I asked my new best friend, ChatGPT, the following question and got the following answer.
TAG is killing Hubpages and is stealing content. Is there a reasonable alternative?"
ChatGPT said:
Thought for 40s
Short answer: yes—there are solid alternatives. And you’re not imagining the HubPages/TAG mess.
What’s going on with HubPages/TAG (why writers are upset)
Since late 2024, The Arena Group (TAG, the company that owns HubPages) began pivoting niche sites away from user-generated content (e.g., PetHelpful, Dengarden).
HubPages
In March/April 2025 TAG said revenue sharing would stop for articles that remained on several niche sites (Delishably, Hobbylark, Owlcation, WanderWisdom, LetterPile, WeHaveKids) unless authors asked to move pieces back to Discover.HubPages. Many writers missed the short window and saw earnings disappear.
HubPages
+1
HubPages was acquired by Maven (now TAG), so policy shifts are centralized. (That’s the corporate through-line.)
Wikipedia
On “stealing content”: HubPages’ FAQ still says you own your content, but TAG’s broader terms include very wide licenses to use material submitted to their platforms—worth reading closely if you think your work was reused without consent.
HubPages
The Arena Group
Good alternatives (pick based on your goal)
If you want the most control + best long-term SEO
Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) with a reputable host. Monetize with AdSense/Ezoic/Raptive, affiliates, or your own products. (More setup, but you truly control it.)
If you want “publish & earn” with low setup
Vocal Media — pays per read, accepts evergreen how-to content similar to HP niches.
NewsBreak Creator — local/newsy angles do best; ad-revenue share and bonuses.
Medium Partner Program — member-based payouts; discovery can be hit-or-miss.
Substack — email + web publishing; free or paid subscriptions.
Ghost (hosted or self-hosted) — like Substack but you own everything; membership paywalls.
(These are the platforms most writers are moving to now; community reports mirror this shift.)
https://www.authorityhacker.com
Blogging Guide
If you want a newsletter-first strategy
Substack or Ghost(Pro) — build an email list you control, then monetize with memberships (no platform algorithm anxiety).
If you write in tight niches
Consider niche communities (e.g., specific forums, specialty publications) that pay per article; or pitch digital mags directly.
Practical next steps (to protect yourself & move)
Export your HubPages work and keep dated copies.
Decide on a home (your site vs. a new platform).
If you see your work reused beyond what you agreed to, file a DMCA and request removal; document URLs and dates. (HP’s help pages still point to DMCA procedures.)
HubPages
If your articles are stuck on niche sites that stopped sharing revenue, email support to move them back to Discover.HubPages (which still pays) or request removal/permission to republish. The April 2025 notices listed a contact for moves.
HubPages
If you tell me your top 2–3 goals (max ad revenue, email list growth, least maintenance, etc.), I’ll recommend a precise stack (hosting + theme + ad network or the best single platform) and a quick migration plan.
I am guessing I (we) missed the window to move from the niche sites.
Sources