What are the Top 5 WordPress
Alternatives for Blogging?
WordPress is the most powerful and excellent platform for blogging. But it’s not the only one out there. You can use many other online platforms to get your blog up and running, whether for personal or commercial purposes. Thus, suppose you don’t like WordPress for some reason or think it has limited features. In that case, you can use one of the suggestions from this list of the top 5 WordPress alternatives for blogging. So, without any delay, let’s start the list.
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What are the Top 5 WordPress Alternatives for Blogging |
List of the Top 5 WordPress Alternatives
for Blogging:
1. Wix – Free Website Builder | Create a Free Website:

Top 5 wordpress alternatives for blogging

Whether it is website development or creating a blog, when it comes to the alternatives to WordPress, most industry experts’ first go-to option is “Wix.” The same is the case here.
Previously, the entire focus of Wix was on the design and layout of the blog, as the blog was weak from a technical point of view. However, that’s not the case anymore because now, Wix has vastly improved the blogging aspect of its website. That is why expert web developers and bloggers often consider Wix as one of the best counterparts of WordPress.
From adding typography to different media types in your blog, everything in the blogging module of Wix feels intuitive and easier to integrate. Apart from typography and media, Wix provides granular control over the SEO perspective of the blog. So, changing the page title, URL slug, SEO title and description has become a lot easier, just like WordPress. Here is complete guide on how to start a blog.
One of the most overlooked features of Wix’s blogging aspect is the ability to integrate content lock into a blog post. This forte is valuable if you want to add subscription-based services or readings to your blog. So, you can set up your payment plan with the help of Wix to integrate content lock functionality into your blog post.
Benefits
of using WIX for blogging |
Drawbacks
of using WIX for blogging |
Wix is ideal for beginners because
they can build an entire blog by dragging and dropping the elements |
The absence of built-in
redirecting functionality is one of the three noticeable issues of Wix’s
blogging aspect. So, suppose you want to use affiliate links. In that case,
you will have to use straight affiliate or Bitly links |
The blogging module of Wix
provides granular-level control over the SEO of a blog |
Although the free tier brings a
lot of benefits, you also get Wix’s branding in the URL |
When someone shares your blog over
social media, you can change how your blog looks |
Suppose you have decided to host
your blog somewhere else. In that case, moving your blog somewhere else
would be difficult with Wix |
With the help of the Wix website
builder, you can completely change the look and feel of your blog quickly |
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The blogging module of Wix
provides complete control over the look of individual blogging posts. So,
you can alter your blog according to your need with one click |
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It is one of the best free
alternatives to WordPress |
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2. Squarespace
– Blog Website Builder | Create a Blog:
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Top 5 wordpress alternatives for blogging |
As I’ve already mentioned, Wix is the closest
counterpart to WordPress. But suppose you don’t like the blogging aspect of Wix
for some reason. In that case, you can choose another alternative to WordPress.
Its name is “Squarespace.”
Squarespace is a shareware blogging platform, which means you will get a 14-day free trial without offering your credit card details. However, after fourteen days, if you want to use the services of Squarespace, you will have to purchase its premium plan.
The blogging aspect of Wix and Squarespace is pretty much similar. But the website builder module is the area where both these platforms differ.
The website creator module of Wix looks like an unstructured editor, where you can move the elements in the entire blog according to your preference. However, Squarespace is more dependent on templates, like replacing components and changing colors within the templates. So, compared to Wix, Squarespace makes it simpler and more effective for beginners to alter their blogs according to their needs.
