Best Blogging Platforms 2025: Comparing WordPress, Medium & More

You know that idea buzzing in your head—the travel diary, the recipe vault, or maybe you’ve been itching to share your expertise with the world. But right before your fingers hit the keyboard, reality stops you: Where do you even start? Is it WordPress? Medium? Wix? And what about all those "one-click" options people rave about? Finding the best site for a blog can feel way more complicated than the writing itself.

The Heavyweights: WordPress vs. Medium vs. Wix

Let’s cut through the noise and get right to the heart of it. Most new bloggers land on three names: WordPress, Medium, and Wix. Each claims they’re “the easiest” or “the best,” but there’s no magic button that works for everyone. Let's see what separates these giants, and if you’re wondering, yes, most of the internet’s biggest blogs are riding on WordPress.

WordPress comes in two flavors. There’s WordPress.com, the hosted version, and WordPress.org, the self-hosted one. The weird twist? Over 43% of all websites you see online are built on some version of WordPress. That’s not just hype—it’s the godzilla of blogging. Why? Because it’s flexible. Want to build a portfolio, sell merch, or just post journal entries? WordPress has a plugin for literally everything. But, fair warning, the learning curve can bite back quick. While setting up a simple blog on WordPress.com takes minutes, customizing and scaling up demands patience or a bit of money for themes, plugins, and maybe web hosting if you go the self-hosted route.

Medium strikes from another angle. Forget about plugins, sidebars, or fiddling with colors—Medium is like a blank blog canvas with clean, distraction-free design. It’s wildly popular in the writing and journalism crowd, partly because of its built-in audience. You write, they read. But here’s the catch: you don’t get much control. Your blog looks like everyone else’s. Plus, your audience technically belongs to Medium, not you, and making money beyond their Partner Program isn’t really a thing.

Then there’s Wix. They’ve plastered the internet with ads promising you can build a gorgeous website in minutes by dragging and dropping blocks around. Honestly? That part’s true. Wix is ridiculously user-friendly for beginners. Plus, you get to customize like crazy—fonts, colors, layouts—without touching a single line of code. The flip side? The free version limits you hard, shoves ads into your site, and your URL looks less than professional. Going premium bumps up your monthly costs, sometimes a lot faster than you’d expect. And, if you want to switch to another platform later, it’s not easy. You’re pretty much locked in.

Looking at the numbers: according to the latest W3Techs stats, as of 2024, WordPress remained the top CMS with 43% market share, Wix hovered around 3.8%, and Medium doesn’t get counted in the same way but claims "100+ million readers" and several million writers monthly. Realistically, if you want total control and the power to grow, WordPress (org) is the winner. But if writing and sharing—no bells and whistles—is your game, Medium is the simplest starting line. Wix sits somewhere in-between: easy, flexible, but best for people who want style and speed over depth.

Lesser-Known Challengers: Ghost, Substack, and Squarespace

Guess what? The platform fight isn’t just a three-way brawl. In the last couple of years, a few challengers snuck up and started grabbing huge chunks of the blogging pie, especially among indie creators and niche experts. The names you’ll hear most: Ghost, Substack, and Squarespace.

Ghost is the digital version of a sleek, indie coffee shop—minimalist vibes, more power under the hood than you’d expect. This open-source platform is built for creators who care about speed and control, but absolutely hate bloat. No unnecessary features. Just smooth, distraction-free writing and a lightning-fast site. What really makes Ghost pop is the built-in tools for email newsletters and paid subscriptions. That’s why so many former Medium writers and Substackers switched over in 2024. But make no mistake, Ghost is best for folks who don’t mind tinkering a bit or paying for managed hosting (usually starting at $9/month and going way up if your audience keeps growing). It’s not plug-and-play like Wix, but once you get rolling, it’s hard to beat.

Substack, meanwhile, has become the go-to if you dream of launching a paid newsletter and building a tight-knit audience. It’s pretty much sunk its teeth into the worlds of journalism, culture critique, and personal essays. You can crank out long posts, send them straight to inboxes, and even charge subscribers if that’s your style. But you give up customization—your Substack will look like every other Substack. Plus, your content is hosted on their domain, so it’s not really "yours" to move around. People love how fast it is to launch, though, and the revenue split (usually 10% to Substack, plus Stripe's fee) is super simple to understand. It’s worth noting that over a million paying subscribers were recorded on Substack as of late 2024, with some creators earning serious incomes.

Squarespace comes in strong for those who like things beautiful—wedding planners, photographers, restaurants. Their templates look straight-up gorgeous out of the box, and their editor is smoother than Wix’s in many ways. They handle hosting, security, and updates, so you don’t worry about the geeky stuff. But all this polish comes with a tag: monthly fees usually start above Wix, and after a year or two, the cost adds up. The real kicker? You sacrifice some flexibility, especially if you want plugins or run a complex blog with forums or big e-commerce plans. If you just want a portfolio with a blog attached, though, Squarespace is almost unbeatable.

To get a sense of how these stack up price-wise, check out this quick cost comparison below—all numbers assume you’re running a basic, ad-free blog with your own custom domain:

See? Not all platforms break your wallet, but the differences in freedom and looks are huge. Don’t pick based on price alone—think about how much effort you want to invest, how you’re growing your audience, and if you care about turning blogging into a side hustle.

What Type of Blogger Are You?

Choosing a blogging site is not just clicking "sign up." There’s a whole world of difference depending on what kind of writer you are. If you’re a casual blogger, someone who enjoys sharing updates with friends and family, platforms like Blogger (yup, it still exists) or even Tumblr might be enough. Both are free, quick to use, and really easy for personal sharing. You won’t get anything cutting-edge visually, but sometimes simple is all you need.

