Softwr

News · head to head

Medium vs Newswire

Medium logo

Medium

News

The best place to read and write stories on the internet

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Newswire logo

Newswire

News

Affordable press release distribution for everyone

From
$399/per release
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Medium has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Medium unlimited access to stories requires a paid Medium membership; Newswire no free tier or trial available
  • They diverge on capability: Medium covers Story publishing, Newswire covers Press release distribution.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Medium and Newswire actually diverge.

Attributes where Medium and Newswire differ
AttributeMediumNewswire
Starting priceFree$399/per release
Pricing modelfreemiumone-time
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb
Founded20122004

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 Medium

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

Only in Newswire

  • Press release distribution
  • Media targeting
  • Social amplification
  • Analytics
  • SEO optimization
  • Google News
  • Yahoo News
  • Bing News

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

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

Medium

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

Newswire

  • Product launchesnot Medium
  • Company newsnot Medium
  • Event announcementsnot Medium
  • SEO boostnot Medium
  • Brand awarenessnot Medium

Where each one falls short

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

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

Newswire

  • No free tier or trial available

Pricing, plan by plan

Medium

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

Newswire

$399/per release
  • Starter$399/per release
    • Distribution to Digital Journal and Online News & Media
    • Estimated reach 6 to 10 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Basic$659/per release
    • AP News and Digital Journal distribution
    • Estimated reach 75 to 100 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • Feature$965/per release
    • AP News, Yahoo, Nexstar network inclusion
    • Estimated reach 150 to 200 million monthly readers
    • Unlimited word count and images
  • State Distribution$599/per release
    • Regional news outlets and local TV stations
    • Unlimited word count and images
    • Includes analytics reporting

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Newswire if

  • You need press release distribution.
  • You also want media targeting.
Newswire review

Questions people ask

Is Medium or Newswire better?
Neither clearly leads. Medium starts at Free and Newswire at $399/per release, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Medium or Newswire?
Medium has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Medium and $399/per release for Newswire.
Does Medium or Newswire run on more platforms?
Medium runs on Web, Mobile. Newswire runs on Web.
Can I use Medium for free?
Yes. Medium has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Newswire starts at $399/per release.
What is Medium best used for?
Medium is most often used for publishing articles without running your own blog, reading long-form writing across technology, culture and news, earning from writing through the medium partner program. Of those, publishing articles without running your own blog and reading long-form writing across technology, culture and news are not what Newswire is typically brought in for.
What can Medium do that Newswire cannot?
Medium covers Story publishing, Member program, Earning potential, Reading time estimates. Newswire covers Press release distribution, Media targeting, Social amplification, Analytics. Both handle Web support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Newswire: How much does Newswire cost?

Newswire charges per press release. Starter plan costs 399 dollars per release. Basic plan costs 659 dollars per release. Feature plan costs 965 dollars per release. State Distribution costs 599 dollars per release.

Source
Newswire: What is included with Newswire pricing?

All Newswire plans include unlimited word count and images in your press release. Different tiers offer varying distribution networks and estimated reader reach.

Source
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