Ghost vs Medium
Side-by-side comparison on fees, payouts, monetization, and audience ownership.
Platform fee
from $9/mo · monthly subscription
0% · of revenue (earnings share model)
Payout speed
instant
monthly
Minimum payout
$0
$10
Countries
Stripe-supported
Stripe-supported (70+)
Email list export
Full access
Limited
Custom domain
Yes
No
Community features
Comments, paid tiers, member signups
Publications, claps, highlights, responses
Best for
Independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share
Writers seeking built-in readership without managing email or hosting
Ghost vs Medium: which one wins?
Ghost charges from $9/mo (monthly subscription) versus Medium at 0% (of revenue (earnings share model)).
On payout speed, Ghost pays instant while Medium pays monthly. For creators where cashflow matters, the faster cadence usually wins.
For audience ownership, Ghost offers full access email export and Medium offers limited. Email portability matters most for creators planning to migrate later or build a list independent of any single platform.
Best for: Ghost suits independent publishers and creators who want ownership and zero revenue share. Medium fits writers seeking built-in readership without managing email or hosting.