Beginner's Guide to Popular Blogging Platforms

If you’re trying to decide where to publish your writing this year, you have more choices than ever. From the freedom of self‑hosting on WordPress.org to the simplicity of Medium or Substack, every platform serves a different purpose. The key isn’t to find the single best platform—it’s to understand what each one offers and how to connect them all so readers can easily find your work. That’s exactly what ManyStories enables: publish wherever you like, then share your stories in one place for maximum reach.

What We'll Cover in this Guide

Before we explore each platform, let’s outline what this guide includes. You’ll learn how blogging platforms differ, what each one does best, and how to choose based on your goals. Whether you want full control, built‑in audience reach, or an effortless publishing flow, this guide will help you decide—and show you how to bring all your stories together through ManyStories.

We’ll start by defining what a blogging platform really means today, then walk through the most popular options and how they compare in control, design, audience, cost, and more. Finally, we’ll wrap up with practical advice on unifying your content using ManyStories.

What a “Blogging Platform” Means in 2025

A blogging platform isn’t just a place to write—it’s a combination of hosting, tools, and distribution. Platforms like WordPress.org offer complete control over your site and its functionality, while hosted services such as Wix and Squarespace simplify the process with drag‑and‑drop design tools. Writer‑centric platforms like Medium and Substack trade customization for built‑in audiences and email‑based distribution.

No matter where you publish, your audience benefits when your stories are easy to find in one place. That’s where ManyStories fits in. You publish on any platform—WordPress, Ghost, Substack, or others—and then share your story link to ManyStories. Your profile becomes a central hub that connects every piece you’ve written across the web.

Note: You don’t publish on ManyStories—you publish anywhere, then share your link there to increase your reach.

Comparing the Platforms

Let’s look at how each platform feels to use and who it’s best for.

WordPress.org is the most flexible of all. It’s open‑source, self‑hosted, and endlessly customizable through themes and plugins. If you want total ownership and the ability to expand features over time, it’s a strong choice. The trade‑off: you’re responsible for hosting, maintenance, and updates.

WordPress.com offers a managed version of WordPress where all the technical details are handled for you. It’s easier for beginners, though certain customizations are locked behind premium plans.

Wix makes visual design easy. Its drag‑and‑drop interface and extensive template library let you create professional sites quickly, making it ideal for beginners or visual creators.

Squarespace is known for its sleek templates and unified design tools. Creatives and small businesses often prefer it because everything—from the blog to the store—shares the same clean aesthetic.

Medium strips away the complexity. It’s built entirely around writing and community, making it perfect for people who want to focus on ideas rather than design. You gain exposure through Medium’s built‑in audience and curation system.

Substack started as a newsletter tool but now doubles as a simple blog platform. Writers who want direct reader relationships and subscriber revenue will appreciate its simplicity and paid‑tier system.

Blogger, owned by Google, is the oldest free platform still around. It’s simple and dependable, though its design templates feel dated compared to modern builders.

Ghost blends speed and independence. It’s open‑source like WordPress but built for professional publishing, SEO, and memberships. Many small publications and creators use Ghost for its clean design and integrated newsletter tools.

Choosing Based on Your Needs

Choosing a blogging platform is less about finding the single “best” option and more about matching the platform to your creative goals, technical comfort, and long‑term plans. Each platform offers a distinct balance of freedom, simplicity, and discoverability.

If you’re a hands‑on creator who values full control, WordPress.org or self‑hosted Ghost are your best bets. Both give you ownership of your site, your data, and your design. You can modify every detail, from URL structure to metadata, but you’ll also need to handle hosting, backups, and security. Think of these platforms as digital workshops—powerful, but requiring upkeep.

If you prefer to write without worrying about the technical side, WordPress.com provides the same publishing experience without the maintenance burden. It’s perfect for bloggers who want a professional presence while letting the platform handle updates and hosting. Similarly, Squarespace and Wix make site design effortless. They’re ideal for visual storytellers, photographers, and small businesses that need to get online quickly with a site that looks polished out of the box.

For writers who prioritize ideas over interface, Medium and Substack shine. Medium connects you with a massive built‑in audience, making it easier for great writing to be discovered. Substack focuses on direct relationships through newsletters, giving you the power to turn subscribers into supporters and even paying members. Both simplify publishing to the point where you can go from idea to published piece in minutes.

If you’re starting from zero and just want a place to practice or document your thoughts without any costs, Blogger still offers a low‑friction entry point. It’s free, integrates with Google’s ecosystem, and lets you focus on writing rather than building.

Whatever you choose, remember that your readers don’t think in platforms—they think in stories. That’s where ManyStories comes in. By sharing links to all your posts—whether from Medium, Substack, Ghost, or WordPress—you can unify your writing portfolio and make sure readers never miss your next piece.

Bringing It All Together with ManyStories

ManyStories helps writers centralize their content. Once you publish a story anywhere—whether it’s on Medium, Substack, WordPress, or Ghost—you simply share its link on ManyStories. Your stories appear on your profile and across ManyStories’ feeds and partner sites, helping new readers discover your work.

Your profile becomes your digital home base. Readers can explore everything you’ve written, follow your updates, and share your stories. For writers, it means more exposure without having to choose just one platform.

To get started:

• Create or update your profile at ManyStories.com

• Share your latest post at ManyStories.com/share

• Discover new writers and other stories on ManyStories

Remember, ManyStories isn’t a replacement for your publishing platform—it’s a bridge that connects them all and helps you reach a larger audience.

Final Thoughts

Choosing where to blog isn’t about loyalty to a single platform; it’s about aligning your goals with the right tools. If you want maximum flexibility, go with WordPress.org or Ghost. If simplicity matters most, start with Medium, Substack, or Squarespace. But regardless of where you write, use ManyStories to bring it all together in one place. That way, your readers can follow your journey—no matter where it takes you.