The 12 Best Blogging Platforms for 2020 (& How to Pick One)


Whether or not you are all in favour of running a blog for what you are promoting or as a interest, publishing blog content has many benefits. Not solely does running a blog enable you to set up authority in an business — it additionally drives site visitors to your web site and allows you to higher convert that site visitors into leads.

To reap the rewards of running a blog, we'll stroll by way of the method of selecting the best platform in your wants and objectives. Then we'll discover a number of the greatest running a blog platforms that may assist if you are wanting so as to add a weblog to what you are promoting web site or create a stand-alone weblog.
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Select a Running a blog Platform

To pick out a running a blog platform that is proper for what you are promoting, consider how its capabilities align along with your objectives and wishes. If you must enhance your visibility in SERPs, for instance, search for a platform with built-in web optimization instruments. In case your principal precedence is to beginning publishing visible content material quick, you then may give attention to discovering a platform that helps multi-media posts.
Let's check out some important options that you just may want in your weblog. You should use this checklist when evaluating totally different running a blog platforms. 

Content material Editor

The content material editor is the core of each running a blog platform. As a blogger, you is likely to be working on this editor every single day, so be sure to decide a platform with an editor you want.
You would make an inventory of must-have and nice-to-have options. For instance, possibly your editor should have drag-and-drop performance and an auto-save function and it would be good to have an choice to preview how your publish seems to be on totally different units.

Themes and Templates

Themes and templates can help you customise a weblog rapidly and simply. When taking a look at totally different running a blog platforms, take a look at their choice of themes and templates.
Have they got a whole lot of choices for running a blog particularly? Have they got a wide range of free and premium ones? What is the common worth of their premium themes? Are you able to edit the themes and templates to create a really custom-made search for your web site?
You may additionally need the choice to begin from scratch somewhat than use a predesigned theme.
These are only a few questions that may assist you choose a platform with the design and customization choices you want.

web optimization Options and Instruments

Optimizing your content material for search is important to driving site visitors to your weblog. In accordance with Search Engine Journal, websites listed on the primary SERP in Google get 91.5% of the site visitors share for a key phrase or phrase.
To get on that first web page, you ideally need a platform with built-in instruments that can assist you optimize your content material. CMS Hub, for instance, gives web optimization suggestions as you write.
If a platform would not have the sort of superior performance, then examine if you happen to can set up an web optimization plugin or third-party device. In any other case, you may need to stand up to hurry on web optimization greatest practices and ensure to implement them in your weblog.
Now that you understand some options to contemplate in your choice course of, let's check out a number of the greatest running a blog platforms available on the market.
We'll divide this checklist into paid and free running a blog platforms, so you'll find one which meets your wants and finances.  Let's get began under.

Paid Running a blog Platforms

Most premium running a blog platforms will supply extra options and management over your weblog than free platforms. When you have the finances, investing in your running a blog efforts now will help you develop over time.

1. CMS Hub

G2 Rating: 4.3/5.0 (6,044 Evaluations)
What units CMS Hub aside from different running a blog platforms is that it is absolutely built-in with HubSpot’s advertising, gross sales, and repair instruments and comes with a built-in CRM. Meaning you'll be able to create a completely practical and customised weblog.
You can begin by deciding on a pre-designed theme or construct your personal customized theme. Then, utilizing HubSpot's weblog editor and built-in web optimization instruments, you'll be able to rapidly create search engine optimized weblog posts with CTAs, types, and different interactive parts. You'll be able to even create language variants of your weblog posts and run A/B exams on them to succeed in a worldwide viewers. Earlier than you publish, be certain that to preview how your posts and pages look on each sort of system.
When you're prepared to begin selling, join your weblog to your social media accounts. That method, you'll be able to robotically share new weblog posts in your social networks in the identical place that you just wrote them.
As you publish extra content material, you'll be able to analyze your weblog efficiency with HubSpot's built-in analytics to know what subjects and varieties of content material are resonating along with your readers.
As your weblog grows, so will your workforce. With HubSpot's CMS, you may make edits and add feedback in composer mode to collaborate on the identical items with different writers. It's also possible to maintain observe of modifications in your web site — and who made them — with exercise logs on the Enterprise stage.
Check out this retailer's feature-rich weblog constructed on the CMS Hub under.
Blum blog on CMS HubKey Takeaways:
  • Integrates with HubSpot's advertising, gross sales, service, and CRM instruments
  • Constructed-in web optimization suggestions 
  • Multi-lingual assist and different superior performance built-in

