How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform

Have you ever dreamed of starting your own blog but don’t know where to start?

Don’t worry, you’re not alone!

Figuring out how to choose the best blogging platform can feel like trying to solve a giant puzzle. Seriously, it is.

But guess what? I’m here to help you put all the pieces together!

In this super helpful guide, we’re going to discuss everything you need to know about picking the perfect blogging platform for you.

We’ll look at free & paid blogging platforms and all the cool features that can make your blogging journey awesome.

So, if you’re ready to dive in and find the best blogging platform for your new blog, Let’s get started.

Understanding Your Blogging Goals

Before we start looking at different blogging platforms, let’s talk about you and your awesome ideas.

What kind of blog do you want to create? Are you dreaming of starting a personal blog to share your travel adventures or yummy recipes? Or maybe you want to become a professional blogger and make money from your blog post?

Your goals will help you choose the best blogging platform for you.

If you’re just starting out and want to try blogging for fun, you might want a free blogging platform that’s super easy to use.

But if you’re planning to build a big, successful blog, you might need a more powerful blogging platform with lots of cool features.

Let’s break it down:

1. Personal Blog

If you want a simple blog to share your thoughts, hobbies, or life experiences, a free blog platform might be the right blogging platform for you.

These are great for beginners and let you focus on writing without worrying about too much technical stuff. You can start a free account on platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger without spending any money.

Personally, (and based on over usage) I would choose WordPress.com if you are going to the free route… as it’s easier to transition to a paid blog this way when you grow.

2. Professional Blog

If you’re thinking about making money from your blog or using it for your business, you might consider choosing a blogging platform that is more advanced.

These often cost money but give you more control over how your blog looks and works.

Platforms like self-hosted WordPress blogs or Squarespace are popular choices for professional bloggers.

3. Niche Blog

Maybe you want to blog about a specific topic, like food, travel, or tech.

Some platforms are better for certain types of blogs, so keep this in mind when choosing. For example, if you’re into photography, a platform with great image galleries might be best.

Now, let’s talk about your coding skills.

Are you a computer whiz, or does the thought of coding make you want to run and hide? Don’t worry, there are blogging platforms for anyone and also a solution for every problem when it comes to blogging.

If you don’t have any technical expertise, look for platforms with easy-to-use editors, website builders, and pre-made designs.

These let you create a great-looking blog without needing to know any code. Platforms like Wix or WordPress.com are great for this.

But if you love tinkering with websites and have some coding skills, you might prefer a platform that lets you customize every little detail, like the Self-hosted WordPress blog.

Also, think about your budget. How much are you willing to spend on your blog?

There are tons of free blogging platforms out there, but paid options often offer more features and control. We’ll look at both free and paid options, so you can find one that fits your budget.

Top Free Blogging Platforms

Now, let’s discuss some of the best free blogging platforms. These are great if you’re just starting out with a new blog or if you’re on a tight budget.

You have to remember that even though it’s not a good choice to use a free blog platform, but still, free doesn’t mean bad – many awesome blogs start on free platforms!

1. WordPress.com

WordPress.com is the best free blogging platform. It’s the best for personal blogs used as a journal or just for fun.

It’s a super popular blogging platform that’s packed with features and is easy to use. You can start a basic blog site for free, and if you decide to level up later, there are paid plans with even more features and control.

Pros:

• It has tons of free blog templates to make your blog look professional,

• It has Built-in SEO tools to help your blog posts get noticed by search engines,

• It is Great for both beginners and pros

• It is an easy-to-use content management system

Cons:

• It has limited customization on the free plan

• You can’t use your own domain name unless you upgrade

WordPress.com is a great choice for many bloggers because it’s a basic blogging tool. You can start with a free blog and then grow it into a more professional site as your blog grows.

It’s also great for creating different types of blog content, from blog posts to photo galleries and even podcasts.

Now let’s discuss other free blogging platforms.

2. Blogger

Blogger is Google’s free blogging platform. It’s been around for ages and is still a great choice for many bloggers, especially if you’re looking for a simple, no-fuss option to create your blog site.

