Stage 2: Watch out · Creator economy

Ad-free, member-funded publishing, but your followers and distribution live on Medium’s terms.

Tips and memberships with lighter branding than Patreon; Gold tier and shop features add platform dependency over time.

Creator subscriptions with high take rate and policy whiplash; payment processors and brand risk shape who can stay on platform.

Newsletter + payments with clearer creator cut than ad platforms; network features and video push toward fuller stack lock-in.