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Migrate from Medium to Next.js

Own your content and build your brand with a custom Next.js blog instead of Medium.

10-20 minutes
Easy
100% Free
Start Free Migration

TL;DR

You can migrate from Medium to Next.js for free using LeaveWP. Enter your site URL, choose Next.js as the destination, and download your content — posts, pages, and media — in minutes. No API keys, passwords, or CLI tools required. Difficulty: Easy. Estimated time: 10-20 minutes.

Official docs: Next.js Documentation

Why Teams Leave Medium

Social publishing platform for writers. Writers who prioritize reach over brand ownership, but these limitations push teams toward modern alternatives.

You don't own your audience — Medium controls distribution

This is the most common reason teams migrate away from Medium. Next.js eliminates this issue entirely.

Zero customization — every site looks identical

With Next.js, hybrid rendering — ssg, ssr, isr, and client-side in one app.

Readers hit paywalls which hurts your content reach

Modern architectures like Next.js are designed to avoid this from the ground up.

No custom domain, SEO control, or analytics access

After migrating, you'll no longer need to worry about this — Next.js takes a fundamentally different approach.

What Next.js Brings to the Table

React framework for production with SSR, SSG, and API routes. Built with JavaScript/TypeScript (React), it's production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies.

Hybrid rendering — SSG, SSR, ISR, and client-side in one app

Most popular React framework with massive community

Built-in image optimization, API routes, and middleware

Optimized for Vercel but deploys anywhere (Node.js, Docker)

Next.js is open-source and free to use. You own your code and data with no vendor lock-in. Deploy to any host that supports JavaScript/TypeScript, or use managed platforms like Vercel and Netlify for zero-config deployments.

Medium vs Next.js at a Glance

Side-by-side comparison based on real platform characteristics

MetricMediumNext.js
Ease of Use⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐ 3/5
Performance⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Flexibility 1/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Cost⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Scalability⭐⭐⭐ 3/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
Ecosystem 1/5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5
LanguageProprietaryJavaScript/TypeScript (React)
PricingFree to publishFree (open-source)
Open SourceNoYes

Ratings are based on publicly available data, documentation, and community consensus as of 2026. Individual experience may vary.

What Gets Migrated

A detailed breakdown of how your Medium content maps to Next.js

Content Types from Medium

  • stories
  • responses
  • series

Technical Details

Export Method
Settings → Download your data (HTML zip)
Source Language
Proprietary
Destination Format
Markdown/MDX files with frontmatter, organized by content type
URL Handling
301 redirect map generated automatically to preserve SEO equity

What may need manual attention

Custom server-side logic, third-party integrations, and platform-specific plugins will need equivalent solutions in Next.js. The core content (text, images, metadata) transfers cleanly.

How It Works

Migrate your content in three simple steps

1

Connect

Enter your Medium site URL — LeaveWP connects automatically.

2

Configure

Select Next.js as destination and choose content options.

3

Export

Download your migrated content or preview it in your browser.

Is Medium to Next.js the Right Move for You?

Migrating from Medium to Next.js makes the most sense if you're experiencing you don't own your audience — medium controls distribution or outgrowing Medium's architecture. Next.js is best for production web apps and content sites needing flexible rendering strategies.

You should migrate if: your Medium site is slow, your hosting costs are climbing, you need developer flexibility, or you want to adopt a modern JAMstack architecture.

You might want to stay if: your Medium site benefits from built-in audience — your posts reach medium's reader network and you don't have JavaScript/TypeScript developers on your team. Medium is genuinely easy to use, and that simplicity has value.

The migration itself is straightforward with LeaveWP — enter your Medium URL, select Next.js, and download your content. The more important question is whether Next.js's architecture fits your team's skills and your project's long-term needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I import my Medium followers?
Unfortunately, Medium does not expose follower email addresses through its export or API, so there is no way to directly import them. However, you can add a newsletter signup (using Buttondown, ConvertKit, or Mailchimp) to your new Next.js site and promote it in your final Medium posts. Many creators also publish a "We've Moved" post with a link to the new site. Over time, your organic search traffic will shift to your owned domain and grow your subscriber list independently of Medium.

Related Migration Guides

Explore more migration paths from Medium or to Next.js

Medium to Next.js Guides

In-depth guides and tutorials to help with your migration

Ready to Migrate?

Start your free migration from Medium to Next.js today.

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