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Best Blogging Platforms of 2024: Top Sites to Launch Your Blog

Choosing between the best blogging platforms in the market can be tough for those just getting started with a new blog. There is a huge number of options out there, with each providing a set of not-so-different features.

So how do you make up your mind and pick a platform that feels like it’s been tailor-made for you and your specific needs?

We’ll help you with that here!

Here’s a list of the best blogging platforms available today, plus what makes them different from one another.

Best Blogging Platforms.
TL;DR:

Even though there’s a lot of competition in the market, and we’re really spoiled for choice when it comes to platforms/software that can run our blogs, there’s only one leader at the top of the ladder – the single best blogging platform to rule them all.

Check out the stats – these are the most popular website and blog platforms on the web (2024 data): WordPress:  43.2%  of all websites, Shopify:  4.3% , Wix:  2.6% , Squarespace:  2.1% , Joomla:  1.7% .

Yes, you are reading this right. WordPress is used by 43.2% of all websites on the internet. Again, that’s ALL websites. This makes it the prime candidate for the best blogging platform award.

  • WordPress is nearly 10 times more popular than the no.2 on the list.
  • WordPress holds 61.2% of the CMS (content management system) market.
  • WordPress is used by some of the biggest brands – BBC, Wired, Time Magazine, The Rolling Stones, Beyonce, New York Post, Harvard University, Jay Z, all use WordPress to power their websites and blogs.

Some of WordPress’ strong points:

  • 🤑 It’s free.
  • 👐 It’s open source.
  • 🏋️‍♀️ It’s powerful and extremely extensible.
  • 🚄 It’s fast.
  • 💯 It’s easy to use.
  • 🎨 It can be customized to suit your needs hand-in-glove.

⚡ The easiest way to get started with WordPress is to actually first get a hosting account from a company like Bluehost (from $2.75 / mo) and then have WordPress installed in two clicks through Bluehost’s interface.

If you're looking for even more blog related posts, we've got you covered:

The core difference between the best blogging platforms

Blogging platforms that have been covered here can be divided into two categories:

  • Blog publishing services — a blog publishing service is a platform where you can sign up and create your blog; you do not need a server and can use an existing sub domain of the platform
  • Content management systems (CMS) — a CMS is software that’s hosted on a server, and also needs to be hooked up to a domain name; then, you can take advantage of the CMS’s abilities and edit your blog posts and pages similarly to how you’d do it with Google Docs – via a nice UI

In terms of complexity, blog publishing services are easiest to use, but have a limited ability to customize features. If you plan to create a blog for free, you should choose one of them.

With a CMS, the possibilities are limitless — but it comes at a cost of maintaining a server and purchasing a domain.

Overall, if ease of use is the no.1 thing you’re after, you’re probably going to be better off with blogging services. If full control and complete freedom with your blog is something you value more then going with a CMS is the path for you.

Our list of the best blogging platforms includes a mix of both categories, which cater to various users.

Without further delay, here’s our list (in no particular order):

The best blogging platforms compared for 2024

Here’s the final lineup of tools that we think are the top solutions available today:

 

WordPress.org: Self-hosted WordPress

As we stated before, WordPress is the most popular website platform of them all – currently being in use on 43.2% of all websites.

That being said, there’s this one confusing thing about WordPress. Namely, its dual nature. Basically, anyone looking for “WordPress” on Google is likely to end up either at WordPress.org or WordPress.com.

wordpress.org.

And contrary to what common sense would dictate, those are not one and the same. In fact, they’re completely different:

  • WordPress.org is THE blog engine that we’re going to be focusing here.
  • WordPress.com is a separate online service. While it’s also a solution that you can choose and launch your blog with, the way it’s all carried out is much different.

If you’re curious to find out what the specific differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com are, check out this comparison. Let’s not get into the details here, though. For now, let’s just say that the “.ORG” version of WordPress gives us a lot more possibilities, both in terms of design and functionality, as well as it’s going to be cheaper and more fitting for all non-hobby purposes.

To say it another way, if you’re looking to learn how to start a blog for a business purpose then the “.ORG” version of WordPress is absolutely what you need.

Now the surprising part:

In order to work with the “.ORG” version of WordPress, you don’t actually need to go to the WordPress.org website. Instead, you can get WordPress installed on a web server of your choice and on your custom domain name without having to tinker with any source code. 🧙

We generally recommend ⚡ Bluehost as the best and most affordable host that welcomes WordPress sites. For instance, one of the reasons Bluehost is this great is because it will install WordPress for you in just a couple of clicks during your account setup.

Who should use self-hosted WordPress?