Advantages
of using Squarespace for blogging |
Disadvantages
of using Squarespace for blogging |
Squarespace brings a minimalistic
but effective blogging experience. So, it is ideal for small businesses who
want to create an online presence |
Compared to Wix, Squarespace has
limited features because it is a proprietary platform |
The URL structure of Squarespace
blogs looks elegant |
Squarespace has limited
availability of integrations |
Like Wix, Squarespace also uses
easy-to-use drag and drop features to assist the beginners |
Despite having limited features
and lesser integrations availability, this platform is not entirely free |
As I’ve already mentioned,
Squarespace focuses more on templates. So, you will find professionally
designed beautiful templates to use in blog posts |
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3. Ghost
– Turn your audience into a business:
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Top 5 wordpress alternatives for blogging |
Suppose you want a WordPress lightweight alternative, or you are searching for the WordPress alternatives open source. In that case, I recommend choosing “Ghost” as your desired blogging platform.
In 2013, Ghost Foundation designed Ghost as a thought-sharing platform for journalists. However, over time, Ghost Foundation pivoted from being a journalist-dedicated platform. So, now, it has become an independent blogging platform for creators and writers.
Ghost is a unique alternative blogging platform that focuses on the subscription revenue model for publishers. The company (Ghost Foundation) has pared down this minimalist blogging platform. So, people can concentrate entirely on writing, which is one of the advantages of using Ghost.
Pros
of using Ghost for blogging |
Cons
of using Ghost for blogging |
Using Ghost for blogging is like
building your small publishing company with a primary focus on subscriptions |
Like Squarespace, Ghost is not
entirely free, as it comes with a 14-day free trial version |
Unlike Squarespace, Ghost can
easily integrate with thousands of apps and services. Some popular services
are ‘Google Analytics,’ ‘Zapier,’ ‘Slack,’ ‘Unsplash,’ ‘YouTube,’ ‘Twitter,’ ‘PayPal,’ ‘Patreon,’ ‘Shopify,’ ‘Disqus’ and ‘GitHub.’ |
Compared to the other platforms,
the self-installation of Ghost is complex |
Other than the integration, Ghost
has a bunch of helpful aspects, like a collection of beautifully designed
professional publication themes and the support of custom integrations |
Unlike the first two entries,
Ghost has limited availability of themes |
Ghost is a fast-blogging platform
because the company has used JavaScript in the development of this blogging
platform |
When it comes to customizing Ghost
with apps, it is a challenging task because of the limited features |
As I’ve already discussed, Ghost
is a minimalist blogging platform. So, its user interface looks clean and
clutter-free |
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If you pick the hosting version of
Ghost, you won’t have to worry about its setup |
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4. Medium
– Where good ideas find you:
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Top 5 wordpress alternatives for blogging |
The fourth entry in the list of the top 5 WordPress alternatives for blogging is the most famous
blogging platform for every content writer after WordPress. Its name is “Medium.”
Medium launched in 2012 with an entire focus on writing and blogging with little networking capabilities. Unlike traditional blogging platforms, this platform shares your writing pieces with people having similar interests. So, you can easily reach an existing online community with the help of Medium.
Unlike the first three blogging platforms, the entire focus of Medium is on writing. So, you will not find any themes in Medium.
Added
benefits of using Medium for blogging |
Caveats
of using Medium for blogging |
Medium is free and easy to use |
If you like a blogging platform
with different options of themes, Medium is not for you |
Medium makes it easier to interact
with existing communities of similar writing interests |
Medium has limited features. So,
you cannot set up an eCommerce website or your forum on Medium |
The entire focus of the Medium’s
writers is on writing, as it doesn’t have the support of add-ons |
Due to limited features, you
cannot run ads |
Medium easily integrates with
social websites, like Twitter |
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Medium is following the revenue
model of Skillshare, which means you can earn money with it, but not as much
as the above-discussed blogging platforms |
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Despite being a freemium blogging
platform, you can set up custom domain names in Medium |
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5. Polyblog
– Build a blog using Next.js or React.js:
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Top 5 wordpress alternatives for blogging |
Everybody doesn’t like coding. Therefore, the
above-discussed items of this WordPress alternatives 2022
list are for those who don’t have a knack for coding. However, if you are a
coder or programmer and want a CMS alternative, the
last entry of this list is for you. Its name is “Polyblog.”
