Best Blogging Platforms

Blogging is one thing that is undoubtedly on the rise. But you already know that if you have made your way here.  The chances are you are looking to start a blog but have hit a roadblock – “What platform do I use?”

That is a pretty understandable issue, and a critical one to solve if you are starting an online business.

Today, the blogging platform scene is more varied and competitive than ever, and there is no apparent one size fits all platform. All best blogging platforms have their boons and banes.

This article will guide you through the most competitive ones in the market to help you decide which one suits your needs the most.

Some Questions To Ask Yourself When Looking For The Best Blogging Platforms

Should I Pay For The Best Blogging Platforms?

Whether to invest in a subscription or use any of the many free options available, what’s most important to consider is what you aim to achieve with your blog.

If you are looking into starting a blog purely for a fun place to share your thoughts, then spending money on what is otherwise a free hobby seems pointless.

An investment may prove worthwhile if you seek to gain a large following, get your opinions across, and branch into eCommerce. Keep in mind that most free options have significant limitations when it comes to monetization (not to mention the more rudimentary features).

Technically, though, you can set up a blog for free, thereby making it a great business model for someone who is looking to start a business with no money.

What Tone Do I Want My Blog to Have?

Depending on the general atmosphere of your blog, there is a big difference in what sort of options you want to consider.

Your blog could be a place for cute pictures of your puppy and anecdotes from your daily life. It could also be a place for in-depth political ramblings.

Similarly, you could be anonymous and voice your most controversial opinions without fear of real-life reprisal. Alternatively, you could develop your profile as an individual by having your name and views ring loud and clear on the internet.

Am I Familiar With Technology?

Of course, we all know how to surf the web, but some platforms require more technical expertise than you would pick up in your daily routine.

Depending on the platform, customization or sometimes even just setting the blog up will require coding and back-end development.

On other best blogging platforms, it might be as simple as a few drag and drop-boxes. But, of course, this will come with the trade-off that you will have less specific control over how your blog comes out design-wise.

If you’re good with technology, then you also might be able to benefit from digital planning tools that help you stay organized.  That’s a big deal for most bloggers.

The Best Blogging Platforms to Consider

Blogger

Google offers a free blogging platform called Blogger. It gives non-technical people a fast and straightforward method to start a blog.

One of the few early blogging systems still in use is Blogger. Pyra Labs introduced it in 1999. Later in 2003, Google bought Blogger and remade it into the platform we are familiar with today.

You only need a Google account to create a free blog on Blogger.

Pros

• Blogger is free.
• Even without any technical knowledge, it’s simple to use and administer.
• It has the extra benefit of Google’s reliable and secure platform.

Cons

• You are only allowed to use the most basic blogging tools; you cannot add more functions as your blog gains popularity.
• Fewer templates to choose from and design possibilities are constrained. The quality of third-party Blogger themes is often poor.
• There aren’t many upgrades or new features added to Blogger.
• Google has the right to revoke Blogger service entirely or suspend your blog anytime. (They have a habit of abruptly ending programs like Feedburner.)

Pricing

A subdomain like https://example.blogspot.com is free to use. You have to purchase a custom domain from a third-party domain registrar if you wish to utilize one.

Web.com

The popular website builder platform Web.com has a built-in function that allows you to create a blog area for your company website or online shop.

For non-technical users, their drag-and-drop website builder tool is straightforward; consequently, it is easy to get started.

Without writing any code, you may choose from hundreds of their pre-made templates and then alter the design of your blog. It includes all the essential features, like blog security safeguards, analytics, autosave & backup, and SEO tools.

Pros

• Drag and drop website builder for beginners (no coding needed).
• There are dozens of layouts for your blog that are entirely customizable.
• Since Web.com handles all the technical aspects of hosting your website, setup is simple and hassle-free.
• You get a free domain with any priced plan.
• Available by phone, live chat, and email around-the-clock customer service.

Cons

• Because the library for extensions and apps is tiny, there aren’t as many third-party plugins as there are for WordPress.
• Blogging options are relatively simple compared to competitors
• It is challenging to subsequently move your website to another platform since Web.com is a proprietary website builder.

Pricing

Pricing for Web.com’s website starting package, which includes a drag and drop site builder, blogging platform,f themes, free stock pictures, and a free domain, begins at $1.95 per month.