Pros:

• It is super easy to use, perfect for beginners

• It integrates well with other Google services like Google Analytics

• It has free custom domain name (yourblog.blogspot.com)

• It is a good option for a basic blog

Cons:

• It has limited design options compared to other free blogging platforms

• It’s not as feature-rich as some other blogging platforms

Blogger is a great choice if you want a simple, straightforward free blogging service. I use it as you can see from my post here. I actually use it as a ‘syndicated blog’, which means I auto-post my videos and content here.

Blogger, with the domain name of: yourblogname.blogspot.com is especially good if you already use other Google services, as everything works together smoothly. Plus, you get a free domain name, which is pretty cool for a free platform.

3. Medium

Medium is a bit different from your typical blogging platform. It’s more like a social network for writers and readers.

If you’re more interested in writing and sharing ideas than designing a unique blog, Medium might be perfect for you.

Pros:

• It already has a built-in audience, making it easier to get readers

• It has a clean, distraction-free writing interface

• It is really great for sharing ideas and connecting with other writers

Cons:

• But, you have less control over your content

• It has limited customization options

This is as designy as you get with Medium.

Medium is perfect if you want to focus on writing and don’t care much about having your own unique blog design. It’s also great for reaching new readers who are already using the platform.

Many professional writers who already have their own site, also use Medium to share their thoughts and ideas.

4. Wix

Wix is known for its website builder, but it’s also a great free blogging platform.

If you want a blog that looks unique and professional, even on a free plan, Wix might be the right choice for you.

Pros:

• It has a Drag-and-drop editor which makes design a breeze

• It has lots of templates to choose from

• It is good for blogs with a visual focus

• You can add an online store to your blog site.

Cons:

• The free plan includes Wix ads on your blog

• It can be overwhelming with so many design options

Wix is a good choice if you want a blog that looks unique and professional, even on a free plan.

It’s especially great for bloggers who want to showcase photos or videos. The drag-and-drop editor makes it easy to create a blog that looks exactly how you want it to.

Comparison of Free Blog Platforms

Now that we’ve looked at some of the best free blogging platforms, let’s compare them side by side:

1. Ease of Use:

• Blogger and Medium are the simplest to use but have limited features.

• WordPress.com and Wix have more features but might take a bit more time to learn.

2. Design Options:

• Wix offers the most design freedom

• WordPress.com has lots of themes to choose from

• Blogger and Medium have limited design options

3. Built-in Audience:

• Medium has the best built-in audience

• Other free blog sites require more work to build your readership

4. SEO Features:

• WordPress.com has the best tools for SEO

• Other platforms have basic SEO features.

5. Future Growth:

• WordPress.com offers the most room for growth

• Other free blog platforms might limit you as your blog gets bigger

The best free blogging platform for you depends on your specific needs and goals. Think about what’s most important for your blog and choose the right blogging platform.

Best Paid Blogging Platforms

If you’re ready to invest a bit in your blogging journey, these paid platforms offer more features and control. They’re great for bloggers who want to take their blog to the next level or start a professional blog right from the beginning.

1. Self-hosted WordPress.org

Don’t confuse this with WordPress.com! WordPress.org is the self-hosted version, which means you’ll need to buy your own domain name and web hosting.

It’s one of the most popular and best blogging platforms for serious bloggers.

Pros:

• You have complete control over your blog

• There are endless customization options

• You will get a huge plugin library for added features

• It is perfect for creating a professional blog

• You can create your own WordPress blog exactly how you want it

Cons:

• It requires more technical know-how

• You’re responsible for updates and security

• Your Blog costs include your own domain name, web hosting, and sometimes premium themes or plugins

WordPress.org is the leading blogging platform, and also the choice of many professional bloggers and big websites.

It’s super powerful and flexible, letting you create almost any kind of blog or website you can imagine.

You can add an online store, create membership areas, or even build a social network – there’s no end to what you can create with your WordPress site.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace has a great website builder, known for its sleek, professional-looking designs.

If you want to choose a blogging platform that you can use to create a gorgeous blog without needing to know any code, Squarespace might be the perfect choice for you.

