Don't jump to Substack thinking you will make big bucks, UNLESS, you are already famous and have a huge following of actual readers. The only writers making it big on Substack are those who brought a rabid following of existing fans/readers with them.

I have been on Substack for four years. I have 2.7k followers on Medium (yet I am lucky to get a handful of reads on stories and pennies in income) and 1375 free and 12 paid subscribers on Substack. Even with only 12 paid subscribers I earn more on Substack than Medium but that isn't saying much. It is not big bucks. It is not even poverty wages. It is pocket change. Under $500 last year. Obviously, I don't do it for money. I do it as a creative outlet. I know I need an audience for my creativity. And I get that on Substack. Not so much on Medium. I used to enjoy the community here, but most of my favorites gave up or left over the years.

It is harder to grow a following on Substack, but the followers you get are (mostly) real followers and actually want to read your stories. And you know that they are receiveing everything you post. On Medium your stories get dumped into an ocean of content and your followers might see them, they might not.

If you are chasing money, Substack (like Medium) is better for non-fiction. If you a famous political ranter, or a famous anything else, you are probably golden. But it is not so good for creative writing. Especially unknown writers. You will continue to starve for your art.

They are apples and oranges. Pick your poison.