If you want to grow your own brand or business—let’s say you’re launching a food blog, a photography showcase, or you’ve got wisdom to sell—opting for more customizable platforms matters. Imagine putting weeks into your blog, only to find Medium changed their algorithm again, and now no one’s reading your stuff. Owning your content, your design, and your mailing list becomes essential. For that reason, self-hosted WordPress or Ghost schemes make way more sense. They’re set up so you control the data, pick your own plugins, and can bolt on features as your ambitions expand.

Thinking about making money? Substack, Ghost, and WordPress are all set up for creators wanting to plug in e-commerce or paid newsletters. For example, bloggers who moved to Substack in 2024 found average paid newsletter conversion rates around 5%, but some top creators convert 10% or more. Ghost’s newsletter and membership features let you test different payment models—monthly, yearly, and even one-time donations. Platforms like Medium offer the Partner Program, but stories of making real cash there are spotty unless you already have a huge social following or get featured regularly.

Not everyone wants complexity. Maybe you’re non-technical, short on time, or just want a digital space you don’t need to babysit. Platforms like Wix or Squarespace cut setup to minutes. But know this: migrating later can be a pain. Data doesn’t always transfer cleanly from Wix to WordPress or Medium to Ghost. If you think you’ll ever want full control, even if it’s "someday," starting on a more flexible platform might save major headaches.

One more thing: your audience. If they hang out more on social networks, share links on X (Twitter), or discover articles through Google, how easily can your blog be found? WordPress and Squarespace offer more SEO control. Medium and Substack are more about internal audiences. If you’re betting on search traffic, skip platforms that block deep customization or limit analytics. Want comments, forums, or memberships? You’ll need plugins—Ghost and WordPress have you covered, but others might not.

Zero to Launch: Tips for Starting Your Blog

Alright, let’s go from plans to reality. Suppose you’ve picked your platform; what next?

• Decide on a custom domain. A unique address (like yourname.com) boosts your credibility. Most platforms make buying and connecting one super simple this year. In fact, Medium, Ghost, Substack, and the rest all walk you through the process if you’re not techy.
• Pick a clear theme or template. Readers don’t stick around for messy layouts. Modern templates or themes (especially on WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix) are optimized for mobile readers—over 60% of blog visits now happen from phones.
• Think about speed. Google’s Core Web Vitals got everyone scared in 2023, but it matters—faster sites get more love from search engines and readers. Lightweight themes, smart plugins, and image compression tools are a must. Some platforms, like Ghost and Medium, are speed demons out of the box.
• Set up analytics early. Don’t wait until after your first viral post. Google Analytics, Plausible, or whatever your platform offers takes five minutes to install, and you’ll thank me when you see what actually gets clicked.
• Launch with a few posts, not just one. Think "grand opening," not empty gallery. When real visitors show up (thanks to your social media shout-outs or search luck), let them binge-click. Three to five quality posts are enough to launch with impact.
• Get serious about your bio and About pages. People want to know who’s behind the words. Personal, honest bios convert more strangers into email subscribers and loyal readers.
• Plan your updates. Blogs with regular updates (minimum once a week) pull in more consistent traffic and followers. Use your platform’s built-in scheduling tools so life doesn’t get in the way of posting.

And don’t sweat the launch. The wildest blogs from the last decade—the ones with millions of readers—started out ugly, awkward, and slow to grow. Consistency and useful content always win in the end.

Future-Proofing: Trends That Matter for Blogs in 2025

The blogging world moves faster every year. Back in the day, a simple Blogspot account and quirky banner image made you internet famous. Now, between AI-generated garbage and increasingly picky readers, what actually works?

First trend: blogs are becoming newsletters. Platforms like Substack and Ghost realized that people now check their email more often than their bookmarks. Integrating blog posts straight into inboxes creates deeper relationships—and higher chances for readers to actually see your stuff. As of May 2025, over 2 million writers are using built-in newsletter tools on various platforms, with at least 50,000 creators making over $10,000 per month through Substack, Ghost, or WordPress’s newsletter plugins. That’s a massive incentive for anyone hoping to turn words into dollars.

Second: readers want authenticity. Corporate blogs stuffed with keywords are out; raw, honest storytelling is in. Platforms like Medium, even with their strict layouts, give writers more exposure if the content gets engagement, not just search engine tricks. If you can combine real voice, valuable advice, and a bit of vulnerability, you’ll stand out even in saturated niches.

Don’t ignore multimedia. Podcasts, embedded videos, Instagram galleries—WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix now make integrating these dead simple. A 2024 Statista survey revealed that blog posts featuring original videos or audio content saw 45% higher time-on-page compared to text-only posts. Readers are snacking on content in all forms, so the more you can diversify, the more you’ll hook return visitors.

Last: community matters more than ever. Old-school comment sections are back in style, spurred by newsletter-led conversations and platforms like Ghost and WordPress supporting member areas, forums, and gated content. If you grow a tribe, you protect yourself from algorithm changes or platform shutdowns. Remember Google shutting down Google+? Or the Tumblr "adult purge" fiasco? Own your audience list and make it portable—Substack and Ghost let you download your subscriber list anytime. That’s priceless in a world where social media platforms come and go.

One last tip: look for platforms committed to supporting open standards (like RSS, email export, cross-posting). The best blogging site in 2025 is the one that doesn’t stick you in a digital walled garden—you should be able to move your content and contacts if the web changes, because it always does.