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Published: Feb 14, 2022, 2:00pm
With a more connected world, it’s no wonder people want to share their content online. Some use websites to share ideas, while others build a full-fledged business from it. Popular options for building an online presence outside of social media are Blogger and WordPress.org.
Both platforms have a solid reputation after having been around for nearly two decades each. The solution best for you depends on your goals and how you plan to use the platform.
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WordPress.org is more frequently used compared to Blogger, with many themes and plugins to choose from to customize the look and feel of your site using no coding. If you know HTML or Java, it allows for that, too. WordPress is free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting with a hosting company, which typically runs less than $10 per month. If you’re running a business, WordPress is best, despite Blogger originally being specifically for commercial blogging.
Blogger is a free WordPress alternative that has been around for four years longer. It offers free themes, although they’re basic and make it obvious you’re using the platform as they’re all very similar to each other. However, Blogger is a great option for users who want a decent, basic blogging platform. You won’t get any frills, but the learning curve is low, and you can start publishing content in minutes.
Free
No
No
Blogger is one of the earliest blogging platforms and is now owned by Google. What started as a commercial blogging platform has transformed into a place for people to share their thoughts, recipes and stories. It’s free, easy to use, includes free templates and you can have your site running in minutes.
The drawbacks are that it’s immediately noticeable you’re using Blogger because all themes look the same. Brands don’t consider Blogger a serious blogging platform, and generally won’t work with bloggers using it. This is because there aren’t any email marketing or social media marketing tools to help it grow.
Free
Yes
Yes
WordPress is a website builder allowing for advanced customization, extensive third-party integrations and features for bloggers and businesses alike. WordPress.org is free, but you must pay a hosting company to host your site. While technically, you don’t need to know coding to use WordPress, some knowledge will help you fix any mistakes without needing to contact a web developer.
There are over 9,000 free themes, as well as premium themes to really set your site apart or to match the focus of your site. For example, there are many e-commerce themes to give your online store a sleek appearance. You can also purchase themes through places like Theme Forest or even Etsy.
Both Blogger and WordPress.org are free, but WordPress is self-hosted. This means you must use a hosting company to use it. You can find host companies for a few dollars per month if you pay for three years at a time. While many WordPress plugins are free, some of the more extensive ones will cost you money, such as ones meant to give you an online store.
Since 2018, Blogger provides unlimited storage. The amount of storage available with WordPress depends on the host company you use, but 50 GB is standard for most companies. For most people, this is enough. Once your site gets more traffic, you may need to increase the package you pay for, which often comes with unlimited storage and a dedicated server.
WordPress has thousands of free themes, as well as premium ones. Blogger has a handful of similar-looking themes, and one site suggests there’s a workaround for uploading a premium theme, but others say their solution doesn’t work. If you’re looking for advanced customization and a unique look to your site, you’ll want to go with WordPress.
While WordPress does take a little more knowledge of coding than Blogger, it’s a very popular platform, so there are thousands of walk-throughs for just about anything you have trouble with. Most hosting companies even provide one-click installation so you can get started quickly. Once your site is up and running, you can drag and drop images, text and a whole host of content inside the editor. Blogger doesn’t have drag-and-drop functionality.
Either Blogger or WordPress will provide you with a way to share content with an online audience. They’re both free, come with free themes and offer enough storage for most needs. If you’re just looking for a no-frills, easy-to-use blogging platform, Blogger is perfect for sharing content with friends and family. If you’re running a business or want to blog professionally, you should use WordPress.org in order to establish a more polished brand.
Kathy Haan, MBA is a former financial advisor-turned-writer and business coach. For over a decade, she’s helped small business owners make money online. When she’s not trying out the latest tech or travel blogging with her family, you can find her curling up with a good novel.
Cassie is an assistant assigning editor, collaborating with teams around the world while living in the beautiful hills of Kentucky. She is passionate about economic development and is on the board of two non-profit organizations seeking to revitalize her former railroad town. Prior to joining the team at Forbes Advisor, Cassie was a Content Operations Manager and Copywriting Manager at Fit Small Business.
