How to Make a Blog: The 11 Best Blogging Platforms

Launch Your Online Business in Just 7 Days

Do you have a voice that needs to be heard?

Unshared ideas that yearn for freedom?

It may be time to dive into the world of blogging, lifting the lid off and giving your ideas breathing space.

Blog platforms are there to create a soft, yet powerful landing space for your message.

At present, there are more than 600 million blogs on the internet, with a startling number of blog posts being posted daily.

In the dawning of the blog age, blogs were a journal; a means to share one’s opinion on a range of topics.

Today, blogs are websites that fulfill both a personal and a business function.

We want to give you the best possible chance of capitalising on your blogging dreams in a way that will make the most difference!

But, given the vast multitude of blogging platforms at your disposal, it’s no wonder why it might be difficult to choose the platform that’s right for you.

Well, look no further. We’ve got you covered.

We’ve handpicked our favourite platforms that we think will cater to all your blogging needs, no matter your niche.

We’ve even gone so far as to let you in on what we like and don’t like for each option to make this choice easier for you!

So, without further ado, let’s get to it.

1. What to look for in a blogging platform

When looking for a blogging site, it’s best to first decide on the niche you’re interested in.

What are you most passionate about?

Who do you see on the receiving end of your message?

These questions will help narrow down your options, as some platforms cater to specific types of blogs, while others are pretty generic.

Starting your first blog shouldn’t be difficult.

As a beginner, you want to be sure to choose a platform that is easy to set up and use and requires no technical knowledge.

That being said, keep in mind the long-term goal of your blog.

While your blog may only be in its beginning stages now, it will grow in the years to come.

So it’s really important to choose the right platform which can give it room to expand and evolve over time.

This means it should allow for change in design, is feature-rich, and is flexible in functionality.

You want to have a platform that is as unrestrictive as possible.

Lastly, look for a platform that gives you the option of monetizing your blog.

Many bloggers have chosen to monetize their blog.

And why not?

If you love it, and you can make money from it, isn’t that the point?

It’s possible to make $500-$2000 per month in your first year of blogging.

But wait. It gets better.

If you remain consistent and build up an audience, you can increase your monthly income to $100,000!

The only reason bloggers don’t have profitable sites is because they lack the know-how surrounding blog monetization.

You don’t have to be left in the dark.

Here are a few ways that will help you monetize your blog.

Now that we’ve covered what to look for in a great blogging platform, let’s get started with our selections!

2. Easiest blogging platforms in 2023

2.1. Systeme.io

The perfect all-in-one blogging solution!

Consider tech hassles a thing of the past.

systeme.io presents itself as a diamond in the rough - offering everything you need on one platform.

This is an ideal solution for those who want all the tools they need in front of them without having to purchase from third parties.

systeme.io offers email marketing, sales funnels, online courses, and webinar functionality all under one roof - at a fraction of the cost!

What we like:

systeme.io is great for beginners!
It offers a vast amount of various tools to users that would otherwise be expensive to purchase on other platforms
You don’t have to be a coding expert - systeme.io is extremely user friendly!
On sign-up, you receive amazing email tutorials to help get you going on your new platform!
Tech hassles are eliminated through seamless integrationof several tools and functions
Fantastic automation of difficult tasks

Pricing

Pricing plans begin with a Startup plan of $27 a month, consisting of loads of features and a systeme.io subdomain.

The Webinar plan costs $47 a month. It’s also feature-rich and comes with 2 custom domains.

Finally, the Entrepreneur plan will cost you $97 a month, which includes even more features, tools and functions as well as 2 custom domains and a 1-on-1 kickstart coaching session.

2.2. Wix

Hailed by many as the best blog builder for beginners, Wix is a site that enables you to both build and host websites.

Created in 2006, Wix serves the blogging newcomer best, featuring a drag-and-drop function for web building, requiring no coding skills.

Adding a blog to your website is also made possible through the use of the Wix blog app.

What we like:

There are a hoard of templates and third party apps that facilitate the customization of your site
The drag and drop function makes it easy to build your site with no coding required
It’s so easy to set up and use your site

What we don’t like:

There are a small number of free third party apps available
A free Wix account is restrictive and includes Wix branding on your site
Templates are unchangeable once selected and the page loading speed isn’t ideal
Ecommerce features are accessible only via paid plans and are in themselves limited

Pricing

Wix offers customers the option to build a website on either a free plan, which includes a Wix subdomain, or on a paid ‘Premium’ plan, starting at $8,50 a month.

