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Chartbeat vs Medium

Chartbeat logo

Chartbeat

News

Real-time analytics for publishers

From
$1000/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Medium logo

Medium

News

The best place to read and write stories on the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Medium has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Chartbeat pricing is customized by website and native app pageviews across four tiers, Essentials, Plus, Premium and Enterprise, and the pricing page publishes no figures, directing visitors to Talk to Sales or Get a Demo; Medium unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership
  • They diverge on capability: Chartbeat covers Real-time analytics, Medium covers Story publishing.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Chartbeat and Medium actually diverge.

Attributes where Chartbeat and Medium differ
AttributeChartbeatMedium
Starting price$1000/monthFree
Pricing modelquotefreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebWeb, Mobile
Founded20092012

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 Chartbeat

  • Real-time analytics
  • Audience insights
  • Content metrics
  • Traffic tracking
  • Google Analytics
  • GDPR
  • Cloud deployment
  • English language support

Only in Medium

  • Story publishing
  • Member program
  • Earning potential
  • Reading time estimates
  • Clap reactions
  • Highlighting & annotations
  • Story recommendations
  • Following system

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Chartbeat

  • Publisher analyticsnot Medium

Medium

  • Publishing articles without running your own blognot Chartbeat
  • Reading long-form writing across technology, culture and newsnot Chartbeat
  • Earning from writing through the Medium Partner Programnot Chartbeat

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Chartbeat

  • Pricing is customized by website and native app pageviews across four tiers, Essentials, Plus, Premium and Enterprise, and the pricing page publishes no figures, directing visitors to Talk to Sales or Get a Demo

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

Chartbeat

$1000/month
  • Professional$1000/month
    • Real-time analytics
    • Audience insights

Medium

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited reading
    • Publishing platform
    • Story drafts
  • Medium Membership$5/month
    • Unlimited access
    • Exclusive stories
    • Member earnings

Which should you pick?

Choose Chartbeat if

  • You need real-time analytics.
  • You also want audience insights.
Chartbeat review

Choose Medium if

  • You need story publishing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want member program.
Medium review

Questions people ask

Is Chartbeat or Medium better?
Neither clearly leads. Chartbeat starts at $1000/month and Medium at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Chartbeat or Medium?
Medium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $1000/month for Chartbeat and Free for Medium.
Does Chartbeat or Medium run on more platforms?
Chartbeat runs on Web. Medium runs on Web, Mobile.
Can I use Medium for free?
Yes. Medium has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Chartbeat starts at $1000/month.
What is Chartbeat best used for?
Chartbeat is most often used for publisher analytics. Of those, publisher analytics is not what Medium is typically brought in for.
What can Chartbeat do that Medium cannot?
Chartbeat covers Real-time analytics, Audience insights, Content metrics, Traffic tracking. Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Chartbeat: How many pricing tiers does Chartbeat offer?

Chartbeat offers four flexible tiers: Essentials, Plus, Premium, and Enterprise. Each tier is customized based on your website and native app pageviews.

Source
Chartbeat: How is Chartbeat pricing calculated?

Chartbeat pricing is customized according to your website and native app pageviews. This means the cost for each plan is tailored to your specific traffic levels rather than using fixed-rate pricing.

Source
Chartbeat: Can I see Chartbeat pricing details online?

The main product page does not display specific pricing amounts. For detailed pricing and feature comparisons between tiers, visit chartbeat.com/product/chartbeat-pricing/ or request a demo from the company.

Source
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