News · head to head
Apple News vs Medium
Apple News
News
All the news you want. From sources you trust.
- From
- $12.99/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Medium has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Apple News apple One Bundle does not break out individual service costs; Medium unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
- They diverge on capability: Apple News covers Curated news feed, Medium covers Story publishing.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Apple News and Medium actually diverge.
| Attribute | Apple News | Medium |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12.99/month | Free |
| Pricing model | subscription | freemium |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Ios, Macos | Web, Mobile |
| Founded | 1976 | 2012 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (News).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Apple News
- Curated news feed
- Premium magazines
- Audio stories
- Personalization
- Offline reading
- iCloud
- Apple One bundle
- Siri
Only in Medium
- Story publishing
- Member program
- Earning potential
- Reading time estimates
- Clap reactions
- Highlighting & annotations
- Story recommendations
- Following system
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Apple News
- Daily news readingnot Medium
- Magazine subscriptionnot Medium
- News discoverynot Medium
- Staying informednot Medium
Medium
- Publishing articles without running your own blognot Apple News
- Reading long-form writing across technology, culture and newsnot Apple News
- Earning from writing through the Medium Partner Programnot Apple News
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Apple News
- Apple One Bundle does not break out individual service costs
- 3-month free offer limited to eligible device purchases
Medium
- Unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
- Audio versions of stories are a member-only feature
- Earning money from writing requires joining the Medium Partner Program rather than being automatic
- The iOS app requires iOS 17.0 or later
Pricing, plan by plan
Apple News
$12.99/month- Apple News+$12.99/month
- Hundreds of magazines and newspapers
- Cover-to-cover magazine issues
- Professionally narrated audio stories
- Apple One Bundle$39.95/month
- Apple News+ included
- Five additional Apple services
- Family Sharing
Medium
Free- FreeFree
- Unlimited reading
- Publishing platform
- Story drafts
- Medium Membership$5/month
- Unlimited access
- Exclusive stories
- Member earnings
Which should you pick?
Choose Apple News if
- You need curated news feed.
- You work on Ios, Macos.
- You also want premium magazines.
Choose Medium if
- You need story publishing.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want member program.
Questions people ask
- Is Apple News or Medium better?
- Neither clearly leads. Apple News starts at $12.99/month and Medium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Apple News or Medium?
- Medium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $12.99/month for Apple News and Free for Medium.
- Does Apple News or Medium run on more platforms?
- Apple News runs on Ios, Macos. Medium runs on Web, Mobile.
- Can I use Medium for free?
- Yes. Medium has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Apple News starts at $12.99/month.
- What is Apple News best used for?
- Apple News is most often used for daily news reading, magazine subscription, news discovery, staying informed. Of those, daily news reading and magazine subscription are not what Medium is typically brought in for.
- What can Apple News do that Medium cannot?
- Apple News covers Curated news feed, Premium magazines, Audio stories, Personalization. Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Apple News: How much does Apple News+ cost?
Apple News+ costs $12.99 per month after a one-month free trial for new subscribers, with automatic monthly renewal until cancelled.
SourceApple News: What is Apple One Bundle pricing?
Apple One Bundle is $39.95 per month and includes Apple News+ along with five other Apple services, with Family Sharing available at no additional cost.
SourceApple News: Can Apple News+ be shared with family members?
Yes, Apple News+ subscriptions can be shared with up to five other family members at no additional cost through Family Sharing.
SourceRelated pages
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