Best blogging platforms for every type of blog

By Rhonda Bradley February 27, 2024

When you’ve ever had a weblog earlier than, you in all probability know what a problem it may be to determine which running a blog platform to decide on. Every boasts an extended record of instruments and options that may begin to sound alike after you’ve browsed 5 – 6 of them.

When you’re seeking to begin your first weblog, choosing the proper running a blog platform may be much more tough. Particularly when (and everyone knows this occurs) everybody has a unique, and sometimes passionate, opinion on which one is greatest.

On this information to the perfect running a blog platforms, we make it simple so that you can select the perfect running a blog platform for what you are promoting or private running a blog wants. You’ll uncover that are simple or tough to make use of, how a lot they price, why folks do and don’t like them, and who every platform is greatest suited to.

This information will prevent hours of analysis time and assist level you in the suitable path when searching for a running a blog platform that matches your wants. 

On the lookout for a running a blog service you possibly can persist with for years to come back? Your journey begins right here!

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Greatest running a blog platforms

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What’s a running a blog platform?

A running a blog platform is a kind of software program or service that permits you to publish on-line content material within the type of a weblog. 

Running a blog software program, reminiscent of WordPress or Wix, requires “internet hosting” to go stay on the web. Internet hosting is commonly included with running a blog software program, for a month-to-month price. Most running a blog software program doubles as website-builder software program so you possibly can construct your web site alongside your weblog or combine it at a later time.

Running a blog providers, reminiscent of Medium and Tumblr, host your weblog for you. These are blog-only providers that don’t can help you create an internet site. They’re cheaper or free and simpler to make use of. Nonetheless, running a blog providers enable you little or no management over your design. In addition they depart you closely reliant on the success of the platform for continued running a blog.

What to search for when selecting a running a blog platform

When selecting the perfect platform in your weblog, think about your wants, objectives, and stage of technical experience.

• Is the platform user-friendly and straightforward to make use of?
• Does it enable for the sorts of customizations you take note of?
• Will it allow you to create the design you take note of?
• Does it have the important options and plugins you might want to meet your objectives, reminiscent of search engine optimisation boosters or ecommerce integrations?
• Can it meet your wants as you develop?
• Is it inside your funds?

Searching for a running a blog platform could make you’re feeling like a child in a sweet retailer. It’s simple to search out your self wanting to construct one thing larger and higher than what you want, particularly when confronted with among the unbelievable options and plugins as we speak’s running a blog platforms provide.

That’s why making a listing of your wants, objectives, and expectations is essential. It is going to show you how to concentrate on what you want in a running a blog platform with out getting (too) distracted by the infinite prospects.

8 Greatest Platforms for Running a blog

Our picks for the perfect running a blog platforms embrace a variety of choices to suit many various kinds of blogs. No matter sort of weblog you’re hoping to construct, you’ll doubtless discover a good platform match within the choice beneath.

WordPress

WordPress.com content material administration and web site builder software program

In style running a blog and web site software program WordPress powers greater than 40% of all web sites on the web. WordPress is standard as a result of it permits you to construct and design almost any weblog or web site you possibly can think about, but requires no programming abilities.

There are two variations of WordPress; 

• WordPress.org requires you to make use of a separate web site internet hosting service, reminiscent of GoDaddy or WPX. This places the technical upkeep in your palms or inside the management of your internet hosting supplier. WordPress.org software program is free to make use of. Nonetheless, you might be chargeable for separate internet hosting, upkeep, and area bills.

WordPress.org is an efficient selection for bloggers eager to handle their internet hosting, safety, and upkeep independently of WordPress.

WordPress is a perfect running a blog platform for folks in any trade who anticipate rising their weblog right into a full web site. 

WordPress Execs:

• Consumer-friendly platform with visible editors.
• 11,000+ free theme choices.
• 60,000+ free plugins accessible.
• Minimal studying curve for easy running a blog.

WordPress Cons:

• Ongoing studying curve requires a time funding for WordPress novices.
• Prices can add up for internet hosting, premium themes, and premium plugins.
• Considerable collection of themes and design choices may be distracting.

“I like the flexibility of WordPress as it may energy a variety of internet sites from blogs and small companies websites to e- commerce platforms and enormous enterprise web sites. Its search engine optimisation plugins assist customers enhance their web site search.”

– Asna F., G2 Reviewer

WordPress.com Pricing:

• Free model
• Starter plan: $9 monthly
• Explorer plan: $18/month
• Creator: $40/month
• Entrepreneur: $70/month
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Medium

Medium studying and writing group

Launched by two of Twitter’s co-founders, Evan Williams and Biz Stone, Medium is a widely-known and well-respected running a blog group with greater than 100 million lively customers. 

Consider Medium as a social networking web site identified for its emphasis on high-quality writing and easy design.

