33 Publishing Platforms

About Me
Quickly create an attractive profile page. A digital card/personal description site that is highly searchable and smartly designed. Sort of a social media business card. Free. Video introduction here.

Adobe Portfolio
Although it requires a Creative Cloud subscription to be used, it’s an add-on that is a powerful option: simple and straightforward set-up, slick interface. However, not as many customization and layout options as some of the other site builders. Ideal if you are already in the CC.

Authory
Automatically backs up a journalist’s articles regardless as to which site they’re published on. Lets readers “subscribe” to journalists, so that they can receive email notifications when one of them publishes something new. Two week free trial. After that the service is $7 a month or $70 a year.

BlueHost
This WordPress website builder has over 300 templates. Drag and drop editing, Paid accounts start at $2.95 a month with a 30 days money back guarantee.

Blogger
Free blog platform with gentle learning curve for beginners Run by Google, so it integrates with Google products well. Lacks many plugins to improve functionality. Limited design options. Google hasn’t done much updating to it over the years.

Cargo
A variety of unconventional, eye-catching templates, A variety of fonts and some animation tools. Build a site without paying until you publish. $8.25 a month.

Clippings Me
Showcase your work as a journalist, blogger or writer.  Add online and print clippings, link to your social media sites, and customize your portfolio. Free. Demo.

Contently
Tools for creating and showcasing storytelling content of writers. Connects publishers (both news organizations and PR folks at businesses with journalists, then takes a 15% transition fee. Designed to help freelancers find work. Takes care of the paperwork aspect (invoicing and payments) for businesses hiring freelancers. Free.

Duda
Customizable website builder with nice analytics, multilanguage support and e-commerce. A little more expensive than the more well-known options but offers more flexibility.

Elementor*
This popular WordPress plugin offers many templates and widgets for free. See how it looks as you go. Though it doesn’t require coding skills, it could be a little confusing for beginners. Does have a drop and drag setup. Paid accounts starting at $49 a year.

Ghost (formerly Roon)
Open source, free blogging platform. Simple to use, custom domains. Focused on making beautiful content rather than options like plug-ins and SEO tools.

HostGator
A website hosting services that offers limited website building choices. No free option. However, the plans start as low as $4.99 a month.

IM Creator
For advanced website creators though you don’t need to know any code to get started. Wide choice of templates but detailed editing options. Includes commerce and domain name support. $8 a month.

Joomla
Lots of possible complexity.  Deep level navigation, sections in sections, categories etc.

Krop
Both a job site and a portfolio builder. Layouts are straightforward and easy-to-use. Free trial. $8.25 a month.

Live Blog
Live Blog is a liveblogging platform for journalists for posting from a phone or tablet.

LiveJournal
Blogging platform owned by Russians (where the servers are located). Lost subscribers after banning political posts and other topics. Ads are shown except for paid accounts.

Medium
Created by Twitter co-founders to support good writing. Clean design and easy-to-use interface. For those who want to write but don’t want to maintain a blog or website.

Postach.io
Publishing platform limited to Evernote (popular note-taking platform). Custom domains, but limited themes. Pulls your thoughts from Evernote into the blog.  Free for basic service, $4.99 a month for advanced options.

Posthaven
Custom domains, tagging. Weak on themes.$5 a month.

Pressfolios*
Especially designed for highlighting the kinds of things a journalist would want to highlight in order to show what they've done. The links to past content are prominent. There’s also an area for listing skills and a detailed biography. Instead of just linking to your stories (which can be taken down) Pressfolios creates a backup version. Lacks social media integration. Free but $12 each month for a pro version. Samples: One: The Atlantic, GQ freelancer, Two: NY Times freelancer, Three: Rolling Stone contributor

Silvrback
Blogging platform. Establish your own brand with a custom domain. Nice archive and bio pages. $29.99 a year special. 14 day free trial.

Sitey
A do-it-yourself publishing platform, sames as WebsiteBuilder.com, SiteBuilder.com and Sitelio.com. Some reviewers, such as this one,  say there are many consumer complaints related to billing.

SquareSpace
Inexpensive and easy way to build a website or blog. WordPress has more flexible design and functionality (no plugins with Square Space), but not everyone will want so many extras. More focused on content than coding. Nice templates and tools for businesses. 14-day free trial. $8--$24 a month includes hosting.

Svbtle
Writing platform. Minimalist interface. Encourages reader response. Must apply for membership.

Tumblr
This social platform allows users to see posts from all of the blogs they follow in a single stream. Sort of Twitter, but with full text and more images. You can populate your stream with content by others simply by clicking the "like" and "reblog" buttons. Easy to use. Limited customization. Best for photography, art. Free.

Web.com
Easy to use interface to build websites using templates and stock photography. However, it doesn’t let you switch templates and there is no free option but the paid versions are inexpensive.

Webflow
Aimed at website designers but does not require coding skills. More flexibility than SquareSpace, Wix, etc. and more intuitive than WordPress. Offers hosting options. A free account is available with more options starting at $12 a month.

Weebly
Simple website creation. Possibly the most easy-to-use with a useful drop and drag function. Limited customization. Free (with footer ad) but more options with paid subscription from $8-$38 monthly.

Wix*
Drag and drop website builder using visually impressive layouts. Active customer support but hard to move away. Student example here. Free but a paid account is needed to unlock some features you would expect to be free. Paid accounts start at $8.50 a month.

WordPress.com*
WP-dot-com is free and easy to use. The dot-org version is not.  WP-dot-com includes hosting and a domain name (yourdomain.wordpress.com) but your own domain name is only $15 more.  Basic customization available (themes, colors, layout and fonts).  Limited monetization and plugin options.

WordPress.org*
The most often used software for publishing on line.  Pick your own domain name, host wherever you like, and add plugins as you like. Steeper learning curve that WP-dot-com.

WPbeginner
A free WordPress resource site for beginners. Tutorials for non-techy users including reviews of plugins.