2. WordPress

G2 Rating: 4.3/5.0 (7,613 Evaluations)
WordPress was initially created as a running a blog platform. Although it has advanced right into a multi-purpose content material administration system, it nonetheless has many options and themes for running a blog.
WordPress allows you to not solely buy a customized area and obtain certainly one of 3,000+ themes particularly designed for blogs — it additionally helps you to add social media buttons, types, affiliate hyperlinks, and different options by way of plugins.
The customization choices are nearly limitless with the 55,000+ plugins out there, however you'll have to be certain that these plugins are suitable and up to date. In any other case, they will disrupt the customer expertise or break your web site.
Creating and managing a weblog on WordPress may require extra upkeep than different platforms, however it can present the flexibleness, customizability, and content material administration options you must create a fancy weblog.
Tech Crunch, one of many largest and hottest know-how information blogs, is powered by WordPress. Check out this WordPress website example under.
Tech Crunch blog on WordPressKey Takeaways:
  • Over 3,000 free running a blog themes 
  • Nearly limitless customization choices by way of plugins
  • Plugin and web site upkeep could be time-consuming

3. Squarespace

G2 Rating: 4.4/5.0 (847 Evaluations)
Squarespace is a perfect running a blog platform for creating image-rich content material. With their award-winning designer templates and integrations with Getty Pictures, Unsplash, and Google AMP, you'll be able to create visible content material that is participating and shareable.
Whereas SquareSpace solely gives 60 templates, they're all mobile-optimized and absolutely customizable so you'll be able to create a weblog that appears the best way you need it to. As soon as you've got designed your pages, you should utilize Squarespace’s running a blog and web optimization instruments to create and optimize your content material.
Lastly, after publishing your weblog posts, you'll be able to join your social media accounts to simply promote them. Then use the built-in analytics device to study the place your site visitors is coming from, what your guests are searching for, and the way they’re interacting along with your content material.
Squarespace offers even more features, from audio recordsdata assist to publication signup types, however in the end it is restricted in performance. That is as a result of you'll be able to't set up plugins or extra modules, so that you’re restricted to the options Squarespace offers out-of-the-box.
Since they will’t probably have each function that each blogger wantsthey do not have an auto-save function, for instance — Squarespace isn't the best platform for everybody. However it does permit some bloggers to create stunning websites, like this lifestyle blog under.
Lifestyle blog on Squarespace-1
Key Takeaways:
  • Restricted choice of templates however high-quality
  • Strong performance for running a blog, web optimization, and extra
  • Restricted to options Squarespace gives

4. Wix

G2 Rating: 4.2/5.0 (1,177 Evaluations)
Wix is a well-liked running a blog platform for freshmen searching for internet hosting and running a blog instruments in a single place.
You can begin by deciding on from over 500 pre-designed templates that any blogger can use, whether or not you personal a retail enterprise or run a meals evaluation web site. Or you can begin from scratch if you understand HTML and CSS.
After you've got picked or created your template, you'll be able to start writing and enhancing posts on desktop or cellular, embed Wix's inventory pictures and movies or your personal media, and set up them into subjects.
So as to add extra superior parts to the web page, like music or maps, you’ll need to add HTML code. This course of could be intimidating for freshmen, significantly when in comparison with the benefit of putting in plugins on WordPress. It is publish editor additionally is not drag-and-drop, which could frustrate some bloggers.
When you're carried out writing, you'll be able to configure your web optimization settings to spice up your natural attain, push your content material to your subscribers with Wix's electronic mail device, and share them by way of your social media accounts. You'll be able to additional foster a way of neighborhood amongst your readers by letting them change into members.
Whereas Wix is extra versatile than different hosted web site builders, it lacks customization choices and content material administration options, significantly when comparing Wix vs WordPress or one other CMS. This makes Wix preferrred for bloggers seeking to create blogs that prioritize visible content material over performance. Check out this Wix blogger's site under.
Bella & Bloom site on Wix
Key Takeaways:
  • Choice to make use of pre-designed templates or begin from scratch
  • Constructed-in archive of free pictures and movies 
  • Editor lacks drag-and-drop performance

5. Weebly

G2 Rating: 4.2/5.0 (402 Evaluations)
Like Wix, Weebly is a well-liked running a blog platform that gives every part you must launch a weblog, together with web site constructing instruments, templates, and internet hosting.
Weebly differentiates itself from Wix in a number of methods. The editor helps drag-and-drop performance for each posts and pages, for instance. You'll be able to create extra complicated layouts by including parts like types and picture galleries as nicely. It's also possible to add extra sub-levels to your navigation menus, which lets you set up bigger quantities of content material. All Weebly templates are additionally mobile-optimized, which implies you will not need to do any extra enhancing or rearranging for cellular.
Whereas Weebly gives extra performance than most web site builders, it does lack flexibility when compared to WordPress or one other CMS. For instance, you'll be able to’t drag and drop parts anyplace in your posts and pages or edit components of the underlying supply code.
That makes Weebly preferrred for blogs with a lot of content material however extra primary performance. Check out this Weebly blog under.
Leadapreneur blog on weebly
Key Takeaways:
  • Editor helps types, picture galleries, and different superior parts
  • Cell-optimized templates
  • No entry to supply code