For an ad-free plan you will need to spend at least $14 a month.

2.3. Wordpress

Because Wordpress is so functional and easily customizable, it remains one of the most popular blogging platforms in the world.

At present, over 43% of all internet websites are powered by Wordpress.

It’s open-source, it’s free, and only takes a couple of minutes to build your site!

You have total control over your blog and the way in which you choose to grow it as you and your audience evolve over time.

What we like:

You have control over everything on your site
The growth of your site is accommodated through additional features such as ecommerce, online forums as well as subscription options
Your site is easily customizable by use of Wordpress themesThere are thousands of free plugins that enhance functionality of your site
Wordpress has great SEO capabilities

What we don’t like:

You need to build the site mostly by yourself
You have to host the site yourself, which will cost money
All backups, updates, and security measures are your responsibility

Pricing

Although the software is free, a domain name and website hosting is required to start your site.

We recommend using Bluehost, a recognized Wordpress hosting provider.

Bluehost customers can choose from hosting plans that start at $3,05 per month with a free domain for one year, free CDN (Content Delivery Network) as well as free SSL certificate.

2.4. Blogger

A product of good and faithful Google, Blogger exists as a hassle-free blogging platform perfectly suited to beginners.

Blogger was designed to make it easy for novice bloggers to get up and running.

All it takes to get started is a free Google account.

The whole process will take you less than five minutes!

What we like:

Blogger is entirely free
Unbelievably easy to use
As a product of Google, Blogger is very secure and dependable

What we don’t like:

You have zero ownership over your site — your blog is in the hands of Google, who can cancel or suspend the site at any given point
A limited number of tools are available to you
You are restricted from adding features to your site as it grows
Blogger has a limited collection of templates as well as design changes
Blogger is very rarely updated

Pricing

Blogger is a completely free service which is great for newbies, but many end up moving platforms due to the many limitations of this service.

2.5. Tumblr

If you’re between the ages of 16 and 25, this is the platform for you.

As of February 2021, Tumblr reported it had over 518 million users , publishing over 100 million blog posts on a daily basis.

Bought by Yahoo ! in 2011, Tumblr is an extremely user-friendly micro blogging platform that caters to everyone — from writers to artists, photographers, musicians, and visual bloggers.

One of the main characteristics of Tumblr is the reblogging option.

Reblogging works wonders in promoting your blog —and Tumblr does this so much better than other platforms.

What we like:

Promotion of your content is made easier through reblogging
Very user-friendly and completely free of charge
Fantastic social media integration
Publishing videos, GIFs, photos, and illustrations is easy.

What we don’t like:

Tumblr has a variety of themes from which to choose, but no extra features are included
Limited functionality prevents growth of your blog
Tumblr’s features are in short supply
Exporting your blog content to a different platform is difficult

Pricing

Tumblr is a free service.

However, custom domains and externally sourced themes will have to be purchased.

2.6. Medium

If you’re a writer, journalist, industry expert, or a blogger, Medium is the home you’ve been searching for.

You’d be joining a community of more than 60 million users — a number that is growing by the day!

Medium specialises in bringing fresh, thought-provoking, niche content for readers to really sink their teeth into.

This makes it the perfect platform if you’re wanting to attract a certain audience.

An integrated commenting system enables your audience to engage with you and your work, as well as with each other.

It’s so easy to begin!

All you need to do is create an account, and your blogging journey is underway!

What we like:

Very easy to use — no coding or technical skills are required
It’s the perfect way to find and engage with a like-minded group of people
It’s more centered around content than design — perfect for niche content creators
Excellent integration of other social media platforms

What we don’t like:

Your blog can’t be monetized through the use of ads
There isn’t really any room for designing your blog
You have no ownership over any aspect of your Medium blog — both your audience and content are owned by Medium

Pricing

Medium is a free platform. No extra purchases of features or upgrades can be made.

2.7. Squarespace

Squarespace is perfect for those with zero coding experience looking to create a beautiful website.

It’s easy drag-and-drop function enables users to build a site that they can be proud of, one that truly reflects who they are.

Squarespace is ideally used by small business owners looking to establish their presence online.

It’s so popular today that it has reached over one million subscribers!

What we like:

No need to be technologically advanced here — Squarespace’s drag-and-drop function is your best friend if you’re a beginner!
Design features are brought to you by top-notch designers, providing you with an array of stunning templates that are all extremely practical!
Monetization of your site
Good support via live chat

What we don’t like:

Built-in, exclusive features are the only ones available to you, which makes customization difficult
Limitations to the tools and services that can be integrated into your site

Pricing

Personal plans begin at $16 a month. The option of paying annually lowers your cost to $12 a month.

