Starting a blog sounds so simple – you just pick up a topic and write about it. But there is more to it than this simple idea. For example, you also need to choose the right platform to host this blog, which is not an easy decision.
Choosing the right blogging platform can help you really get your blog off the ground and make it work for this new project. In this article, we will do a horizontal comparison of nine of the top free blogging sites on the web, hoping to help you choose the right site for you. So let’s get started!
Nine of the best free blogging sites
A wide range of free blogging sites will be covered in this list, including some self-hosting options. The options are suitable for everyone, so regardless of your experience level, it’s worth taking the time to find one (and try it out for yourself if possible).
1. WordPress
If it’s WordPress, you have two options – the proprietary version and WordPress.com. We’re big fans of the former, but some might prefer the latter.
If you just want to start blogging quickly and don’t want to find your own Web host, WordPress.com might be a good choice. Keep in mind, though, that WordPress.com offers hosting with little customization. You don’t have access to all the WordPress plugins or themes, but if you change WordPress.com’s mind, you can always migrate your content.
In addition, self-hosted WordPress provides a highly flexible and customizable platform for creating websites. Because it’s an open source platform, you can customize it as you like to make it suitable for hosting increasingly rich blogs.
Also, custom routes allow you to add more powerful themes, such as Divi. The theme includes a variety of modules to help you customize your blog, and also provides a pre-built layout to help you get started quickly — so it’s easy to learn.
Main Features:
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Ability to build any type of website, including blogs.
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If you use self-hosted WordPress, you have access to thousands of plug-ins and theme resources.
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Gives you almost complete control over every aspect of your blog, including style and functionality.
Price: build WordPress is free | for more information
2. Drupal
Drupal is another well-known self-hosted platform. It is an open source solution that supports many popular government and university sites, and is a good choice for regular bloggers.
In addition to being free to use, it also gives you a whole set of themes and modules (that is, plug-in versions of them). In addition, there are several free distributions that allow you to download bundled versions of the platform so that you can easily tune into specific types of sites.
Main Features:
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It can be used to create blogs and other types of websites.
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There is an active community and great documentation available.
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A wide variety of modules and themes are available.
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You can download to the default or bundled version of the platform.
Price: free | for more information
3. Joomla!
Joomla! One of our favorite content management systems (CMS) for its flexibility and ease of use. If you ask us for help, it’s one of the closest options to self-hosted WordPress when it comes to features, and a great option if you don’t want a feature-specific platform.
In this case, we’re also talking about a self-hosting platform, so whether or not you spend money depends on what web hosting provider you choose. But, Joomla! Is a very lightweight platform, it has built-in caching capabilities, can load websites quickly.
Main Features:
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The functionality of the site can be enhanced by extending features.
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Built-in caching and search engine optimization (SEO features).
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Intuitive dashboard to quickly edit blog content.
Price: free | for more information
4. Wix
Wix is one of the most popular web hosting platforms and is very easy to use thanks to its drag-and-drop capabilities. You also have access to a number of template libraries for faster page creation.
The main problem with choosing it is that Wix itself is not a free platform — it is only free up to a point. You’ll get a barely adequate 500MB space to host your own website. But you can’t direct the domain to your own site, and you have to deal with ads. This may be fine for a personal blog, but it’s probably not a good solution for a professional site.
Main Features:
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Drag-and-drop tools are provided to create stylish sites
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Provides a number of extension libraries that pre-build templates
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Automatically create a responsive version of your website.
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Any number of applications can be installed from Wix’s dedicated library.
Price: including free and premium planning | for more information
5. Weebly
In many ways, Weebly is very similar to one of our previous choices. A site gives you up to 500MB of space for a free trial, and if you choose this option, you must also use subdomains.
The platform also highlights its top-of-the-line drag-and-drop builder as a major selling point, and offers dozens of modern templates. Some things can be used separately, for example, you can use a mobile application to manage your website, and then you can introduce a nice set of SEO features.
Weebly’s biggest drawback, similar to the Wix, is that the free plan includes advertising. If you don’t care about that, then this hosting solution might be a good one.
Main features:
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Provides a template library to create stylish blogs.
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Includes a drag-and-drop builder to customize your site.
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Allows you to access a large set of applications to extend the functionality of your site.
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Allows you to use built-in features to optimize SEO for your site
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Allows you to manage your site using a dedicated mobile application.
Price: free and the best service programs available | for more information
6. Blogger
Blogger is one of the oldest free blogging sites. It was bought by Google in 2003 and has since risen to prominence. So far, the hosting platform doesn’t give you any of the other features we’ve covered, but that’s to be expected. After all, while it does offer plenty of features to share your thoughts with your audience, Blogger is still a pure blogging service.
For the price, Blogger is completely free and allows you to link your blog to your own domain. This is a great option if you are looking for a simple and quick blog.
Main features:
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Allows you to create a simple blog in minutes.
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Allows you to connect your blog to your Google account.
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A great collection of modern blogs for you
Price: free | for more information
7. Ghost
When Ghost joined the blogging platform, it was a new face on the street. Since hosting launched in 2013, it has become one of our favorite choices for the following reasons:
It feels like a more streamlined version of WordPress. Ghost is for blogs, and every feature is designed to make your process easier and more intuitive. For example, you can use Markdown to write your posts and preview them immediately. You can also collaborate with other writers to schedule posts, content search engine optimization, and more.
All in all, Ghost is a great solution if you’re a DIY type blogger using a cutting-edge platform. However, it lacks a multi-platform support.
Main Features:
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Enables you to edit and preview your posts at the same time.
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Provides methods for typesetting your content.
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Lets you work with other publishers.
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Provides built-in SEO capabilities.
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Provides you with a way to create accelerated mobile pages (AMP).
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Supports RSS feeds, email subscriptions, and Slack integration.
Price: free | for more information
8. Tumblr
Tumblr is not the best without a reputation for blogging. Some people don’t think it’s a serious platform, but if you want to set up a personal blog, it might be a good choice. It’s easy to pick up, feels professional, and has a regular audience.
This last point can be useful if you want to set up a personal blog but don’t know how to get your first audience. With Tumblr, people will discover your blog sooner or later, and they can use the platform’s built-in features to give you more exposure.
Main Features:
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Provide a combination of social media platforms and blogs.
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Optimizations for short format content.
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A quick learning curve to get you started blogging right away.
Price: free | for more information
9.Medium
Medium is a modern, free blogging site that aims to give people an easy way to share their thoughts and help others find interesting articles. Unlike other platforms, all you need to do is open a free account and use the built-in editor to publish your posts. Medium is built for readability, which is a great choice for long-term maintenance.
Medium is a great choice if you don’t want to bother setting up your own website. In addition, there is a chance that one of your posts can get exposure on the platform.
Main Features:
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Lets you publish articles using a simple editor.
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Provides readability for content optimization.
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Get readers to like, share and join your content.
Price: free | for more information
general
Starting a blog isn’t a walk in the park, but it doesn’t have to be overly complicated. There are many free blogging sites to choose from, and choosing the right one for you can make your job easier.
As you might guess, we’re big fans of the WordPress version. It is a powerful platform with extensive customization and powerful themes such as Divi. However, some people may prefer to use hosting options that are easy to set up, such as Wix. No platform is right for everyone, so be sure to do your homework before choosing one.
Do you use any of the blogging sites featured in this list (other than WordPress) and how do you enjoy them? Feel free to leave a comment in the comments section!
The original article:
9 Best Free Blog Sites Compared
Translation:
Open Source Chinese Community
By Leoxu, Yalin Melon seed, I am a newbie I am proud, translated by Axlchen
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