Note: Since I have only ever used Blogger and WordPress.com (the free WordPress site), that is what I will be comparing.
I have been blogging since September 2013. For a long time, I didn’t blog regularly. It wasn’t until many months later that I started to take it seriously as a hobby and a possible career. (I haven’t made any money from this yet, but I am working on some projects for my Etsy shop).
Over the course of the past two plus years, I have used both Blogger and WordPress. I switched over to using WordPress on Christmas Day, a decision I later regretted. I was using the free version which, in my opinion, has more limitations than the free Blogger. I will be comparing the two platforms by categories: Website, Mobile Apps, Customizability, Templates, Ease of Use, and then a final overview of the pros and cons of each.
Website
While Blogger is clean and simple, the WordPress online site allows you much more flexibility and creativity with your site. If you are starting your first blog or if you are not very tech-savvy, Blogger is a good choice. More likely than not, you probably already have a Google account, in which case you can simply login to Google, click over to Blogger, and start a blog. If you have been blogging for awhile or you want to grow your blog, it might not be a bad idea to use WordPress. It is not for the faint of heart blogger, but if you have a passion for blogging, it is the way to go.
Winner: Tie (Use your best judgement based on your personal situation)
Mobile Apps
WordPress takes the cake on this one. The Blogger app is very limited. All you can do in it is write, edit, and immediately publish posts. If you want to schedule a post for later, check statistics, or anything else, you will need to access the website. WordPress’s app allows for all of this. You can even change the settings of your site from the app, too.
Winner: WordPress
Customizability
I have heard that many people think that you can’t do much to customize your blog if you work in Blogger. While this is true if you want to use the premade templates. However, if you are willing to get your hands dirty and learn a little HTML, anything is possible. With WordPress .com, you cannot access the HTML, so you are limited to the templates. Sure, you can change the color or the font (you can do those things in Blogger, too), but you can’t do some of the other things that require access to the back end of your site.
Winner: Tie (If you want to learn HTML: Blogger, If you can’t care less: WordPress)
Templates
Both platforms have different templates, and the options vary. If you don’t want to mess with HTML, WordPress definitely has more. Again, if you are interested in writing your own code, then Blogger is where it’s at. WordPress has a huge selection of both free and paid templates, and there are also many third party templates that you can use.
Winner: WordPress
Ease of Use
Even though WordPress has come out ahead in almost every other category, this is where it falls a little flat. Once you learn how to use it, it is not that bad, but I am still finding new and interesting ways to do things. Blogger, however, is much easier to learn to use. You just pick a template, write your first post, which you can access that from just about anywhere within your account. WordPress takes a while longer to learn, but it is not that bad.
Winner: Blogger
Overall, neither platform wins. I love using Blogger, but I think both platforms are worth giving a try to see which one you like more.
Pros of WordPress:
More capabilities, both on the website and within the mobile apps.
More templates, fonts, and colors which allow you to customize your blog.
Used by a large portion of bloggers and website owners in general.
Cons of WordPress:
Takes time to learn how to use it well.
Not as easy to set up.
Not the best in terms of starting a blog for the first time.
Pros of Blogger:
Comes with a Google account.
Quick and easy to set up and start writing.
Can use AdSense with a subdomain.
Cons of Blogger:
Limited in terms of customization and access to different functions on the mobile app.
Not very much active support when you need help.
Your blog looks a lot like other blogs.
I hope this information helps you with your decision between WordPress and Blogger! Next up, scheduling posts! Don’t forget to keep up with me so that you don’t miss the release of my eBook. You will get offline access to all of the posts in my #BlogLife series as well as bonus content that you won’t want to miss!
Thanks for reading!