Blogging is a great way to talk about the things you’re passionate about. Whether it is your hobby, or you’re trying to build a start-up, blogging can help professionally and personally.
With software that helps you build a website without knowing coding, web blogging has become even more popular for people to share their thoughts. You can share your ideas in texts, images, audio, and video with your creativity and a drag-and-drop website builder.
Are you completely new to blogging? Your first step should be: How to start a Book Blog.
Several blogging platforms cater to different needs – both free and paid – that can help you build a blog in the most convenient way possible. Here I’ve listed some good blogging platforms you could try for yourself and then choose the one that fits you.
Table of Contents
Best Blogging Websites & Platforms
| Platform | Paid or Free | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com | Free (Paid plans available) | Best for Beginners with Limited Customization Needs |
| WordPress.org | Free (Requires paid hosting and domain) | Best for Customization and Advanced SEO |
| Blogger | Free | Best for Simplicity and Google Integration |
| Tumblr | Free | Best for Microblogging and Community Engagement |
| Social Media | Free | Best for Visual Blogging and Vlogs |
| Medium | Free (Partner Program available) | Best for Writing Focus and Community Reach |
| Weebly | Free (Paid plans available) | Best for Small Business Blogging with a Storefront |
| Squarespace | Paid (14-day free trial) | Best for Elegant Design and All-in-One Solutions |
| Ghost | Free (Paid hosting available) | Best for Writing-Focused Bloggers and Monetization |
| Wix | Free (Paid plans available) | Best for Beginners Who Want Drag-and-Drop Flexibility |
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a brilliant choice for a beginner. It provides you with a free website and hosting, but the URL address would be forevershereads.wordpress.com and not forevershereads.com.
I have used it when I first started out with my blogging journey and it is an easy-to-use website builder. You get a free simple theme for the website and limited plugins. You cannot use analytics or any advanced features.
Since they provide the website free of cost, you cannot monetize your site, customize your theme, or add your own plugins. You can always upgrade your website with their existing plans or migrate to a new hosting service and use WordPress.org.
So I recommend WordPress.com if you’re just starting out or aren’t keen on investing in a domain yet.
Hosted Sites with WordPress.org
WordPress.org is one of the best website builder platforms. It is an open-source software that you can upload to your hosting website.
You’ll need to get a domain and hosting to use the platform. There are several you can choose from. I use Hostinger and I like their services.
With WordPress, you have full control over your website’s design, plugins, and functionality—perfect for book bloggers ready to build a professional site.
There are page builders such as Elementor or Beaver Builder that have a drag-and-drop feature for convenient designing. Although you don’t need to learn to code, it’s better to spend some time learning how to make a website using WordPress and try out some plugins.
Note that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are different.
Blogger
Blogger is another best free platform for beginners. Its simplicity and Google integration make it a hassle-free option for those not interested in extensive customization.
You have the option to monetize the blog with Google Adsense.
However, it is limited in terms of its scalability and features like that of WordPress.
Tumblr
Tumblr is a microblogging site with features of a Social Media Platform like Facebook. It is perfect for bloggers who want to connect with a vibrant online community.
The platform is highly visual and great for engaging with bookish memes, reviews, and fan content. You can share your posts in text, images, and video formats, share other people’s posts, and follow them.
You have basic design and theme options to build your page. You can purchase a premium theme for a visually appealing blog.
I use Tumblr to create backlinks to my website which helps in SEO.
Social Media Platforms
Social Media Platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok are the best free blogging platforms for book bloggers. It’s ideal for book bloggers who want to create visual content like book hauls, reviews, or author interviews.
There is already a community there, so it’s easy for you to integrate yourself into it and meet like-minded people.
Many influencers skip creating websites and just post content on Instagram or YouTube, focus on their chosen niche, and make it work.
That’s how I started. As my Bookstagram page gained more followers, I realized I could build my brand on different platforms.
There are several monetization options such as sponsorships, affiliate links, and platform-specific programs that make it easy to earn income through visual and video content.
Medium
Medium is a free blogging website that has become a community of writers from many niches. If your primary focus is developing as a writer or sharing your views on something, Medium.com is a great way to do that.
Similar to WordPress.com and Tumblr, you get your URL with a medium.com domain. You can design your page with their limited design features – but it’s more focused on content and not the design. It is a great way to build your writing portfolio for free.
Medium’s domain authority makes it easier for your articles to rank in search engines or build backlinks to your site even if you can’t customize the SEO settings.
During my research on blogging platforms, I found some common websites mentioned that I haven’t tried myself. You can check them out:
Weebly
Weebly seems more like an e-commerce website builder. Its drag-and-drop functionality makes it great for book bloggers who also want to set up a small store. It is easy for you to customize your website.
It has both paid and free versions.
It has a blog feature, but it isn’t as powerful as other blogging platforms.
Squarespace
Squarespace is a website builder with free templates to build your business, an e-commerce store, or a blog. They have a drag-and-drop feature so you don’t need to learn to code. With their built-in SEO and Analytics tools, you can improve the performance of your site.
Squarespace doesn’t have any free plans. They offer a 14-day free trial and don’t ask for credit card details. So you can try out the features and decide if it’s worth the price.
Ghost
Ghost is available as open-source software that you can download and use on your server, similar to WordPress.org. They also provide hosting services.
It is developed mainly as a publishing platform – for writing and blogging. Ghost has a dashboard, similar to WordPress with limited themes and plugins.
You get a 14-day free trial of Ghost Pro and all the features.
Wix
Wix.com is another top blogging platform. Similar to WordPress.com, you can create a free website with the wixsite.com domain.
Wix has a website builder with a drag-and-drop feature, so you don’t need any coding experience. Their themes and plugins are limited, but you can still work around it. If you want a custom domain, they have a plan for that feature.
What Makes a Good Blogging Platform for Book Bloggers?
Here are some basic beginner points to consider when selecting your platform for blogging:
- Cost and Budget: Think about the investment you aim to make in terms of time and money. If you are a beginner, free options are the best way to begin your blog.
- Ease of Use: Are the platforms you’re looking at easy to use? Do they have a Support and Help system if you need it?
- Monetizing Opportunities: Can the platforms eventually allow you to monetize your content?
- Customization Options: Customized themes and designs help bloggers stand out from the crowd and reflect their ideas. Check if the platforms let you have that flexibility.
Conclusion
With AI and drag and drop tools, building a website has become easier.
So which is the best platform to start a blog?
I prefer WordPress because I’m used to the dashboard. It’s easy to use and you can find video tutorials if you face any problems. There are many free and premium plugins and themes available that you can use to improve your UX.
If you’ve never worked on a website before, you can always experiment with all the platforms and then select one.
Every service has its pros and cons. You just have to work around it.
Hope you found this blog useful!
You can check out my Blogging Resources section if you have more questions about building your own blog.