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Choosing the best blogging platform can be difficult when there are so many options to choose from. Some companies, like WordPress.com and Strikingly, offer free plans, but the features may be limited. Other companies rely heavily on marketing integrations, mobile-optimized websites and AI tools.

No matter what features you are looking for, one of the blogging platforms on this list should be the right fit for your business. Read on to learn more about each company, including pricing, features and what each one is best known for.

Best blogging platforms

Why trust our small business experts

Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of business products and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best product for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.

  • 20 companies reviewed.
  • 69 products reviewed.
  • 3,121 data points analyzed.

Best blogging platforms comparison

STARTING PRICEFREE DOMAINBUILT-IN SEO FEATURESFREE TRIAL
Weebly
$0 per month
Yes, with higher-tier plans
Yes
No
Shopify
$39 per month
No
No
Yes
Duda
$25 per month
No
Yes
Yes
Strikingly
$0 per month
Yes, with higher-tier plans purchased annually
No
No
WordPress.com
$0 per month
Yes, when paying annually
Yes
No
Squarespace
$23 per month
Yes, when paying annually
Yes
Yes
ClickFunnels
$147 per month
Yes
No
Yes
Zyro
$11.99 per month
Yes
Yes
Yes
GoDaddy
$9.99 per month (billed annually)
No
Yes
Yes
Hostinger
$11.99 per month
Yes, when paying annually
Yes
No

Methodology

We extensively research the key competitors within an industry to determine the best products and services for your business. Our experts identify the factors that matter most to business owners, including pricing, features and customer support, to ensure that our recommendations offer well-rounded products that will meet the needs of various small businesses.

We collect extensive data to narrow our best list to reputable, easy-to-use products with stand-out features at a reasonable price point. And we look at user reviews to ensure that business owners like you are satisfied with our top picks’ services. We use the same rubric to assess companies within a particular space so you can confidently follow our blueprint to the best website builders.

The best website builders have positive user reviews on customer review sites. Website builders should provide customers with fast and reliable support. Using a combination of phone support, live chat and knowledge bases, customers should be able to quickly resolve issues 24/7.

Website builders should include prebuilt, industry-specific templates and drag-and-drop tools to make building your website quick and easy. All templates should be mobile-optimized to ensure they appear correctly on desktop and mobile devices. E-commerce functionality should be offered to allow businesses to sell physical and digital goods and services online. Website builders should provide ample storage and bandwidth to customers along with free SSL certificates, domain names and backup/restoration services. Additional security features should be built into the website to keep customers’ data safe and private. And all of these basic features should be affordable compared to competitors.

All website builders should expand on this basic feature set with built-in SEO and email marketing tools. Integrations should allow you to connect social media platforms and dropshipping services. And e-commerce tools should allow you to sell subscriptions and online courses, book online appointments and accept recurring payments. Additionally, blogging features and the option to add custom code should be available on all websites.

There are many features you will want to compare when searching for a blogging platform, like whether or not a free domain or free trial is offered. You will also want to think about SEO tools that are built-in, as this can make it easier for readers to find your blog. Pricing, of course, is another factor to consider.

What is a blogging platform and how does it work?

A blogging platform allows you to write online content and share it to social media. You can create written content, add photos or videos to the blog post and organize it how you like. Some platforms offer more variety when it comes to customization, like whether or not you are using a drag-and-drop type of website builder.

Depending on the platform you choose, you could have the ability to put specific blog posts in different categories, which could make it easier for readers to search your website. You can also use keywords and search engine optimization (SEO) to make your blog posts more visible.

Benefits of blogging platforms

There are many benefits to using a blogging platform. The ability to make money seems like the obvious one, but there are a few other benefits that you might not be thinking about.

  • The ability to optimize your content. Most blogging platforms will allow you to use SEO, metadata and keywords to optimize your content. This will help your blog posts reach the right audience as well as gain a lot of readers.
  • Possibility of making money. If you have affiliates or ads on your website, you could potentially end up making money on the content you write. You could also use your blog to promote products or services if a company reaches out.
  • Create sales for your online store. If you are blogging on the same website where you host an online store, your blog could help generate sales. This is especially true if you hyperlink to products on your store, promote some of your products at the end of your blog posts or share the posts on your business social media pages.

Who needs a blogging platform?

If you have an online store or you are a business that is offering specific services to a group of individuals, then it is smart to have a blogging platform. If you have writing and marketing skills, blogging might come a bit easier to you than other business owners. But, if you have products to promote, it is definitely worth trying, whatever your skill level.

However, blogging can take up a big chunk of your time. You will need to weigh the pros against the cons when thinking of your specific situation. Will blogging help enough to where the time spent is worth it? Do you think you can generate sales or money from your blog posts? This will all depend on the type of business you own.

How to choose the best blogging platform

When choosing the best blogging platform, you will need to consider what your needs are. What kinds of features do you need? Are you on a budget? Despite this, there are some key features you should look out for.

