Medium vs Pocket: What are the differences?

Introduction

Here, we will compare the key differences between Medium and Pocket, two popular platforms used for reading and sharing articles online.

1. Content Creation: Medium is primarily a content creation platform where users can write and publish their own articles. It provides a wide range of formatting options, including images and embedded media, allowing writers to create visually appealing articles. On the other hand, Pocket is a content curation platform that allows users to save articles, videos, and webpages they find interesting for later consumption.

2. Social Interaction: Medium encourages social interaction between writers and readers through features such as comments, highlighting, and sharing. Readers can leave comments on articles and engage in discussions, which enhances the sense of community. Pocket, however, focuses more on providing a personalized reading experience and does not have significant social interaction features like comments or sharing.

3. Discovering Content: Medium has a built-in content discovery feature that recommends articles based on users' interests and the articles they have previously read or engaged with. It enables users to discover new writers and topics they might find interesting. On the contrary, Pocket relies on users to manually save articles from various sources, like websites, apps, or social media platforms. It does not provide automatic recommendations based on the user's preferences.

4. Offline Reading: Pocket allows users to save articles for offline reading. These saved articles can be accessed even when there is no internet connection, making it convenient for users who want to read content on the go. While Medium does have a mobile app, it does not specifically offer offline reading functionality.

5. Monetization: Medium offers a Partner Program that allows selected writers to earn money based on the engagement and reading time of their articles. Writers can choose to participate in the program and receive payments for their work. On the other hand, Pocket does not provide any direct monetization options for writers or content creators.

6. Target Audience: Medium targets both readers and writers, providing a platform for individuals who want to express their thoughts and share their expertise. It offers a wider range of content categories and attracts a diverse audience. In contrast, Pocket caters primarily to readers who want to save and consume interesting articles, making it more suitable for individuals who are solely interested in reading and finding valuable content.

In Summary, Medium is a content creation platform that encourages social interaction, offers content discovery, and provides monetization options for writers. On the other hand, Pocket is a content curation platform focused on personalized reading experiences, offline reading, and saving articles for later consumption.