Medium is greatest for bloggers in search of publicity on a community-based platform. It’s additionally a terrific match for particular person bloggers seeking to construct a following and monetize their content material.

Medium professionals:

• Consumer-friendly platform.
• Constructed-in viewers.
• Requires no design or web site constructing.
• Requires no technical upkeep or information.
• Associate program supplies monetization choices.

Medium cons:

• Restricted customization choices.
• Lengthy-term reliance on the platform’s internet hosting, insurance policies, and pricing (which might change at any time).
• Like social media, your content material visibility is determined by Medium’s algorithm (which might change with out discover).
• Readers should pay to entry greater than 3 articles monthly.

“Medium is the proper weblog since you don’t want an exterior service. You don’t want a server… All in all, we discover it a straightforward to make use of and clear platform that has helped us change our previous reliance on WordPress.”

– Kevin O’Grady, TrustRadius reviewer

Medium pricing:

• Writing and publishing: Free
• Partnership program: $5/month
• Full entry studying: $5/month

Wix

Wix is a visually-driven web site builder and enterprise administration platform that hosts 43 million web sites. Rated the perfect running a blog platform for drag-and-drop by Forbes Advisor, Wix focuses on web sites for ecommerce, eating places, running a blog, health, and repair companies.

Wix is greatest for creatives or small companies who need to develop a visually beautiful weblog with out deep technical abilities. 

Wix Execs:

• Consumer-friendly drag-and-drop platform.
• Wonderful template choices.
• Enterprise-grade safety.
• Advertising and marketing and search engine optimisation instruments and analytics.

Wix Cons:

• Superior options might require a studying curve.
• Restricted design flexibility.
• Occasional sluggish loading occasions.

“I really like the benefit of making a brand new web site. All of the choices are fabulous and I study new options virtually day by day.”

– Michelle M., Capterra Reviewer

Wix Pricing:

• Free model
• Gentle: $16/month
• Core: $27/month
• Enterprise: $32/month
• Enterprise Elite: $159/month
• Enterprise: Contact for pricing

Squarespace

Squarespace helps you to create beautiful web site designs that target aesthetics and consumer expertise. 

The platform requires no coding information and makes it simple to switch pre-built template designs. Squarespace prospects love its ecommerce capabilities and compatibility with providers reminiscent of PayPal and Stripe.

Squarespace is greatest for bloggers, artists, and entrepreneurs wanting a super-easy option to rapidly construct an exquisite web site. It is probably not a great match for folks searching for full management over their web site design.

Squarespace professionals:

• Praised for its user-friendly instruments.
• Straightforward to make use of, permits you to rapidly create internet pages and weblog posts.
• Works properly with ecommerce.
• Offers a premium, hassle-free expertise for bloggers.

Squarespace cons:

• Doesn’t enable for simple superior customization.
• Some design, technical, and search engine optimisation limitations exist.
• Might really feel too limiting for folks with WordPress or different technical expertise.

“Squarespace has saved me time, cash, and has allowed me to broaden my images enterprise over the previous 5 years by offering the proper place for purchasers to search out me on-line. Plus, I get SO many compliments on my web site!”

– Jenna S., Capterra reviewer

Squarespace pricing:

• Private: $16/month
• Enterprise: $23/month
• Commerce Primary: $23/month
• Commerce Superior: $49/month

Joomla!

Joomla! is a strong, open-source content material administration system that permits you to create, handle, and publish digital content material. Customers take pleasure in its versatile performance, highly effective extension system, in depth consumer administration choices, and extensive collection of design templates.

Joomla! is an efficient selection for intermediate to superior customers who want extra flexibility and management than they will get with commonplace running a blog platforms like WordPress and Squarespace. It’s additionally a really perfect platform for web sites with a number of customers and entry ranges.

Joomla! professionals:

• Extra superior than most running a blog platforms however not as complicated as Drupal.
• Multilingual options.
• Wonderful consumer administration options for corporations with a number of customers.
• Extremely scalable platform for ecommerce.

Joomla! cons:

• Requires earlier website-building abilities.
• Restricted javascript talents.
• Updates may be buggy and typically break the theme.

“I like the way it helps complicated themes and the power to add-on modules, plugins, cost gateways, and many others. The chances are infinite with what you are able to do with it.”

– Joel A., G2 Reviewer

Joomla! pricing:

As an open-source software program, Joomla! Is free to make use of. Nonetheless, you would possibly incur bills reminiscent of webhosting, paid templates and extensions, and improvement and upkeep providers.

Weebly

Weebly is a brilliant user-friendly platform with drag-and-drop options. It permits you to customise your web page designs and promote merchandise on-line. 

Weebly is greatest for novices or small companies searching for a straightforward, all-in-one answer to built-in running a blog and ecommerce.