Upgrade to their Marketing plan beginning at $2.95 per month or their eCommerce plan starting at just under $4 per month if you want their robust SEO tools or eCommerce capabilities.

Best Blogging Platforms: WordPress.org

WordPress.org is the most widely used blogging platform worldwide; Founded in 2003, it powers more than 40% of all websites on the internet.

(While it is easy to confuse WordPress.org with WordPress.com, do keep in mind that they are different services)

You may quickly create a website or blog using the open-source, free WordPress.org blogging platform.

Since it is a self-hosted option, you must register with a WordPress hosting company. WordPress is a fantastic alternative if you want complete control over your blog’s destiny.

Pros

• You have complete control over every element of your website using WordPress.org.
• Your blog may expand as you add new features, such as forums, an online shop, premium subscriptions, and the ability to offer online courses. WordPress is thus the most refined free blogging platform for generating income.
• For WordPress, hundreds of free themes are accessible, enabling you to design a website that stands out from the competition. The majority of well-liked WordPress themes provide tools for built-in customization that allow you total design control without modifying any CSS code.
• An extensive library(50 000+) of free WordPress plugins is available. For your WordPress blog, these plugins are essentially applications that let you add features like galleries and contact forms.  You can use plugins to sell things like eBooks too.
• WordPress is optimized for search engines. You may quickly create categories, tags, and URLs for your articles that are search engine friendly. Additionally, there are several excellent SEO plugins available for further optimization.
• To view the facts that matter, you may quickly install Google Analytics-powered website analytics in WordPress, Thus increasing the number of readers and subscribers to your new blog.
• Creating any material for your blog site is simple by using WordPress’s drag-and-drop editor. Additionally, it can quickly add dynamic content such as movies, social network feeds, Google Adsense, graphs, charts, and more.

Cons

• A learning curve is involved in running your website since you must get comfortable with the WordPress admin back-end.
• You’ll be responsible for handling your security and backups.

Pricing

WordPress software is free, but you’ll also need hosting (which typically starts at $7.99/month) and a domain name (around $14.99/year). You may create any kind of website with web hosting and a domain name.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a blog hosting service powered by Automattic, a business founded by Matt Mullenweg, a co-founder of WordPress.org.

Free basic blog hosting is available from WordPress.com. A personalized domain name, more storage space, and other premium services are available as add-ons.

WordPress.com, launched in 2005 with the intention of making the WordPress experience more accessible to a broader audience, is a decent blogging platform for users who don’t need the sophisticated capabilities of a self-hosted WordPress.

Pros

• No setup is necessary.
• Relatively simple to use and control.
• If you are content with a WordPress.com subdomain, it is free. The address of your free website is https://example.wordpress.com.

Cons

• There are limited choices for expanding your site; You cannot use custom plugins or themes to personalize your blog.
• Your site is not allowed to display advertising. Instead, on your free website, WordPress.com will display its adverts.
• Your blog is not yours, and WordPress.com has the right to suspend your account if they determine that you infringe on their terms of service.

Pricing

WordPress.com logo and advertisements will be present on your blog if you use the free service.

If you want to remove the WordPress.com logo and advertisements from your website, you may upgrade your account for $4/month (paid annually). Also included is a custom domain (such as www.yoursite.com).

Additionally, you may get more design tools and storage for $8/month (paid annually).

HubSpot CMS

HubSpot CMS Hub is a blogging platform with a target audience of small, medium, and corporate websites.

You can utilize a single platform to build a website, increase your subscriber count, send newsletters, manage your customer list, and more since it is built on top of HubSpot’s marketing and CRM technologies.

You may easily alter the design style of your website using their website builder, and you can even tailor the material that visitors view depending on their prior behavior.

Pros

• A simple drag-and-drop website builder that doesn’t need coding knowledge.
• Since HubSpot will be hosting your website for you, setup is quick and straightforward.
• It is well-tuned for conversions and SEO.
• Included is a free SSL certificate.

Cons

• Although the CMS does not offer a free version, the HubSpot CRM includes free functions (including contact management, email marketing, and forms).
• Moving up the levels may result in expensive pricing.
• Depending on your prior provider, migrating from another blogging platform may take a while.

Pricing

The HubSpot CMS plan includes all the essential elements for having a safe, beautifully designed blog, which begins at $25 per month. It also gives you the marketing tools you’ll need to expand it.

