List of blogging platforms available on the internet

Bloggers have been in search of the best blogging platforms to help them sell their content. Every blogger has a favourite platform that delivers according to their needs. Having a major platform to market your products is the most important thing. A blogging platform comes along with software that features the publishing of posts, managing comments and also the marketing aspect. Through the blogging platform, you can run your blog. You can earn money online thus enable you to lead a decent life. There are many blogging sites on the internet. It is up to you to choose the one that suit you best. They include;

1.WORDPRESS

It is the most commonly used blogging software. It runs most blogs on the internet. It is dynamic, and thus, with revolutions, it keeps changing. It features two sites for the users;

wordpress.org and wordpress.com.

WordPress.org

It is the most recent updated version of the software. It is downloadable from the WordPress site. It features varying template designs and module. It has increased functionality. Thus, many users opt to get acquainted with the software. For the software to function on the user’s blog, a good web host should be used. The host should be compatible with the software.

WordPress.com

The site is user-friendly. It permits the direct creation of users blogs online on the software. The site is easy to use, and its hosting is not charged. Mostly, the site is used by bloggers who want free blogging sites.

Differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org

• WordPress.com is software that primarily offers to host services in large scale. On the other hand, WordPress.org contains data that is educative. It holds data that shed light on word press and its different aspects.
• WordPress.com hosting services are free, but customization is not enabled. Personalizing the plug-ins and modifying the source code is not permissible.
In wordpress.org customization is possible so you can personalize your blog. To achieve to the maximum, modifying the code is allowed to make you benefit its usage to the maximum.

Advantages of WordPress

• Word press has a good system for content management.

• WordPress.org keeps you in control of your website.

• The availability of free and premium themes on WordPress makes it easy for the blogger to create a website that stands out.

• WordPress allows you to access many plugins which enhances your adding of new features.

• It is possible to customize your site and add features such as forums, online stores and even membership on your site. However, this is possible with wordpress.org which ranks best for an income-generating venture. It is the best platform for e-commerce.

• WordPress is search engine optimized.

Disadvantages of WordPress

• Learning how to manage your website takes time. Even though, with time the task gets easier
• WordPress.com has few plugins. However, it still ranks among the best blogging platforms

2.WIX

Wix is usually hosted and serves to build websites. It is a gateway that enables small businesses to build websites. It features drag and drop tools. It is customizable, hence enables one to add a blog to the site through the installation of a Wix blog app.

Advantages

• It features a handful of templates and third-party apps, making it easy to customize.
• The drag and drop features make the creation of your website easy since coding is not required
• The setting of the Wix software is easy and quick

Disadvantages

• It offers limited third-party apps.
• It is hard to change to another template one you have selected one
.• E-commerce features get restricted to paid plans which are also limited.
• Acquiring a free account is hard, and when acquired, it features Wix branding and ads on your site.

Pricing

Wix website builder is free. Even so, you can add a customization app for $4.50 per month. The premium package goes for more than $8.50 per month.

3.BLOGGER

 

Blogger was launched by Google in 2003. It is a Google’s platform. It functions the same way as wordpress.org. Blogger offers free hosting services for its users. Creating your blog with the software is quick and easy.

Advantages of Blogger

• Using the platform incurs no charges.
• It provides its users with a domain name, yourname.blogspot.com
• It is easy to manage sing operating it does not require any technical skills.
• It is reliable and being from Google make the platform secure to use.

Disadvantages

• Customization of features is rarely available.
• The use of graphics and themes are limited. Thus, offering low-quality templates for third-party bloggers.
• It is risky since Google can do away with your account or at times limit their Blogger services.
• Bloggers do not receive updates on the new features.
• There is close to no support available on the site, probably because the site is easy to use.

4.TUMBLER

Tumbler ranks among the best blogging platforms. It features slightly different tools from other sites. It has microblogging platform. The platform encourages social networking. One can easily track the progress of other blogs through the software. It also has inbuilt sharing tools, and re-blogging is possible. It records a sixty-nine percent of users.

Advantages of Tumbler

• It is simple with minimal tools which offer an incredible user interface, making it easier for you to start your blog.
• Due to its social networking features, it serves as a community website featuring great image gallery.
• Besides the affordable hosting services, it also offers quality and premium themes at a pocket-friendly price.
• It has enticing apps that are compatible with different smartphones.

Disadvantages of Tumbler

• Customization is yet to get availed of the platform
• Tumbler offers limited widgets and options for the users.
• Importing tumbler to other blogging platforms is difficult.

Pricing

Tumbler is free of charge. Even though you can purchase a custom domain for your blog, you can also purchase the third-party themes and apps.

5.SQUARESPACE

Squarespace major in website building. It utilizes drag and drop tools to enable you to build good-looking websites. Squarespace has come to the rescue of small entrepreneurs who are seeking their way up the ladder. It helps them create their blogs online. It is a software that is remarkable in building highly potential websites. Users percentage is seventy-five percent.

