Yes, I just started this month with a paid account ($1 a month) and it's basically what medium was supposed to be - custom urls and rss.

See the dead simple layout: https://kemendo.com/

I do wish they allowed email subscriptions but from what I understand that is coming soon. I also don't love the "published with write.as" text at the bottom of every page for paid accounts but that's no big deal.

Same here. Been lurking around for a while and finally got around to it.

The combination of open source, reasonable (actually directly inexpensive IMO) hosting, simplicity (but not dumbness or lack of features), the fact that they are already part of the fediverse and seems generally nice was my reasons for subscribing.

I've used it for a personal project blog and I'm really happy with it. I wouldn't call myself a heavy user though.

I've recently switched, as it ticks all boxes for me: simple, markdown, custom domain, ssl, reasonably priced. https://dpc.pw/

I'd love to try Write.as, but it seems that their free plan is no longer available? Not to me at least. The cheapest plan I can choose is 12USD/year.

The default plan selected is $0. Leave it as is.

Notice that if you pick $12, a billing section appears, but if you click the $0 such that the $0 button is greyed, it is replaced with captcha

This is a great default ... but weird in terms of colour / selection choice being misleading?

Yeah first time I see it as well. Wondering if their post is a way to get some attention at the same time.

If that was planned, nice way to get some attention ;)

I just started yesterday and wrote one post. I like it, it's markdown which I write in anyway, and it's open source at its heart.