Blog Talk: Why WordPress is Better than Blogger
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March 2, 2019
The WordPress vs. Blogger debate is one almost every blogger has undoubtedly come across and likely engaged in at some point or another. Bloggers passionately fight for both sides of this age old dilemma (ok, maybe I’m being a bit dramatic…) and while there are good sides of both, I wholeheartedly believe that WordPress is far superior to Blogger. I want to start by saying that I have used both; by WordPress, I mean WordPress.org: the self-hosted version of WordPress; and this comparison is directed at bloggers who take their blog seriously and intend to monetize.
First, I’ll start with basics: WordPress is intuitive, easy to use, and simply looks better. Not much ruins a blog more than that hideous Blogger bar at the top. It’s like a big ad for Blogger that you don’t get paid for. And speaking of the looks, when it comes to design, WordPress designs are leaps and bounds ahead of Blogger designs. This is due to the virtually unlimited boundaries of WordPress & the tight restrictions of Blogger. Which leads me to my next point: control.
WordPress (or the WordPress site’s server, rather) gives the user complete control of all files, processes and HTML of the hosted site. In addition to the CSS style sheet of a WordPress blog, users have access to all PHP, (commonly known as the most powerful coding language), which controls the functionality of the website. This is why WordPress has the freedom that Blogger doesn’t. With Blogger, your site is hosted by Google, so Google is the one that controls all files. In fact, Blogger doesn’t even support PHP. Ever notice how all Blogger sites function basically the same? That’s because users & designers can’t code PHP for Blogger, resulting in 0 variation in the functionality from one blog to the next.
With the freedom of accessing (and uploading!) your own files comes the joy that is plugins. There are millions of them out there, creating virtually endless possibilities for add ons to your WordPress site. From sidebar widgets to pop ups, SEO boosters, and in-post features, there’s a plugin for pretty much everything. Don’t worry, your storage space is much larger with WordPress, so you don’t have to be concerned about limiting your plugins (or photos, posts, etc.). And if you run out, you can always expand via your server.
Finally, WordPress blogs are simply more professional, refined, and have a higher level of credibility, leading to more opportunities for sponsorships (even RewardStyle recommends WordPress over Blogger). Many of the websites you visit on a daily basis are run on WordPress. This includes your favorite stores, community sites like The Glitter Guide, and Beyonce.com. That’s right, Beyonce uses WordPress. Need I say more?
Do you think WordPress is better than Blogger? Or do you prefer Blogger? I’d love to discuss!
Photo by Johnny Cheng.
Want to transfer from Blogger to WordPress? I can help you with that!
September 10, 2014 @ 7:50 am
I’m currently using blogger and have not tried WordPress. However, recently Blogger has been frustrating because it is limited in design options and it is limited on providing picture gallery options etc.
Definitely going to give wordpress a go.
http://www.thestylecheck.com
September 10, 2014 @ 10:27 am
It is a good starting point, but like you said, it eventually becomes less and less appealing and you begin to run into all the limitations. Let me know if you need help with the switch! 🙂
September 10, 2014 @ 8:16 am
As someone who has experience with both Blogger and WordPress, I understand where you’re coming from. However, I want to point out that you can easily get rid of the Blogger bar at the top of your page. It’s just a quick setting fix!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:20 am
That’s true and I have no idea why so many people keep it!!
September 10, 2014 @ 9:13 am
Yes!! SO glad I made the switch!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:20 am
Wise decision!! 🙂
September 10, 2014 @ 9:24 am
Love wordpress – I have a blogger friend who hates it. I just don’t think she gets it… The ability to customize and like you said, the design of even the free templates, are way ahead of blogger. You can always tell who is on what!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:21 am
I can see how Blogger might be good for starting out, but why hassle with the eventual switch? WordPress is the way to go!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:19 am
Before moving my biz over to SquareSpace I’ve always been a WordPress girl and would recommend that anyone starting a blog to start off with it!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:26 am
I don’t know much about SquareSpace, but the design capabilities seem to be there. I think it’s a great website builder, but it doesn’t seem to be ideal for blogs. I’d definitely love to explore it soon though!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:30 am
I’ve been blogging (off and on) for years, but since this blog is the first I’ve really gotten serious about I’ve been considering the switch to WP for a while now. I finally made the leap, and just hired Lisette from High Note Designs to do the switch for me (because God knows I’d screw that up 101 different ways if I did it myself). I’m worried that I’m going to have NO idea what I’m doing, and that the design I’m transferring won’t look right. I’m excited about it though – especially for the fact that I own my content, and for the plugins!
September 10, 2014 @ 10:48 am
Yay for you! I promise, you will be FINE! WordPress is so incredibly easy to use. And if you don’t love your design, I’m happy to create one for you! 😉 Best of luck!! You definitely make the right choice!
September 10, 2014 @ 11:06 am
I’ve been wanting to make the switch for the longest time! I was afraid of how much work it might be, but I think this finally convinced me to go for it!
