Review Insights · App Store
Medium: Read & Write Stories
A Medium Corporation · 156,194 ratings · ★ 4.8
4.8
★★★★★
156,194 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 32 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"medium"
10 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
2
"people"
8 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Should Be An Option To Read For Free With Ads. Deleting the app after being blocked access from articles by a paywall. In this economy, many people can’t afford little luxuries. Having the option to watch ads to gain access would solve this issue for both parties. Poor design." - lizpros
3
"account"
7 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Cancel account. Have been trying for 2 hours to cancel this account!!!" - joe poe
4
"read"
7 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
5
"articles"
7 negative reviews mention this · 22% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Should Be An Option To Read For Free With Ads. Deleting the app after being blocked access from articles by a paywall. In this economy, many people can’t afford little luxuries. Having the option to watch ads to gain access would solve this issue for both parties. Poor design." - lizpros
6
"writing"
6 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
7
"been"
5 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Cancel account. Have been trying for 2 hours to cancel this account!!!" - joe poe
8
"trying"
5 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Cancel account. Have been trying for 2 hours to cancel this account!!!" - joe poe
9
"article"
5 negative reviews mention this · 16% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Should Be An Option To Read For Free With Ads. Deleting the app after being blocked access from articles by a paywall. In this economy, many people can’t afford little luxuries. Having the option to watch ads to gain access would solve this issue for both parties. Poor design." - lizpros
10
"write"
4 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
11
"view"
4 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
12
"into"
4 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Intrusive Ads. I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write. In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm…" - Bay Fleming
📋 All 32 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Cancel account
Have been trying for 2 hours to cancel this account!!!
Corrupt/biased/
I would not recommend this to anyone. They manipulate the data so you can’t even be sure what is happening. They reset the stats and remove progress, engagement. If you don’t fit into their box of good enough, they don’t pay you. Even if people are reading your content. They will not communicate with you either. This website exploits their users. Nobody wins here unless you fit into their box. So if you think you’ll be up to their standards they may take advantage of you less. Seems to me the vast majority of peoples writing never gets seen and will never receive any kind of payment or feedback
Not Allowed to Disagree
Medium moderators deemed a legitimate and thoughtful comment to be “hate against women”, simply for stating an opposing view, which had was no name calling, no hate, and the same tone that was contained in the article. They are biased and discriminatory.
Can’t even publish an arrival
Keeps throwing errors. How is this 4.8 stars
I wish I could like it.
I am extremely disappointed to inform all who read this that even though this app has “good intentions” to relieve you from oppressive social media stress, it is however only offered through a paywall. Just a different form of information oppression.
Infested with bots/AI
Don’t bother with Medium. 3 of 4 articles you will read aren’t just written by AI, they are written completely by a machine without any human input.
Glitchy trash
App is glitchy. I can’t copy and past anything without it freezing up.
Delusional
Paying to read people’s writing is a big no for me. App deleted for me 👋
SCAM ALERT: DO NOT PAY FOR PREMIUM
Medium can ban you with zero recourse, just because you say something that offends them. People on the platform, have the right to mute other others and block other others, but medium will inject themselves and steal your money in the process by muting and censoring ideas that do not support their ridiculous world view. Do not support people who enforce their political others through heavy-handed tactics. Do not support people who will use violence to make you fall in line with their outlandish and childish views of the world. If you pay for premium, they can cancel your account for any reason and take your money.
Annoying
It send you annoying emails and is super annoying, it only lets you post stuff every 24 hours, it sucks
Unreliable
Medium is always asking for more money, even after one pays. Does anyone know how to reach them.
Boring
It’s kinda boring. Writing doesn’t need to be boring. There are insane things happening right now and nobody on here writing about current events despite actively trying to seek out this kind of content. It’s giving LinkedIn lunatic junk.
Lousy for cell phones.
Three days ago a new version of Medium hit my phone. NOW? All of the photos and graphics attached to articles-menu and articles-have disappeared.
I have no method of writing Medium to inquire. The HELP section doesn't help!
Great, huh?
I have no method of writing Medium to inquire. The HELP section doesn't help!
Great, huh?
Nothing worthwhile
A bunch of meh wannabe-authors all trying way too hard. So embarrassing. The fact that you have to actually pay for a membership to access this drivel just makes it all even more ridiculous - it’s like watching a bunch of monkeys all picking grubs off each other in a long chain.
Terrible app
I downloaded this app at the hopes of learning new skills and acquiring more knowledge. Unfortunately I was greeted with articles written by delusional people who have a very limited understanding of the subjects they choose to write about. If you every disagree with an article don’t bother trying to explain your point of view. You’ll inevitably be blocked from commenting on the post and get emails every time someone wants to blatantly insult your perspective. Of course that person will not be blocked from commenting because they agree with the fragile ego that created the original article. I really don’t understanding putting up a public article and doxxing everyone who disagrees. Obviously what you believe is extremely frail if no one is allowed to have an alternative view point.
This app is no longer supported.
Simple.
This app is no longer supported. So I’m now limited entirely to accessing Medium via browser. My primary use is with my iPod. All other apps I frequently use are supported.
But not Medium.
This app is no longer supported. So I’m now limited entirely to accessing Medium via browser. My primary use is with my iPod. All other apps I frequently use are supported.
But not Medium.
