I Analyzed Every Major Writing Platform. These Are the Best Ones.
And, the worst ones.
I’ve never been very analytical.
But, as I solidify my passion for writing into a full-time job, I’m reminded of one truth.
Numbers don’t lie.
So, naturally, when deciding what writing platforms are best for you, it’s best to rely on data. Although we all have our preferences, not all websites were created equal.
Here are reader statistics from every major writing platform. Plus, a few hidden gems you may have overlooked…
The truth about writing online.
Unless you were flung into the world with an intuitive sense of SEO and long-tail keywords, you’ve probably asked at least 1 of these 2 questions:
- What platform should I write on?
- How much money can I make on it?
Writing online is a relatively simple endeavour. At the end of the day, making money comes down to one formula:
Views + attention = money.
No matter the platform or how you monetize your words, attracting interested eyeballs will always result in consistent earnings. That said, finding the right audience is just as difficult as any other relationship.
First, you must understand yourself.
Then, what others see in you.
So, if you’re struggling to find a platform that marries your strengths with readers’ interests, these metrics will surely help.
7 major writing platforms.
If you’ve ever done a Google search for “the best writing platforms”, you’ve likely come across most, if not all, of these platforms.
But, it can be difficult to know exactly which one is right for you. So, what I’ve outlined below is a list of the most usable data:
- Monthly visits — to assess potential views
- Visit duration — to assess potential attention
- Age/country/interests — to understand who you’re writing for
Plus, some key metrics to start shaping your platform strategy.
I’ve done the research — take your pick and live happily ever after…
1. This platform:
👉 Fun fact: all of the analytics below come from a website called Similar Web (no affiliation).
Yes, this one. I won’t mention it by name as to not flag this story for being too “meta”. But, you know the one… you’re on it right now.
The following analytics are an average from the past 90 days…
Total monthly visits: 430 million
Visit duration: 2:01 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 25–34
Top traffic source: organic search
Top referring social platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn
Reader interests (by keyword): business, software, research, science, technology
2. Newsbreak:
👉 If you’re interested in becoming a contributor for Newsbreak, I’d love for you to use my affiliate link. This means, once your account is monetized, I will earn a commission.
Newsbreak is a news-based platform where you can sign up, start writing, and get paid for the read time on your articles. More information, here.
Total monthly visits: 68 million
Visit duration: 1:58 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 55–64
Top traffic source: direct search
Top referring social platform: Facebook
Reader interests (by keyword): local news, weather, shopping, breaking news, sports
3. Substack:
Substack is a newsletter hosting platform with a subscription-based pay model. You can send written newsletters as well as share podcasts and videos.
Total monthly visits: 140 million
Visit duration: 2:44 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 25–34
Top traffic source: direct search
Top referring social platforms: Twitter, LinkedIn
Reader interests (by keyword): business, shopping, politics, sports, travel
4. Vocal.Media:
Much like this platform and Newsbreak, Vocal will host your blog for you so you can focus on writing and earning money. You can also enter “Challenges” to win cash prizes.
Total monthly visits: 7 million
Visit duration: 1:55 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 25–34
Top traffic source: organic search
Top referring social platforms: YouTube, Facebook
Reader interests (by keyword): news, business, international news, internet tools, movies
5. HubPages:
HubPages is another blog-hosting platform which pays you for reads. It’s more of a lifestyle brand than the other platforms on this list and is very popular amongst Pinterest users.
Total monthly visits: 6 million
Visit duration: 1:09 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 25–34
Top traffic source: organic search
Top referring social platform: Pinterest
Reader interests (by keyword): business, international news, news general, finance, health
6. Twitter/X
Most people don’t think of Twitter/X as a writing platform. But, the default content is text-based, meaning it has readers. And, is a great place to write on but cross-promote to other platforms as well.
Total monthly visits: 18.4 billion
Visit duration: 10:42 (minutes)
Top country: United States & Japan
Top age demographic: 18–34
Top traffic source: direct search
Top referring social platforms: YouTube, Reddit
Reader interests (by keyword): software, shopping, video, games, sports
7. LinkedIn:
LinkedIn is another great place to build an audience of readers, as posts are essentially mini articles. It also has a newsletter feature if you’d like to write long-form.
Total monthly visits: 5.3 billion
Visit duration: 7:31 (minutes)
Top country: United States
Top age demographic: 25–34
Top traffic source: direct search
Referring social platforms: YouTube, Facebook
Reader interests (by keyword): software, shopping, games, business, blog
I also outline my experience on each of these platforms as well as a few best practices, on my YouTube channel:
👉 If you enjoy the content, I’d love for you to subscribe. :)
What to do with this data.
Let me break the 4th wall for a moment. If you’re just starting out, the information above may feel a little overwhelming.
Like a stream of code with no instructions.
So, here’s some food for thought…
For starters, I believe it’s best to write on 2–3 platforms. This is because:
- You want to diversify your efforts
- You don’t want to spread yourself too thin
In the current digital landscape, marketing is just as (if not more) important than the content you create. So, it’s best to use one platform to create content and another to market it.
Personally, I write on Medium to develop my writing skills and expand my reach by creating videos on YouTube. Both are valuable — and contribute to one another.
So, if for nothing else, I hope the information you’ve just read helps you decide which platforms make good pairings.
Like any healthy relationship.
Bonus: 5 gems you might want to try.
A few weeks ago, I created a community post asking subscribers what platforms they were interested in seeing analyzed.
Here are a few platforms you may be interested in checking out.
1. Wattpad.com:
- Total monthly visits: 414 million
- Visit duration: 15:53 (minutes)
2. Beehiiv.com:
- Total monthly visits: 29 million
- Visit duration: 2:15 (minutes)
3. Textbroker.com:
- Total monthly visits: 3 million
- Visit duration: 3:48 (minutes)
4. Scripted.com:
- Total monthly visits: 212,000
- Visit duration: 0:56 (minutes)
5. Simily.co:
- Total monthly visits: 21,000
- Visit duration: 1:30 (minutes)
Final thoughts: happy writing!
Like anything in life, the right path is often revealed only after taking many wrong turns.
So, my advice is to try platforms for yourself and see how you like them. At the end of the day, what works for you is what works. Period.
I hope this list helps expedite your journey even just a little bit.
👉 For weekly writing tips, I’d love for you to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Happy writing!
Hi, I’m Hudson. I write about living healthier, happier, more mindfully… and, sometimes marketing. To see my stories pop up on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me (Hudson Rennie). And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.👇
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