Top Blogging Platforms of 2024: A Complete Guide

Blogging has become easier than ever, thanks to the best blogging platforms and website builders available today. Whether you want to share your thoughts, record experiences, or build a professional blog, the right platform can make all the difference.

Starting a blog no longer requires technical expertise or a big budget. Many platforms offer free options for hobbyists, providing everything you need to set up and manage your blog, including hosting. However, free options often come with limitations. For those looking to go professional, paid platforms offer advanced tools like custom domains, enhanced analytics, and design flexibility.

As Brian Clark wisely said, “Don’t focus on having a great blog. Focus on producing a blog that’s great for your readers.” Finding the right platform tailored to your audience and goals is key to achieving that.

Our experts have tested numerous blogging sites to identify the best options for beginners, hobbyists, and professional bloggers. Whether you aim to share your passion, grow a side income, or establish a professional presence, our guide will help you pick the perfect platform.

Bonus Tip: Black Friday deals can help you get started with premium features for less—don’t miss out!

Let’s find the best blogging site for you.

The Best Blogging Sites of 2024:

Explore our in-depth analysis of the top blogging platforms available today. If you’re short on time and just want our top 3 recommendations, we’ve highlighted them for you below.

1. Wix.com

Wix makes it easy to design and launch your blog with its intuitive drag-and-drop interface, offering powerful customization options and additional features like eCommerce and marketing tools. Unlock powerful blog-building tools and so much more.

Best Deals: Wix Lite Rs. 199/mth

                    Wix Core Rs. 399/mth

                    Wix Business Rs. 799/mth

Visit Site

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

Wix offers a range of subscription plans, including a free option. However, the free plan comes with some limitations. Your site will display Wix branding, and you’re restricted to 500MB of storage and monthly data transfer, making it unsuitable for high-traffic websites.

Despite these limits, Wix allows you to create blogs with unlimited pages and provides robust blogging tools. The editor is straightforward but packed with features like image galleries, videos, and music, plus numerous ways to customize your posts. Scheduling options are flexible, and you can automate social sharing, such as publishing posts directly to Facebook.

Wix stands out with its AI editor, which helps beginners quickly create tailored websites based on their needs. Additionally, it supports diverse media types, offers solid customer support (even on the free plan), and includes features like Wix Turbo to boost website performance.

Pricing:
Paid plans start at Rs. 199/month, enabling custom domains, removing Wix branding, and unlocking advanced features. While this pricing is on par with premium website builders like Squarespace, it’s higher than some other blogging-focused platforms.

Bottom Line:
Wix is an excellent choice if you want a feature-rich blog builder combined with powerful website creation tools. For those seeking a basic blog platform, there are more budget-friendly alternatives.

2. Squarespace

Squarespace offers stunning, professionally designed templates, allowing you to easily create an aesthetically pleasing blog with minimal effort and maximum impact. A wide collection of blog templates

Best Deals: Personal $16/mth

                     Business $23/mth

                     Commerce $28/mth

Visit Site

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

Squarespace offers a wide range of templates that allow bloggers to get creative and express their unique voice, brand, or business online. With over 100 mobile-responsive templates, Squarespace ensures that your blog looks great on any device. You can either start with a specific template designed for blogging or simply add a blog page to your existing Squarespace website.

The platform also offers flexible posting options, allowing you to schedule blog posts for daily, weekly, or monthly publishing. Additionally, you can invite contributors to collaborate on your blog by adding their own posts.

Should you encounter any issues while building your blog, Squarespace provides personalized customer support through email or live chat, with dedicated teams in their New York, Dublin, and Portland offices.

Pricing:
Squarespace starts at $16/month, with no free plan available. While it’s a bit pricier compared to some other blogging platforms, it’s a great value if you plan to use its powerful suite of tools and monetize your blog. However, it may be on the expensive side for hobbyists or casual bloggers.

Bottom Line:
Squarespace is ideal for those who want a professional and customizable blogging platform, with the added benefit of design flexibility and strong customer support. It’s a great choice for serious bloggers but may be a bit costly for casual users.

Pro Tip: Check out our Squarespace promo codes for the best deals!