Worthless full of AI slop
Articles in this app overrun with spam AI slop and it recommends articles that are messed up & sickening. Avoid at all costs, not even worth free
Bad
Terrible app, crashes constantly. Poor interface, no way to check my comments or story history. And at least half the stories are AI-written drivel. Just poor all around.
Getting logged out daily
Almost every time I open the app I need to login again. I use Google SSO. Has been happening for about a month or two. Pls fix!
Reads
Only people with paid memberships get there stories read. I have 8 stores posted and not one read.
Constant problems
12//22/25 Notification issues. I have not been able to post normally for over a week. The keyboard does not have all options. No button to add photo. I also cannot edit on the website. I am a paying customer and cannot use the app. I also have my work behind a paywall. I have added all updates and it does not work. It is also not being publicly acknowledged there is a problem. No human has contacted me for a resolution. I
Medium iPad app randomly capitalizes text when writing
It’s impossible to write an article for Medium via the iPad app. It seems in random places in the writing mode, that the text being typed will start being capitalized. There is no setting to trigger this or resolve this. Toggling caps lock on my iPad or keyboard has no impact on resolving this. If Medium wants people to write on their platform, they need to fix this
“Ad-free”
Honestly, I wouldn’t mind the paywalls if the articles behind them weren’t just ads for the latest financial analyst AI or some quick money scheme.
THIS APP IS WOKE! DO NOT DOWNLOAD!
So I deleted this app today after I was threatened to be suspended for saying THE TRUTH about transgender people! All I said is that men CANNOT be women, which is the TRUTH! They took my post down and threatened to suspend my account. That’s ok this app is leftist propaganda! THERE ARE ONLY 2 GENDERS. IT IS SCIENCE!!! THIS APP IS WOKE AND IT IS A JOKE! They even emailed me and told me they have 0 tolerance for misgendering a trans person! I’m not misgendering anyone! I’m saying the truth instead of feeding into this woke leftist ideology that anyone can be a man or woman! Transgenderism is a MENTAL DISORDER! It should not be affirmed! It’s a DELUSION and these people need help! It was ok for the transgender MAN to call me names but when I said the truth I get threatened. I AM TELLING EVERYONE TO DELETE THIS APP. I have a huge following on YouTube and I’m ousting this app to everyone! YOU GUYS MESSED WITH THE WRONG CONSERVATIVE
Practically Impossible
This is the most user-unfriendly app I’ve ever tried. Yes, you can write and read on it. But you can’t read/respond a private message, can’t edit an image or add AlT text, or add a subtitle to your article. So frustrating that I decided to remove it.
“Sign in to read” - then pay
Disingenuous interface implies that an account is all you need to read a story at times. Pretty gross.
Meh
Medium has an unknown algorithm for writers. No specific standards, just their own thing. They’ll take your money though. They just won’t really tell you anything.
Help/Support
There doesn’t seem to be a means to contact support and I am not able to update to my. Ew email address for signing into my account. One more frustration.
Don't bother with Partner Program
I've been trying to join my Partner Program account to Stripe on and off for years. Medium ignorantly told me it was my fault when I contacted them about it. I finally contacted Stripe and asked them if there was an problem. They said no, it was a Medium issue. Don't waste your time. Deleted my Partner account today. Good riddance!
Intrusive Ads
I’ve been a Medium user for many years, and while the app hasn’t ever done much to hold my interest, it provided a comfortable and easy space to write.
In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm. Most pieces don’t receive a single view. However, my real issue with Medium is a recent development.
Ads are now inserted directly into the middle of every piece of writing, even while reviewing those on my own profile. I understand the need for monetization, but for an app that already offers very little to users that don’t wish to pay, the presence of advertisements in the middle of writing is jarring enough to be a death sentence.
For an app that essentially already demands a paid subscription for basic features, I really hope the advertising placement is reconsidered.
In half a decade, I’ve never felt that my writing has ever been pushed by the algorithm. Most pieces don’t receive a single view. However, my real issue with Medium is a recent development.
Ads are now inserted directly into the middle of every piece of writing, even while reviewing those on my own profile. I understand the need for monetization, but for an app that already offers very little to users that don’t wish to pay, the presence of advertisements in the middle of writing is jarring enough to be a death sentence.
For an app that essentially already demands a paid subscription for basic features, I really hope the advertising placement is reconsidered.
Should Be An Option To Read For Free With Ads
Deleting the app after being blocked access from articles by a paywall. In this economy, many people can’t afford little luxuries. Having the option to watch ads to gain access would solve this issue for both parties. Poor design.
Mediocre; not optimized for reading articles
For an app that is supposedly made for reading articles, it has at least two series problems that make me constantly delete the app then reinstall it s free weeks later only to find the same problems still not fixed. It does not have landscape resting mode! Unbelievable! And when I’m scrolling down in an article much too often it just switches to suns other random page instead with s list of other articles ! There is no “ back” button when this happens so I lose the sticker I was reading with absolutely no way to get it back as there is no reading history button either! I’ve scoured through all the settings endlessly it just does not exist and I an a tech savvy person (a web designer). Overall just not well thought out. Also there are oddly two different “account” buttons that will take you to completely different places, so no use memorizing what is held under the “ account” link it will drive you crazy. There seems to be very little logic behind the design of this app. It’s so bad I’m considering stopping my subscription and deleting my account as I don’t need extra stress in my life.
Sentiment summary
97%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
2%
Negative (1-2★)