Upgrade to the higher levels if you want sophisticated capabilities and personalized SEO advice.

Medium

Since its 2012 launch, Medium has developed into a network of authors, bloggers, journalists, and professionals. With few social networking capabilities, it is a simple-to-use blogging platform.

Just like a social networking site, Medium allows you to register and start posting your content. After signing up, you’ll get a profile address similar to this: https://medium.com/@yourname. However, you are unable to utilize your own domain.

Pros

• Medium is simple to use with no setup and no coding knowledge.
• You may connect with an already-existing online group of individuals who share your interests.
• Instead of concentrating on website design, you may just write.

Cons

• In terms of design or creating a brand, features are pretty constrained.
• Medium owns your followers, so losing your blog means losing every single one.
• Your own domain name is ineligible for usage. Simply put, you’ll get a profile page similar to Facebook’s, such as https://medium.com/@yourname.
• Since their partner program is the only avenue for monetization, you cannot run your own advertisements to generate income.

Pricing

Medium is a free service.

Wix

Wix is a popular platform for website creation; They provide a way for small companies to quickly create a website using their drag-and-drop builder. You can add a blog to your website by including the Wix Blog app.

Established in 2006, Wix.com is a platform that allows anybody to build a beautiful website without needing technical knowledge. Currently, more than 110 million individuals are using it worldwide.

Pros

• You may use numerous themes and third-party applications to modify your website.
• No coding knowledge is necessary to use its simple drag-and-drop tools to build your website.
• It is simple, quick, and easy to setup

Cons

• The free account has restrictions and places Wix branding and advertisements on your website.
• There are just a few free third-party applications.
• You cannot alter a template after you have selected it.
• Only premium subscriptions provide e-commerce functionality, and even they are limited.

Pricing

Wix offers a free, primary website builder. You will get a Wix subdomain with a free Wix account that looks as follows: https://username.wixsite.com/example.

For $4.50 per month, you may create a custom domain;  The price of their premium plans varies from $8.50 to $24.50 per month.

Squarespace

With Squarespace, a website building service, you can construct stunning websites using simple drag-and-drop tools. The primary target audience is small company owners seeking a simple approach to establishing an internet presence.

Squarespace, founded in 2003, presently powers millions of websites online.

Pros

• For new users who aren’t computer knowledgeable, Squarespace is straightforward to use.
• It offers lovely templates that were well created.
• It provides both eCommerce shops and domain names with SSL/HTTP individually.

Cons

• The capabilities included in Squarespace’s proprietary platform are all that are available.
• Only a few services and technologies allow integrations.

Pricing

Different price tiers are available for websites and online shops on Squarespace.

Starting at $16 per month, or $12 per month if you pay for the whole year up front, is the cost of their Personal website plan. Pricing for the Business plan begins at $26 per month, or $18 per month if paid yearly.

In contrast, the cost of an internet business might range from $26 to $40 each month.

Tumblr

When comparing Tumblr to other blogging systems, there are several differences. It is a microblogging platform that has social networking facilities built-in, including sharing tools and the ability to follow other blogs, among other features.

Pros

• While you will have a Tumblr subdomain like https://example.tumblr.com, Tumblr is cost-free. Additionally, a premium custom domain name is connectable.
• It is effortless to use and set up.
• Its integrated social media network facilitates easy discovery.
• As a microblogging platform, Tumblr makes it simple to instantly blog video, GIF, picture, and audio formats.

Cons

• Tumblr has a constrained set of features out of the box that you cannot expand upon as your blog becomes bigger.
• While numerous Tumblr themes are available, they do not provide any extra functions.
• Exporting your Tumblr blog or importing it onto other sites is difficult.

Pricing

The usage of Tumblr is free. For your Tumblr blog, you may utilize a custom domain that you independently purchase. You can also buy third-party themes and tools.

Best Blogging Platforms: Conclusion

The internet today is more diverse and accessible than ever before. Blogging is no exception; while there are many options for a platform available to you as a new blogger, it may be confusing to decide.

There is no simple answer for what the best blogging platform is or what platform you will have the best experience with; that is something too subjective for me or even for yourself to decide decisively.

That being said, there are some metrics by which you can navigate through the options on the table; stuff like pricing, accessibility, domain names/ownership, and features can allow you to differentiate between them and come to the right fit for you.