Alternatives to
Medium
A platform-owned blog network optimised for algorithmic distribution.
Why people switch
Medium optimises for time-on-site and recommendation feeds. Writers who want ownership of audience and archive benefit from tools they can host or export.
Vetted alternatives
Ghost
Moderate switchOpen sourceProfessional publishing platform you can self-host or rent.
Ghost is built for memberships, newsletters, and long-form writing. You own the content, theme, and member list on your domain.
How it is funded: Nonprofit foundation; open-source MIT-licensed software funded by Ghost(Pro) managed hosting.
Write.as
Straightforward switchOpen sourceMinimalist writing without feeds engineered for addiction.
Write.as focuses on plain text posts and optional paid blogs. There are no public like counts, trending surfaces, or algorithmic timelines.
How it is funded: Paid blogs and hosted service fees.
Built on WriteFreely (AGPL open source). Write.as is the managed hosted service; self-host WriteFreely for full control.