Pros:

• It has Beautiful, mobile-responsive templates

• It has an All-in-one solution with hosting included

• It’s great for blogs with a strong visual element

• It has a built-in e-commerce feature if you want to sell stuff

• It has an easy-to-use website builder

Cons:

• It can be more expensive than other blogging platforms,

• It is less flexible than a WordPress blog,

• It has fewer third-party integrations.

Squarespace is perfect if you want a beautiful blog without the stress of dealing with technical stuff. It’s especially good for photographers, artists, and other visual creators.

The templates are designed to make your content look amazing, and you can easily add an online store to your blog if you want to sell products to your own website traffic.

3. Ghost

Ghost is a newer platform that’s gaining popularity, especially among professional bloggers. It’s designed specifically for publishing, so if you’re serious about blogging, it’s worth checking out.

Pros:

• It is fast and minimalist

• It is built for professional publishing

• It is good for membership and subscription models

• It has a modern, clean design

Cons:

• It has a steeper learning curve than some other blog platforms,

• It has fewer themes and plugins compared to WordPress self-hosted solution,

• It can be more expensive, especially for beginners

Ghost is great for serious bloggers who want a clean, fast platform focused on publishing. It’s especially good if you plan to offer paid subscriptions to your blog.

The platform is designed to be super fast, which is great for your readers and can help with things like search engine optimization.

Comparison of Paid Blogging Platforms

Let’s compare these paid options, so you have a good idea when choosing the best blogging platform for you:

1. Customization:

• WordPress.org offers the most customization

• Squarespace and Ghost have more limited but still good options

2. Ease of Use:

• Squarespace is the most user-friendly,

• WordPress.org takes more time to learn how to use it, but is worth it in my opinion,

• Ghost is in the middle.

3. E-commerce Features:

• Squarespace has the best built-in e-commerce tools

• WordPress.org can do e-commerce with plugins, like WooCommerce

• Ghost focuses more on subscriptions than product sales

4. Cost:

• WordPress.org can be the cheapest or most expensive, depending on the hosting service you’re using, like DreamHost, BlueHost, etc.

• Squarespace and Ghost have set pricing plans.

5. Support:

• Squarespace offers the best direct support

• WordPress.org depends on the hosting provider, and the hosting services with the best support are DreamHost, BlueHost, A2 hosting, SiteGround, etc.

• Ghost offers good support but has a smaller community

We have discussed a lot of features for each platform. Now to answer the question, of how to choose the best blogging platform, let’s go even further.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Blogging Platform

Alright, let’s dive deeper into the factors you should consider before you choose a blogging platform.

This is where you need to make an important decision in your blogging journey, so pay close attention!

Ease of Use

Let’s face it, you want to spend your time writing awesome blog posts, not fighting with complicated software.

That’s why ease of use is super important when picking a blogging platform.

Some free blog platforms, like Wix and WordPress.com, are known for being super user-friendly. They have drag-and-drop editors that make it easy to design your blog sites without knowing any code.

It’s like playing with digital building blocks!

Also, platforms like self-hosted WordPress.org give you more control but you need more technical know-how… or at least more attention to detail.

If you look at the attached image it might make it look super confusing, but, if you just take it one step at a time it becomes so easy and very intuitive.

It’s like the difference between driving an automatic car and a stick shift – both can get you where you want to go, but one needs a bit more skill to operate.

Think about your tech skills and how much time you want to spend learning your blogging platform. If you’re a tech whiz, you might enjoy the challenge of a more complex platform.

But if you’d rather focus on writing, a simpler platform might be best.

Design and Customization Options

Your blog is like your online home, and you want it to look awesome, right? That’s where design and customization options come in.

Some platforms, like Squarespace, offer beautiful pre-made templates that you can use as-is or tweak a little.

It’s like moving into a fully furnished apartment – everything looks great right away.

Other platforms, like WordPress.org, let you customize every tiny detail of your blog. It’s more like building your own house from the ground up – you have complete control, but it takes more work.

Think about how important a unique design is to you.

Do you want your blog to look totally different from everyone else’s? Or are you okay with a design that looks good but might be similar to other blogs?

