Who should read this? – Bloggers who are looking for free blogging tools (typepad etc. paid tools excluded)
Over the past few months, I have been struggling to get my *almost perfect* blogging tool and looks like I have found one:
Before we go ahead and start comparing, let’s define the evaluation parameters::
1. Free
2. Easy to customize (if not fully, atleast give me a control over the UI)
3. Ability to tag blogs
4.Great choice of templates (varying from funky to professional),
5. Ability to add Adsense/Chitika/advertising code.
6. Post Editor Quality
And Here are my observations:
1. Free - I am comparing only the free tools and for this discussion purpose, I will take only Blogger and WordPress (Others like Rediff/myspace etc. aren’t worth talking about!). I am even excluding LiveJournal for it’s not-so-great UI and lack of features.
2. Easy to customize:
Well, this is one of the most important parameter about blog templates!.
While Blogger gives you a blank canvas, its very difficult to edit/understand the css template and configure it according to one’s desire!
At the same time, WordPress gives a lot more better template option and on top of that, wonderful featueres like -sidebar widgets. WordPress doesn’t give you the ability to define your own template, but the best part is that you can define your UI placeholders and configure the template to suit your needs (almost!!). That too very comfortably.
I would rate Blogger 2/5 and WordPress 5/5.
3. Ability to tag blogs
I really need this feature – since I (and am sure most of other bloggers) don’t blog on a particular subject alone.
I blog about different subjects and hence I need different tags for my blogs on these different subjects.
Blogger: 3/5 | WordPress: 5/5
4. Choice/Range of templates
Well, one of my most favourite and a major reason to move to WordPress is the template that I am currently using. Very Professional, sleek and sexy!!
Both Blogger and WordPress have limited no. of templates, but I would still rank WordPress a little higher, since there is a lot more that one can do with the templates (add sidebar, define multiple pages/tabs,connect to del.icio.us/flickr etc!!)
Blogger:3/5 | WordPress:3.5/5
5. Ability to add Adsense/Chitika/advertising code
Well, this is one area that WordPress needs to really work on!!
While Blogger supports advertising code, wordpress doesn’t! Not at all.
If you are really serious about making money out of blogging, go for Blogger or maybe wait and watch for WordPress to come up with this feature.
Blogger: 4/5 | WordPress: 0/5
6. Post Editor
Blogger editor sucks big time. Change your blog’s fonts and you will repent forever.
Wordpress, so far hasn’t *misbehaved* with me.
So, I would rate Blogger: 2/5 and WordPress: 4/5
Well, these are a few paramaters that I think are really important to decide on one’s blogging tool. Pleaes let me know (add a comment), if I have missed out on significant parameters.
Read the next part of series here…
Related: Check out Blogsome – combines beauty of WP themes with ability to customize files
tagged: Blogger wordpress
Well that’s a nice comparison Ashish but I think that you are not correct in your assumptions that WordPress doesn’t allow Adsense on it’s platform. When I read your remarks about Adsense on wordpress I thought that it must be a very old post of yours. But u wrote it on 18th June 2006 !
For kind information to all : WordPress allows Adsense, chitika and u just name it…. As long as the code is in the form of a script, WordPress can run it. After all it (wordpress) is just a collection of php codes, built together to create an easy CMS environment for end users. Now it’s for the users, how they can hack the code in the backend.
Here are some examples of websites using Adsense in wordpress
http://www.lifehack.org (having a page rank 7)
http://www.sabahan.com
and my own : http://www.meditationiseasy.com/tips_articles/ (coming soon)
well the list is endless.
Apart from the Adsense, the most important attraction of WordPress is it’s army of excellent plugins which increase it’s functionality to a great level.
Just look at this post mentioning some of the most useful plugins of WordPress
http://www.sabahan.com/2006/03/08/10-most-useful-wordpress-plugins-according-to-sabahancom/
The only thing I can say about WordPress : it rocks !!
I hope the above helps a bit
Regards
Shekhar
Interesting how opinions change so quickly from person to person. I for one am all about the free tools!!
Came thru’ Flickr forum.
I want to add a couple of points – wordpress.com doesn’t allow any sort of javascripts.
I believe what eklavya is talking about is wordpress.org.
Also, I completely agree with you on the blogging tools. WordPress is damn cool, but at the same time Blogger provides pretty cool canvas.
Infact, I have shifted from WP to Blogger after they announced free domain fwd
Pingback: Blogging Tool Comparison Continued.. |Indian startups, India Business and Digital India