Choose the Right Blogging Platform in 2025 (Step 2 of Your Start-a-Blog Roadmap)
A simple, beginner-friendly guide to choosing the best blogging platform in 2025. Understand WordPress.org, WordPress.com, Blogger, and Wix with clear comparisons and guidance for absolute beginners.
Every blogging journey begins with one practical decision: Where will your blog live?
Think of it like choosing the land before building your house. Your blog platform decides:
- how flexible your site is
- how easily you can grow
- how much you can customize
- how well you can earn money later
In this step, we will make this choice so simple that even a complete beginner will feel confident moving forward.
What exactly is a blogging platform? (Beginner explanation)
A blogging platform is the software where you:
- write posts
- upload images
- choose a theme
- change your design
- manage comments
- add features
Here is a simple mockup diagram:
- Platform (WordPress, Blogger, Wix) → the engine of your blog
- Domain Name → your blog’s permanent address
- Hosting → server where your blog lives
You do not install anything in this step — you only choose.
The 4 platforms beginners consider (but only 1 is the right choice)
We’ll evaluate:
- WordPress.org
- WordPress.com
- Blogger
- Wix
But before all that, let’s jump straight to the comparison table you can understand at a glance.
Quick comparison table (SEO + beginner clarity)
| Platform | Ease | Customization | Monetization | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org | Medium | Very High | Unlimited | Hosting cost | Serious bloggers |
| WordPress.com | Easy | Low | Limited | Free / Paid | Casual bloggers |
| Blogger | Very Easy | Low | Basic | Free | Absolute beginners |
| Wix | Easy | Medium | Limited | Paid plans | Portfolios / business sites |
Only one platform checks ALL boxes for growth, monetization, control, and flexibility:
WordPress.org
Now, let’s break down each one clearly.
WordPress.org (best for most beginners)
This is the world’s most popular blogging platform — powering over 40% of the entire Internet.
Why it’s recommended
- Complete freedom
- Thousands of plugins
- Unlimited themes
- Easy to grow
- Ideal for earning money
- Strong for SEO
- You fully own your website
Small challenges
- Requires separate hosting (Step 4)
- A short learning curve of 10–15 minutes (we’ll walk through it together in Steps 5–7)
Mockup:
- Step 4 → Choose Hosting
- Step 5 → One-click WordPress Install
- Step 6 → Pick Theme
- Step 7 → Publish Posts
WordPress.com (not the same as WordPress.org)
WordPress.com is a hosted service — convenient at first, but not ideal if you are serious about your blog.
Problems with WordPress.com
- You cannot upload custom themes on free plans
- You cannot install plugins
- Ads appear unless you pay
- Monetization options are limited
- Migration later is painful
Mockup comparison:
- Plugins: WP.org = Yes, WP.com = Paid only
- Themes: WP.org = Unlimited, WP.com = Restricted
- Monetization: WP.org = Full control, WP.com = Limited
Avoid WordPress.com unless you only want a hobby blog with very basic needs.
Blogger (Google’s old but simple platform)
Blogger is free and extremely simple. Many people start here because it is familiar and requires no setup.
Pros
- Google-owned
- Free forever
- Very easy to start
Cons
- Outdated designs
- Limited SEO tools
- Hard to scale
- Not suitable for earning seriously
- Most bloggers move away in 1–2 years
Mockup:
A simple editor with very limited customization. Good for practice. Not good for growing a profitable blog.
Wix (beautiful but restrictive for blogging)
Wix shines in drag-and-drop design. It looks attractive when you see demos and templates.
Pros
- Easy visual builder
- Beautiful templates
Cons
- Not great for long blog content
- Weaker SEO compared to WordPress
- Switching templates is difficult
- Migration to another platform is almost impossible
Good for small websites.
Not great for long-term blogging.
Pros & cons summary
WordPress.org
Pros: Maximum control, plugins, SEO, monetization, scalability
Cons: Requires hosting and a short setup
WordPress.com
Pros: Easy start
Cons: Limited themes, plugins, SEO, and monetization
Blogger
Pros: Free, simple
Cons: Outdated, limited customization, poor long-term potential
Wix
Pros: Beautiful designs, easy to get started
Cons: Weaker SEO, blog limitations, migration issues
Beginner mistakes to avoid
❌ Starting with WordPress.com instead of WordPress.org
❌ Choosing Wix just because it looks easy and visual
❌ Using Blogger if you want to build a serious, income-generating blog
❌ Choosing a blogging platform without understanding hosting
❌ Switching platforms later (migration is painful and time-consuming)
If you avoid these mistakes, you will save months of frustration.
Mini quiz: Which platform should you choose?
Answer these three questions honestly:
1️⃣ Do you want to earn money from your blog?
If yes → WordPress.org
2️⃣ Do you want to customize your design easily and have full control?
If yes → WordPress.org
3️⃣ Do you want to grow your blog long-term?
If yes → WordPress.org
If your answer is “yes” to any of these, WordPress.org is your platform.
Final verdict for beginners
✓ Recommended platform: WordPress.org
It is:
- the most flexible
- the most powerful
- the most future-proof
- the best for earning
- the easiest to scale
And don’t worry — installing WordPress will be straightforward in Step 5.
We will walk through it slowly with clear instructions and visuals.
What happens next?
Now that you’ve chosen WordPress.org, the next steps are:
- Step 3: Choose your domain name
- Step 4: Choose your hosting
- Step 5: Install WordPress
- Step 6: Design your blog
- Step 7: Write your first post
You will complete all of this in a very manageable way, even if you are a complete beginner.
Checklist for Step 2
Before moving on, check if you can say “yes” to these:
✔ I understand the differences between all major blogging platforms
✔ I know why WordPress.org is the best choice for most serious beginners
✔ I know what mistakes to avoid when choosing a platform
✔ I’m ready to move on to Step 3 (Domain Name)
If yes, you’re ready for the next step.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
Which blogging platform is best for beginners?
WordPress.org is the best option for most beginners because it offers full control, unlimited customization, strong SEO support, and easy scalability as your blog grows.
Is WordPress.com the same as WordPress.org?
No. WordPress.com is a hosted platform with major limitations on themes, plugins, and monetization unless you upgrade. WordPress.org gives full freedom but requires your own hosting.
Is Blogger good for long-term blogging?
Blogger is free and easy to start with, but it has limited customization, outdated themes, weaker SEO options, and poor long-term flexibility. Most serious bloggers eventually move to WordPress.
Should beginners use Wix for blogging?
Wix is great for portfolios and small business sites but not ideal for long-term blogging because of limited SEO features, template restrictions, and migration difficulties.
Why do most bloggers choose WordPress.org?
Because it offers full ownership, access to thousands of themes and plugins, strong SEO performance, full monetization freedom, and long-term scalability — all from a single platform.
Next step
Go to Step 3: Choose a Domain Name
This is where you’ll decide what your blog will be called on the internet and how people will find you.