Self-hosted WordPress has grown to be the most popular website platform of them all, and that doesn’t only mean blogs.

WordPress is a great solution if you want to have full control over your blog and be able to customize every aspect of it.

On the other hand, you can’t launch a WordPress blog for free. To do things on the cheap side, you can expect to pay around $35 for the first year, and then around $60 each consecutive year after that.

Here’s what the dashboard of WordPress looks like:

Dashboard of WordPress.Org: Added Flexibility of themes and Plugins.

What’s the pricing?

WordPress itself is an open source software, which you can download and run locally, or on a web server. Certain themes and plugins, however, may be paid.

Apart from that, you can get a hosting plan for around $2.75 / mo. and a domain name at around $15 / year.

Can I use a custom domain?

Yes, any server you host WordPress on can be associated with a custom domain.

What can you customize?

In a word: everything. You can customize the design, layout and content of every single element of the site.

Can I monetize my blog?

As the control of the whole blog lies with the webmaster, monetization is easy — either through a plugin, or by adding custom HTML code to the theme.

Check out five reliable methods to monetize a blog when you finish reading this article. It’s one of the featured posts at the top of the page.

Final thoughts on WordPress.org

WordPress is the unquestionable leader of the blogging world. With 43.2% of all sites running on WordPress, it’s hard to argue that most people are likely going to be more than happy if they choose WordPress. It is definitely one of the best blogging platforms relevant today.

 

Blogger (www.blogger.com)

Blogger is a blog publishing platform from Google.

You can register with your Google account, and use one of the default themes to get started with a blogspot.com subdomain.

In a few minutes, your blog should be live.

blogger.

Who should use Blogger?

It is intended for beginners who want to get started quickly without much hassle.

Here’s the Blogger dashboard with statistics and other options:

Blogger dashboard with statistics and other options.

What’s the pricing?

Blogger as a service is completely free to use.

Can I use a custom domain?

Yes, you can link your blog to a domain or a sub domain.

What can you customize?

You can upload custom themes and widgets. If you have knowledge of HTML, CSS and JavaScript, you can even edit the source code of your blog within Blogger.

Can I monetize my blog?

Yes, Google AdSense is built into the Blogger service, and its activation is easy. You can also add third party ad services by adding the relevant JavaScript in a widget, or within the source code of your blog.

Final thoughts on Blogger

Blogger is one of the best blogging platforms to start your new blog due to a short learning curve and the ability to customize later. Thus, one can start with the basic features in Blogger and eventually move on to advanced custom features, making it one of the best blogging platforms for beginners. Here’s a detailed comparison of Blogger and WordPress, in case you are interested.

 

Medium (medium.com)

Medium is a blog publishing platform that focuses on the reading experience. It was co founded by Evan Williams, who coincidentally also co-founded Blogger before it was acquired by Google.

On Medium, you can either create posts associated with your user, or create a publication, with a customizable layout. The USP of Medium is an easy to use blog editor that focuses on your content.

medium.

Who should use Medium?

Like Blogger, it is intended for beginners who want to get started quickly.

Here’s what the interface looks like when you’re adding a post on Medium:

The Medium Text Editor - Adding a Post on Medium.

What’s the pricing?

For publishers, Medium is free. There is, however, a subscription model for readers to get the best customized content.

Can I use a custom domain?

No, this feature was deprecated in November 2017. Your publication can only be hosted on medium.com/publication-slug.

What can you customize?

For posts not associated with a publication, you need to use the default theme. For publications, you can customize the headers, favicon and layout of your posts. However, you can not really get into the HTML to change individual items. This is ideal for those who do not have knowledge of web technologies, but leave others wanting for more.

Can I monetize my blog?

Yes, but the options are limited and change frequently. There is currently only one way to earn — through the Partner Program — a program where authors are paid depending on readers’ engagement.

Final thoughts on Medium

Medium is fantastic at what it does — enable one to read. However, among the other best blogging platforms, the features are limited, with no option to hook up a custom domain or monetize freely. It might be your choice for a one-off post, but you should probably choose another platform if you’re planning to blog in the long run.

 

WordPress.com: Commercially hosted WordPress

A commercially hosted version of WordPress, or WordPress.com, as it is popularly known as, is a blog publishing platform based on the WordPress engine, provided by Automattic.

You can read this to learn more about the differences between the commercial and self-hosted versions of WordPress.

wordpress.com.

Who should use WordPress.com?

A commercially hosted version of WordPress is ideal for beginners who are not ready to spend on domain names or server costs yet.

Also, WordPress.com stands out simply as a “better-looking alternative to Blogger.”

