Simple, honest pricing

Write for free. Subscribe to earn.

Everyone can read and write. Plus unlocks unlimited reading and withdrawals. Pro adds AI drafting and SEO insights.

Free

Freeforever

Read, write, and earn. The best free blog platform — period.

Read 5 full articles/month
Publish up to 3 articles/month
3 AI writing assists/month
Platform takes 25% (public) / 45% (members-only)
Basic analytics (total views)

Earnings accumulate but withdrawals require Plus or 10 referrals

Plus

$60$50/yr

That's $4.17/month

Unlimited reading, higher earnings, and cash out your revenue. Or get it free by referring 10 people.

Unlimited reading, ad-free
Publish unlimited articles
50 AI writing assists/month
5 @ChapterlyAI comment tags per day
Full analytics dashboard
Withdraw your earnings ($50 min)
Custom blog subdomain
Or get free with 10 referrals
Most popular

Pro

$240$200/yr

That's $16.67/month

Chat with AI to draft posts, unlimited @AI comment tags, and SEO discovery insights.

Everything in Plus
Write with AI — chat to draft a full post
Unlimited @ChapterlyAI comment tags
SEO discovery — see what readers are viewing
Priority in explore/trending
Scheduled publishing & newsletter
Lowest base rates + RRR discount
Story/book sales at 10% commission

How the money works

Unlike Medium, our formula is 100% transparent. You can verify every cent.

Where your $30 goes

50% goes directly to the writers you read, proportional to your reading time. 50% keeps the platform running and growing.

Payouts never exceed revenue

Writer earnings are a percentage of actual collected money. If revenue is $0, payouts are $0. Mathematically impossible to overpay.

Global pricing

We offer purchasing power parity pricing so writers and readers worldwide can afford to join. Everyone deserves access.

Transparent formula

Your earnings = (your views / total views) x total ad pool x your tier %. You can verify every cent with a calculator.

Example: what a Plus writer earns

With 5,000 views/month on your articles

5K

monthly views

$34

monthly earnings

13.6x

ROI on $2.50/mo

Based on $3.50 eCPM average. Your earnings scale linearly with your views.

Frequently asked questions

Can I write for free?

Yes. Everyone can publish up to 3 articles/month for free. You earn from day one — we take 25% of public post revenue and 45% of members-only. To withdraw, you need Plus or 10 referrals.

What is RRR (Re-occurring Referral Rate)?

RRR is your loyalty discount. Every person you bring to CandleBlog — directly or through your network — reduces the platform's cut of your earnings. Start at 25%, drop it as low as 2% by growing your referral tree.

How do I unlock withdrawals without paying?

Refer 10 people. When 10 users sign up with your referral link or code, you get Plus for free and can withdraw when your balance hits $50.

What happens to my earnings if I don't subscribe?

They accumulate safely in your account. Subscribe to Plus ($50/year) or refer 10 people to unlock withdrawals and cash out everything.

What's the difference between public and members-only posts?

Public posts are free for everyone — they show ads, and the platform takes 25%. Members-only posts are exclusive to subscribers — no ads, but the platform takes 45%. Both rates drop as your referral tree grows.

How do I get paid?

Bank transfer or PayPal. Minimum withdrawal is $50. Payouts are processed within 3-5 business days.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. Cancel anytime with one click. You keep access until the end of your billing period. Your earned money is always yours.

How is this different from Medium?

Medium's earnings formula is opaque. Ours is published and transparent: you see exactly what the platform takes, how your referrals reduce it, and what you keep. Plus, our base rates are more competitive.

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