Do you wish to start your own blog but don’t know how to choose the best platform to use? It’s a difficult decision because there are numerous blogging platforms available. How do you know which one is best for you?
In this article, we’ll go over the pros and cons of the most popular blogging platforms to help you choose the best blogging platform.
The major and most popular blogging platforms we’ll be comparing in this article are listed below. If you’re interested in a specific platform, you can skip ahead in the article by clicking the link.
- WordPress.org
- Constant Contact Website Builder
- Wix
- Gator
- WordPress.com
- Blogger
- Tumblr
- Medium
- Squarespace
- Ghost
Choosing The Best Blogging Platform – What to Look for?
Before diving into the list, it’s a good idea to figure out what you’re looking for in a blogging platform.
As a beginner, you’ll want a blogging platform that’s simple to set up, has a low learning curve, and doesn’t necessitate any coding knowledge.
As your blog grows in popularity, you may want to change the look of your site and add more features to accommodate your expanding audience. That is why it is critical to select a blogging platform that is adaptable and has room for expansion.
Starting on the wrong platform can make switching later on extremely difficult.
Finally, even if you don’t intend to make money blogging right now, it’s a good idea to plan for the possibility in the future.
Keeping this in mind, let us compare the best blogging platforms for beginners.
1. WordPress.org
WordPress.org is the most popular blogging software in the world. WordPress, which was founded in 2003, now powers more than 39% of all websites on the internet.
It’s easy to mix up WordPress.org and WordPress.com, a blog hosting service mentioned later in this list. See our guide to understanding the distinction between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
WordPress.org is a free open source blogging platform that allows you to create a website or blog in minutes.
It is a self-hosted solution, which means you must register with a WordPress hosting provider. If you want complete control over the future of your blog, WordPress is an excellent choice.
PROS
- WordPress.org gives you complete control over your website.
- You can expand your blog by adding features such as forums, an online store, and paid membership. As a result, WordPress is the best blogging platform for making money.
- There are thousands of free WordPress themes available. This allows you to create a stunning website that stands out from the crowd.
- You also have access to over 58,000 free plugins. Wp plugins function similarly to apps for your WordPress blog, allowing you to add lot of features such as contact forms, many more.
- WordPress is optimized for search engines. For your posts, you can easily create SEO-friendly URLs, categories, and tags. In addition, there are a plethora of excellent SEO plugins for added functionality.
CONS
- It takes some time to learn how to manage your own website.
- You will be responsible for your own backups and security.
PRICING
WordPress software is free, but you will need a domain name (approximately $14.99/year) and hosting (typically starting at $7.99/month).
To launch any type of website, you’ll need a domain name and web hosting.
Your Blog Master users can get started with Bluehost, an official WordPress recommended hosting provider, for as little as $2.75 per month. They are providing our users with a 60% discount on web hosting as well as a FREE domain name.
For complete step-by-step instructions, see our article on how to start a WordPress blog.
2. Constant Contact Website Builder
Constant Contact Website Builder is an intelligent A.I.-powered website builder that allows you to quickly create a free blog, business website, and even an online store.
You can start with their extensive template library and then customize your website design with an easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface. You also get access to a custom logo maker, a professional stock photo library with over 550,000 images, an online store, and much more.
PROS
- No technical knowledge is required to use this simple drag-and-drop website builder.
- Because Constant Contact will host your website, setup is quick and simple.
- Before purchasing, you can take advantage of a free 60-day trial to test the service and even build an online store.
- All pro plans include a free SSL certificate.
CONS
- Because the developer ecosystem is small, there aren’t as many third-party plugins as there are with WordPress.
- Integration with third-party platforms is limited.
- It is difficult to export your site from the Constant Contact website builder to another platform.
PRICING
Constant Contact website builder provides a generous 60-day free trial period during which you can create a blog, business website, logo, and even an online eCommerce store.
You can upgrade to the Website Builder plan for $10 per month, which includes a custom domain name, free SSL certificate, and other powerful platform features, as well as 24/7 phone based support, which is a big plus considering most other website builders do not provide phone support.
If you’re a small business that doesn’t want to use WordPress, Constant Contact is the next best option given what you get for the price.
3. Wix
Wix is a well-known hosted platform for creating websites. Especially when it comes to their drag and drop website builder which makes it simple for small businesses and newbies to create a website. You can also incorporate a blog into your website by incorporating the Wix Blog app.
Wix.com was founded in 2006 as a platform where anyone with no coding skills could create their own stunning website. It currently has over 110 million users worldwide.
PROS
- You can personalize your site with a variety of templates and third-party apps.
- Create your site with simple drag-and-drop tools; no coding is required.