Here’s what the dashboard looks like at WordPress.com:

WordPress.com Dashboard: Limited Options for Free Plan.

What’s the pricing?

WordPress.com provides three plans over and above the free plan — for Personal at $4 per month, Premium at $8 per month, and Business at $25 per month.

The Personal plan lets you use a custom domain, removes native advertising by WordPress.com and provides customer support. With higher plans, you get access to more storage with more customization possibilities.

Can I use a custom domain?

Yes, but you need a paid plan for that.

What can you customize?

First off, you get to choose from a range of free themes – designs – that will help you create a distinct look for your blog. You can also customize your theme in a basic way – add widgets, menus, and adjust the layout.

To get a bit more in terms of customization, you will need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Can I monetize my blog?

Although advertisements by WordPress are shown, you can add custom ads through JavaScript in the widgets. To get more freedom, though, you need to upgrade to a paid plan.

Final thoughts on WordPress.com

It’s a good choice for a beginner, with the option to migrate to a self hosted version of WordPress at a later stage. Still, the features are a bit limited compared to the self-hosted version of WordPress – more on which in a minute.

 

Wix (www.wix.com)

Wix is primarily a website builder that lets you create a site through a handy drag-and-drop editor.

You can choose from their 500+ templates and then fine-tune the site to make it look like you want it.

Wix lets you build a working blog within minutes, and will also take care of hosting the blog for you.

wix.

Who should use Wix?

Wix is more suited if you want to build a standard website, and not as much a classic blog. Although there is a blogging module available, it’s not the focus of Wix.

How you can customize your blog with Wix:

Creating a Site on Wix: Customizing Elements.

What’s the pricing?

Free, plus Wix has monthly plans at $5.00, $11.00, $14.00, $29.00, converted to your local currency. These plans range from connecting your domain to creating a full fledged ecommerce store.

Can I use a custom domain?

Yes, though it’s only available on the paid plans.

What can you customize?

Wix lets you customize all elements within the site without any knowledge of web technologies. This ranges from various text elements (header, description, list) to images, locations and forms. However, the process to edit the code of the pages is a bit complex.

Can I monetize my blog?

Yes, you can add custom ads through HTML elements on Wix, although branded Wix elements in the free plan would also be shown.

Final thoughts on Wix

Wix gives you a lot of freedom to express your imagination, with minimal or no knowledge of programming. However, like I said, blogging is not the focus of Wix’s, which doesn’t make it a top selection among the best blogging platforms. Seasoned developers may also want to shift to an option that provides them with more freedom. Here is how Wix compares to other site builders.

 

Ghost (ghost.org)

Started by a former WordPress developer, Ghost is a JavaScript-based blogging platform.

The sole purpose of creating Ghost was the focus on blogging. Although Ghost offers a commercially hosted version, this post only talks about the software that you can use on your own server.

ghost.

Who should use Ghost?

Ghost is a good option for someone who wants a slick publishing experience and a nice user interface. Ghost, however, requires significant technical skills to set up and run.

Here’s what it looks like when you edit your blog content with Ghost:

Ghost Text Editor: Focus on Writing.

What’s the pricing?

Ghost is an open source software and is, therefore, available free of cost to download and run (albeit it’s not that easy to find that direct download link – the only viable option seems to be via GitHub and not the official Ghost website). However, there are also some paid-for themes and plugins for Ghost (like there are for WordPress, too). At the same time, if you opt for the commercially hosted version of Ghost, you have to pay a subscription fee starting at $29/month.

Can I use a custom domain?

Yes. You can associate your Ghost blog with a custom domain.

What can you customize?

You can customize pretty much every element about your blog, though the support for Ghost in terms of themes and plugins is still poor compared to WordPress.

Can I monetize my blog?

Yes, Ghost has the ability to add custom code to your site for advertisements.

Final thoughts on Ghost

Although WordPress is a better option in terms of support and customization, one may prefer Ghost if they value an uncluttered interface / publishing experience.

Here’s a more in-depth comparison between Ghost, WordPress, and Medium.

Blogging platforms FAQ 🙋

By now you should have a solid understanding of blogging platform options and which one you might go with to start your blog. However, we know that sometimes readers have some lingering questions and we also know that there are readers who skim an article before committing to reading it.

Whichever camp you fall in, below are some commonly asked questions that we see people asking about blogging platforms.

How to choose a blogging platform?

To choose a blogging platform, consider the following factors:

Purpose: Define your blogging goals and audience. Different platforms cater to various niches and purposes, such as personal blogging, business, or ecommerce.

