In the world of aspiring writers, nothing is more crucial than having a website. Blogging, or weblogging, has been a prevalent idea for approximately two decades. It all started precisely twenty years ago with Blogspot (later known as Blogger following its acquisition by Google in 2003). Despite the rise of social media in the past decade, the concept of blogging has managed to maintain its popularity.
Sharing content through blogging sites has been made even simpler. In addition to text, you can now effortlessly share eye-catching images and videos, effectively engaging your audience.
Best Blogging Platforms for Writers
Below is a compilation of the finest blogging platforms suitable for writers.
1. WordPress (Best Blogging Platform for Writers)
Our list of the best blogging platforms for writers ranks WordPress as the top choice.
With over 60 million websites utilizing WordPress, it is undoubtedly one of the most favored blogging platforms globally, attracting a vast audience of over 250 million people.
Writers can benefit from three different versions of WordPress.
- First is the self-hosted version of WordPress, which you can install on your Web server. This version comes with some advantages but also disadvantages as well.
- The second option is a hosted version found on wordpress.com. This version is straightforward but limited in what you can do.
- In addition, there is a third option called WordPress VIP. This option is an enterprise version of WordPress for big companies who need their blog to be online 24/7. The downside here is the cost, as it’s costly, but this might be worth looking into if you have a large brand.
WordPress Pros
- Very intuitive blog platform
- It comes with a large community that can help if you get stumped
- Option for more customization on the self-hosted version of WordPress
- Writers can get started quickly with a free version from wordpress.com
WordPress Cons
- The self-hosted version of WordPress can be more challenging to use and takes time to get used to unless you have much tech knowledge.
- Limited storage on the free option from wordpress.com
2. Ghost Blogging Platform
Our second choice for the best blogging platforms for writers is Ghost.org.
Ghost was founded in 2013 by John O’Nolan and a small group of friends. It is both powerful and straightforward, utilizing Node.js as its foundation. Node.js has gained significant popularity as a blogging platform due to its impressive speed, security, and adaptability.
Although it may not have as large of a community as WordPress, Ghost still offers plenty of resources and tutorials for learning. Additionally, the increasing popularity of Ghost as a preferred blogging platform means more and more people are opting for it.
Ghost Pros
- Quick–loaded in a snap, even on mobile devices.
- Free to use with customizable themes that can be purchased for a small fee if needed
- An extremely flexible platform makes it easy to learn
- A large community of Ghost users who can help you get started or find resources if needed
Ghost Cons
- Not as popular as WordPress, so the community is not as large
- Requires some tech knowledge to use effectively, especially if you want custom features that are not included
3. Medium
Medium is another blogging platform that is widely popular.
Since its development in 2012, this social media platform has gained a user base of over 60 million and employed 150 individuals at its San Francisco office (as of 2018). It has emerged as a popular platform for writers to express their thoughts, stories, and viewpoints on a wide range of subjects.
Similar to Ghost, Medium can be used completely free of charge. There are numerous online resources and tutorials available to assist writers in getting started and acquiring the necessary skills.
Medium Pros
- Very intuitive blog platform beginners can easily pick up and use effectively.
- Free to use with customizable themes that can be purchased if needed
- A large community of Medium users who can help you get started or find resources if needed
Medium Cons
Medium is an excellent online platform for writers to freely express their thoughts through blogging. With its user-friendly interface and a plethora of customization options, it can significantly enhance the uniqueness of your blog.
4. Google Blogger
Blogger is also a preferred choice among writers when it comes to blogging platforms.
Having been launched in 1999, the platform has amassed over 90 million users by 2018. Given that Google is the owner of Blogger, it can be a suitable choice for commencing your online blog if you are already utilizing their services like Gmail or Drive.
Blogger Pros
- Simple to use, even for beginners
- Free to create a blog and customize it with different themes if needed
- It comes with all Google benefits, such as email support in case you get stuck or wants some help with your blog
Blogger Cons
- If you are not using your domain name, the blogspot.com address can be a turnoff for some users
- It doesn’t come with as many customization features as other blogging platforms for writers
5. Wix
Widely recognized as an excellent website builder for writers, Wix stands out for its impressive speed, efficiency, and quick loading time. Creating a high-quality Wix site does not require any coding expertise.
Similar to Weebly, it also utilizes the feature of drag and drop, offering a wide range of templates to select from and modernize the appearance of your website.
While considering a free blog option, it is important to note that the domain will come from Wix. However, if you are willing to pay, you can choose to host it using your own URL. All the necessary tools to enhance your website are conveniently accessible with just a click, and the paid plans begin as low as $15 per month. You are not bound by any contractual commitment, and you are free to cancel your subscription whenever you wish.
If any plugin malfunctions and slows down your website, Wix’s outstanding customer support is available through phone and email to promptly fix the issue.
6. Weebly
Being launched in 2006, Weebly was among the pioneers in implementing drag and drop features. Similar to other platforms, it provides both free and paid versions. The free plan grants users 500 MB of storage, while the paid plans offer unlimited storage and phone support. Furthermore, all three paid plans include a complimentary domain name.
Weebly’s approach is highly practical as it enables you to select a template for your page and effortlessly drag various elements from a menu. It does not necessitate any knowledge of HTML. With this platform’s templates, you can easily create an author website without the need for coding.
Analyzing traffic is achievable by copying and pasting the Google Analytics tracking code onto the page.
Users on the paid plans of Weebly have the option to remove advertisements. If you have any queries, you can seek assistance from the active Weebly community.
7. Squarespace
Squarespace is presently recognized as a highly popular brand for website creation. Despite its reputation primarily for e-commerce sites, there is no obstacle preventing an author from constructing an exceptional website using Squarespace.
Squarespace offers a seamless, comprehensive solution for website building, similar to Wix and Weebly. Its attractive themes are the main allure, allowing for a personalized touch with the option to replace images.
Squarespace websites have an appealing and professional aesthetic, thanks to the use of stylish typography and color palettes. Additionally, Squarespace provides a built-in analytics panel that enables a comprehensive understanding of website traffic data. Although a free trial is available, no free plans are offered. However, all paid plans include customer support through chat and email.
8. Contently
Contently is a platform designed for content writers aiming to exhibit their finest work. By establishing a Contently page, content writers can conveniently display their portfolios. There are no restrictions on the quantity of projects one can present, and potential clients seeking to hire a writer have the ability to filter based on various criteria such as topics, experience, and previous clients.
It is an excellent platform where you can gather all your work done for different websites at no cost.
