💡 I Tested BULB, Lens, Mirror, and Medium — Here’s the Platform That Pays the Most

When I first started writing online, I had one simple question:
“Can I actually make money from my words?”
I wasn’t looking to get rich — I just wanted proof that the time I spent creating content could mean something more than just likes and shares.
That curiosity led me on a small but eye-opening experiment. I decided to test four different writing platforms — Medium, Mirror, Lens, and BULB — to see which one truly rewards creators the most fairly and effectively.
After weeks of testing, tracking, and comparing, here’s what I discovered.

🖋️ Chapter 1: The Old Guard — Writing on Medium

Medium is where most writers start. It’s beautiful, clean, and simple to use.
When I joined, I loved how easy it was to publish. Within minutes, my first story was live. The reading experience? Smooth. The interface? Perfect.
But here’s the catch: getting paid on Medium isn’t easy.
Medium’s Partner Program pays writers based on reading time from paying members. That means your article only earns if someone with a paid Medium subscription reads it — not just anyone.
In my case, I got about 1,200 views in a week, but only around 90 came from paid members. My total earnings? $3.84.
Medium pays real money, yes — but it’s a closed ecosystem. You need massive exposure or to write for publications that already have thousands of followers.
✅ Pros: Easy to use, huge audience, beautiful design
❌ Cons: Hard to monetize, centralized system, limited creative freedom.

🌐 Chapter 2: Enter the Web3 Revolution — Writing on Mirror

Then I discovered Mirror.xyz — one of the first Web3 publishing platforms.
At first, it felt futuristic. Mirror allows writers to publish on the blockchain. Each article can become an NFT or part of a decentralized project. You can even raise funds, launch tokens, or crowdfund creative work directly through your posts.
It felt like Medium… but with superpowers.
However, there was a problem: the barrier to entry.
Mirror runs on Ethereum, and gas fees (transaction costs) can be high. Creating an entry or collecting one required paying fees in ETH — sometimes $10, sometimes $50.
That’s fine for developers or crypto enthusiasts, but not for everyday writers.
After a week, I had only 4 readers — mainly other crypto users. I earned nothing tangible, but I gained something more valuable: perspective. Mirror isn’t about small passive earnings — it’s about building ownership and brand value.
✅ Pros: On-chain publishing, creator ownership, NFT integration
❌ Cons: High gas fees, small audience, not beginner-friendly.

👓 Chapter 3: The Social Twist — Lens Protocol

Next, I explored Lens Protocol, a Web3 social network built on Polygon.
Imagine Twitter or Instagram — but fully decentralized. Every post, like, or follow is an NFT you truly own. You can write short or long posts, build your community, and even earn through engagement (via tokenized reactions and collectibles).
Lens feels like the future of social media — open, portable, and creator-driven.
But there’s one issue: it’s still early. Access is limited (invite-only in most cases), and the user base is smaller than Web2 platforms. It’s a fun space for builders and innovators, but not yet a reliable source of income for most writers.
After posting several threads and articles there, I earned around $10 worth of tokens in collectibles. Not bad, but not sustainable yet.
✅ Pros: True content ownership, no censorship, community-driven rewards
❌ Cons: Still in beta, small user base, complex setup for beginners.

💡 Chapter 4: Discovering BULB — A Hidden Gem for Writers

Finally, I landed on BULB — a Web3 platform that rewards users for writing, reading, reacting, and sharing.
At first, I didn’t expect much. But I quickly realized BULB had something the others lacked: simplicity and fairness.
Here’s how it works:
You earn BULB Points for almost everything you do — writing, reading, commenting, or reacting. Your weekly performance determines how many BULB tokens you receive from a shared reward pool.
In short: the more value you bring to the community, the more you earn.
I posted three articles and spent a few days reading and engaging with others. My total?
👉 420 BULB tokens in my first week — without paying gas fees, without waiting for subscriptions, and without needing an invite.
What I loved most was the sense of community.
Unlike Medium or Mirror, where you often feel invisible, BULB feels alive. People comment, react, and genuinely care about your content. It’s like a creative economy powered by collaboration instead of competition.
✅ Pros: Free to use, low barriers, active community, transparent token rewards
❌ Cons: Value depends on token price, still growing ecosystem.

