How to Make Money Writing on Medium.com in 2025? | Freelance with Daniyen & AihanMalik DaniyenAline
Medium.com remains a powerful platform for writers looking to share their ideas, build an audience, and earn money in 2025. With its unique blend of a built-in readership, a Partner Program that pays for engagement, and opportunities to leverage your writing for additional income streams, Medium offers a versatile space for both new and seasoned writers. Whether you’re aiming to make a side income or scale up to a full-time gig, this guide will walk you through actionable strategies to maximize your earnings on Medium in 2025.
Understanding Medium in 2025
As of March 29, 2025, Medium continues to evolve as a hybrid platform—part social network, part publishing hub. With over 100 million monthly active users and a subscription model where readers pay $5/month or $50/year for unlimited access, Medium distributes a portion of that revenue to writers enrolled in its Partner Program. The program has shifted over the years to prioritize quality over quantity, rewarding stories with high engagement (reading time, claps, and follower interaction) and those selected for “Boost” by editors, a feature that amplifies reach.
Beyond the Partner Program, Medium’s high domain authority and engaged audience make it a springboard for writers to promote their own products, services, or personal brands. Here’s how you can turn your writing into cash this year.
Step 1: Join the Medium Partner Program
The most direct way to earn money on Medium is through the Partner Program. Here’s how to get started:
- Sign Up: You need a Medium account and a paid membership ($5/month or $50/year) to join. Head to medium.com/earn, apply, and set up a Stripe account for payouts.
- Eligibility: You must be 18, live in an eligible country (check Medium’s updated list, as it expanded in recent years), and have published at least one story in the past six months.
- Paywall Your Stories: Once accepted, mark your articles as “metered” to place them behind the paywall. You’ll earn based on how long paying members read your work, plus bonuses for engagement like claps and follows.
Earnings Potential: Medium pays per member reading time, not views. While the average writer earns under $100/month, top writers report thousands monthly by consistently producing high-quality, engaging content. In 2025, “Boosted” stories—those hand-picked by editors—earn significantly more per read, so aim for quality over volume.
Pro Tip: Write longer, thoughtful pieces (1,500–2,000 words) that keep readers hooked. Data from successful writers suggests stories with strong narratives or actionable advice tend to rack up more reading time.
Step 2: Craft Content That Stands Out
Success on Medium hinges on writing stories that resonate with readers and align with the platform’s 2025 algorithm, which favors originality and depth. Here’s how to do it:
- Find Your Niche: Broad topics like “life lessons” face stiff competition. Narrow down to something specific—say, “productivity hacks for remote workers” or “sustainable living on a budget”—to attract a loyal audience.
- Tell Stories: Medium readers love personal narratives. Weave your experiences into how-to guides or listicles to make them relatable and memorable.
- Optimize Headlines: Eye-catching titles still matter. Think “7 Unexpected Ways to Boost Your Income in 2025” over “How to Make Money.” Test curiosity-driven hooks without veering into clickbait.
- Engage Early: Hook readers in the first 30 seconds (the minimum read time to earn). Start with a bold statement, question, or anecdote.
Example: A writer who earned $25,000+ by January 2025 (from a self-reported journey starting in 2020) emphasized consistency and niching down to topics like SEO and content creation, blending personal wins with practical tips.
Step 3: Publish Consistently and Leverage Publications
Consistency is key to building momentum on Medium. Aim for 1–2 high-quality stories per week to stay visible in readers’ feeds.
- Submit to Publications: Medium’s publications (like The Startup or ILLUMINATION) amplify your reach. Pitch editors with polished drafts that fit their themes. A boosted story in a top publication can skyrocket your earnings.
- Engage with Readers: Reply to comments and clap for others’ work. Building a community increases your follower count, which can boost earnings through the “follower bonus” in the Partner Program.
Pro Tip: Study top writers’ stats. One with 15,000+ followers and 1.5 million views in 2025 credits publishing 12–15 articles monthly and partnering with reputable publications.
Step 4: Maximize Earnings Beyond the Partner Program
The Partner Program is just the start. Here are proven ways to diversify your income using Medium in 2025:
- Sell Digital Products: Use articles to funnel readers to ebooks, courses, or templates. For example, write “How I Mastered X” and link to a $10 ebook expanding on it. A writer reported making $14,000+ selling ebooks via Gumroad after promoting them on Medium.
- Drive Traffic Elsewhere: Link to your blog, YouTube, or email list in your bio or story outros. A single viral Medium post drove 100,000 views and $1,200 for one writer, even years after publishing.
- Offer Services: Showcase expertise (e.g., freelance writing, coaching) to land clients. Mention your services subtly in stories or your profile’s 160-character bio.
- Affiliate Marketing: Include affiliate links (disclosed to readers) for tools or books you recommend. Earnings vary, but a well-placed link in a popular story can net $50–$500 monthly.
Case Study: A writer earning $11,000/month in 2023 (pre-2025 data) pivoted from personal stories to “hidden champion” topics like history, blending engagement with product pitches. This strategy remains viable as readers still crave unique angles.
Step 5: Adapt to 2025 Trends
Medium’s landscape shifts yearly. Here’s what’s working in 2025:
- Boost Focus: The Boost program, expanded since 2023, prioritizes fiction, poetry, and high-quality nonfiction. Submit your best work for a chance at higher payouts.
- Evolving Niches: Topics like AI ethics, hybrid work, and climate solutions are trending. Experiment with these to tap into reader interest.
- Community Building: Medium now rewards writers with repeat readers. Use newsletters (Medium’s built-in tool or external platforms like Beehiiv) to keep fans engaged off-platform.
Reality Check: Only about 6% of writers earn over $100/month, per older estimates. Success takes time—many top earners report 1–3 years of effort before hitting big numbers.
Practical Tips for Success
- Start Small: Publish your first story this week. Repurpose existing content if you’re short on ideas.
- Track Stats: Check your Medium “Stats” page to see what works. Focus on read ratio (percent of viewers who read fully) and tweak accordingly.
- Invest in Skills: Strong writing beats AI churn. Hone storytelling and research to stand out.
- Be Patient: Your first $1,000 might take months, but passive income grows with a solid catalog.
How Much Can You Make?
Earnings vary widely:
- Beginners: $10–$100/month with consistent effort.
- Mid-Tier: $500–$1,000/month after 6–12 months of strategy.
- Top Writers: $5,000–$11,000/month with a large following and diversified income (e.g., Partner Program + products).
One writer hit $450,000 over several years by avoiding common pitfalls like inconsistent posting or generic topics. Another made $25,000 by 2025 through persistence and branding. Your ceiling depends on effort, strategy, and audience connection.
Final Thoughts
Making money on Medium in 2025 is a blend of art and hustle. The Partner Program offers a low-barrier entry to monetize your writing, while external opportunities—like selling products or landing clients—amplify your income. Start by joining the program, writing compelling stories, and experimenting with what clicks. Over time, Medium can be more than a paycheck—it’s a launchpad to build your writing career.
Ready to dive in? Create your Medium account, publish your first story, and let 2025 be the year your words pay off.
