Platforms / CMS
Blogging platforms and publishing software, from self-hosted WordPress to hosted tools with newsletters built in.
10 tools
- WordPress.orgwordpress.orgOpen-source publishing software you install on your own host. Runs a large share of the web.Our pickFree
- Ghostghost.orgPublishing platform with newsletters and paid memberships built in.Paid
- Micro.blogmicro.blogSimple hosted blogging for short and long posts, with your own domain.Paid
- Substacksubstack.comFree newsletter and blog in one, paid for by a cut of subscriptions.Free
- Bear Blogbearblog.devA minimal, fast blogging platform with no trackers or ads, built for plain writing.Freemium
- Write.aswrite.asClean, distraction-free hosted blogging with a privacy focus and optional ActivityPub support.Freemium
- Hashnodehashnode.comA free blogging platform for developers, with custom domains and a built-in readership.Free
- Hugogohugo.ioA very fast open source static site generator for building a blog from Markdown files.Free
- Astroastro.buildAn open source web framework for content sites, with blog templates and little JavaScript by default.Free
- Eleventy11ty.devA simple, flexible static site generator that turns templates and Markdown into a blog.Free
Often used alongside Platforms / CMS
Hosting
Web hosting for blogs, from managed WordPress to static site hosts, with notes on price, support and ease of setup.
Themes & plugins
WordPress themes and plugins for speed, layout, backups and spam control, so you can extend a blog without writing code.
More resource categories
- Domains4Where to register a domain name for your blog, with privacy options and fair renewal prices, and how to keep it if you change platforms.
- Email & newsletters5Newsletter and email tools for bloggers who want to send new posts straight to readers.
- SEO7SEO tools for bloggers: see how readers find your posts, fix indexing problems and research keywords.
- Analytics7Analytics for blogs, including privacy-friendly options, to see which posts people read and where visitors come from.
- Writing & editing6Writing and editing tools for bloggers: grammar and spelling checkers, readability editors and Markdown writing apps.
- Images & stock6Free stock photos and image tools for blog posts, including ways to compress and resize pictures so pages load faster.
- Design tools5Design tools for blog headers, social images and colour palettes, with free options for personal use.
- Monetization5Ways for bloggers to earn from their writing, from reader tips and memberships to one-off support pages.