Business plans will see you pay $26 a month, or $18 a month if you choose to pay annually.

You can find a few ways to reduce your cost in this Squarespace pricing guide.

2.8. Weebly

Please welcome yet another platform that makes website building the easiest thing in the world!

If you haven’t caught on yet, the drag-and-drop function really is the best thing to have happened to the technologically inept.

Weebly can be added to the list of platforms that incorporate this nifty website building tool to get you publishing content in time!

Fully equipped with a large amount of features, themes, and great functionality, your blog is sure to flourish in the arms of Weebly.

What we like:

Zero coding experience needed thanks to the drag-and-drop function!
Hosting provided by Weebly, making setup extremely easy!

What we don’t like:

Limitations to Weebly’s built-in features
Not a lot of development in recent years

Pricing

Weebly’s plans start with a Personal plan of $6 a month. Professional plans cost $12 a month with added video and membership features, as well as a free domain name for 1 year.

Lastly, the Weebly Performance plan will cost you $25 a month.

2.9. Ghost

If you consider yourself a writer through and through, then this is definitely the platform just for you!

Ghost is entirely centered around writing blog posts.

Ghost can either be used as a hosting platform or as a software that you install and host yourself.

What we like:

Concentrated entirely on writing and blogging
Hosting requires no setup if through the service
High-speed platform due to being written in JavaScript

What we don’t like:

Installing the software yourself requires you to get your hands dirty
Themes and features are somewhat limited
Ghost doesn’t provide the option of easy customization via apps

Pricing

If you opt to host the site yourself, you’re looking at paying $14,99 a year for a custom domain and $7,99 a month for hosting.

The hosted version sees you spending $29,99 a month. Unless you buy a custom domain, your blog will have a Ghost subdomain.

2.10. Substack

Substack can be considered ‘the new kid on the block’ in the blogging world.

Despite only launching in 2017, it’s quickly growing in popularity, boasting over 500 000 paying subscribers.

Even though Substack was started as a means to monetize email newsletters, it is, in essence, a blogging platform with integrated email functionality.

What this means is, you’re not only publishing a blog post, but you’re also sending it out to all your subscribers.

With Substack, you have the freedom of choosing whether you’d like your blog’s content to be free or to be completely paid for.

Maybe you’d like a combination of both. You can do that too!

What we like:

It’s super easy. Just write content and you’re good to go
Integrated features enable you to develop a community of subscribers
You can easily make readers pay for your content

What we don’t like:

Because Substack is so heavily focused on written content, there’s not much leeway for design changes and features
Using your own custom domain will cost you a once-off fee of $50

Pricing

Substack can cost you nothing if you choose to make your content free.

If you want your content to be paid for, Substack will charge you 10% of whatever price you choose.

2.11. Gator by Hostgator

Brought to you by Hostgator, Gator is both a website builder and blogging platform.

Just like Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix, Gator provides a drag-and-drop tool that can be used to build websites, ecommerce stores, and blogs very easily.

Take note that Gator and Hostgator are not the same thing.

Gator is a building tool, whereas Hostgator is a hosting provider.

Hostgator can be used to create a Wordpress blog, where Gator is excellent for any non-Wordpress blogging platform.

What we like:

Easy customization of your site on account of the drag-and-drop builder!
No need to be tech savvy — site setup is quick and easy
Security and backups don’t need to be a stress as it all lies in the hands of Hostgator
All paid plans include a free SSL certificate as well as domain name
Easy ecommerce functionality

What we don’t like:

Gator doesn’t have the option of a free account
Ecommerce functions are only available to the more expensive paid plans
There are a small number of apps and extensions available to users

Pricing

Pricing plans start at $3,84 a month which includes a free domain name, SSL certificate, and a variety of other features.

3. Conclusion

Starting your first blog can be pretty stressful if you aren’t armed with the right information.

So, we hope that we’ve made it easier for you to get the ball rolling, and to tell your story to the world.

We believe, after comparing all blogging solutions presented to you, that the best blog platform you could choose is systeme.io.

It’s super easy to use, inexpensive, and offers you the most flexibility out of all the blog platform options.

Whatever your message is, systeme.io is best suited to make it as strong as possible, in the easiest way.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

It doesn’t matter how old you are or what you do.

Now is the perfect time to give a voice to the message in you.

More than 500 million people have done it.

What are you waiting for?