interface and a wide range of attachments, bloggers can easily integrate and customize blogging features to suit their needs.

Whether you're running a personal blog or a content-rich website, Joomla provides a flexible platform to publish and organize your posts effectively.

Its active community and regular updates ensure continuous improvements, making Joomla a reliable choice for your blogging endeavors.

Ghost

Ghost is an open-source blogging platform perfect for writers and journalists who crave simplicity. With its minimalistic yet user-friendly interface, blogging with Ghost is as straightforward as it gets.

What I love about Ghost is its inbuilt SEO tools and valuable plugins. This feature enables users like us to optimize our articles for improved visibility on search engines without breaking a sweat.

Moreover, it caters to all kinds of writers - amateur scribblers or seasoned editors working in large media houses.

There's something for everyone! Ghost stands out among many other platforms due to its popularity and widespread usage by individuals and professionals in writing and journalism.

Squarespace

Squarespace, renowned for its sleek and modern website designs, boasts impressive blogging functionality. Squarespace is a comprehensive website builder allowing users to incorporate a blog into their websites seamlessly.

With an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, bloggers can effortlessly create and customize posts, showcasing their content visually appealingly.

Squarespace offers various templates optimized for different types of blogs, catering to diverse niches and styles.

Additionally, bloggers benefit from essential features such as social media integration, commenting systems, and SEO tools, enhancing their reach and engagement.

Squarespace is the way to go if you want an all-in-one solution to create a stunning website alongside a feature-rich blog.

Beamstart 

Beamstartis a unique platform that serves as an excellent alternative to Medium. This site primarily caters to those interested in startups, technology, investments, marketing, and even crypto.

With Beamstart, you can delve into trending content from significant publishers all across the globe.

It ensures you're always up-to-date with the latest in startup stories. It's worth noting that Beamstart zeros not only on startups but also broadly cover technology and business industries.

While anyone can browse through Beamstart without needing an account, creating one offers a distinct advantage: a personalized feed tailored to your preferences.

Despite not being a purely community-driven publishing platform like Medium, Beamstart offers its readers easy access to content relevant to their interests in a straightforward yet engaging manner.

Substack

Substack, in many ways, is revolutionizing the freelance writing game. Launched in 2017, it's a platform primarily designed for writers to create and monetize email newsletters through subscriptions. Think of it as your newsroom where you're in control.

Like Medium, Substack equips you with the tools you need to publish content. However, what sets Substack apart is that its toolkit extends beyond just writing.

Using their simple newsletter delivery system, you can easily integrate and charge for podcasts on this platform.

But what I love about Substack is its focus on paid subscriptions. We all know how tricky monetizing an online writing career can be, right?

Substack appears to have streamlined this process and taken some of the pressure off writers' shoulders.

With Substack, you only need to share your valuable knowledge with the world and leave the business part to them!

In so many words...Substack is Medium's sophisticated cousin that hosts and pays for house parties!

Tumblr

Tumblr is a microblogging platform that combines social networking and blogging. Launched in 2007, it allows users to post short-form content on their blogs, including text, images, quotes, links, audio, and videos.

With a strong emphasis on creativity and self-expression, Tumblr has cultivated a diverse community of users, including artists, writers, photographers, and bloggers.

The platform's dashboard facilitates easy content sharing and reblogging, fostering a viral nature of posts.

Tumblr's unique blend of blogging and social features has made it popular among young adults and creative communities, offering a space for individuals to showcase their interests and connect with like-minded people.

Svbtle

Svbtle, a popular choice among writers, is a platform that focuses on simplicity and elegance. Its minimalist design allows content to shine without distractions, making it perfect for those who value clean aesthetics.

With an easy-to-use interface, writers can concentrate on their craft rather than wrestling with complex features.

Svbtle emphasizes the essence of blogging, providing a distraction-free environment to foster creativity.

If you're seeking a straightforward and sleek platform to share your thoughts and ideas with the world, Svbtle might be your ideal choice. Give it a try and let your content take center stage!

LiveJournal

LiveJournal, founded in 1999, has carved a unique niche in online publishing by blending traditional blogging with social networking elements.

It offers a platform where users can create journal entries and engage in a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

With a focus on personal expression and social interaction, LiveJournal enables users to connect with others, join communities, and participate in discussions.

The platform's journaling features allow users to share their thoughts, stories, and creative expressions with an engaged audience.

Over the years, LiveJournal has evolved, attracting writers, diarists, and fandom enthusiasts alike, fostering a sense of camaraderie in its diverse user base.

Write.as

Write.as stands out as a minimalist and no-frills writing platform that prioritizes simplicity and distraction-free creativity.

Launched in 2015, this straightforward tool offers a seamless environment for writers to focus solely on their content.

With a clean and clutter-free interface, Write.as eliminates unnecessary distractions, enabling writers to delve into their thoughts without any hindrance.

The platform encourages a meditative writing experience, ideal for personal reflections, creative expression, or professional articles.

While maintaining simplicity, Write.as also supports privacy options, allowing users to publish anonymously if desired. If you seek a tranquil digital sanctuary to pour your thoughts onto the virtual paper, Write.as provides the perfect escape.

FAQs About Websites Like Medium

Conclusion

discovering alternative websites like Medium opens up opportunities for content creators seeking new avenues to reach their audiences.

The top 15 websites mentioned in this blog offer diverse communities and unique features to create engaging content.

Whether it's the artistic flair of DeviantArt, the professional focus of LinkedIn Pulse, or the multimedia possibilities of Ghost, each platform caters to different niches and interests.

By exploring these alternatives, writers can amplify their reach, foster new connections, and find the perfect platform to share their ideas and stories with the world. Happy content creation.