- Setup is quick and simple.
CONS
- The free account has limitations and displays Wix branding and advertisements on your site.
- There are a limited number of free third-party apps available.
- Once you’ve selected a template, you can’t change it.
- Ecommerce features are only available on paid plans, and even then, they are limited.
- For a detailed comparison of the two platforms, see our article on Wix vs WordPress.
PRICING
Wix’s basic website builder is free. You’ll get a Wix subdomain that looks like this with a free Wix account: Example: https://username.wixsite.com/example
You can, however, add a custom domain for $4.50 per month. Their premium plans range in price from $8.50 to $24.50 per month.
4. Gator by HostGator
Gator is a website builder and blogging platform developed by HostGator, the well-known web hosting company that hosts the Your Blog Master website. Gator provides a drag-and-drop tool for creating any type of website, including blogs, business sites, and even an online store.
It is critical that you do not mix up the Gator builder with HostGator website hosting. You can use HostGator’s hosting service to launch a WordPress blog, as we did.
Gator, on the other hand, is an excellent non-WordPress all-in-one blog platform and hosting solution.
PROS
- Simple drag-and-drop builder for customizing your blog and website design.
- Quick installation – no technical snafus.
- HostGator manages backups, performance, and security (no headaches).
- All plans include a free domain and SSL certificate.
- With a few clicks, you can easily add an online store to your blog.
CONS
- There are no free accounts, but there is a 45-day money-back guarantee.
- Ecommerce features are only available on higher-tiered plans.
- There are only a few apps and extensions available.
PRICING
All Gator builder plans are discounted by 55% for Your Blog Master users. The Starter plan costs $3.46/month and includes everything you need to start a successful blog, including a free domain and SSL certificate.
You simply need to use our Gator Website Builder coupon code:Your Blog Master to receive a 55% discount.
5. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a blog hosting service provided by Automattic, a company founded by Matt Mullenweg, co-founder of WordPress.org.
WordPress.com provides a free basic blog hosting service. Additional options, such as a custom domain name, additional storage, and other premium services, are available for purchase.
WordPress.com, founded in 2005 with the goal of bringing WordPress experience to a wider audience, is a good blogging site for users who do not require the advanced features of self-hosted WordPress.
PROS
- There is no need for any setup.
- Simple to use and manage.
- If you’re content with a WordPress.com subdomain, it’s completely free. Your free website address will be something like this: https://example.wordpress.com.
CONS
- There are few options for expanding your site. Custom themes and plugins cannot be used to customize your blog.
- Advertisements are not permitted on your blog. Instead, WordPress.com will place advertisements on your free website.
- You do not own your blog, and WordPress.com has the right to suspend your account if you violate their terms of service.
PRICING
The basic WordPress.com account is free, but it will include WordPress.com advertisements and branding.
You can remove the WordPress.com logo and advertising from your website by upgrading to their Personal plan for $4/month (billed yearly). You also get your own domain (such as www.yoursite.com).
Additional design tools and storage are available for $8/month (billed annually).
Because of the name similarity, beginners frequently begin with WordPress.com, believing they are getting the powerful WordPress.org software. After discovering the limitations, users frequently migrate from WordPress.com to WordPress.org in order to gain more features and control over their website.
6. Blogger
Google Blogger is a free blogging service. It provides a quick and simple way for non-technical users to create a blog.
Blogger was one of the first blogging platforms to emerge. Pyra Labs first introduced it in 1999. Later that year, in 2003, Google purchased Blogger and redesigned it into the product we know today.
To begin a free blog on Blogger, all you want is a Google account.
PROS
- Blogger is completely free.
- It is simple to use and manage without any technical knowledge.
- Has the added benefit of Google’s strong secure platform and dependability.
CONS
- You can only use basic blogging tools and cannot add new features as your blog grows in popularity.
- With fewer templates available, design options are limited. Third-party Blogger templates are frequently of poor quality.
- Blogger doesn’t get many updates or new features.
- Google reserves the right to suspend or terminate your blog at any time. (They have a history of abruptly abandoning projects, such as Feedburner.)
See our WordPress vs Blogger comparison for more information on the benefits and drawbacks of Blogger (Pros and cons).
Some users begin with Blogger because it is free, but as their blog grows, they switch to WordPress to gain more features and control over their website.
PRICING
Blogger is free if you use a Blogger subdomain such as https://example.blogspot.com. You must purchase a custom domain from a third-party domain registrar if you want to use it.
7. Tumblr
Tumblr is distinct from other blogging platforms. It is a microblogging platform with social networking features such as blog following, reblogging, built-in sharing tools, and more.