3. WordPress

You can either host a WordPress blog on your own server or create one on WordPress.com for hosting. Advanced features, plugins, and ample storage capacity

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

WordPress is an excellent platform for blogs of any size and for bloggers with varying levels of experience. Getting started is simple with an intuitive setup wizard that guides you through selecting a name and theme. Once set up, you can start publishing posts right away, but the real potential lies in its advanced customization options.

With WordPress, you can take full control of your blog’s appearance through its powerful editor. A new drag-and-drop website builder has also been introduced, making it easier for bloggers to create stunning sites without needing advanced design skills.

The post-writing interface resembles a typical word processor, although it may take some time to get familiar with its toolbar and menu layout. Once you do, you’ll gain access to advanced features like customizable social media sharing buttons, geotagging, and the ability to select custom styles for individual posts.

As your blog grows, WordPress offers powerful analytics to track stats like page views, visitor data, and engagement, which can help you fine-tune your content for your audience.

Free WordPress sites come with a yoursite.wordpress.com domain and include hosting, but they display ads. Although email and live chat support aren’t available for free accounts, the active WordPress community forum provides quick answers to most questions. Additionally, privacy protection for domains registered through WordPress.com is free.

Pricing:
WordPress offers affordable plans starting at Rs. 160/month. While the free version works well for basic blogging, the costs can rise if you choose to add plugins for advanced features.
WordPress is a top choice for bloggers who want an affordable, customizable platform with advanced tools for growth. Its free version is a solid starting point, but those seeking enhanced functionality will benefit from its paid plans.

4. Blogger

Blogger has been a long-standing platform but has consistently adapted to modern trends and technology, offering responsive blog templates that ensure your content looks great on any device.

Offers mobile-friendly features and seamless integration with Google apps.

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

Blogger is a fantastic platform, particularly for beginners. While it may not offer the same level of power as WordPress, its ease of use makes it an appealing choice for new bloggers, especially given that it’s owned by Google.

Blogger features a great selection of templates, all of which are mobile-optimized for easy viewing on smartphones. It’s also web-responsive, ensuring your blog adapts seamlessly to any device. The post-editing tool is straightforward, offering a user-friendly interface with fewer options than WordPress, making it less overwhelming for newcomers.

A standout feature of Blogger is its integration with Google services. For example, it uses Google Drive to store images and other blog files, offering 15GB of free space. This makes Blogger an excellent choice if you’re planning to share high-resolution photos or need extra storage.

Blogger also has a built-in spam filter, helping to manage unwanted comments. You can track your blog’s visitor stats through its dashboard, with helpful visualizations like a world map showing the geographic distribution of your audience.

Your blog will have a “yoursite.blogger.com” domain, and, like all Google services, it will display ads. Support is available through the active Blogger user forum, though its layout can be a bit confusing.

Pricing:
Blogger is completely free, but comes with limitations, including ads and a branded Blogger domain.

Bottom Line:
Blogger is one of the best free blogging platforms for users who prioritize ease of use over flexibility, especially those already familiar with the Google ecosystem. It’s an excellent choice for beginner bloggers looking for a simple, accessible platform.

5. Weebly

Blogs on Weebly are created using a combination of content blocks, allowing for easy drag-and-drop customization and a flexible design process.

Easily drag-and-drop your way to a sleek, professional-looking blog.

Best Deals: Weebly Free $0/mth

                      Weebly Personal $10/mth

                      Weebly Professional $12/mth    

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

Weebly takes a modular approach to blog building, offering a drag-and-drop editor that lets you choose and place content elements exactly where you want them. After selecting a basic template, you can easily add text, images, maps, social media links, and even sections of code to create a unique blog. This intuitive process requires no complicated menu navigation, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

However, it’s worth noting that some content blocks can only be positioned in specific areas, which ensures a clean and organized layout but may feel restrictive for those seeking complete design freedom.

Creating blog posts follows a similar drag-and-drop method: simply position text boxes, image frames, and other elements, and then click to edit. One standout feature is the ‘secret draft link,’ which allows you to preview your post and share it with others via email before publishing it.

