Medium is where a good essay can find readers on its own. The editor is calm, publications curate, the algorithm and topics surface work to members, and the Partner Program pays writers from member reading time. You bring words; Medium brings the audience and the distribution.
Cardel provides a home for your craft. Share and sell your work, grow your audience, and bring your community together on a site of your own. Cardel is not a reading network and will not put your writing in front of strangers for you.
Medium owns the reader relationship. Cardel gives you the audience list, email on your domain, and campaign workflows.
Medium is one publication format. Cardel adds Showcase pages, a video catalog, a Shop, and scheduling around the blog.
Medium claps and responses stay on Medium. Cardel readers sign in on your site, and you answer in one Messaging Center.
Choose Medium when you want readers and modest earnings without owning a site or a list.
Choose Cardel when you want your writing, audience, shop or bookings, and inbox together on a domain you own.
You are the Forgemaster. Cardel is your forge. What you build is yours.
Cardel is a home for your craft: a site of your own with a blog, newsletter, shop, community, and one inbox. It can replace Medium when you want your work, audience, and sales in one place. The feature list below shows where the two overlap and where they part.
Yes. Cardel pages can link out to other products, so you can keep Medium for what it does best and bring the rest of your work to Cardel.
You don't pay for Cardel until you publish. Choose Starter, Pro, or Business when your site goes live. Medium sets its own prices, so check their pricing page below for current plans.
Start with Get Started, set up your site, and bring your work over at your own pace. You do not have to move everything on day one.
Compare features
A check means that capability is available. Medium is marked only when the offer is comparable, not the same product.
* Note: This table does not capture every feature of Cardel or Medium, and is not intended as a comprehensive list. We keep this page current, but Cardel or Medium may add or remove features that are not shown here.
Compare plans, prices, and what it costs to get started.
Cardel
Build at no cost, then choose Starter, Pro, or Business when your site goes live.
Medium
See what Medium charges on their pricing page.
Forge your community
Looking for a Medium alternative? Bring your work to a site of your own.