PROS
- Tumblr is free if you have a Tumblr subdomain, such as https://example.tumblr.com. A premium custom domain name can also be linked.
- It is extremely easy to operate and to use.
- It includes a social media component.
- Tumblr, as a microblogging platform, makes it simple to quickly blog videos, GIFs, images, and audio files.
CONS
- Tumblr has a limited set of features that you can’t expand as your blog grows.
- There are many Tumblr themes available, but they cannot provide additional features.
- It is difficult to backup your Tumblr blog or import it to other platforms (see our guide on how to move from Tumblr to WordPress).
PRICING
Tumblr is completely free to use. You can use a custom domain (purchased separately) for your Tumblr blog, and you can also buy third-party themes and apps.
8. Medium
Medium, which was founded in 2012, has grown into a community of writers, bloggers, journalists, and experts. It is a simple blogging platform with limited social networking capabilities.
Medium functions similarly to a social networking site in that you can create an account and begin publishing your articles. After you sign up, your profile address will look something like this: https://medium.com/@yourname. However, you are not permitted to use your own domain.
PROS
- Medium is simple to use, requiring no setup and no coding skills.
- It enables you to connect with an existing online community of people who share your interests.
- Instead of designing a website, you can concentrate solely on writing.
CONS
- In terms of design or brand building, features are severely limited.
- Medium owns your audience, so if you lose your blog, you lose all of your followers.
- You are not permitted to use your own domain name. You’ll simply get a profile page, similar to Facebook’s, such as https://medium.com/@yourname.
- You cannot make money by running your own advertisements.
See our guide on WordPress vs Medium – Which is Better? for a more detailed comparison.
PRICING
Medium is completely free to use.
While the platform appears to be appealing at first glance, the lack of monetization and control causes most people to switch from Medium to WordPress.
9. Squarespace
Squarespace is a website creation service that allows you to build beautiful websites with simple drag-and-drop tools. It is aimed at small business owners who want a simple way to establish an online presence.
Squarespace, which was founded in 2003, now powers millions of websites online.
PROS
- Squarespace is a simple and easy-to-use platform for beginners who are not very tech-savvy.
- It has professionally designed templates that are both beautiful and functional.
- It provides domain names with SSL/HTTPs and eCommerce stores separately.
CONS
- Squarespace’s features are limited to those built into their proprietary platform.
- Integrations are restricted to a small number of services and tools.
For a more detailed comparison, see our WordPress vs Squarespace guide.
PRICING
Squarespace offers a variety of pricing plans for websites and online stores.
Pricing for their Personal website plan begins at $16/month, or $12/month if paid in advance for a year. Pricing for the Business plan begins at $26 per month, or $18 per month billed annually.
Pricing for online stores ranges from $26 per month to $40 per month.
Users frequently switch from Squarespace to WordPress in order to reduce costs and add more features to their websites.
10. Ghost
Ghost is a minimalist blogging platform that focuses solely on writing blog posts. Ghost, which debuted in 2013, is available as a hosted platform as well as software that you can install and host yourself. We’ll look into both options.
PROS
- I’m primarily interested in blogging and writing.
- The user interface is very simple, uncluttered, and easy to use.
- It’s written in JavaScript, so it’s lightning fast.
- The hosted version does not require any setup.
CONS
- Apps are difficult to customize.
- Because of the simplified user interface, options are severely limited.
- There aren’t enough themes to change the look of your site.
- If you install it yourself, the setup is complicated.
For more information on the subject, see our WordPress vs. Ghost comparison.
PRICING
The self-hosted version requires a custom domain (approximately $14.99/year) and web hosting (starting at approximately $7.99/month).
Pricing for the hosted version begins at $29/month for two staff users with a page view limit of 100,000. Your blog will be a Ghost subdomain ending in ghost.io unless you purchase a custom domain from a third-party domain registrar.
The Best Blogging Platform, According to Us
WordPress.org, in our opinion, outperforms all other blogging platforms. It is the most powerful, user-friendly, cost-effective, and adaptable blogging platform available. The following are all of the reasons why you should use WordPress.
We have created a complete guide on how to start a blog in 7 Easy Steps to assist you in getting started with your own WordPress site.
If you require assistance, Your Blog Master’s team of experts can even help you set up your blog for free. Find out more about our free WordPress blog installation service.
If you’re looking for a WordPress alternative, Constant Contact website builder is our second choice for the best blogging platform.
Their free A.I-powered drag-and-drop website builder makes it simple to create any type of website, from a blog to a business website to an online store.
We hope this article has assisted you in selecting the best blogging platform for your next blog. You might also be interested in our guide on 27 tried-and-true ways to increase blog traffic.
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