Weebly also supports Google Analytics integration, although it doesn’t offer built-in analytics itself. It’s worth mentioning that Weebly provides only 500MB of storage for uploaded content, so it might not be the best choice for bloggers who plan to use large images or media. A small ad will also appear in the footer of your site, though it won’t obstruct your content.

Pricing:
Weebly offers a free plan, ideal for those just starting out with blogging. Paid plans start at $10/month, making it a more affordable option compared to platforms like Wix and Squarespace, while still offering powerful website-building tools.

Bottom Line:
Weebly is an excellent platform for bloggers looking for simplicity and customization with a budget-friendly price tag. It’s especially suited for those who prefer an easy-to-use, drag-and-drop interface and don’t mind a few limitations in terms of storage and design flexibility.

6. Medium

An engagement-centric platform designed with a strong focus on readability and maximizing audience reach.

Reasons to Buy:

Reasons to Avoid:

Medium is a premier platform for bloggers that prioritizes content readability and user engagement. It’s an ideal choice for writers who want to share their work without the hassle of managing a separate website. Setting up a blog on Medium is incredibly simple and requires no financial investment, making it especially appealing to new writers who want to reach a like-minded audience quickly.

The platform features a minimalist design, which ensures a clean, distraction-free reading experience, allowing the content to take center stage. Medium also boasts a built-in user base, providing access to a ready-made audience and encouraging interaction through comments and followers. Bloggers can also join or create niche publications, further fostering community engagement.

However, if you’re looking to customize your blog, Medium offers limited flexibility. The platform uses a uniform design template, which restricts changes to the layout or design. Additionally, monetization is not as flexible as on other platforms—Medium runs an in-house Partner Program, where writers earn based on reader engagement with their content. While this can be a great opportunity for some, the earnings are dependent on Medium’s revenue-sharing model, which may not be as lucrative as using other monetization methods like Google AdSense.

In summary, Medium is an excellent choice for beginner bloggers focused on ease of use, community engagement, and writing, rather than heavy customization or monetization control.

Pricing:
Publishing on Medium is free, though a membership option is available for readers at $5/month. This membership provides extended functionality for readers rather than writers.

7. Penzu

Penzu is a personal blogging platform that allows you to create your own private online diary. A secure platform for documenting your private thoughts in a personal journal.

Best Deals: Visit Site

REASONS TO BUY

REASONS TO AVOID

Penzu offers a unique approach to blogging, focusing on privacy rather than public exposure. Unlike typical blogging platforms designed to showcase posts to the world, Penzu acts as a secure, locked diary where your thoughts and reflections are kept private by default. Each post is protected by a password, ensuring only you can read or edit it.

With free apps for iOS and Android, you can update your diary from anywhere, but Penzu isn’t about promoting yourself—it’s built for personal expression and secure journaling. The platform’s design is simple and functional, with customizable features available through the paid plan.

While the free version is useful, advanced security features like 128-bit AES encryption are limited to the paid plan. Penzu does encourage upgrading, but the core offering remains solid for those who want a private space for writing.

Pricing
Penzu’s basic plan starts at $0/month, or you can opt for the annual Penzu Pro plan at $19.99 for better value.

Additional Highlights

Blogging has grown immensely in popularity for both businesses and individuals, leading to an abundance of blogging platforms to choose from. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses. In addition to the top platforms we’ve already discussed, here are a few more that are worth considering:

How to Select the Perfect Blogging Platform for Your Needs

To choose the best blogging platform for you, consider these three essential factors:

  1. Your Blogging Goals
    Start by asking yourself what you want to achieve with your blog. Are you blogging for fun or professionally? Do you plan to publish multimedia content like images and videos, or just text? Will you host your blog on your own domain? Think about your publishing style and create a list of must-have features. This will help you match your needs with the tools each platform offers, making it easier to find the perfect fit.
  2. Tools and Features
    Think about how you want to interact with your platform. If you plan to write and post blogs on the go, check if the mobile app or website is easy to use. In addition to templates, storage, and a user-friendly interface, look for mobile compatibility, 24/7 customer support, and useful analytics tools to track your blog’s performance.
  3. Price
    Many top blogging platforms offer free plans or trials, allowing you to test them before committing. However, if you want access to advanced tools, a custom domain, or premium features, you may need to opt for a paid plan. Be sure to weigh your options and choose the plan that suits your budget and needs.

