Best Blogging Platforms for Beginners: WordPress vs Blogger vs Medium
Introduction
Choosing your blogging platform is one of the most important decisions you’ll make as a new blogger. The right choice sets you up for growth and success; the wrong one can limit your potential or force a frustrating migration later.
The three biggest names for beginners are WordPress.org, Blogger, and Medium. But they are not created equal. One is a powerful (but slightly complex) powerhouse, one is a simple but limited classic, and one is a built-in audience network with major trade-offs.
This no-fluff comparison will break down each platform to help you decide. We’ll cover:
By the end, you’ll know exactly which platform aligns with your goals. Let’s find your perfect match.
Head-to-Head Comparison Table
Feature
Cost
Ease of Use
Customization
Ownership
Monetization
SEO Potential
Main Goal
WordPress.org
Requires Paid Hosting (~$3-$10/mo)
Steeper Learning Curve
Unlimited (Themes & Plugins)
You Own Everything
Unlimited Options (Ads, Affiliates, Products)
Full Control (Best for SEO)
Building a Long-Term Asset
Blogger (by Google)
Completely Free
Easiest to Use
Very Limited
Google Owns It
Limited to Google AdSense
Basic Control
Casual Hobby Blogging
Medium
Free to write; paid to read
Extremely Easy
Zero (Just your content)
You Don’t Own Your Audience
Only Medium Partner Program
Good, but you benefit Medium
Reaching a Built-in Audience
Deep Dive: Pros, Cons, and Who It’s For
1. WordPress.org (The Powerhouse)
What it is: Self-hosted, open-source software you install on your own web hosting account. It powers over 40% of all websites.
- Pros:
- Complete Ownership: You own your content and your website—it’s a valuable asset.
- Unlimited Customization: Thousands of themes and plugins let you build any type of site (e-commerce, membership, forum).
- Best for SEO: Full control over every SEO element (meta tags, site speed, schema).
- Unlimited Monetization: Run ads, affiliate links, sell products, and more.
- Cons:
- Not Free: Requires paying for web hosting and a domain name (~$50/year).
- Learning Curve: Requires more technical setup and management than others.
- Best for: Serious beginners who are committed to building a long-term, professional blog or online business. If you plan to make money and grow, this is the only choice.
2. Blogger (by Google) (The Simple Classic)
What it is: A free, simple, and ad-supported blogging platform owned by Google.
- Pros:
- 100% Free: No costs for hosting or a subdomain (yourblog.blogspot.com).
- Super Easy to Use: The simplest platform to get started writing in minutes.
- Integrated with Google: Easy to set up Google AdSense for monetization.
- Cons:
- Limited & Outdated: Very few design templates and no plugins. It feels old.
- You Don’t Fully Own It: Google can shut down your blog at any time (they’ve shut down services before).
- Unprofessional URL: The .blogspot.com domain looks less professional.
- Best for: Absolute beginners who want to dip their toes into blogging with zero financial commitment and don’t care about advanced features.
3. Medium (The Built-in Network)
What it is: A popular online publishing platform with a built-in audience of readers.
- Pros:
- Built-in Audience: Your articles can be discovered by millions of readers on Medium immediately.
- Zero Setup: Just create an account and start writing. No design or tech hassles.
- Beautiful & Minimalist: Focus is purely on writing and reading.
- Cons:
- You Don’t Own Your Audience: You can’t collect emails easily. Your readers are Medium’s audience, not yours.
- Limited Monetization: You can only make money through the Medium Partner Program (paywall).
- No Customization: Your “blog” looks like everyone else’s on Medium.
- Bad for SEO: Medium keeps most of the SEO benefits for its own domain.
Best for: Writers and thought leaders who primarily want to share ideas and reach a large audience quickly, without the goal of building a standalone brand or business.
The Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
- Choose WordPress.org if: You are serious about blogging, want to make money, and are building a long-term asset. It’s the best investment for your future.
- Choose Blogger if: You are a complete novice who wants to try blogging for fun with absolutely no money spent. See it as a training wheels platform.
- Choose Medium if: Your main goal is to get your writing seen by a large audience and you don’t care about building your own website or brand.
Pro Tip: You can use both! Many WordPress bloggers republish their articles on Medium to reach a wider audience, always linking back to their original post on their own website.
Key Takeaways
Your blog is your real estate. On WordPress, you own the land. On Medium and Blogger, you’re just a tenant.