💬 Chapter 5: Comparing the Four Platforms

After spending time on all four platforms, I started to notice clear patterns — and a few surprises.
Medium felt like home for traditional writers. It’s smooth, professional, and full of readers. But the truth is, you only start earning once your content is read by paying members. That means even with thousands of views, your income can stay small. It’s great for building an audience, but not for consistent earnings unless you already have a following.
Mirror, on the other hand, was pure Web3 magic. Publishing on-chain, minting NFTs, owning your work — it all felt empowering. Yet, the high gas fees and technical setup make it hard for new creators to join in. It’s the perfect place for crypto-native writers or people launching projects, but not ideal for everyday storytelling.
Then came Lens Protocol, the social media of the blockchain world. It’s fresh, creative, and lets you actually own your posts and your audience. I loved how people could collect my posts as NFTs, but the platform is still in its early stages. The user base is small, and earning potential depends heavily on being active in a niche crypto community.
And finally, BULB — the unexpected gem. It combined the simplicity of Medium with the freedom of Web3. I could post for free, engage with others, and see my points grow daily. The best part was how transparent it felt — everyone could see how rewards were distributed, and the system encouraged genuine interaction, not spam or clickbait.
In simple terms:

• Medium is best for visibility.
• Mirror is best for innovation.
• Lens is best for community building.
• But BULB offers the most balanced way to earn while creating.

It didn’t just pay me more in tokens — it paid me in motivation. For the first time, I felt like my time and creativity were valued equally.

🧠 Chapter 6: What “Paying the Most” Really Means

Here’s something I realized through this experiment:
The best-paying platform isn’t just about money — it’s about value returned for your effort.
On Medium, you need massive reach.
On Mirror, you need technical skills.
On Lens, you need early access.
On BULB, you just need to participate.
BULB rewards you not just for creating, but also for being part of the ecosystem. That’s powerful — because it gives every voice a chance, not just the loudest ones.
The tokens might not make you rich overnight, but they represent something far more important: fairness and ownership.

🔥 Chapter 7: What I Learned from Testing Them All

Here are my biggest takeaways from testing these four worlds:
1️⃣ Engagement matters more than fame. On BULB, even smaller creators get noticed if they connect with readers.
2️⃣ Simplicity wins. Platforms that hide blockchain complexity behind smooth design attract real users.
3️⃣ Community is the new algorithm. The best platform isn’t the one with the biggest numbers — it’s the one with the strongest people.
4️⃣ Web3 is not the future — it’s happening right now. Writers who adapt early will shape the next generation of online storytelling.

💎 Chapter 8: The Final Verdict

After testing all four platforms, here’s my honest conclusion:

BULB is currently the platform that pays the most — not just in tokens, but in opportunity.

It’s accessible, rewarding, and built around creative energy.
It doesn’t matter if you’re from New York or Nairobi — if you write, read, and engage, you earn.
That’s something no other platform, Web2 or Web3, has truly accomplished yet.
So yes, Mirror is innovative, Lens is futuristic, and Medium is reliable — but BULB is alive.
And for creators like me who believe in ownership, community, and the value of words, that’s priceless.

✍️ Final Thoughts

If you’re a writer wondering where to start, start with BULB.
Learn the system, connect with others, and watch your creativity literally turn into currency.
Because one day soon, you’ll look back and realize —
you weren’t just writing for tokens;
you were writing the story of the decentralized internet.

What about you?
👉 Have you tried any Write-to-Earn platforms yet?
Which one do you think truly rewards creators fairly?
Share your thoughts in the comments — let’s build the Web3 writing revolution together 💫