How We Test

At The Planet Zone, our experts have spent thousands of hours testing the best website builders and blogging platforms. Our comprehensive testing process combines hands-on experience with expert knowledge to bring you the most informed recommendations. Here’s what we focus on when evaluating the best blogging platforms:

Features
The key decision-making factor for any blogging platform is the features it offers. We thoroughly test SEO tools, themes and templates, as well as integration capabilities and extensions, to ensure the platform can meet your needs.

Ease of Use
Blogging should be simple and straightforward. When we test platforms, we assess how easy they are to navigate, how intuitive the tools are, and how quickly you can launch and update your blog without a steep learning curve.

Value for Money
We analyze the pricing plans of each platform, including free options and any limitations they may have. We also evaluate the value provided by paid plans, comparing the features and tools offered at various price points.

FAQS

Should I pick a free or paid blogging site?

Whether you should go for a free or paid blogging platform completely depends on your goals, budget, and the customization and control you wish to have. Free blogging platforms, like Medium offer an easy way to directly start writing your blogs on their platform without any upfront costs. They are great for beginners who want some visibility on their blogs or someone who just does it as a hobby. These platforms come with certain limitations in design, domain name branding, and monetization strategies.

On the other side, paid blogging platforms like Wix offer much more control and flexibility. You have the freedom to build your blog just the way you want, have your own domain name, and even have complete control over your monetization strategies. However, you can’t do this for free, and there are certain costs aligned with this strategy, including purchasing a domain, investing in a premium theme, getting hosting, and even using different website management tools to build your perfect blog website.

So, if you’re serious about writing a blog and want to make a living out of it, investing in a paid platform can be a better option for you. However, if you want to write blogs casually or are just starting out without having a solid investment, a free platform like Medium can do it all for you.

What should I blog about?

Starting a blog is easy, especially when you choose one of the great blogging tools we have suggested in this guide. However, consistently updating and maintaining your blog can be tricky, especially when life gets in the way.

Picking a blog subject that you are passionate about will make it much easier to write about, increasing your chances of consistency and success. You may use a blog as your personal diary to record your day to day life. Alternatively, you may use it to talk about a niche topic that you are interested in such as your favorite brand of car or gardening.

Ultimately blogging offers an opportunity for creative freedom, allowing you to dive deep into any subject you like.

How often should I post on my blog?

Although there are some studies that attempt to show the optimal regularity with which you should post on your blog, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. This is because many factors come into play such as the niche in which your blog sits, your audience, the length and depth of your blog posts, and your other commitments.

For example, a blog in a fast moving niche such as social media trends may benefit from daily updates. On the other hand, a blog which goes into the deep technical details of how to restore classic cars may require a significant amount of research, meaning 2-4 posts (or less) a month are more than enough.

However, as a general rule, the more regularly you can post high-quality content on your blog the better. This will help you improve your search engine rankings and keep your audience engaged.

What is the best blogging platform?

There are several great blogging sites to choose from when starting a blog. Our top picks include Wix, WordPress, and Blogger. These are at the top of our list as each offers a free plan, ease-of-use blog builder, and other powerful blogging tools.

What are the benefits of blogging?

There are countless benefits to starting and maintaining a blog, here are just a few:

1. Develop authority in your niche
2. Meet new people and build a community around your content
3. Improve your writing and communication skills
4. Have fun and relax
5. Learn more about your subject of choice
6. Monetize your content
7. Drive more traffic to your website
8. Generate leads for your business.

How do I start a blog?

Starting a blog is easy, especially if you pick one of the best blogging platforms from our list. Here are the steps you need to get started:

1. Pick your niche

You can blog about anything. Interested in cooking? You can blog about that. Want somewhere to share your insights on trains? Start a blog. Want to build a community around your favorite sport? Get blogging.

When deciding on your niche you may choose to blog about anything and everything that interests you. Alternatively, you may want to pick one topic and only blog that.

You don’t need to be an expert in your niche. In fact, many blogs are run by amateurs who use their blogs to document their journey and develop their knowledge in a chosen niche.