Key features to look for

Of course, blogging platforms should allow you to write and share blog posts. However, there are some other features that will help. Some of those include: 

  • System for comments. You will want to give your readers the ability to comment on your blog posts. Comments will also let you know if your readers are enjoying your content. If not, you can adjust the blogs you create.
  • Tracking performance. This will help you see how many readers you are getting. Some performance features can also show you what readers make it to the bottom of your posts. 
  • SEO tools. SEO is important when it comes to reaching your target audience. You will want a blogging platform that includes SEO features within each post so you can adjust keywords, meta descriptions and titles.

Stephen Gagnon with Scour Web said small businesses should “look for user-friendly platforms that require minimal technical expertise.” He also said, “Ensure your chosen platform integrates seamlessly with other business tools, such as social media, analytics and email marketing platforms.”

Customer service

If you are a business owner who is busy during regular business hours, you will want to choose a blogging platform that, ideally, offers 24/7 customer support. This can come in handy if you are working on your blog after normal business hours and run into any issues.

How much do blogging platforms cost?

BASE PLANMID-TIER PLANHIGH-TIER PLAN
Weebly
$0 per month
$13 per month
$29 per month
Shopify
$39 per month
$105 per month
$399 per month
Duda
$25 per month
$39 per month
$199 per month
Strikingly
$0 per month
$20 per month
$59 per month
WordPress.com
$0 per month
$9 per month
$70 per month
Squarespace
$23 per month
$33 per month
$65 per month
ClickFunnels
$147 per month
$197 per month
$497 per month
Zyro
$11.99 per month
N/A
N/A
GoDaddy
$9.99 per month (billed annually)
$14.99 per month (billed annually)
$20.99 per month (billed annually)
Hostinger
$11.99 per month
N/A
N/A

The cost of a blogging platform varies wildly. For example, a company like Shopify is on the more expensive side, with the base plan costing $39 per month. However, Shopify does offer a lot of features that most blogging platforms don’t, including e-commerce features. 

But other companies, like Weebly, which has a free option, might be the better choice for those who don’t need a wide variety of features. The cost can range anywhere from $0 per month to $399 per month, depending on the features you need and the size of your business.

While it is very common for blogging platforms to offer steep introductory promotional discounts, renewal prices tend to be much higher, so be sure to factor this into your blogging budget long-term.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

The best blogging platform is Shopify. Despite being on the more expensive side, Shopify offers a huge amount of features for the cost. It is definitely best for e-commerce businesses because it offers a lot of shipping, inventory and POS features.

It is also a website that is easily designed, as it doesn’t require any coding. The company offers a free domain, free web hosting, free designs and over 8,000 integrations, which can help businesses tailor a website to their brand.

The best way to choose a blogging platform is to decide what features matter most to your business. If you don’t need an online store, then Shopify might not be the best option for you. If you are a smaller business looking for a cheaper option that still has the features you need, then Weebly or WordPress.com might be better.

There are several ways to monetize your business’s blog. Some of those options include: 

  • Online ads: This is one of the more well-known options. If you have ads throughout your website, you can generate revenue every time someone clicks on one. Some websites, like WordPress, will have this option built-in. Or, you can use a website like Google AdSense to better design the ads on your business’s site.
  • Affiliate marketing: Through affiliate marketing, you can partner with a brand to promote its products. Then, your business can earn a commission for every sale that happens through your blog. Amazon Associates is a popular choice for this.
  • Sponsored posts: This will also require partnering with a brand. Sponsored posts typically include a review about a certain product. It is sometimes better than online ads or affiliate marketing because you will know how much your business is making.
  • Brand sponsorships: This differs from a sponsored post. Instead of having an entire post dedicated to a product or company, you can mention the company in your social media post or within your blog.

You can also find long-term ways to monetize your business’s blog. Some of those include:

  • Creating a paid membership program.
  • Starting a podcast.
  • Offering services like coaching or consulting.
  • Selling merchandise.

Yes, you can start a blog for free. Weebly, which is now owned by Square, does offer a free plan that includes free SSL security and a third-party embed code. It offers basic features that will help you start a blog right away.

Another option for a free blogging platform is WordPress.com. With its free plan, you still get unlimited pages and users, free themes, built-in newsletters and 1 GB of storage. If you need features like email support or a free domain for a year, then you would need to upgrade to the $9 per month plan.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sierra Campbell is a small business editor for USA Today Blueprint. She specializes in writing, editing and fact-checking content centered around helping businesses. She has worked as a digital content and show producer for several local TV stations, an editor for U.S. News & World Report and a freelance writer and editor for many companies. Sierra prides herself in delivering accurate and up-to-date information to readers. Her expertise includes credit card processing companies, e-commerce platforms, payroll software, accounting software and virtual private networks (VPNs). She also owns Editing by Sierra, where she offers editing services to writers of all backgrounds, including self-published and traditionally published authors.

Bryce Colburn

BLUEPRINT

Bryce Colburn is a USA TODAY Blueprint small business editor with a history of helping startups and small firms nationwide grow their business. He has worked as a freelance writer, digital marketing professional and business-to-business (B2B) editor at U.S. News and World Report, gaining a strong understanding of the challenges businesses face. Bryce is enthusiastic about helping businesses make the best decisions for their company and specializes in reviewing business software and services. His expertise includes topics such as credit card processing companies, payroll software, company formation services and virtual private networks (VPNs).