Polyblog is a blog creation platform that helps developers build blogs based on Next.js, React.js, and a bunch of other popular JS frameworks. It is a platform that provides Content Management System (CMS) in React.js. So, you can use Polyblog to build a blog based on React.js from scratch. Its main advantage is that you can manage and run a multilingual blog very easily.
Once you have registered and integrated Polyblog to your website, you will need to input your email address and website domain to get started with it. Anyway, once the first batch of articles to be published is ready, you can use the dashboard of Polyblog.
Positives
of using Polyblog for blog creation |
Negatives
of using Polyblog for blog creation |
The user experience of a website
or blog plays a vital role in its ranking. So, the blog you build through
Polyblog will be lightweight and load quickly, which will positively impact
its UX |
The only disadvantage to this
software is its target audience is coders and programmers |
One of the primary reasons for a
lightweight blog is the simplicity of its design. So, Polyblog ensures to
keep your blog’s interface clean and simple |
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The dashboard of Polyblog has made
it easier to manage a multilingual blog. So, this Content Management System
(CMS) will help you target your business to the international market |
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Polyblog has dual benefits because
it provides reliable and fast web hosting services besides blog creation.
So, it is one of the best self-hosted WordPress alternatives |
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Polyblog is advanced enough to
optimize your content for SEO because it is the backbone of success in
digital marketing |
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Polyblog will automatically create
the sitemap of your blog and upload it to your Google Search Console
account. Afterward, you can track your blog’s growth on Google Search
Console |
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What to Look for While
Choosing Modern WordPress
Alternatives? – the Selection Guide
It is time to discuss some factors you should consider while choosing a blogging platform.
1. Easy-to-Use:
The first and foremost thing to consider while selecting paid or free WordPress alternatives is the easy-to-use behavior of the blogging platforms.
You should not pick that blogging platform where you will have to spend a week or more understanding its user experience. So, you should always choose an easy-to-use blogging platform. This way, you can start immediately without wasting time understanding the blogging platform’s UI (User Interface) and UX (User Experience).
2. Beginner-Friendly:
Everyone doesn’t come from a technical background. So, you should not pick that blogging platform where you will have to remember a lot of technical stuff because even though you love technology, you will think about switching at some point.
Thus, your preferred blogging platform should be beginner-friendly.
3. Feature-Rich:
Before starting a blog, you should have a clear roadmap in your mind about how you want your blog to perform. This way, you can easily pick a well-suited blogging platform according to your requirements.
However, experts always recommend choosing a feature-rich blogging platform because you might need additional features at some point in your blogging journey.
4. Room
to Grow:
According to blogging experts, if you want to be a successful blogger, you should stop focusing on money and use that energy in your blogging. Therefore, when it comes to blogging, bloggers may not think about money initially, but earning money through a blog is their goal. Thus, you should pick a blogging platform that doesn’t restrict your growth in the blogging journey.
For example, the ideal blogging platform should support adding advertisements, affiliate marketing, etc.
5. Customizability:
Technology and evolution go hand to hand. So, when it comes to picking an ideal blogging platform for your blog, you should also put the ‘Customizability’ factor in perspective. Whether your blogging is customizable enough to answer your needs or not, it should be considered when deciding on the best blogging platforms.
6. Affordable:
As you’ve seen in the above list, some blogging platforms are free, whereas others have partially paid or fully plans. So, suppose a paid or semi-paid blogging platform suits your needs. In that case, you should also consider whether that blogging platform falls within your budget or not.
Wrapping Up – the Conclusion:
As you can see, there are many WordPress alternatives on the market. In reality, WordPress is just one of many kinds of Content Management Systems (CMS) out there. That’s because it is free, easy to use (especially for beginners) and backed by a strong community of developers, designers and users. However, WordPress isn’t for everyone.
Thus, whether you need a CMS with an integrated e-commerce platform, an easier-to-use blogging solution, or something more customizable than WordPress, this article will help you find an alternative CMS that better suits your needs as a blogger.
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