7 Awesome Alternatives to WordPress as a Blogging Platform

Posted in Freebies 581 days ago • Written by:

WordPress is a very popular blogging platform that runs millions of blogs. But, what if it doesn’t meet your needs? Just because tons of people use it doesn’t mean it will be right for you. Here are 7 solutions to help you find your own advanced blogging solution. These CMS’s (Content Management Systems) will offer you a lot of options and features – but it’s important to weigh pro’s and con’s when choosing the right system. Most of these work in the same manner; you’ll have to download and upload the files to your server (some need a database to work), and then go through an install and configure the system. Later, there should be some kind of extensions you’ll be able to add – such as themes, plugins, modules, sections – and a lot more.

1.TextPattern

Textpattern is a robust CMS. It’s most useful for blogs, although full sites can and have been created with Textpattern as well. It happens to be quite flexible – you can create almost anything with plugins and a custom sections and styling. Personally, I would only recommend this to people who have dealt with PHP and other CMS’s before; although using Textpattern is fairly easy to learn.

Cool Features:

Easy to focus on content
Browser-Based Media Control
Freedom to control all elements
Browser-based template and CSS editing
Light Weight and Secure
The many available plugins give you extra functions and capabilities

2. Habari

Habari is a free blogging system that, although is still new – proves to be a safe, firm, and well-rounded solution for many. Called the ‘future of blogging’, this flexible system is well on its way to being a huge force in the CMS market.

Cool Features:

Multiple Users and Sites with one install
Plugins, Tagging and a WordPress Importer
Static Pages
Supports multiple types of databases (MySQL, SQLite, PostgreSQL)
Supporting Developer Community
Fast and Simple Installation
Full featured dashboard

3. Movable Type

Movable Type is a powerful all-in-one tool that lets you create blogs and entire websites with one platform. Being flexible with themes and plugins, you can really do anything with Movable Type! Movable Type is free, but for those who need a larger amount of support (like a business), Movable Type Pro comes with more features – and is not free.

Cool Features:

Open Source for Developers
Simple to create all kinds of websites
Revision history – you’ll never loose anything!
Dashboard and Custom Fields
All-in-one solution that cam power anybody

4. Tumblr

Tumblr is a micro-blogging platform. Although you can’t host it on your own server, you can customize your Tumblr blog as much as you would like with super cool themes! With an awesome community, Tumblr is the easiest solution for micro-blogging. You’ll also have the ability to use custom domains!

Cool Features:

Don’t have to host on your own server
Free and Easy to Use
Community Interaction
Easy to post with mobile devices (call, text, mobile web, apps)
Powerful Well Designed Themes by Professional Designers
Completely Free!

5. Drupal

Drupal is an open source Content Management System that can create anything to a small blog to a large community website. You can even create discussion websites, corporate pages, personal blogs, directories and even social networking sites – all in a breeze.

Cool Features:

You can contribute to it’s development
Admin side tracking and statistics
Easy Forum and Polls
Built in news aggregator
Easy to personalize and community gives online help

6. ExpressionEngine

ExpressionEngine is a flexible CMS that helps you fulfill your site’s full purpose. There are modules, plugins and extension hooks to help you customize your website to the upmost extent.

Cool Features:

Flexible – can power organizations and companies
Will adapt to your needs
Easy to add more features
Analytical tracking
Built in spam prevention
Totally secure and manageable

7. FlatPress

Last, but not least – FlatPress is an open source blogging system that does not need a database to work. This means that those without access to MySQL databases finally have a blogging system to fit their needs!With FlatPress, there are widgets and plugins to make your site as unique as you want it to be.

Cool Features:

Open Source
Does not require a database to function
Looks like WP
Plugins and widgets
Theme Support
Static Page support

Now that you have seen some of the great options available, what will be your pick? Are you going to stick with WordPress? Are you going to try any of the solutions here? Let us know below!

For Further Reading:

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Becoming a Blogger

How the Landscape of Affiliate Marketing Has Changed and What to Do About It

Is the Blogging Industry In a Downturn?

How to use Google Analytics to Drive more Traffic to Your Website

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Article was created by Nicole Dominguez

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Visit Nicole Dominguez's Website | Follow Nicole Dominguez On Twitter

Nicole Dominguez is a self-taught teenage web designer, that founded SoDevious.Net, a resource for teenage bloggers and designers like herself. Check out her portfolio or follow her on Twitter, @sodevious.