2. Pick a blogging platform

You can use our list of the best blogging sites to find the perfect platform. Which is right for you will depend on several factors that we have already covered in detail earlier in this guide.

3. Start creating

There is no better time to start creating blog content than now. You can use your blog to improve your content creation skills, test out new ideas, and develop your own style.

Although you don’t need to publish every day, you should try and stick to a regular schedule. This will help you build your search engine rankings and help your readers set their expectations.

4. Optimize for SEO

Take some time to optimize your blog for search engine rankings. This will boost rankings, helping those who are interested in what you have to say find your blog.

5. Promote your blog

As well as working to boost your search engine rankings, you can also promote your blog using social media platforms, email marketing, and paid advertising.

6. Use your analytics

Most of the platforms we mention in this guide have built-in analytics. Alternatively, you may install a separate tool such as Google Analytics to help you gather and assess data.

You can use your analytics to see what is and what isn’t working on your blog, helping you make an informed decision on which changes to make and where to focus your energy.

How do I monetize my blog?

If you have a successful blog there are many ways you can monetize it. Some methods include publishing ads from an ad network, working directly with businesses to publish their ads, affiliate marketing, and publishing sponsored content.

Should I Choose a Free or Paid Blogging Site?

Choosing between a free or paid blogging platform depends on your goals, budget, and desired level of control.

Free platforms, like Medium, allow you to start writing without any upfront costs, making them great for beginners or hobbyists. They are perfect if you’re looking to publish your thoughts without worrying about design or monetization. However, free options often come with limitations in terms of design, branding, and monetization opportunities.

Paid platforms, such as Wix or WordPress, offer greater control, allowing you to create a custom blog with your own domain name and more advanced monetization options. While they require an investment for hosting, a domain name, and premium themes, they are ideal if you’re serious about blogging and want to potentially monetize your content.

If you’re just starting out or blogging for fun, a free platform might suffice. But if you’re aiming to grow your blog into a business or want more control, investing in a paid plan is worth considering.

What Should I Blog About?

Starting a blog is simple, but maintaining one consistently can be challenging. Choose a topic you are passionate about, whether it’s a personal diary, a hobby like gardening, or a niche subject such as tech or cars. Blogging allows creative freedom, so feel free to explore a topic you’re excited to share with others.

How Often Should I Post on My Blog?

The frequency of your posts depends on your niche, audience, and the amount of research or writing required. Blogs in fast-paced niches may benefit from daily updates, while more technical blogs may require less frequent posts (2-4 per month). Ultimately, aim for consistency and quality, which can improve search engine rankings and keep your readers engaged.

What Is the Best Blogging Platform?

The best blogging platform depends on your specific needs. Popular options include Wix, WordPress, and Blogger. Each offers ease of use, free plans, and powerful tools to help you create and grow your blog.

What Are the Benefits of Blogging?

Blogging offers numerous benefits, including:

  1. Building authority in your niche
  2. Growing your community
  3. Improving your writing skills
  4. Enjoying a creative outlet
  5. Learning more about your interests
  6. Monetizing content
  7. Driving traffic to your website
  8. Generating business leads

How Do I Start a Blog?

Starting a blog is easy. Follow these steps:

  1. Pick Your Niche: Choose a topic you’re passionate about. You can blog about anything, whether it’s a hobby, your career, or a subject you want to explore.
  2. Choose a Blogging Platform: Select a platform that fits your needs (see the list in our guide). Consider factors like customization options, ease of use, and SEO tools.
  3. Start Creating: Begin writing content that reflects your voice and style. Regular posting helps improve your search rankings and keeps your audience engaged.
  4. Optimize for SEO: Boost your blog’s visibility by optimizing it for search engines. Use proper keywords, meta descriptions, and quality content.
  5. Promote Your Blog: Use social media, email marketing, and paid ads to promote your blog and increase traffic.
  6. Use Analytics: Track your blog’s performance with built-in analytics or tools like Google Analytics. This helps you understand what’s working and where to improve.

How Do I Monetize My Blog?

Monetizing a successful blog can be done in several ways:

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