Which Blogging Platform Is Best for Beginners? Honest Comparison

You know how some decisions feel bigger than they should be?
Like choosing a Netflix show (a 40-minute commitment suddenly feels like an impossible mission with the infinite options)… or choosing a blogging platform.

Good news: this post is here to delete the overwhelm.

Because the truth is, you don’t need every feature under the sun right now. You just need a platform that won’t make you cry, quit, or blame the internet for your career choices. That, and that offers the tools you will need as you grow, without insane migration and DNS pain (you might have realized from other posts that I have severe DNS trauma).

Below, you’ll learn exactly how to choose the right platform as a beginner—without the tech jargon, contradictory advice, or “influencers recommending things they’ve never actually used.”

Why Your Blogging Platform Choice Matters (But Not as Much as People Scare You Into Thinking)

Your platform determines:

• How much control you have
• How fast your website can grow
• Whether you can monetize without restrictions
• How expensive things get over time
• Whether you can scale without having to migrate (every blogger’s least favorite activity)

BUT…
Here’s the plot twist:

➡️ There isn’t one “best” platform. There’s only the best platform for your goals, your budget, and your tolerance for tech.

That’s why this guide breaks everything down by what beginners actually need—not theoretical features you may or may not use three years from now.

First, Choose Your Priority: Ease, Control, or Scalability?

There are only three kinds of beginner bloggers:

1. The “I Want Zero Tech” Beginner

You want drag-and-drop editing, pretty templates, and the feeling that your platform is actively trying to help you—not confuse you.

2. The “I Want Control + Customization” Beginner

You don’t mind a tiny learning curve if it means long-term growth, freedom, and cheaper scaling.

3. The “I Want to Publish Fast and Think Later” Beginner

You don’t need a full site yet—you just want to write.

These categories make choosing soooo much easier.
Now let’s go through the platforms based on who they’re actually good for.

The Best Platforms for Beginner Bloggers (Clear, Honest Breakdown)

WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)

Do not mistake WordPress.org with WordPress.com

Best for: Beginners who want full control, long-term scalability, and monetization freedom

This is the platform most full-time bloggers use—because you own everything, you control everything, and you can customize your site as much (or as little) as you want.

All my websites are built on WordPress, for reference. And I love the complete control it gives me in terms of visual style, monetization, and security.

Pros:

• Total control + endless customization
• Best for SEO
• Easy to scale
• Works with every monetization method (ads, affiliates, digital products, memberships, etc.)
• Huge ecosystem of plugins and themes

Cons:

• Slight learning curve
• You need hosting (DreamHost is perfect for beginners—starting at just $2.99/mo—and established bloggers alike; all my sites are on DreamHost and I can’t see myself ever migrating to any other provider)
• Too many choices can be overwhelming

Bottom line:
If you see blogging as a legitimate business—not just a journal—this is the long game.

Squarespace

Best for: Beginners who want a beautiful design with minimal effort

If WordPress feels like IKEA (lots of pieces, great results), Squarespace is “furniture arrives fully assembled.”

Pros:

• Stunning templates
• Easy drag-and-drop
• All-in-one platform
• Zero maintenance
• Great for portfolio + blog combos

Cons:

• Less SEO control
• Not as flexible or scalable
• More expensive long-term

Bottom line:
If you want a visually polished site with no tech headaches, Squarespace is your best friend.

Wix

Best for: Beginners who want simplicity and don’t care about long-term scaling (yet)

Wix is extremely beginner-friendly, but not the best long-term choice for high-traffic websites.

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Tons of templates
• Quick setup

Cons:

• SEO limitations
• Weak migration options
• Can become expensive

Bottom line:
Great if you’re starting small and want to test the waters—just know you may outgrow it.

Blogger (Google)

Best for: Beginners with zero budget

It’s free, minimal, and easy… but it’s not great for serious business blogging.