September 10, 2014 @ 11:21 am
It’s not that difficult if you know what you’re doing! I’ve done it countless times, so it’s super simple & I know how to deal with any snags along the way. Let me know if you need any help! 🙂
September 10, 2014 @ 11:08 am
I’m on Team WordPress, too! I started on a free wordpress.com site, and the transition to being self-hosted on WordPress was nearly seamless. It really gives you’re blog it’s own unique feel, devoid of host logos or bright orange banners. I’m a fan! And my next mission is to learn PHP so I can give myself (and others!) design boosts whenever the mood is right. (:
lovelovelove,
Erica
cominguprosestheblog.com
September 10, 2014 @ 11:25 am
Three cheers for WordPress! I started on WordPress.com too, but the developer who switched me over (before I knew anything about it) really screwed up my permalinks 🙁 If you know what you’re doing, it’s easy, but it’s definitely important to do the research first!
September 10, 2014 @ 1:00 pm
I started doing research on WordPress shortly after my redesign and I’ve decided to switch over in January. I agree that WordPress offers so much more freedom, especially creatively. Thanks for providing such helpful information, it makes the decision that much easier ;]
Morgan Paige
http://www.mygorgeouschaos.com
September 10, 2014 @ 1:11 pm
So glad you agree! It is definitely important to do your research, so I’m glad you’ve done that. Let me know if you need any help in the transition!
September 10, 2014 @ 1:40 pm
I’m a blogger fan but you have made some great points. Very informative!
<3
katsfashionfix.blogspot.com
September 10, 2014 @ 2:42 pm
Glad you found it helpful! 🙂
September 10, 2014 @ 2:16 pm
Personally I use squarespace and I love it!
Emma| With A City Dream
September 10, 2014 @ 2:42 pm
I’m not too familiar with SquareSpace, but your blog looks great!!
September 10, 2014 @ 4:32 pm
I just switched from Blogger to WordPress, and I do prefer it. I didn’t have a giant blogger anything at the top of my blog (not even in the address bar), which was nice. I just was always upset by the layout getting wonky and adding in additional breaks that I didn’t want. The plugins are pretty great too with WordPress.
September 15, 2014 @ 11:40 am
Good choice! Even without the bar, it’s pretty easy to tell that a blog is hosted on Blogger. It’s just kind of…basic I guess. Which is totally fine to start, but like you said, it can get upsetting after a while!
September 10, 2014 @ 9:34 pm
I actually was planning on moving from Blogger to WordPress but regretted my decision and stayed with blogger. I couldn’t find a WordPress theme that I liked (I looked for days!) (and don’t have the budget to custom design one, either), was running into so many technical difficulties while switching over (not all of my posts managed to switch over), and I actually found the layout more difficult to use than blogger. I know that the whole internet is creating posts on how WordPress is better than Blogger, but I guess I’m stubbornly team Blogger haha 🙂 But you did make great points and made me want to think about it a bit more! But for now, I’m sticking with Blogger (especially since I just finished putting together a layout I love)!
I wish I could jump over to the (apparently better) WordPress bus, but I guess I don’t feel rushed at all. 🙂
P.S. You can actually remove the Blogger header from the top of your page 😉 xx
<(') Hoda | JooJoo Azad
September 15, 2014 @ 11:44 am
Yeah, that’s why it’s best to just hire someone to switch it for you. Definitely worth it to have everything be done seamlessly. There are literally millions of themes out there as well – you just have to know where to look! And yeah, I know you can remove the header (not sure why ANYONE would keep it, lol), but you can always still tell when a blog is on Blogger!
September 11, 2014 @ 1:24 am
Food for thought!
XO
Jeanne
http://fashionmusingsdiary.blogspot.fr
September 15, 2014 @ 11:44 am
Thanks!
September 11, 2014 @ 1:56 pm
You’re post was extremely enlightening. I started my new blog about 3 months ago after being tired and confused of all the mess that my previous one had become. You’re right, the debate about whether blogger is better or wordpress is very common and I wanted to switch over to WordPress when I started my new blog but I was just so unaware of how it works and didn’t want to risk my skills in blogger for something that might not be worth it and make feel like I’m learning blogging all over again though if I do make a change again for my blog, I will definitely move over to wordpress even if it makes me feel like I’m learning blogging from the start, what’s life without a little risk? And there’s always loads of learn when it comes to blogging so I gotta do it. Great post Megan! 🙂 xx
September 15, 2014 @ 11:45 am
It is VERY easy to learn, don’t worry! Definitely let me know if you need any help! 🙂
September 11, 2014 @ 3:50 pm
Soo agreed — did so much research before starting our blog and SO glad we are self-hosting on WordPress. Love it!
September 15, 2014 @ 11:46 am
Great choice! I started on WordPress.com and then moved over to .org. I wish I started with self-hosted!