6. Craft CMS

G2 Rating: 4.1/5.0 (30 Evaluations)
Craft CMS is a running a blog platform designed for builders, designers, and net professionals. With Craft's customized content material modeling, entry to your weblog's code, and highly effective templating, you'll be able to utterly management the looks and performance of your web sitein case you have the required expertise.
Craft CMS additionally gives a picture editor, collaboration instruments, and a localization function that may translate your content material to particular languages. To research your content material's efficiency, you'll be able to combine Craft CMS' dashboard with Google Analytics.
There is a free model for a single admin account with highly effective web site constructing instruments and templates. For limitless person accounts and extra superior options, you may need to improve to the professional or enterprise model.
You will want some net growth expertise to totally leverage the ability of Craft CMS. In the event you can, you can create a fancy weblog with customized publish sorts. Check out this travel blog constructed on the Craft CMS under.
Tiny shiny home built on craft cms
Key Takeaways:
  • Superior performance together with customized content material modeling and localization function
  • Free model for single admin accounts
  • Requires some net growth expertise

7. Contently

G2 Rating: 4.0/5.0 (21 Evaluations)
Contently is a strong running a blog platform that is preferrred for enterprise corporations with giant budgets however few inner editorial sources.
Contently permits you to handle your whole content material creation course of in a single place. You'll be able to create and visualize your editorial technique with their customizable manufacturing calendar device, set up your weblog posts with their tagging device, and successfully collaborate along with your workforce on tasks by leveraging their superior workflow instruments. You'll be able to even pay for Contently's well-vetted freelancers to jot down a few of this content material for you.
Earlier than publishing your content material, Contently's good content material evaluation instruments will guarantee your content material is aligned along with your model, optimized for search, and legally compliant. Lastly, to refine your content material technique, Contently allows you to examine your content material's efficiency in opposition to business benchmarks and measure its efficiency by matter, format, and sources immediately in your dashboard.
With costs starting from $3,000 to $25,000 per thirty days, Contently is among the costliest running a blog platforms for enterprise corporations
The Royal Financial institution of Canada, certainly one of North America’s largest banks, makes use of Contently to streamline content material creation throughout 14 advertising departments. Take a look at its weblog under.
RBC blog on Contently
Key Takeaways:
  • Can handle whole content material creation course of
  • Deep-dive analytics
  • Pricing solely possible for enterprise corporations

8. Joomla

G2 Rating: 3.9/5.0 (290 Evaluations)
Joomla is an open-source CMS with superior content material administration options which are constructed immediately into the platform. For instance, it permits you to create customized publish sorts, handle a whole lot of customers, and publish content material in a number of languages proper out of the field. This makes it a superb WordPress alternative
Due to its strong built-in performance, Joomla does have a steeper studying curve than WordPress so it's going to require extra time to arrange. It additionally gives a smaller choice of themes and extensions than WordPress, which might restrict your customization choices.
Amongst this choice are some nice extensions for running a blog, nonetheless. EasyBlog by StackIdeas, for instance, offers a a lot cleaner drag-and-drop editor than Joomla's built-in editor. It's also possible to allow star scores in your weblog and robotically publish posts to your social media platforms with this extension.
Under is an instance of a Joomla blog built with EasyBlog.
The Grid blog on Joomla
Key Takeaways:
  • Superior content material administration options
  • Steep studying curve resulting from strong built-in performance
  •  Might require running a blog extension like EasyBlog

9. Drupal

G2 Rating: 3.8/5.0 (326 Evaluations)
Drupal is a extremely versatile open-source CMS that is greatest suited to giant, complicated blogs.
Drupal has a whole lot of out-of-the-box options and modules. In the event you don’t know use them and haven't got the time to study, they are often complicated and hinder your running a blog efforts. However if you happen to do know the way or have the time to study, then Drupal will present you extra energy than different open-source platforms.
Particularly, Drupal helps a big selection of taxonomies, content material sorts, web page templates, blocks, views, and extra for creating and managing a lot of various kinds of content material. It additionally has superior person permissions so you'll be able to present web site admins, content material editors, and different stakeholders customized entry to particular content material.
This makes Drupal preferrred for superior customers in addition to enterprise corporations with complicated running a blog wants who're searching for a self-hosted answer.
Under is a Drupal blog that options all the add-ons and modules developed by the location proprietor.
Blog on Drupal
Key Takeaways:
  • Highly effective content material administration options
  • Superior person permissions
  • Finest suited to technical customers with complicated running a blog wants

Free Running a blog Platforms

Whereas free running a blog platforms may supply much less performance and suppleness than their premium counterparts, many can nonetheless present the running a blog instruments and customizations you must begin running a blog. Let's check out a number of the hottest choices under.

