Medium Partner Program rules and policies explained in plain English

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 10 Nov 2026 · 31m ago

What the Partner Program is

Medium is a publishing platform where writers share articles, essays, stories and guides, and readers can subscribe to a paid membership for unlimited access to paywalled stories. The Partner Program lets eligible writers earn money when paying members read and engage with their stories that are placed behind the metered paywall. Instead of selling individual articles or relying on advertising, writers share in membership revenue according to a formula set by the platform. That model rewards stories that members find genuinely valuable and spend time with. Because the programme is built on trust between writers, readers and the platform, it has detailed rules about eligibility, originality, engagement and conduct. Understanding them helps writers earn without risking their accounts.

Who can join

Eligibility requirements have included being at least eighteen years old, living in a country supported by the platform's payment processor, creating and verifying a payment account with that processor and meeting membership and activity requirements set out in the partner terms, such as being a paying member and having published recently. Requirements change, so check the current help centre before applying. Applications are usually quick once requirements are met, but the platform can decline or remove accounts that do not comply with its rules.

How earnings are calculated

Earnings are based mainly on engagement from paying members with your paywalled stories. Factors have included reading time, meaning how long members spend reading, and interactions such as claps, highlights, responses and follows, with additional weight given in some cases to engagement that signals quality. Reads by non-paying readers generally do not generate earnings, though they can help you gain followers and visibility. Stories that the platform's curators select for wider distribution, sometimes called boosted stories, can earn more because more members see them. The exact formula is set by the platform and can change, so treat published explanations as guidance rather than guaranteed rates.

Metered paywall choices

When publishing, partners choose whether to place a story behind the metered paywall. Only paywalled stories earn through the programme, while free stories can reach anyone but do not generate partner earnings. Some writers keep certain pieces free to grow an audience, such as introductions, announcements or community posts, and paywall their main work. Consider your goals for each story: income, reach or community building.

Payment schedules and thresholds

Earnings are calculated for each month and paid on a regular schedule through the payment processor once your balance reaches the minimum payout threshold. If your balance is below the threshold, it rolls over until it meets it. Make sure your payment account details, identity verification and tax information are complete, because missing details can delay or block payments. Currency conversion and processor terms may affect what you receive.

Content guidelines in plain terms

The platform's rules prohibit content that promotes hate or violence, harasses individuals, shares private information, spreads harmful misinformation, contains sexually explicit material outside allowed settings, promotes illegal activity or infringes intellectual property. Stories must not mislead readers through deceptive titles or clickbait that does not match the content. Violating these rules can lead to stories being removed, limited in distribution or excluded from earnings, and repeated or serious violations can lead to account suspension.

Originality and plagiarism

Partner stories must be your own original work. Copying or closely paraphrasing other writers' content, publishing others' work without permission or using material you do not have rights to breaks the rules and copyright law. Quotations should be brief, attributed and used for commentary or analysis. Images must be your own, properly licensed or used according to their terms, with credits where required.

Republishing your own work

Writers often republish posts from their own blogs or newsletters. This is commonly allowed if you own the rights, but follow the platform's guidance on original content and use tools such as canonical links where available to indicate the original source. Be aware that heavily duplicated content may receive less distribution. Never republish content you wrote for a client or employer if they own the rights.

AI-assisted writing and disclosure

The platform has introduced policies on content created with artificial intelligence tools, including requirements to disclose such use and limits on whether fully AI-generated stories can be placed behind the paywall or distributed widely. The details have changed over time, so read the current policy before publishing. In general, readers value authentic experience and original thinking, and stories that rely on generated text without real expertise or personal insight are less likely to succeed.

Affiliate links and promotion

Including affiliate links, such as links to products you earn a commission from, is often allowed if they are relevant and clearly disclosed, but stories that exist mainly to sell products or are filled with links may be treated as spam. Many countries require clear disclosure of paid relationships. Self-promotion of your newsletter, course or services should be limited and relevant to the story.

Engagement manipulation and spam

The programme prohibits artificially inflating engagement, such as joining groups where writers agree to clap, read or respond to each other's stories in exchange, buying engagement, using multiple accounts or asking readers to clap in ways that manipulate metrics. Mass-producing low-quality stories, keyword stuffing and posting repetitive content can be treated as spam. Breaking these rules can lead to lost earnings, removal from the programme or account closure.

Worked example: estimating earnings

Suppose a writer publishes 8 paywalled stories in a month. Members spend a combined 500 hours reading them, and the writer earns 160 for the month under the platform's formula, an average of 20 per story. One story is boosted and accounts for 90 of the 160, or about 56 percent of earnings. The following month, with 8 stories but no boost, earnings are 70. Averaged over two months, the writer earns 115 a month, but income varied by more than half. These figures are illustrative only, because the platform does not publish fixed rates. The percentage calculator on this site helps track how earnings are distributed across stories.

Account enforcement

The platform reviews reported content and uses automated systems to detect violations. Consequences range from removing individual stories or excluding them from earnings to suspending partner status or closing accounts. If you receive a notice, read it carefully, review the cited policy and use official support channels to appeal if you believe there was a mistake. Avoid creating new accounts to get around enforcement.

Publications and editors

Many stories are submitted to publications, which are collections run by editors around particular topics. Publications can increase reach, but each has its own submission guidelines, style requirements and editorial standards. Submitting to a publication does not change your ownership of the story, and partner earnings continue to go to the writer. Follow each publication's rules and respect editors' decisions.

Taxes and records

Partner earnings are usually taxable income. The payment processor may collect tax information and issue statements depending on your country. Keep records of monthly earnings and any writing-related expenses, and check local tax rules or consult a professional. The salary calculator on this site helps compare writing income with other work.

Compliance checklist

| Area | Check before publishing |

|---|---|

| Eligibility | Membership, age, country and payment account current |

| Originality | Story is your own; quotes attributed; images licensed |

| AI use | Current disclosure and paywall rules followed |

| Links | Affiliate links relevant and disclosed |

| Engagement | No reciprocal clapping or bought engagement |

| Titles | Accurate and not misleading |

Writing stories members value

Stories that earn well tend to offer real expertise, personal experience, clear practical advice or thoughtful analysis, with strong headlines that accurately reflect the content and a structure that is easy to read. Consistency helps readers follow you, and responding to comments builds community. Focus on topics you know well and serve readers rather than chasing trends.

Avoiding scams around the programme

Be cautious of services promising guaranteed boosts, followers or earnings for a fee, groups offering engagement swaps and messages pretending to be from the platform asking for login or payment details. Use only official channels for support.

Is the Partner Program worth it?

For writers who already enjoy publishing and want to earn from their work, it can provide supplementary income and an audience. Earnings vary widely and can change with the formula and distribution decisions, so treat it as one income stream alongside newsletters, freelance writing or products.

Reader questions

Questions about earning from writing? Send them through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not affiliated with Medium. Programme terms, eligibility and payments change; check the official help centre. No income is guaranteed.

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