Quick take
Who Medium is best for
Readers who regularly follow writers on Medium and want a low-cost way to unlock member-only articles.
Subscriber context: Public subscriber count not highlighted in this snapshot.
Service page
Medium subscription cost
Readers who regularly follow writers on Medium and want a low-cost way to unlock member-only articles.
Default planMonthly Membership · $5.00/mo
Starting price$5.00/mo
Official sourceLinked below
Pricing snapshot
What you should know before paying
Starting price: $5.00/mo
Free trial or free tier: Check the Medium official page for any active free trial offers.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Medium right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Current pricing
Current plans and prices
Primary source:Medium official pricing
Prices verified: March 30, 2026
Prices change: Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Medium right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Most popular
Monthly Membership
$5.00/mo
$50.00/year
Read member-only stories • Support writers
What changes on this plan
- Read member-only stories
- Support writers
- Low-cost reading membership
- Note: Value depends on how often you actually read on Medium
Deals to check
Deals, discounts, and billing hooks to check
Promotions can move quickly. Use these notes as prompts, then confirm the live offer on the official pricing page.
- Annual billing saves up to $10.00 per year on Monthly Membership.
Billing notes
Free trial, annual billing, and discounts
Free trial or free tier: Check the Medium official page for any active free trial offers.
Annual comparison: Monthly Membership is available on annual billing. Check the official pricing source to confirm the current annual savings versus monthly billing.
Student pricing: No public student discount is highlighted for Medium right now. Check the official pricing page for current eligibility.
Before you subscribe
What to double-check on the official page
Prices and promotions can change quickly, so always confirm the current terms on the official provider page before you subscribe, upgrade, or cancel.
Check billing frequency, cancellation terms, and whether any limited-time discounts are still active.
Closest competitors
Services that are closest to this one
The Athletic
$4.99/mo default plan
Best in-depth sports journalism — included free with NYT All Access
WIRED
$5.99/mo default plan
Readers who want tech and science coverage in a magazine format without paying top-tier business-news pricing.
Consumer Reports
$3.25/mo default plan
Readers comparing subscription journalism pricing and wanting the public plan structure laid out before subscribing.
Lower-cost options
Cheaper substitutes worth checking
Consumer Reports
$3.25/mo default plan
Readers comparing subscription journalism pricing and wanting the public plan structure laid out before subscribing.
The Athletic
$4.99/mo default plan
Best in-depth sports journalism — included free with NYT All Access
FAQs
Common questions
What is the cheapest Medium plan and is it worth it?
Medium's lowest paid plan is Monthly Membership at $5.00/mo. Read member-only stories • Support writers Compare this against alternatives in News & Media to see if the price-to-feature tradeoff makes sense for your use case.
How much does Medium cost per year?
With annual billing, Monthly Membership costs $50.00 per year, saving you $10.00 compared to paying monthly. Without annual billing, the same plan would cost $60.00 per year.
Does Medium have a free trial or free tier?
Check the Medium official page for any active free trial offers.
How many plans does Medium have and what is the difference?
Medium currently offers one plan at $5.00/mo.
Is Medium worth the price compared to alternatives?
Readers who regularly follow writers on Medium and want a low-cost way to unlock member-only articles. Closest competitors in News & Media include The Athletic, WIRED, Consumer Reports. Compare features and pricing to find the best fit for your needs.
Sources