Blogging is to a business what bricklaying is to a building. It is time-consuming and demands patience but is so worth the effort! It is an essential business tool that can take your brand to new heights. However, choosing the best blogging platform can be a cumbersome task. Each platform comes with its own set of advantages and drawbacks. To narrow it down, some of the factors that can help you choose are your budget, skill level, monetisation opportunities, an uncomplicated user interface, and search engine friendliness. Here’s a review of some of the best blogging platforms to help make your choice easier.

• WordPress – WordPress is statistically one of the most widely used blogging platforms in the world. It is an open-source software which makes its customisation easy. Not only can you pick or create your own themes, but also add essential plugins to give your blog that extra push. The WordPress platform is free and you can pay for any add-ons that may seem essential. Experts also recommend hosting your WordPress domain from Hostinger to give your blog page an edge. Hostinger is paid but can be a lot cheaper than other website builders. It can sustain a smooth website building experience. There are some downsides to hosting on WordPress for free. You will have to deal with ads, manage your own backup and security, and figure out how to build your own website from scratch.
• WordPress.org or WordPress.com? – The original wordpress.org lets you create a self-hosted site. Its free version doesn’t include ads and is SEO-friendly. On the other hand, wordpress.com is a website where you can host your blog and pay for other features. That said, the free version comes with ads. Using wordpress.com can be much easier. However, it comes with many limitations. You cannot customise your theme, install plugins or put up ads to monetize your blog. Moreover, you cannot insert e-commerce getaways or membership websites, and your blog will always be at risk of being deleted by WordPress. For safer, independent hosting, it is recommended to build your own website with wordpress.org.
• Wix – Wix is a web hosting software that allows small businesses to host their own websites. It has an additional Wix Blog App that allows you to incorporate a blog page into it as well. It has a free version and a paid version, and the latter allows you to build a full-fledged website with no coding skills. Setting up a website is quick and easy. On the other hand, a free Wix website comes with ads and limited third-party apps. Moreover, you cannot change your theme once you’ve installed it and Wix offers limited e-commerce features even in paid plans.
• Blogger – Blogger was launched in 1999 and is one of the oldest blogging platforms on the internet. It is user-friendly and requires no coding skills to use. You can create your blog through your pre-existing Google account and it is completely free. However, Blogger comes with limited features. You cannot install plugins, have to depend on basic blogging tools and design options are limited. Moreover, it is regulated by Google that can take your work down without your permission. Blogs come with a free Blogger subdomain. A custom domain needs to be bought from a domain registrar if you want to go independent.
• Squarespace – Squarespace is a website building software with an easy-to-use interface that caters to the needs of small businesses. You can have your own website and blog to create an online presence. Introduced in 2003, the software offers some gorgeous themes and separate domain names with HTTPS:// and e-commerce. It has various paid subscriptions, doesn’t have a free version and its features are limited to the platform.
• Medium – Medium is like the Instagram of blogs. It’s an easy-to-use blogging platform where you can start posting once you’ve created your account. It’s free, but its domain name cannot be changed. Launched in 2012, Medium provides you with an audience and a pre-built platform. You don’t need to build a website or pay for your domain name. However, its design, audience and ads are all regulated by Medium and you don’t have a say in it. Moreover, you would lose your audience if you lost your page.

To conclude, it’s crucial to figure out your needs, goals and budget before zeroing down on a blogging platform. The ones mentioned above are all great and widely used by individuals around the world. It would be advisable to perhaps utilise more than one of these. For instance, you can alternatingly blog on both Medium, and say, WordPress or Squarespace. To find the best blogging platform, planning is key.