Advantages of Squarespace

• The platform is easy to create and has its functionality is enhanced. It exhibits comfort when using.
• It has excellent themes featuring professional designs of templates.
• Squarespace keeps the users updated with new features and plugins.
• It is flexible to use making it user-friendly
• Squarespace support services are only a click away.

Disadvantages of Squarespace

• Squarespace limits your plan to twenty pages for each blog, and at most two contributors.
• It has minimal design thus not suitable for complex and high-end users.
• Squarespace packages are a little above the affordable range.
• The platform is not an open source for networking.

Pricing

Squarespace pricing for their plan features $16 per month. Lesser pricing of $12 per month is done once you pay for the consequent year in advance. For their business plan, their pricing is $26 per month and a bill of $18 for advance payment for the consequent year.

6.MEDIUM

Medium is a standard blogging platform. It ranks among the best online blogging platforms providing services at an affordable price. It got launched back in the year 2012. With time it has recorded a high number of users, such as bloggers, journalists, writers, among other experts. It is a blogging platform that is easy to use. Medium record a user percentage of seventy-eight.

Advantages of Medium

• It requires no technical skills to operate. Hence it is easy to use.
• It is recommendable for its affordable costs for hosting services.
• Typography is well put into use at the platform.
• It gives the user the audience exposure to people of similar interests.
  The Medium keeps their bloggers updated with new features hence relieving them of worries.

Disadvantages

• It faces stiff competition if the published content is not top notch.
• It lacks the customizing features and, the themes present are also limited.
• Medium possesses your audience. Therefore, the closer or loss of your blog translates to the loss of audience.
• Medium is a content-based website rather than a designing platform.
  Posting your ads on the platform for money is difficult.

Pricing

Using the medium platform is free.

7.GHOST

Ghost is a newbie blogging platform that got launched in 2013. Ghost has limited features that are used for wring blog posts. It exists as a hosted platform which can be installed as software to open your blog. It trends for its fresh and rich content which endows the user with great experience. While writing on Ghost, the blogger is adorned with a preview of how the post will end up. With time, it has recorded an appreciation to a community of users. It has an eighty-four percentage users rate.

Advantages of Ghost blogging platform

• Ghost is user-friendly thus making it easy to use.
• It features a clean and clutter-free environment thus providing an easily understood user interface
• It exhibits a super -fast speed since it is JavaScript enabled.• The platform comes along ready to be used by the users. It requires no setup for the hosted software.

Disadvantages

• Being new to the market, Ghost lacks the appropriate user reviews.
• Ghost lacks actual users since the platform is still in its testing phase.
• Customization and adding the third-party apps is not easy.
• The themes and graphics available are limited thus challenging to personalize your site.
• If you do the installation on your own, it is tedious and quite challenging.

Pricing

When using the self-hosted software, it requires a custom domain of $14.99 per year, and a web hosting charge for around$8.55 per month. On the other hand, the hosted version charges are $19 per month.

8.WEEBLY

Weebly is majorly used for web building. It utilizes the drag and drops features. It is endowed with ready to use themes that are customizable. It has a record of seventy-two percent of users.

Advantages of Weebly

• It provides a visual interface since it uses drag and drop tool to create the web content.
• It is easy to use hence no coding is required.
• It features beautiful designs which have varying layouts to choose.
• It is easy to learn thus saves time. Within no time, one gets fully acquainted with how it operates.
• It is useful for small-scale users who want to build simple websites.
  Weebly offers free hosting services for their users.
• It Has an e-commerce platform for marketing.
• Weebly has a free plan that allows the user to test the services before purchasing.

Disadvantages of Weebly

• Inbuilt features are limited that limiting the flexibility of bloggers to add new plugins.
• Importing Weebly to other blogs is difficult.
• Weebly limits free plans to five pages and the starter plans get restricted to ten pages. Even so, the starter plans feature two upgrades.
  Weebly is not an open source web builder, thus not ideal for making money by use of a sophisticated website.
• It does not accommodate customization apps.

Pricing

For the paid plans, Weebly starting charges are $8.00 per month. The fee is inclusive of the limited features Weebly comes. If interested in installing all the available features, a fee of $49 per month get charged.

9.JOOMLA

Joomla is similar to wordpress.org. It features an open source content management schedule. Joomla is self-hosted. You only need a domain name and a compatible host to operate it. Joomla records a seventy-eight percent of bloggers.

Advantages of Joomla

• Joomla is super strong and still, very flexible. Thus, can create any blog.
• It allows customization since it features different template designs.
• Joomla accommodates extension apps to enable you to add more features to your site.

Disadvantages

• Joomla has a small community of users hence features limited themes.
• In Joomla platform, support is hard to find. Even paid support with the site is scarce to find.
• With Joomla, you manage your backups and security.• You have to make sure you are updated since Joomla platform rarely upgrades their site.