Also, consider if you might want to change your blog’s look in the future… which should be easy.

Some platforms make it easy to switch designs, while others might require you to start from scratch.

SEO Capabilities

SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization.

It’s all about making your blog sites easy for search engines (like Google) to find. After all, you want people to actually read your awesome blog posts, right?

Some blogging platforms have built-in SEO tools that make it easy to optimize your posts. WordPress, for example, has plugins like Yoast SEO and RankMath that give you tips on how to improve your posts for search engines.

Other platforms might not have as many SEO features, which could make it harder for people to find your blog.

If you’re blogging just for fun, it might not matter as much. But if you want to grow a big audience, good SEO capabilities are super important.

Scalability

Scalability is a fancy word that basically means “room to grow.” You might be starting small now, but what if your blog becomes super popular?

You want a platform that can handle your success!

Some platforms, like Blogger, are great for small blogs but might struggle if you get tons of traffic. Other blogging platforms, like WordPress.org, can grow with you no matter how big your blog gets.

Think about your long-term goals. Do you dream of having thousands of blog traffic? Do you want to add new features to your blog in the future? Choose a platform that can support your ambitions.

E-commerce Integration

Maybe you’re not thinking about selling stuff on your blog right now, but it’s good to know you have the option. E-commerce integration means being able to add an online store to your blog.

Platforms like Shopify are built specifically for online stores, while others like WordPress can add e-commerce features with plugins.

Shopify is a great eCommerce Platform, but it kind of sucks on the content side, so maybe give it a miss.

Even if you don’t need it now, it’s good to know your options for the future.

Community and Support

When you’re just starting out, it’s super helpful to have people you can turn to for help. That’s where community and support come in.

Some platforms, like WordPress, have huge communities of users. You can find forums, Facebook groups, and even local meetups where you can get help and share tips.

Other platforms might offer direct support from the company.

Squarespace, for example, has a customer service team you can contact if you run into problems.

Think about what kind of help you might need. Do you like figuring things out on your own with the help of online forums? Or would you prefer to be able to chat with a support person directly?

Custom Domain Name Options

Your blog’s web address (or URL) is like its home address on the internet. A custom domain is different from a free domain and it means having your own unique web address, like “www.yourawesomeblog.com”, or mine, “BlogProfitPath.com”.

Most paid platforms let you use a custom domain. Some free platforms, like WordPress.com, let you use a custom domain if you upgrade to a paid plan.

You can even get a free domain name with your hosting company if you decide to go with a paid hosting plan. As you can see in the image above, DreamHost.com offers this.

Having your own domain looks more professional and is easier for people to remember. It’s definitely something to consider, especially if you’re serious about blogging.

Imagine if this was called… www.BlogProfitPath.wordpress.com… eeek, you wouldn’t take it seriously, would you?

Content Management Features

Content management system is all about how easy it is to create, organize, and publish your blog posts. Look for features like:

• A good editor that makes it easy to write and format your posts

• The ability to schedule posts in advance

• It has ways to organize your posts into categories or tags

• It has options for creating different types of content (like photo galleries or podcasts)

The easier it is to manage your content, the more time you’ll have to focus on writing great blog posts!

Security and Backup Options

You don’t want to lose all your hard work because of a hack or a technical glitch. That’s why security and backup options are super important.

Look for platforms that offer:

• Regular automatic backups of your blog

• Security features like SSL certificates (that’s the “https” you see in secure web addresses)

• Two-factor authentication to keep your account safe

Note that if you’re using a self-hosted platform like WordPress.org, you’ll be responsible for a lot of the security yourself. Make sure you’re comfortable with that before choosing a self-hosted solution.

To be honest, using something like Dreamhost for your hosting makes the whole process so much easier.

Performance and Speed

Nobody likes a slow website, right?

A fast-loading blog keeps your readers happy and even helps with your search engine rankings because when people spend more time on your blogging site, Google takes notice of that to rank you higher.

Like one of my tester websites here that I use for testing out strategies to help my students get faster websites.

As you can see the results are off the hook, let’s compare this to even the biggest websites in the world. In the next image, you will see one of my favorite sites Wired.com… Not good.