Weebly professionals:

• Rated greatest running a blog platform for ecommerce running a blog by Forbes Advisor.
• Consumer-friendly platform that requires no technical information.
• Constructed-in options embrace contact types, photograph galleries, and sliders.
• Constructed-in search engine optimisation settings that can assist you optimize your weblog content material for engines like google.

Weebly cons:

• Restricted design choices and code customization reminiscent of HTML, CSS, or JavaScript.
• Restricted capabilities in comparison with extra complete platforms reminiscent of WordPress.
• Might really feel outdated to some customers.

“The very best factor about Weebly is the simplicity of constructing a really skilled wanting web site with little or no site-building expertise. If WordPress is out of attain for you however you want a strong skilled wanting web site in your small enterprise, Weebly is the best way to go.”

– Joshua M., Capterra reviewer

Weebly pricing:

• Free plan
• Private: $10/month
• Skilled: $12/month
• Efficiency: $26/month

Blogger

Blogger, owned by Google, is a 100% free running a blog platform that permits you to publish limitless articles. It’s identified for its easy, user-friendly interface, and is straightforward to arrange and handle.

Blogger makes it simple to monetize your content material by means of Google Adsense. Nonetheless, some speculate that its future is unsure as a result of Google has a historical past of discontinuing providers. 

Blogger is greatest for starting bloggers searching for a free platform to write down and publish articles. 

Blogger professionals:

• 100% free, together with themes, devices, and internet hosting.
• Tremendous simple to make use of, no expertise required.
• Monetization choices can be found by means of Google Adsense.
• Dependable internet hosting by Google means minimal downtime and no technical hassles.

Blogger cons:

• search engine optimisation limitations; doesn’t present the big selection of search engine optimisation instruments and plugins as most different running a blog platforms.
• Restricted options and extensions in comparison with extra complete platforms reminiscent of WordPress.
• Restricted design and template choices.

“It permits you limitless internet hosting that gives you with any quantity of reminiscence you might want to write your articles, no matter their measurement and size. I’d additionally prefer to level out that Blogger is straightforward to make use of and easy, and it’ll not require you to have any expertise or specialised schooling to make use of it”

– Oussama R., Capterra reviewer

Blogger pricing:

Tumblr

Tumblr is a singular mix of a running a blog platform and a social community that’s particularly well-suited to microblogging. When you favor short-form content material reminiscent of temporary textual content posts, pictures, quotes, or GIFs, quite than long-form articles, you would possibly need to take a look at Tumblr.

Tumblr could also be a great match for visible artists, photographers, community-seekers, area of interest hobbyists, and way of life bloggers. 70% of Tumblr customers are between the ages of 12 – 43 years previous.

Tumblr is greatest for microbloggers who need to be a part of a group of individuals with comparable pursuits, and who’re drawn to its vibrant and numerous group.

Tumblr Execs

• Fosters connections and group with like-minded folks.
• Straightforward to make use of.
• Wonderful for micro-blogging.

Tumblr Cons

• Many individuals discover the interface overcrowded and unattractive.
• Occasional sluggish loading occasions.
• Might not be a great match for companies as a result of lack of updates and design.

“It’s a good place to search out totally different sorts of communities. I’ve used tumbler for my work when I’ve wanted to speak with folks about their experiences with merchandise. It’s a good place to search out folks keen to speak with you voluntarily.”

– Daniel M., G2 reviewer

Tumblr pricing:

*Be aware: Tumblr’s Publish+ unique content material subscription plan is now not accessible as of January 2024.

Whether or not you’re searching for lovely design, simple set-up, or complete options and plugins, the running a blog and web site platforms above are amongst as we speak’s hottest. 

Find out how to get your first 5,000 weblog readers

Getting these first readers to your weblog generally is a problem, particularly in the course of the early months once you would possibly really feel as if you happen to’re writing to crickets. Listed below are some suggestions that can assist you enhance visitors to your weblog.

• Create Helpful Content material: Guarantee every weblog publish is insightful and tailor-made to a selected viewers.

• Incorporate Lead Magnets: Supply free helpful sources (e.g., e-books, webinars) in change for folks subscribing to your e-mail record or e-newsletter. Create a touchdown web page to advertise your lead magnet, then share it in your weblog and along with your social {and professional} networks. 

• Interact your e-mail subscribers: Ship common, personalised emails or newsletters with content material that provides worth past your weblog posts. Encourage readers to share your content material with mates.
• Use Social media and your private {and professional} networks to advertise your weblog and develop your e-mail record.

Constructing weblog readership takes time, however if you happen to constantly publish nice content material and help it by means of e-mail advertising and marketing and networking, you possibly can construct an lively and engaged viewers a lot faster.
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