One of the questions I get asked most often is "which blogging platform is better, Blogger or WordPress?" In this article, I'll share the pros and cons of Blogger vs. WordPress and let you decide which one is better for you.
Keep in mind that when speaking about WordPress, I am referring to WordPress.org (self-hosted), not to be confused with WordPress.com. Self-hosted means you have purchased a domain name and hosting from a web hosting service (such Bluehost ) and installed WordPress on your server.
If you're interested in learning more about WordPress.com, you can read my post Should You Start Your Blog on WordPress.com or WordPress.org?
Click here to check out my free tutorial that teaches you how to start your own money-making blog from scratch.
Related Articles:
- Should You Start Your Blog on WordPress.com or WordPress.org?
- How to Start a Money Making Blog for Beginners
- The First Blog Posts You Should Write as a New Blogger
Blogger vs. WordPress - Which One is Better?
I thought the best way to go about explaining the difference between Blogger and WordPress would be by comparing them via a list of pros and cons. I hope these blogging tips will help you decide which platform is best for you.
Blogger Pros
- It's free - this is probably the biggest pro and what initially attracts most bloggers.
- Template editor - if you are using one of Bloggers templates, you can use the template editor to easily change the appearance of your blog. No HTML or CSS knowledge is required when using this feature.
- User-friendly interface - even if you don't consider yourself "computer savvy," you will find Blogger to be quite easy to use.
- Secure - because Google owns Blogger, it's incredibly secure. Unless someone gains access to your password, your blog is virtually hacker-proof.
- Google integration - Blogger is owned by Google and therefore integrates well with other Google products.
- Excellent uptime - because Blogger is owned by Google (which is known to be fast and reliable), you may never experience any downtime with your blog.
Blogger Cons
- Lack of plugins - plugins are important because they help increase the functionality of your blog.
- Limited customization - if you're not experienced with HTML and CSS, customization options are limited.
- You don't own your blog - according to Google's terms, while you do own your content, they have the freedom to use your content for their services. They can also change or disable features and functionalities.
- Limited storage space - Blogger has a 1GB photo storage limit.
WordPress Pros
- Ownership - you own your blog and all of its content.
- Unlimited customizing - you are free to edit the HTML, CSS, and PHP to make your blog look however you would like.
- Easy install - most web hosting services offer "one-click" WordPress installation.
- Large community - there is a large WordPress community out there if you ever need help/support.
- Theme options - there is a large selection of themes available for WordPress. I do not recommend using free WordPress themes as a lot of them are poorly coded, have a lack of features and support, and are rarely updated. Some may even have maliciously code. If you do, however decide to go the free route, I recommend sticking to the WordPress Themes Directory.
- Web designers - there is a large selection of designers available to help you design and develop your blog.
- Plugins - you have access to thousands of plugins that increase the functionality of your blog.
WordPress Cons
- Cost - you will have to pay for a domain name and hosting services through a third-party site such as Bluehost (my recommendation).
- Learning curve - because WordPress is so feature rich, it does take some time to familiarize yourself with the WordPress interface.
- Security - unfortunately, WordPress is a target for hackers. However, there are steps you can take to make your blog more secure.
- Backups - you are responsible for making sure you backup your blog. Since your WordPress blog can be hacked at any time, it is essential always to have a recent backup of your blog available.
Which Do I Prefer?
I've used both Blogger and WordPress. I prefer WordPress because it gives me complete control over my blog and is overall the better choice based on my needs.
WordPress isn't for everyone, however.
For the everyday blogger, I recommend the Blogger platform. By "everyday blogger," I'm referring to someone who doesn't plan on making money from blogging and doesn't need any fancy bells and whistles.
Blogger is free, easy to use, customizable, and it gets the job done. If however, you own a business or have plans to blog for profit, I absolutely recommend WordPress. Having a self-hosted WordPress.org blog is a smart move, especially if you have plans on growing and monetizing your blog. Self-hosted WordPress blogs are looked at as being more professional, which is why they’re a top choice for professional bloggers. Going self-hosted is easy, affordable, and will allow you to grow your blog without limitations.
If you’re ready to start your self-hosted WordPress blog, make sure you sign up for my free 7-day email course that teaches you how to start and grow your WordPress blog.