Pros:

• 100% free
• Easy to set up
• Hosted by Google

Cons:

• No real growth flexibility
• Old-school design
• Limited monetization
• You don’t own your site

Bottom line:
Use only if budget = $0 and commitment = “let’s see how this blogging thing goes.”

Medium

Best for: Writers who don’t want a “blog,” just an audience

Medium is not a blogging platform—it’s a writing platform.
Think of it as YouTube for text.

Pros:

• Built-in audience
• Zero setup
• Great for writers practicing their voice

Cons:

• You can’t build a brand
• Limited monetization
• You don’t control the platform

Bottom line:
Great secondary platform. Not great to be your only home on the internet.

Breakdown by Beginner Type (So You’re Not Guessing)

Here’s the cheat sheet:

If you want to build a serious blog → WordPress.org

You’ll never outgrow it.

If you want easy + beautiful → Squarespace

Perfect for creatives who value aesthetics.

If you want to start free → Blogger

But only temporarily.

If you just want to write → Medium

Solid for practice and exposure.

If you want maximum future monetization → WordPress.org

Nothing else comes close.

How Much Does Each Platform Really Cost? (Honest Breakdown)

Because yes—pricing should influence your decision.

WordPress.org

• Hosting: usually $2.95–$12/month
• Domain: $8-$19/year
• Themes + plugins: optional
  ➡️ Most affordable long-term

Squarespace

• $16–$23/month
• Domain free for first year
  ➡️ Beautiful but pricier

Wix

• $16+ depending on plan
  ➡️ Not cheaper than Squarespace

Blogger

• Free
  ➡️ But at the cost of flexibility

Medium

• Free (for writing)
  ➡️ But you don’t build an asset

SEO + Monetization Comparison (What Beginners Actually Care About)

Here’s the truth in one sentence:

➡️ If SEO and long-term monetization matter, choose WordPress. That’s it.

Here’s why:

SEO Flexibility

WordPress > Squarespace > Wix > Blogger > Medium

Monetization Options

WordPress > Squarespace > Wix > Blogger > Medium

Scalability

WordPress > Squarespace > Wix > Blogger > Medium

Everything else is preference.

Own Your Home

When you actually own your environment, there’s no limit to what you can do. If at any given moment, you decide that adding a paid membership or even a paywall is the best way to monetize your blog niche, there you have it — 5 minutes to install and activate a plugin, and you’re good to go.

You can also upgrade (or downgrade 🤷🏻‍♀️) your site without undergoing dramatic migrations.

For example, my site Be Productive Every Day started on DreamHost’s cheapest WordPress hosting plan — literally $2.99/month, and they threw in a free domain when I chose the annual plan. Perfect for beginners.

But once the blog started pulling steady organic traffic and my Pinterest pins began taking off, I outgrew that starter plan fast. High-traffic blogs need better resources, or things slow down (and Google hates slow).

So I upgraded to DreamPress. DreamHost handled the migration automatically, and between their tool + one tiny manual step, the whole upgrade took less than 30 minutes. No downtime, no stress, no DNS pain, no crying into my coffee.

Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid

• Choosing a platform based on trends
• Prioritizing design over functionality
• Paying more for features you don’t need
• Starting on a platform you’ll outgrow in six months
• Forgetting ownership matters

Your blog is your business’s home base—don’t build it somewhere you can’t even access the garage.

Final Recommendation (Based on Beginner Reality, Not Hype)

If you want:

• Full control
• Long-term blogging success
• Best SEO
• Maximum monetization
• No platform restrictions

➡️ Go with WordPress (self-hosted).

If you want:

• Gorgeous design
• All-in-one simplicity
• Zero tech stress

➡️ Go with Squarespace.

Everything else is good for learning, experimenting, or side publishing—but not your main long-term blogging home.

→ Don’t miss this guide: How to Create a Strategic Blogging Workflow (Content, SEO, and Productivity).

FAQ: Blogging Platforms for Beginners