Ease of use: Opt for a platform with a user-friendly interface and intuitive setup, especially if you’re a novice blogger.

Customization: Ensure the platform allows enough customization options to match your branding and design preferences.

Hosting: Decide between hosted (e.g., WordPress.com) and self-hosted (e.g., WordPress.org) options. Self-hosted offers more control but requires technical knowledge.

Scalability: Choose a platform that can grow with your blog as you gain more readers and traffic.

Community and support: Check if the platform has an active user community and reliable customer support.

Cost: Evaluate the platform’s pricing structure, considering any hidden costs for domain, themes, plugins, or additional features.

SEO and monetization: Confirm that the platform supports SEO best practices and allows you to monetize your blog, if desired.

What is the best blogging platform to make money?

The best blogging platform to make money is widely considered to be self-hosted WordPress (i.e., the .org version). It offers several advantages that make it a top choice for bloggers looking to monetize their content effectively.

First of all, WordPress provides a high level of flexibility, giving you full control over your website. This control allows you to implement a wide range of monetization strategies, including affiliate marketing, display advertising, sponsored content, and selling products or services.

The platform boasts an extensive collection of plugins and themes, allowing you to optimize your website for a better user experience and revenue generation. These plugins can help you add essential features, such as contact forms, social media integration, and email list building, which can contribute to your monetization efforts.

Another significant advantage of WordPress is its SEO capabilities. The platform is well-known for its SEO-friendly features, helping your blog rank higher in search engine results. This increased visibility can attract more organic traffic and potential customers to your blog, positively impacting your revenue potential.

If you plan to sell products online, WordPress has you covered as well. It offers various ecommerce plugins, with WooCommerce being the most popular, making it easy to set up and manage an online store directly on your WordPress blog.

Moreover, WordPress allows integration with various analytics tools, which helps you monitor your blog’s performance, understand your audience better, and optimize your revenue strategies accordingly.

In short, running a self-hosted WordPress blog gives you complete ownership and branding control. This is crucial for building a long-term, profitable online presence. Above all, remember that while your choice of blogging platform is important, your success ultimately depends on providing valuable content, building a loyal audience, and implementing effective marketing strategies.

How can I create my own blog for free?

To create your own blog for free, choose a free blogging platform like Blogger or Medium, or a blogging platform that offers a free plan, like WordPress.com. Sign up for an account and follow their instructions to set everything up. Most of it is straightforward, but the steps will vary based on the blogging platform you choose.

Once you have everything ready, start writing and publishing compelling content, and don’t forget to enhance your posts with images or videos. Also make sure to promote your blog on social media platforms to attract readers, and engage with other bloggers in your niche to build connections and grow your audience.

Just remember that while blogging platforms might offer free plans, those plans will have limitations, such as domain names (e.g., yourblogname.wordpress.com versus yourblogname.com) and fewer customization options. If you plan to grow your blog and monetize it in the future, consider investing in a self-hosted WordPress website (using WordPress.org) for more control and flexibility.

Best blogging platforms: conclusion 🧐

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this comparison, and hope this has been helpful for those of you looking for the best blogging platforms right now.

Here’s an in-the-nutshell summary:

  • WordPress.org – self-hosted WordPress – the most popular blogging platform of them all and an awesome option for people who want to be in full control of their website/blog. The easiest way to get started with WordPress is to first get a hosting account from a company like Bluehost (from $2.75 / mo) and then have WordPress installed in two clicks through Bluehost’s interface.
  • Blogger – and old-school blogging platform for those that want to just get a basic blog going.
  • Medium – a hip web publishing platform that gives you an audience to read your work, but doesn’t allow you to do much branding or customization with your blog. You can earn some money through their “Medium Partner Program” once you get enough followers to qualify.
  • WordPress.com – currently the best option for those who want to start a blog for free, yet for a non-commercial purpose.
  • Wix – an advanced website builder with built in AI features via Wix ADI – likely a good option for those who need more than just a blog.
  • Ghost – a cutting-edge blogging platform that aims to provide a clear user interface and superb publishing experience; still not a very popular one among the best blogging platforms.

Which platform will you use for your blog? Do let us know in the comments below.

💡 Editor’s note. The CodeinWP team is all in on self-hosted WordPress. It is by far the most versatile platform of the bunch and also giving you the most control. Here’s how to start a blog using WordPress.

Don’t forget to join our crash course on speeding up your WordPress site. Learn more below:

 

* This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and then purchase the product, we’ll receive a small commission. No worries though, you’ll still pay the standard amount so there’s no additional cost on your part.

Shaumik Daityari

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