Blogger vs WordPress compared (a guide for beginners)

Want to start a blog but can’t decide between WordPress and Blogger? It’s understandable! While both platforms offer ways to publish content online, they serve different needs and have distinct advantages and limitations that could impact your blog’s growth.

WordPress, powering over 43 percent of all websites, offers extensive customization options and scalability for growing blogs. Blogger, owned by Google, provides a simpler, more straightforward approach that appeals to beginners and hobby bloggers.

The choice between the two depends on your goals, technical comfort level, and long-term plans for your blog. This guide breaks down what you need to consider when choosing your approach:

• How much control you want over your site.
• The features and customization options you need.
• Your comfort level with technical tasks.
• Your budget (both time and money).
• Your long-term growth plans.

Blogger or WordPress: Which platform matches your goals?

Before diving into detailed comparisons, here’s a breakdown of what each platform offers and who they’re designed for.

Blogger

Blogger is Google’s free blogging solution, requiring just a Google account to get started. It’s the perfect fit for hobby bloggers who want a no-fuss platform, writers focusing purely on content creation, and beginners testing the waters of blogging. Its integration with Google services makes it especially appealing for users already comfortable with Google tools.

With Blogger, you get free hosting, basic customization options, and automatic integration with essential Google tools like Analytics and AdSense. While it’s perfect for personal blogs and simple content sharing, it does have limitations in terms of advanced features and design flexibility.

WordPress

WordPress began as a simple blogging platform but has become a solid content management system. It’s the go-to choice for professional bloggers, small business owners, and anyone planning to monetize their content. Its extensive customization options make it particularly valuable for users who need complete control over their site’s appearance and functionality.

However, it’s important to note that there are two distinct versions of WordPress. WordPress.com is a hosted service with limited features and customization options, while WordPress.org is the self-hosted version that offers complete control over your site.

You can learn more about their differences, but this guide focuses on WordPress.org, which requires your own hosting but provides unlimited potential for growth. When paired with a reliable hosting provider, WordPress.org gives you full ownership of your content and the freedom to customize every aspect of your site.

Blogger vs WordPress: The essential comparison

Here’s a clear breakdown of what each platform offers:

The following sections will examine each aspect in detail to help you understand exactly what you’re getting with each platform. 

1. Control and ownership

WordPress

With WordPress, your content, data, and entire website remain firmly in your control. You can export all your content at any time, switch hosting providers whenever you want, and modify your site’s code and database as needed. The platform gives you full control over your themes, plugins, and backup schedule.

This independence means your site’s future isn’t tied to any single company’s decisions. If you’re unhappy with your hosting provider, you can move to a new one without losing any content. You can also sell your website if you choose to, as you own all aspects of it.

Blogger

Blogger operates entirely under Google’s control. Your content lives on Google’s servers, and you’re bound by its terms of service. 

While you can export your blog posts, you’ll lose many important elements of your site, including template customizations, gadgets, layout settings, and even your comment history. Your custom domain settings won’t transfer, either.

Google’s track record also shows they occasionally discontinue services – remember Google Reader or Google+? While Blogger has been stable, your blog’s features, monetization options, and even its existence ultimately depend on Google’s business decisions.

Verdict

WordPress is the clear winner for content ownership and control. While Blogger offers convenience through Google’s infrastructure, WordPress provides the independence and flexibility that serious content creators need. The ability to fully own and control your digital presence is invaluable for long-term success.

2. Features and ease of use

WordPress

WordPress combines an intuitive block editor with extensive functionality that grows with your needs. The core platform includes essential features like categories, tags, media management, and user roles. Its block editor lets you create sophisticated layouts without coding knowledge while maintaining the flexibility to add custom code when needed.

Where WordPress truly shines is in its extensibility. The platform supports thousands of plugins that can add any feature imaginable – from simple contact forms to full ecommerce systems. You can integrate email marketing tools, create membership areas, or add sophisticated analytics. This flexibility means your site can evolve as your needs change without requiring a platform switch.

Blogger

Blogger focuses on the basics of blogging with a straightforward interface that lets you start writing immediately. The platform includes fundamental features like post scheduling, image uploading, and basic commenting systems. Its integration with Google services means you can easily add Analytics tracking or AdSense advertising.

However, Blogger’s simplicity comes at the cost of functionality. You can’t add custom post types, create sophisticated layouts, or integrate advanced features like membership systems or ecommerce. The platform’s WYSIWYG editor handles basic formatting well but lacks the sophisticated design options found in WordPress’s block editor.

Verdict

While Blogger offers an easier start for complete beginners, WordPress’s feature set makes it the superior choice for anyone serious about blogging. Its learning curve is justified by the platform’s unlimited potential for growth and adaptation.

3. Design and customization

WordPress

WordPress offers thousands of free and premium themes, each providing unique layouts and styling options. The built-in customizer lets you preview changes in real time and you can also adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to match your vision.

For those seeking pixel-perfect design control, popular page builders like Kadence Blocks, Elementor, and Divi extend WordPress’s capabilities even further. However, this wealth of options can feel overwhelming at first, and premium themes or builders often require additional investment.

Blogger

Blogger’s approach to design focuses on simplicity and ease of use. While its template selection is more limited, the available designs are mobile-responsive and professionally crafted. The built-in template designer allows straightforward customization of colors, fonts, and layouts without requiring technical knowledge.