Some things that can affect your blog’s speed include:

• The quality of your hosting (if you’re using a self-hosted platform)

• How optimized is your theme or template is

• Whether the platform uses caching (a way of storing parts of your site to make it load faster)

If speed is super important to you which it is supposed to be, then look for platforms known for their performance, or be prepared to put in some work to optimize your blog’s speed.

Monetization Possibilities

If you’re dreaming of making money with blogging, you’ll want to choose a platform that makes that possible. Some ways to monetize a blog include:

• Displaying ads such as Google AdSense,

• Selling your own products or services

• Using affiliate links (where you get a commission for recommending products)

Different platforms have different rules about monetization. For example, on WordPress.com’s free plan, you can’t display your own ads.

Make sure to check the monetization options before choosing a platform if you want to make money with your blogging sites.

Mobile-Friendliness

These days, lots of people read blogs on their phones or tablets. That’s why it’s super important for your blog to look good and work well on mobile devices.

Most modern blogging platforms offer mobile-responsive themes, which means your blog automatically adjusts to look good on any screen size.

But some platforms do this better than others, so it’s worth checking out how blogs look on mobile for any platform you’re considering.

Integration with Third-Party Tools

As your blog continues to grow, you might want to add extra features or connect it to other marketing tools you use. This is where third-party integrations come in handy.

For example, you might want to:

• Connect your blog to your email marketing service

• Connect to social media platforms by adding social sharing buttons

• Use analytics tools to track your blog’s performance

Some platforms, like WordPress, have tons of plugins that let you add all sorts of features. The image above shows a plugin called Breeze by Cloudways. This helps with speeding up your website. Essential in today’s Mobile First World.

While WordPress rocks for external plugins… other blogging platforms might have more limited options for connecting with other tools.

Cost and Value for Money

Of course, we can’t forget about the cost! Blogging platforms range from totally free to pretty expensive. But remember, cheaper isn’t always better.

Think about:

• What features you’re getting for your money

• Whether there are hidden costs (like having to buy a separate domain name or pay for essential plugins)

• If the platform offers everything you need, or if you’ll need to pay extra for add-ons

Sometimes, paying a bit more upfront can save you money and stress in the long run.

Long-term Viability and Platform Updates

You want to choose a platform that’s going to be around for a long time. Look for platforms that:

• Regularly release updates and new features

• Have a strong company behind them

• Are popular with other bloggers (popularity often means longevity in the tech world)

You don’t want to work so hard in building a blog only to have your blogging efforts rendered useless when the platform shuts down or stops being updated, forcing you to start over somewhere else. but… this is less likely for most of the platforms we talked about here.

Performance and Speed Considerations

A fast blog is a happy blog! Here are some things that can affect your blog’s speed:

1. Hosting quality: If you’re using a self-hosted platform, the company you choose to host your blog can make a big difference in how fast it loads. Look for hosts known for their speed and reliability.

2. Caching options: Caching is a way of storing parts of your blog so they load faster for repeat visitors. Some platforms have built-in caching, while others might need a plugin or some technical setup to enable caching.

3. Content Delivery Networks (CDNs): These distribute your blog content across multiple servers around the world. This means your blog can load quickly for readers no matter where they are. Some platforms include CDN services, while for others you might need to set this up separately.

FAQ: Choosing the Best Blogging Platform

My Final Thoughts

Wow, we’ve covered a lot! Remember, there’s no one “best” blogging platform for everyone.

The right choice depends on your specific needs, goals, and preferences. Don’t be afraid to try out a few different platforms before settling on one.

Many bloggers start on one platform and then move to another as their needs change.

The most important thing is to start writing and sharing your ideas with the world. Your perfect blogging platform is out there, waiting for you to find it.

It’s time to start your blogging journey!

You can even choose a free platform to just get started with blogging and write a couple of new blog posts, or just go straight with a paid platform full of features, the most important thing is to start.

I love self-hosted WordPress, and I use it for all my blogs.

So, are you ready to start your first blog? Which platform are you leaning towards? Let me know in the comments below.