Are you looking to earn money by writing online?
Don’t you know how to monetise your writing?
Don’t worry, I’m here to help you with any doubts you have.
If you want to make money using writing skills, there are several ways, such as starting a blog, freelance writing, starting a newsletter, etc.
Among them, the most popular way is blogging.
However, blogging isn’t the only option for you to start your writing journey. Other platforms, like Medium, also offer the same earning opportunities as blogging for you as a writer.
I have seen so many queries on Quora and Reddit asking whether people from India can make money through Medium. Does the medium allow Indian writers?
Let me clarify this in detail in my article, and also, I will clarify how to make money through writing on Medium as an Indian writer
What is Medium?
Medium is a high-quality online publishing platform designed for writers, thinkers, and experts from around the world.
Let me explain how it differs from other blogging platforms: when you read content on platforms like Google Blogger or WordPress, you will see advertisements. Of course, people make money through advertisements. But in Medium, you won’t see annoying ads. That is the beauty of this platform
But you might have doubts about how I can make money in the medium without advertisements.
I will explain this later in my article. Stay till the end.
Only content is given priority in the medium. Readers come for quality information, and writers come to share their knowledge. I would say it is a kind of social media platform for writers.
My favourite part about Medium is that most people share information based on their real-life experiences. Unlike some bloggers who write content without proper knowledge, many writers on Medium share what they have personally experienced and learnt.
Why Medium Is a Great Opportunity in 2026
Currently, in 2026, thousands of content creators in India earn dollars by writing articles in their free time.
Previously, Indians couldn’t get paid on Medium since payments weren’t available. Now, from August 2024, Medium’s partner programme is officially open in India.
Since Indians are proficient in English, there is a high likelihood of attracting international readers.
Do you think writing on Medium is only for experts?
Actually, anyone can write on Medium. You do not need a journalism degree to write on Medium. Whether you are a student, a software engineer, a homemaker, or a retired employee, if you have an interest or experience in any topic, that is enough.
Medium has thousands of topics/categories. Some sources mention more than 5,000 topics.
Popular categories include:
- Technology
- Programming
- AI
- Self-improvement
- Finance
- Writing
- Business
- Health
- Relationships
- Productivity
- Travel
- Lifestyle
- Marketing
- Startups
- Science
As a writer you can usually add up to 5 topics or tags to one article.
Whatever topic you like, whether technology, health, stories, cooking, or your life lessons, if you have the interest to write about it clearly, you can succeed on this platform.
What is the Medium Partner Program?
Before begin your journey on Medium, you should know about this programme.
That is Medium partner programme.
The Medium Partner Program is a special opportunity provided by Medium that allows writers to directly monetise their content. Generally, other websites or platforms, such as YouTube, share revenue generated through advertisements. But Medium’s method is different.
On Medium, people who are interested in reading content pay a subscription fee, likely $5 per month or $50 per year. This subscription fee is distributed among writers based on their engagement with a particular article.
How Does Medium Pay?
I have already told you that Medium does not depend on advertisements. Medium calculates your earnings based on the following factors.
Reading Time: how long a paid Medium member reads your article; based on this, your income depends.
Engagement: In Medium, there are claps, comments, and highlights on your article that increase your earnings.
Revenue Sharing Model Through Membership Fees
Medium collects a subscription fee from its readers on a monthly or yearly basis. A portion of this collected amount is shared with writers.
Let me explain this with an example.
Suppose a reader pays $5 per month for membership. If during that month they read only your article, most of that $5 goes to you. If they read articles from 10 different writers, the total time is distributed among those 10 writers based on the time spent reading each article.
The advantage of this model is that it avoids unnecessary clickbait in advertisements. Writers who provide valuable and high-quality information receive proper respect and payment.
You should know this.
The articles you write are visible to everyone, but you will earn income only when you set them as a member-only story.
Eligibility Criteria for MPP in India (2026)
To start earning money through Medium, you must follow Medium guidelines. Earlier, Medium members needed 100 followers, but it has now removed that requirement. Now, it focuses only on your content quality and activity.
To qualify for the medium partnership programme, you will need the following eligibility requirements.
- You must have published at least 5 articles.
- Your profile must include at least 5 quality articles to prove that you are a serious writer.
- You must have posted at least once in the last 6 months. Being active on Medium is essential. So, it is better to post at least one new article per month.
- You must be at least 18 years old. According to financial transactions and tax regulations, your age must be at least 18 years or above to join the Medium Partner Program.
I wanted to mention one important point here about Medium Membership. If you want to earn by writing or reading content on Medium, you must first become a Medium member.
Did you understand why you should take it?
Only by becoming a member will you be eligible to join the Partner Program.
