Running a full-fledged blog requires the proper implementation of many factors that are very crucial for your blog’s effective running. Based on how serious your blogging attempt is, you should determine the features that you want out of your blogging platform. In this article we will help you decide what platform to build your site on. So, let the battle WordPress vs Tumblr begin.
A professional blogger needs an entirely different set of features on their blogging platform than a casual blogger. Hence, comparing all your possible choices of the blogging platform based on the features they offer is a must.
WordPress and Tumblr are two very popular platforms that have been used by bloggers from around the globe to take their content to the online world. Both platforms have their own set of features to provide and hook their users. FYI, WordPress currently powers over 33 percent of the websites/blogs on the internet while for Tumblr, over 171.5 billion Tumblr posts have been generated on the social network, as of April 2019 and hosts over 400 million blogs.
While WordPress is a highly popular and widely used Content Management System and website building service, Tumblr, now acquired by Automattic is a popular microblogging platform that is about clickable, shareable and short-form content. It is popular among teens and young adults, usually those within the 18-29 age bracket. However, both these platforms have their loyal user base and they offer unique designs and layout for your respective blogs.
So, if you are torn between the choice of choosing them as your permanent blog platform, here’s a little help. In this blog post, we are comparing the platforms of WordPress and Tumblr to help you easily decide between the two.
Ease of Use
- WordPress
- Tumblr
- Verdict
Features
- WordPress
As a blogging platform as well as a CMS, WordPress has just so much to offer to its users. It lets you run your own commercial blog, sell your merchandise and other business offerings with its eCommerce integration, create a forum, etc., while offering great security measures in place. With WordPress, you are so much in control of your blogging resources/website and get maximum work done easily.
- Tumblr
Tumblr offers simpler features such as following other blogs, reblogging, built-in sharing tools, and more. As a microblogging tool, Tumblr makes it easy to quickly blog videos, GIFs, images, and audio formats. However, it is true that Tumblr comes with a limited set of features that you cannot extend in a scenario when your blog begins to grow at a faster pace.
- Verdict
Again, in terms of the features to offer, WordPress clearly has an upper hand and it is definitely superior.
Customization
- WordPress
A unique blog helps you stand out if the crowd. Since there is so much competition out there in the blogging world, only a highly customized blog can offer you that extra edge. You can easily accomplish this by going ahead with WordPress. The blogging platform of WordPress offers you so many great themes and plugins that help you create your unique blog just the way you like it. You can even use code to build your blog from scratch or just customize blogging tailored themes as per your preference.
- Tumblr
Customization with Tumblr is possible but limited and not as extensive as WordPress. It only lets you change profile and background photos, manage colors, descriptions or even use additional themes that will transform the look of your Tumblr blog. There isn’t much to do with Tumblr when it is about powerful customization.
- Verdict
If you are looking for powerful customization features, you should choose WordPress as your platform.
Dashboard
- WordPress
A great dashboard makes sure that you are able to easily manage your blogging website. The WordPress dashboard is clean and minimal and lets you see what you can do with your WordPress blog. It is easily accessible through a simple login and most of the settings & options are easy to understand. However, as you go ahead and install additional themes and plugins to your WordPress blog installation, the dashboard begins to get cluttered and complex.
- Tumblr
Running a basic blog with Tumblr is a blessing, thanks to the super-simple dashboard offered by the platform. Tumblr lets you get the work done in just a few clicks, right from creating a free account to writing your first post and posting it for your audience to see.
- Verdict
The WordPress dashboard is a powerful yet complex one. For average blog users, the Tumblr dashboard is a thing of pure joy without any complex interface.
Pricing
- WordPress
Getting started with a blog on WordPress is absolutely free and easy. Adding a custom domain is at your cost. However, as your blogging website grows and you might want to add custom changes to it in the form of paid plugins and themes, you will incur some charges. While that is completely your call, you can still pull up the best blog out there by investing very little money in the platform of WordPress.
- Tumblr
This platform is free to get started with. However, adding a custom domain name and then any premium themes will mean that you will have to shell out some money.
- Verdict
If you want an absolutely free blog, go ahead with the choice of Tumblr.
Final Piece
The clear distinction available by the end of this comparison between WordPress and Tumblr blog says it all. If you are someone who is looking for a powerful blog that is customizable as per the growth of your blog, WordPress should be your go-to option. However, if you want to run a basic blog that entails no or minimum costing, Tumblr is your place to be.