7 Awesome Alternatives to WordPress as a Blogging Platform

 Posted in Freebies 685 days ago • Written by: Nicole Dominguez
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blogging platforms freebiesWordPress 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.

preview awesome alternatives wordpress blogging platform freebies

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!

 Did you enjoy this article and found it useful?

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.
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 50 Brilliant Comments - Join Discussion Now!

  • Mario

    Posted 680 days ago
    25

    Nice, but i think Joomla is one of the most flexible, robust and secure platform out there. Plus, it has a great support, and an incredible amount of plugins and extensions, imho. Cheers!

  • Sajid Holy

    Posted 681 days ago
    24

    We were into Joomla till date. CMS are an inseperable part of portals now a days. Without it, its much difficult to manage things smoothly. We will surely concentrate of Habari.

  • Jared Detroit

    Posted 683 days ago
    23

    I’ve heard of most of these before but I really don’t think I can leave WordPress, although it’s not great for everything. I think for the most part it’s good to focus on a couple of technologies so you can get to know them really well. Can’t really go wrong with knowing PHP and picking up some specifics of other platforms though.

  • Powen

    Posted 683 days ago
    22

    Might also want to take a look at Jimdo — we have a pretty nifty blog module in the website creator. It’s super easy to use.

  • Hannes

    Posted 683 days ago
    21

    I think there is a need to differentiate between a blogging system (textpattern, wordpress, Movable Type), CMS with (of course) the possibility to act as an Blog and Blogging Providers (wordpress.org, tumblr, blogspot).

  • leonid

    Posted 683 days ago
    20

    very usefull post!!!
    thanks!!

  • Martin

    Posted 684 days ago
    19

    http://www.posterous.com …Of course!!

  • Stacie

    Posted 684 days ago
    18

    I’m working on a WordPress website now for a friends business, it’s been good n’ challenging! I would have gone for EE, I’ve seen some amazing sites done with it, but the cost is too much for me! Thx for the list! :)

  • ncus

    Posted 684 days ago
    17

    I use Textpattern, it’s very scalable and flexible CMS. It’s not a blogging platform, it’s a CMS.

    Right now I love Tumblr with it’s simplicity :-)

    But, nothing beats WordPress for its plugins.

  • mark

    Posted 684 days ago
    16

    which do you think is easier to create templates? I hate making layouts for wordpress, you have to chop your html in like 10 files (I know you can do it in just 1 page – i did already – but it’s still confusing as documentation is not that good)

  • xphunt3r

    Posted 684 days ago
    15

    Nice article… But i prefer wordpress

  • jonny

    Posted 684 days ago
    14

    http://cargocollective.com/
    you need to apply and it seems to be geared towards creative projects

  • JoomlaWorks

    Posted 684 days ago
    13

    What tha? Where is Joomla! folks?

    http://www.joomla.org

    Using tools like SuperBlogger, K2 or other blogging extensions you can achieve a lot more flexibility than the above mentioned systems offer and in an easier to implement way of course…

  • CoryMathews

    Posted 684 days ago
    12

    Might want to checkout Orchard. http://www.orchardproject.net/

    Its a .net project with a very similar feel to wordpress. Still pretty young however.

  • Anna Z

    Posted 684 days ago
    11

    I love wordpress. Nothing compares. But I also use Tumblr.

  • Laura Moser

    Posted 684 days ago
    10

    I noticed Joomla wasn’t in the list…why is that?

  • Saffron

    Posted 684 days ago
    9

    Yeah! I’m with Petar on this one too — Joomla should be on this list. It’s Open Source, it has thousands of Extensions (the majority of them using either GNU or CC licensing) that expand the usability and make it possible to run great, dynamic content. Right now the only thing WP has on it is nesting Categories, but v1.6 is currently in Beta and should fix that.

  • Joe

    Posted 684 days ago
    8

    I’m sticking with WordPress.

  • Tamixes

    Posted 684 days ago
    7

    Thanks for the roundup!
    http://www.onsugar.com is also a great blogging platform – customizable and easy to use.

  • Ian Vehrmt

    Posted 684 days ago
    6

    FlatPress seems very interesting; I’ll give it a whirl.

  • DailyCreative

    Posted 684 days ago
    5

    I think, WP + right plugins are the best platform :)

  • Vinicius Camara

    Posted 684 days ago
    4

    Congratulations!!!

  • Petar

    Posted 684 days ago
    3

    And Joomla is an open source Content Management System :)

  • Alton

    Posted 684 days ago
    2

    What a helpful survey! I like your objectivity and point-by-point descriptions. Thanks for posting this.

  • Ivan

    Posted 685 days ago
    1

    Nice! thanks for share this… humm maybe i give a try to Tumblr, looks perfect for blogging “On The Go” thanks!

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