Side by side
Medium vs Zettlr
Both stand on writing apps. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan AndroidiPhoneWeb
Medium combines publishing tools, distribution, memberships, and reader benefits across web and mobile apps. Review its embedding limits and membership options to ensure they match your writing or reading plans.
Visit Medium
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Zettlr combines Markdown writing, citation support, linked notes, and publication-oriented exports in a free desktop app. It may suit long-form and academic work, though older releases are unsupported.
Visit ZettlrThe facts
| Medium | Zettlr | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Web | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Medium Member: $35 a year | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 2 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Zettlr |
| Website | medium.com | zettlr.com |
| On writing apps | #10 of 135 | #14 of 135 |
Medium: what it does well
- Free plan available
- Custom domains and basic themes
- Scheduled publishing and analytics
- Built-in memberships and publications
- Web, Android, and iOS access
What to know first
- Instagram embeds are unsupported
- Embed code and scripts are not allowed
- Theme customization is basic
- Users must be at least 13
Zettlr: what it does well
- Works offline on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
- Exports to formats supported by Pandoc.
- Connects with Zotero, JabRef, and Juris-M.
- Supports note IDs, internal links, and graph view.
- Free and open source; no payment required to download.
What to know first
- Older releases are unsupported.
- Nightly releases may contain many bugs.
- Available desktop systems listed are Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Alternatives to Medium Alternatives to Zettlr The whole list