46 Brilliant Comments - Join Discussion Now!

Hamm
Posted 37 days ago
46

Thanks For This Wonderfull Post . Will Start Work With Drupal Now Lets See What`s The Review Of It

Reply
Malik Merchant
Posted 103 days ago
45

I quite disagree with few things here…

1) WordPress is not just a Blogging Platform, it has evolved as a complete CMS
2) You can add any custom functionality in WordPress & modify it the way you want
3) If a particular functionality is not there in WordPress as Plug-in I have seen over & over again that it no where else in any of the above platform.

WordPress is far better than any other option you have listed above.

Thanks

Reply
Hemen | seozz
Posted 126 days ago
44

I think blogger is also a good alternative to wordpress. Don’t you think so. Nice post anyway.

Reply
Resim Blog
Posted 129 days ago
43

Interesting idea, my script is dead. I want to change it.

Reply
A Blogger
Posted 153 days ago
42

You’ve left out Weebly. Out of all the wordpress alternatives I’ve tried it is the best.

Reply
yoyo
Posted 178 days ago
41

great list!! i just new player here.. thanks for the info i think wordpress still the easiest of all

Reply
Steve Reed
Posted 198 days ago
40

Check out Zazar at http://www.zazar.net This is a great new platform that is SO simple to use. Not my site, but I saw the press release on PRWeb and am going to sign up. Just another one to add to the list

Cheers

Reply
James
Posted 220 days ago
39

I’ve been looking for a good alternative to WordPress for awhile now and found Zazavi recently. It’s incredible: http://www.zazavi.com

Reply
Nejisan
Posted 264 days ago
38

Hi buddies! I am with blogger, for more customization and widgets! Can edit your own and import layout, great toll and value for free! Bye!

Reply
Dodge Trucks
Posted 409 days ago
37

Part of this decision is based on your specific comfort level. Of what I have found, Blogger and WordPress seem to be the best, but there are many different choices out there.
You really need to look at the different features each one brings and your level of tech expertise can also weigh in here.
http://www.usavehiclehub.com/

Reply
andrewlloyd
Posted 428 days ago
36

Hi there! Newbie here… Nice site!

Developers are welcome to download and try out my new survey wordpress plugin. Simply visit

http://www.brandography.com/contact-us and in the “comment” box write “Free Plugin”.
Your honest feedback is appreciated. Thank you.

Reply
Jacob
Posted 455 days ago
35

WordPress and WordPress only is all i say

Reply
Samwest314
Posted 460 days ago
34

Joomla – ugh! It’s a total nightmare and doesn’t belong on the list.

Reply
Lauren
Posted 470 days ago
33

Nice list of blogs, haven’t heard of habari but I will have to check that out.

There is the sgblog at simplegram.com I use it and it is really easy to use.

Reply
ArdianZzZ
Posted 514 days ago
32

Yeah, WordPress is good but Textpattern rocks!

Reply
Phillip
Posted 519 days ago
31

I have been working with php for about 2 years now and just started working with WordPress with the goal to start building my own themes. However, after looking at the code in the core files, I’m shocked that the thing works as well as it does. Don’t get me wrong. I like the functionality and extensibility of WordPress, but the underlying code, frankly it’s a mess.

Reply
Asshu
Posted 532 days ago
30

Gelato CMS is an opensource clone script for tumblr .It could be useful to the bloggers who expects tumblr as self hosted .

Reply
me
Posted 569 days ago
29

Still nothing worth a damn for asp.net for blogging. It is unbelievable that microsoft keeps churning out crap no one needs like mvc and silverlight but they said the hell with making a decent blog platform.

Reply
Dean Saliba
Posted 572 days ago
28

Nice to see you pointing out other platforms but to me WordPress is the king. :)

Reply
mike mai
Posted 576 days ago
27

no love for posterous? come on. I use both tumblr and posterous and link them together. nothing beats posterous when u want to post anytime anywhere.

Reply
Todd
Posted 576 days ago
26

Joomla is awful, it is a usability nightmare, especially on the admin end. I advise clients to stay as far away from that masterpiece of doom as possible. It is a nice list, I’d take a look at Radiant CMS http://radiantcms.org or choose from WordPress, Textpattern or Drupal those are the ones I develop with, based on what the client wants and how idiot-proof it has to be.

Joomla, should get it’s act together and make things usable, accessible and the admin area a lot less of a clusterf*ck.

Reply