Coming to the fee details: In India, Medium is implementing Purchasing Power Parity pricing. Because of this, while membership costs $5 in the United States, it costs just ₹199 per month in India. If you pay ₹199 per month and write good articles, you have the opportunity to earn many times that amount.
Setup Process—Step by Step
If you want the money you earn from Medium to be credited directly to your bank account, this setup process is very important.
Here I will provide all the complete details for you.
After meeting all the eligibility requirements mentioned above, you will see an option called “Apply to Partner Programme” in your Medium dashboard. When you click on it, then you need to complete the following three steps:
First, set up your Stripe account, which is the base for receiving payments. Medium sends payments directly to your bank account. For this, it uses Stripe, an international payment gateway. When you apply, you will see a button labelled Set up Stripe.
Clicking on it will take you to the Stripe website. There, you need to create an account by providing your email and phone number. When asked for Business Type, if you are writing as an individual, choose Individual or Sole Proprietorship.
Next, fill out the Tax Information section, which mainly consists of the W-8BEN form. Since Medium is a US-based company, it collects your details in accordance with American tax regulations before sending you payments. A Form W-8BEN is required for individuals outside the United States, such as you, who are in India.
Don’t worry, it can be completed entirely online.
In the Details section, you need to provide your full name, address, and especially your PAN card number. By providing this, you can claim an exemption from higher US tax deductions under the Tax Treaty.
Next, connect your Indian bank account. While setting up your Stripe account, you will be asked for your bank details. You must provide your bank account number and IFSC code correctly.
Next comes the verification process. Stripe deposits a small amount, likely a few paise, or asks for account verification to ensure that your account is active and working.
Once the setup is complete, the money you earn on Medium will be automatically credited to your Indian bank account in rupees (₹), converted from $, on a fixed date, usually between the 8th and 15th of the month.
Here, you should remember the following point. Make sure the name on your Stripe account, your Medium profile, and your bank account are all exactly the same. Only then will payments come smoothly without interruption.
How to earn money
The Medium algorithm promotes your article to more people based on the response it receives.
Claps: A reader can give up to 50 claps to an article. More claps make the article popular.
Comments & Highlights: If readers highlight certain sentences in your article or share their opinions through comments, the article’s engagement rate increases. As a result, your earnings also increase.
Publications: Joining Large Publications. If you write only on your own profile, mostly your followers will see it. But if your article is published in large publications, it will reach the publication’s lakhs of readers.
For example, ‘The Startup’, ‘Illumination’, and ‘Better Programming’ are global publications. These add credibility to your article and bring thousands of new readers.
What is Boost nomination?
Medium curators review thousands of articles daily. Among them, they “boost” the outstanding ones.
Once your article gets “boosted”, Medium promotes it to thousands of readers. This can potentially generate 10 to 50 times more income than usual.
Writing personal stories, conducting original research, and creating content that truly helps readers increase your chances of getting boosted
Pro-Tips to Succeed on Medium
To start your professional writing career on Medium and build a unique identity on the platform, consider the following:
Choosing the Right Niche helps you build a loyal audience.
Some of the best trending topics are:
AI & Tech: Artificial intelligence, new AI tools, and coding tips.
Personal Finance: Investments, the stock market, and saving strategies.
Self-improvement: productivity, mental health, habit building.
Data Science & Business: Business strategies and data analysis.
Set an attractive title for your article. Your title should make readers click instantly.
Make sure the main keywords related to your topic appear in the title and the first paragraph. The subtitle should briefly summarise your article for readers.
Learning search engine optimisation can also help your article appear in both Medium and Google search results.
Success on Medium is a journey; it takes time, so keep publishing at least 1 or 2 quality articles per week. The Medium algorithm promotes your profile to others based on your writing consistency.
If earnings are low in the beginning, do not get discouraged. You can earn passive income once your older articles start becoming popular.
Conclusion
Medium is not just a website; it is a true recognition of a writer’s talent. For writers in India, it is a golden opportunity.
The reality is this is not a “get rich quick” scheme that makes you lakhs of rupees overnight. At first, your earnings may be just a few dollars. But if you consistently and patiently provide high-quality content, it can, over time, become an excellent source of passive income.
Start immediately: Are you thinking about any topic? Do you have an idea in your mind? Then don’t delay. Create your Medium account today. Publish your first article. Begin your day journey with one small step.
Important Note: Importance of the Paywall
No matter how amazingly you write on Medium, if you don’t enable one small setting, you won’t earn even a single rupee. That setting is the “Paywall”.
What does it mean? Before publishing your article, you must set it as a “member-only story”.
How does it work? When you place your article behind the paywall, you earn money only when it is paid for. Medium members read it. Free readers cannot read the full article.
If your goal is to earn money, publish every article by selecting the paywall option.
Leave a Reply