Pricing

Using Joomla is free. Even though, you require a custom domain of about$14.99 per year and a hosting which charges$7.99 per month. SiteGround provides a free domain, and its starting charges are $3.95 per month.

10.YOLA

Using Yola is limited to users with complex plans for their blogs. Yola features two sites and allows only three pages for the free plan. It offers a clean platform with no third-party ads. Also, the site comes along with a 1GB storage and bandwidth.

Advantages of Yola

• Yola is user-friendly, thus easier to use.

• It has customizable templates.

• Its setup is straightforward hence an enhanced site builder.

• Yola features fantastic layouts and design for your site. Not forgetting,
• It utilizes the drag and drop tools.

Disadvantages

• Yola limits the grand plans of a user.

11.CONTENTFUL

Advantages

• Contentful is perfect in the separation of the content from the design. The technic is best known as API- first.
• It is possible to design the content to have your taste.
• Contentful can be imported to other blogs. Therefore, the blogger is at no risk of losing the blog or audience.

Disadvantages

• Here, the content you post remains on a server different from the design.

12.JEKYLL

Jekyll is another fantastic.blogging platform you can try
• With Jekyll, you can edit your raw text files into a strong statistic site to host anytime.
• It is easy to host your blog on the software for free.
• It is easy to work with Jekyll since no technical skills are needed.
• Jekyll website is often updated with new features hence, relieving the bloggers of the tedious task.
• It is the software that can help you rise regarding making money online.

13.SVBTLE

Svbtle features a design that enables the blogger to think.
Svbtle functions the same way your brain works. It gets said that Svbtle reads your brain. In functionality, Svbtle is similar to Medium.

Advantages of Svbtle

• With Svbtle, you are guaranteed to develop new ideas.

• It also offers longevity of your content to remain online.

• The platform is clutter-free offering a clean environment for writing. When reading the posts, it provides the best reading experience.

• It is fast, simple and still so beautiful.

• It features the best layout designs so you can have your work looking impressive.

14.LiveJournal

LiveJournal features social networking apps. It is unique in that it is a community platform.

Advantages of LiveJournal

• It encourages people sharing life encounters as well as pieces of advice.
• Even so, LiveJournal makes it possible for you to have your personal space. However communal interaction is crucial at this site.
• Privately, you can fashion your pages into interesting layouts.

Disadvantages

• However, to be successful on the platform, you have to develop good communication skill to participate in the discussions.

15.Postach.io

• Postach.io offers an easy way to blog. It is possible to do your writing in Evernote; hence it is a perfect writing platform.
• You only have to connect your notebook to Postach.io and tag the notes as published. By this, you make the notes public.
• The site gets endowed with customization apps and also features a load of themes.
• With Pontash.io, you can tag content from other sites such as Discus comments. And, you can use Dropbox to store the comments.

16.Pen.io

Advantages

• For Pen.io, you do not require some logins to use.
• Pen.io functionality depends on the password you set for your selected URL for a post.
• It utilizes drag and drops features to post images on the site.
• It is possible to build many page post by the use of a tag

Disadvantages

• Pen.io does not store the old posts.
• However, it has taken some guts to term Pen.io as a blog. Even though, it functions perfectly since your personal information does not easily go viral.

17.DRUPAL

For many bloggers around the globe, Drupal is their favourite blogging platform.

Advantages

• Drupal is an entire content management system. Thus, making it suitable for the entrepreneurs.
• With Drupal, your online content found on the blog and web pages get created and perfectly organized on this platform.

Disadvantages

• Drupal accommodates bloggers who have had some experience blogging before. Thus, if you are a beginner, it is going to be a challenge to start blogging with Drupal.

18.TYPEPAD

Typepad is another blogging platform anyone can try.

Advantages of Typepad

• TypePad presents a user-friendly platform that is easy to use.

• It comes along with an intuitive user interface for both beginners and experienced bloggers.

• TypePad features a variety of themes as well as customization apps. Thus, you can have the best design for your blog.

Disadvantages

• The major setback when using TypePad is that they provide hosting service. Therefore, it is hard to use the blog with your blog host.• Editing code is not [possible with TypePad since bloggers get naïve in editing HTML code.

19.ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a blogging platform that features a stable commercial site. With its software, it is possible to create high quality and high income generating blogs. However, the platform incurs some monthly charges for using the platform.

Bottom Line

To earn yourself the best blogging site, you must acquaint yourself with the terms and conditions. Some blogs offer free hosting services while other requires monthly charges to have you using the site. Also, some sites only acknowledge expert bloggers while other are not choosy about who to use their blog. It is also crucial that you earn yourself a blog that is highly customizable, to suit your audience needs. However, it is important that you start with a simple blogging platform that offers updates for upgrades.

Image Courtesy: Screenshots from the home pages of the corresponding websites.

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