September 11, 2014 @ 4:48 pm
I love WordPress!.. It’s so flexible and user-friendly. Lovely post, Megan 🙂
http://www.nazninazeez.wordpress.com
September 15, 2014 @ 11:46 am
Thanks! I’m so glad you agree! 🙂
September 11, 2014 @ 6:17 pm
I’ve been considering the move lately especially because I’m getting more serious about blogging. However, I’m also trying to build my own self-hosted blog as in no blogger or wordpress. Might consider moving my blog to wordpress in the meantime though.
September 15, 2014 @ 11:47 am
What do you mean? What platform would you use? I definitely recommend self-hosted WordPress! 🙂
September 13, 2014 @ 11:06 am
I used Blogger for about a year before strictly using WordPress. Self-hosting WordPress is definitely better because hello, extensive amount of awesome plugins! I’m only doing free WP at the moment due to financial constraints but by next year I’m hoping to go self-host.
September 15, 2014 @ 11:49 am
Exactly! You also have a lot more freedom to generate income as well! I think it’s great to start creating a community before making the switch and investing a bit. Good luck! 🙂
September 14, 2014 @ 10:43 pm
I started blogging early this year and started out on a self hosted wordpress blog and I am SO glad I did. Yes, it’s an investment in the beginning with the hosting fees and any potential design work or theme but after only a few months of blogging I know it was well worth it. Funny thing is, I can INSTANTLY tell a blogger site from a WP site…even without the blog saying it. They just look different, you know what I mean?
September 15, 2014 @ 11:51 am
It really is SO worth it!! I wish I started on .org, but oh well – lesson learned! You can definitely always tell a Blogger site. They’re usually very basic and generic due to the coding & design limitations. Glad you made the right choice! 🙂
September 19, 2014 @ 7:11 pm
Hi Megan! Great post! I use WP.com at present but have just discovered you can’t advertise on this for extra incomes! What is the deal with the .org version? I’m not very IT savvy so would be worried about having to set up myself? It sounds like you need to do a lot to get this option? X
September 22, 2014 @ 4:19 pm
Thanks! Yep, .org is the option that allows you to advertise. Setting it up isn’t that difficult, but I am pretty experienced. Once you have it set up though, it’s identical to .com! Let me know if you need help 🙂
September 15, 2014 @ 3:53 pm
I am currently in the process of re-branding my entire site to make the move eventually, but I am really concerned about imported everything and redirecting people to the new site. I have used WordPress in the past (journalism/design classes in school) so I understand that side of it, but I am not sure what I need to do to make the switch from one to the other as seamless as possible. All suggestions/tips are welcome!
September 22, 2014 @ 4:20 pm
Redirecting won’t be a problem at all! You can have it set to where people that go to your old URL are automatically directed to the new one. I think as long as you keep the same name, no one will be confused or anything. Let me know if you need help!
September 15, 2014 @ 4:47 pm
Ok, this post makes me want to go kick the crap out of my blogger website that I’m in the middle of having redesigned…Hahaha!!! With over 6 yrs of posts though, I have a feeling it would be a nightmare to transition to at this point. Guess I’ll have to quit with my mindset that “the grass is greener on the other side” when it comes to blogger vs wordpress. LOVE your site btw!!
September 22, 2014 @ 4:23 pm
Haha, oops! It really doesn’t matter how many posts you have – the transfer is the same either way. But you’re right, six years of posts it a lot to deal with! I probably wouldn’t want to switch at that point either! It seems like you’re doing great on Blogger though anyway 🙂
September 19, 2014 @ 2:23 pm
I started my blog using Blogger and I have to say, for a first time blogger, it was a great way to start. I myself have never been extremely tech-savy, and for casual bloggers who are looking for simplicity blogger is a great option. But as I wanted to expand my blog and allow it to grow into a professional website, I knew Blogger just wasn’t cutting it. Was I ready for the transition? I wasn’t quite sure.
I did finally transition into WordPress when I hired Megan to redesign my blog. So far, I love it! I obviously had a lot of questions at first, which Megan answered, and there was this sense of fear and intimidation I felt when I realized I had a lot to learn. But it wasn’t as bad as I had initially anticipated. I played around with it and got to learn what the majority of the settings were. And it only took me about 2 weeks to really learn the new system.
All in all, I am very pleased with my transition to WordPress. I have to thank you, Megan, for convincing me to switch over to WordPress and doing my entire redesign. My website looks so much more professional, runs very smooth, and I feel like there are endless possibilities to what I could do on my blog now. Anyone who is considering to order one of Megan’s blog packages should definitely do it! Especially if you aren’t familiar with WordPress yet. She will help you through it.
September 22, 2014 @ 5:18 pm
Yay!! I couldn’t be more thrilled that you love WordPress and the design! I had such a great time working with you and I absolutely love your blog 🙂 You definitely made the right choice and I’m so glad I could be there for you to make the transition easy. Thanks for being such a fab client!!! xoxo
January 28, 2015 @ 1:22 pm
I used to use WordPress, but for some reason felt inclined to switch to Squarespace…while I still may switch back once my blog gets more serious, I am loving the simplicity of SS for now!
http://www.theclydescope.com