10. Write.as

G2 Rating: 4.2/5.0 (19 Evaluations)
Write.as is a light-weight running a blog platform that is preferrred for people seeking to create easy blogs with a minimalist design. Providing a stripped-down editor with nothing however an auto-save function, Write.as gives the expertise of writing in a digital journal.
Write.as does require you to use Markdown, a syntax that makes use of particular characters to format textual content. For instance, you'd sort in asterisks to create bullet factors, hashtags to create headers, and [Link]  so as to add a hyperlink. The syntax isn't troublesome to study, however it may require some apply. In the event you'd want to easily click on a button to create bullet lists or add hyperlinks, you then'll be higher off with one of many free platforms under.
Write.as is free to make use of and would not assist adverts. Nonetheless, to attach a customized area identify, set up a customized theme, and extra, you may need to improve to its professional plan for $6 per thirty days. Take a look at an instance of a Pro blog under.
Process imagining blog on write as
Key Takeaways:
  • Minimalist interface and design
  • Requires you to study and use Markdown syntax
  • Free model is add-free

11. Blogger

G2 Rating: 4.1/5.0 (56 Evaluations)
Blogger is a free platform designed for amateur bloggers.
To get began, you simply must create an account with Google, choose a template, and get publishing. You should buy a customized area, optimize your SEO settings, join your weblog to Google Analytics, optimize your posts with Adsense, and even edit the HTML and CSS of your web sitehowever you will not be capable of do a lot past that.
To get a greater sense of the platform's limitations, you'll be able to examine Blogger vs WordPress or one other CMS. With Blogger, you'll be able to't set up plugins to increase the performance of your web site. You'll be able to't create totally different content material sorts, like portfolio pages. And you'll't change the default show of your content material from reverse-chronological order to, say, your hottest posts. In brief, if you happen to want the content material administration options and customization choices of a CMS, then look into alternate options to Blogger.
However if you happen to want the simplicity of a free running a blog platform, than Blogger is extra feature-rich than most. For that motive, Blogger is ideal for people seeking to create life-style blogs as a interest or to make some further money. Check out this personal travel blog under for an instance.
Here and There blog on Blogger.com
Key Takeaways:
  • Extra feature-rich than different free platforms
  • Cannot create customized publish sorts or change show of posts
  • Finest suited to life-style bloggers

12. Tumblr

G2 Rating: 3.8/5.0 (24 Evaluations)
Tumblr combines the ability of running a blog and social networking in a single highly-visual publishing platform.
Tumblr gives every part you must create a professional-looking web site. You'll be able to choose from a whole lot of free and premium themes and add a number of pages, sidebars, social sharing buttons, remark sections, and extra. It's also possible to purchase a customized area identify from a site identify registrar somewhat than use the free subdomain: yourusername.tumblr.com. When you have HTML coding expertise, you'll be able to additional customise your web site.
Once you’re glad along with your web site's design, you can begin creating and publishing multimedia publish sorts. That includes pictures, GIFs, hyperlinks, chat dialogue, audio recordsdata, and video in your content material makes it 40 times more likely to be shared on social networks.
Since different customers can simply like, reply, and reblog your posts on their Tumblr in addition to their different social accounts, proper from their dashboard, this is a wonderful platform for participating and fostering a web based neighborhood.
There are restrictions on the location that may frustrate customers. For instance, you'll be able to solely schedule (or "queue") 50 posts in a day, which could restrict your capacity to plan and execute a long-term content material technique. It's also possible to solely add movies underneath 100MB and in MP4 format and solely observe 20 tags at a time. Moreover, your web site could be suspended at any time if you happen to’re present in violation of Tumblr’s community guidelines.
Regardless of the restricted diploma of possession Tumblr gives, it appeals to non-public bloggers and types alike. Whereas bloggers may be capable of use this as their solely platform, brandstend to make use of it as one platform amongst many to indicate their personaVogue, for instance, has a extremely visible and multimedia-rich web site on Tumblr. Test it out under.
Vogue tumblr-1
Key Takeaways:
  • Preferrred for publishing multi-media posts
  • Restrictions on what you publish, when, and the way usually
  • Preferrred for people and types to have interaction with followers

Get Began Running a blog

When you establish your running a blog objectives and wishes, you'll be able to choose a running a blog platform with the performance and suppleness you are searching for. Ideally, your platform combines ease of use and energy so you can begin running a blog and reap the advantages in web optimization and site visitors.
Editor's word: This publish was initially revealed in April 2019 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
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