Though you won’t find the same level of design flexibility as WordPress, Blogger’s templates can be enhanced with custom CSS. For bloggers who prioritize content over complex design elements, Blogger’s streamlined approach might be exactly what’s needed.

Verdict

WordPress offers superior customization options and is the clear choice for those seeking unique, branded designs. However, Blogger’s simpler approach shouldn’t be dismissed – it provides clean, professional-looking templates that work well for content-focused blogs.

4. SEO, monetization, and scalability

WordPress

WordPress excels in search engine optimization through both built-in features and specialized plugins like Yoast and Rank Math. These tools provide detailed control over meta descriptions, XML sitemaps, and content analysis, helping you optimize every page for search engines.

When it comes to monetization, WordPress opens multiple revenue streams. Beyond traditional advertising, you can integrate ecommerce through WooCommerce, create premium membership areas, sell digital downloads, or run online courses. This versatility means your income potential isn’t limited to a single source.

The platform’s scalability is particularly impressive. As your traffic grows, you can upgrade your hosting, implement caching solutions, and optimize performance without platform limitations. Many successful businesses started as simple WordPress blogs before expanding into full-featured websites.

Blogger

Blogger also offers solid SEO fundamentals, benefiting from direct integration with Google’s services. The platform automatically handles mobile optimization, SSL security, and basic SEO elements. While you can’t install additional SEO plugins, Blogger’s connection to Google’s infrastructure often provides good search visibility.

Monetization on Blogger centers primarily around Google AdSense, which can be implemented with just a few clicks. While this limits your revenue options compared to WordPress, the straightforward integration makes it easy for beginners to start earning. Some successful bloggers maintain profitable AdSense-focused blogs on the platform.

Verdict

WordPress provides more comprehensive tools for SEO, diverse monetization options, and unlimited scalability. However, Blogger’s Google integration and simplified AdSense implementation make it a viable option for those focusing on content and ad revenue.

5. Security and support

WordPress

WordPress security combines core platform updates with user-controlled protective measures. The open-source nature means security vulnerabilities are quickly identified and patched by the global development community. Regular updates from the WordPress core team help maintain platform security, while plugins like Solid Security, Wordfence, or Sucuri add extra layers of protection.

Support for WordPress comes from multiple channels. The official WordPress forum provides community assistance, while hosting providers often offer technical support. For specific issues, you can access theme documentation, plugin support, or hire WordPress developers. This variety means solutions are readily available, though finding the right answer sometimes requires searching multiple sources.

Blogger

Blogger uses Google’s enterprise-level security infrastructure, providing solid protection against common threats. The platform handles all security updates and server maintenance automatically, and your blog benefits from the same security measures protecting Google’s services. SSL certificates come as standard, and you never need to worry about plugin vulnerabilities or server security.

Support options are more streamlined but limited. Google provides basic documentation and a help center, while the Blogger user forum offers community assistance. Though you can’t access specialized technical support, the platform’s stability means you rarely encounter serious issues requiring advanced help.

Verdict

Both platforms take different but effective approaches to security. WordPress offers more control and comprehensive support options but requires active management. Blogger provides worry-free security through Google’s infrastructure, though with more limited support resources.

6. Upfront and ongoing costs

WordPress

WordPress software itself is free, but running a WordPress site requires some essential investments. At minimum, you’ll need hosting and a domain name, typically starting around $10–15 per month for quality hosting and $12–15 annually for a domain. These base costs ensure your site runs reliably and maintains a professional appearance.

Additional costs often include premium themes ($30–100 one-time) and essential plugins ($50–200 annually). While many excellent free options exist, investing in premium tools can enhance your site’s functionality and design. As your blog grows, you might need more robust hosting ($25–100 monthly) to handle increased traffic.

Blogger

Blogger is free to use. The platform includes hosting, security, and basic features without any charges. The only optional expense is a custom domain name ($12–15 annually), which adds professionalism to your blog’s address.

This cost-free approach means you can focus your resources on content creation and promotion rather than platform maintenance. However, the trade-off comes in limited customization options and features that might require workarounds or compromise.

Verdict

While Blogger wins on pure cost comparison, WordPress’s pricing model reflects its professional-grade capabilities. The investment in WordPress often pays off through greater flexibility, monetization options, and growth potential.

Launch your professional blog with Liquid Web

After comparing these platforms across essential features, the choice becomes clear. While Blogger offers a simple, free starting point, WordPress provides the professional features and flexibility that growing blogs need. 

With WordPress, you get complete control over your content, unlimited customization options, and diverse monetization opportunities – advantages that far outweigh its modest learning curve and initial costs.

However, WordPress is only as good as its hosting foundation. To tap into WordPress’s full potential, you need a WordPress hosting provider that delivers:

• Lightning-fast page loads.
• Reliable uptime.
• Expert WordPress support.
• Robust security measures.
• Automated backups.

Liquid Web’s managed WordPress hosting provides all these essential features and more, starting at just $9.50/month. Plans include automatic updates, daily backups, and 24/7 expert support to ensure your blog runs smoothly while you focus on creating content.

Ready to launch your professional blog? Get started with Liquid Web’s WordPress hosting.