Blogger versus WordPress

THE BEST FREE BLOGGING PLATFORM

They are both good. But not perfect.

"They" are the two leading blogging platforms, WordPress and Blogger.

I have active blogs on both platforms. I also run a website using WordPress.org, which is not the same as the free version (WordPress.com, see below).

They are all good. Very good. But which is best for you?

Two WordPresses

There are two different things called WordPress, and people confuse them all the time.

WordPress.org is the original open-source software that you install and configure yourself via FTP or other method on a server that you pay to use every month.

WordPress.com, hosted on WordPress's own servers, has a base price of completely free.

Its the second of these that is the most like Blogger in terms of being free and hosted for you.

Other reviews I have found compare and contrast Blogger with the more technically sophisticated WordPress.org.

Setting that record straight is one of my reasons for writing this post.

Free and easy

If you want to blog without laying out money or fiddling with a server, then your main choices are Blogger or free WordPress. (There are others, beyond the scope of this report.)

Both offer a complete blogging experience and are great platforms. Blogs on either can deliver a first-rate user experience.

	Runs on Google's servers, which have legendary uptime.
	Allows unlimited photos on the blog.
	You control whether there are advertisements on the blog.
	Open and customizable. You can put code right into the blog, create sidebar widgets, and customize the blog theme.
	Lacks a universal "undo" and has poor version control.

(the free version)

	Generally better and more consistent user interface versus Blogger (but it's changing, see note below).
	Clear path to migrate to "full" (self-hosted) WordPress.org.
	Solid handling of things like versioning and pasting from rich-text applications such as MS Word.
	Tops out at 3 GB of photos, though you can buy more space.
	Places advertising on your blog.
	Does not allow e-commerce.

*WordPress has a new interface in the works that is proving controversial. So, past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Web Address

Both Blogger and WordPress provide a free url within their respective domains, subject to availability.

• The free Blogger url takes the form YOURBLOGNAME.blogspot.com.
• On WordPress, it's YOURBLOGNAME.wordpress.com.

Both provide custom domains for a fee, of the form YOURBLOGNAME.com (if available).

Blogger will set you up with a domain registrar that charges $10/year. You can also set up a domain with another registrar if you have a cheaper one you like.

WordPress charges $48 per year, but that includes a raft of other features.

Update: WordPress has announced a second free subdomain option.

Final Word

These are both great blogging platforms, period. Nonetheless I want to share a personal note.

Ten years ago I wanted to teach myself about blogging. I started two very different blogs, one on free WordPress and one on Blogger.

Both are alive and well today. But if I had it to do over again, I'd pick Blogger over WordPress for both of them.

Mostly that is because of the advertising that WordPress puts on my blog. I don't think the ads make for a very nice user experience for my readers.

I do not begrudge the WordPress organization making money off of my blog. However, there were no ads when I started in 2009. They were added much later.

Only you can say if that matters to you.