What is Blogger? Difference Between Blogger and Blogspot
If you've ever thought about starting a blog, chances are
you've come across the terms Blogger and Blogspot.
While they are often used interchangeably, they are actually two different
components of the same platform. In this detailed guide, we will explore what
Blogger is, how it works, and clearly define the difference between
Blogger and Blogspot. Whether you are a beginner or someone looking to enhance
your blogging knowledge, this article will clear all your doubts.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
to Blogger
- History
and Background
- What
is Blogspot?
- Difference
Between Blogger and Blogspot
- Key
Features of Blogger
- Benefits
of Using Blogger
- Limitations
of Blogger
- Blogger
vs Other Blogging Platforms
- SEO
and Monetization on Blogger
- Final
Verdict
1. Introduction to Blogger
Blogger is a free, user-friendly platform that
allows anyone to create and publish blogs on the internet. It was launched in
1999 by a company called Pyra Labs and was later acquired by Google in
2003. Since then, it has been integrated with Google services like Gmail,
Google Drive, and AdSense.
With Blogger, you don’t need to be a tech expert or a
professional web developer. You can create your blog in minutes with easy
customization options, themes, gadgets, and templates.
2. History and Background
When Blogger was launched in the late 1990s, it was one of
the first platforms to introduce "push-button publishing"—making
blogging easy for non-technical users. Google saw the potential and bought
Blogger in 2003, making blogging accessible to millions of users globally.
Blogspot, on the other hand, was the domain
service used by Blogger blogs. Together, they formed a complete publishing
tool for content creators.
3. What is Blogspot?
Blogspot.com is a free domain service owned
by Google. When you create a blog using Blogger, it is hosted on Blogspot’s
domain by default. For example, if you name your blog MyCookingWorld,
your blog’s URL would be:
mycookingworld.blogspot.com.
You can, however, customize your blog with a custom domain
name like www.mycookingworld.com, but by default, all Blogger blogs are
hosted on Blogspot's subdomain.
4. Difference Between Blogger and Blogspot
Although they are part of the same blogging system, they
serve different purposes.
Feature |
Blogger |
Blogspot |
Role |
Content Management System (CMS) |
Domain Hosting Platform |
Owned By |
Google |
Google |
Purpose |
Lets you write, edit, and manage blog posts |
Provides a domain for blogs |
Access |
Accessed via www.blogger.com |
Used as subdomain like xyz.blogspot.com |
Functionality |
Controls backend and frontend of blog |
Provides the blog’s URL |
In simple terms:
- Blogger is
the tool you use to create and manage your blog.
- Blogspot is
the default domain name provider for blogs created with Blogger.
5. Key Features of Blogger
- Free
Hosting & Domain
- You
get a free .blogspot.com domain with unlimited Google hosting.
- User-Friendly
Dashboard
- The
Blogger dashboard is clean and simple with tools for posting, stats,
layout, earnings, and more.
- Themes
and Customization
- Offers
modern, responsive themes with drag-and-drop widgets for easy
customization.
- Integration
with Google Services
- Seamless
connection with AdSense, Search Console, Analytics, Gmail, and Google
Drive.
- Mobile
Responsiveness
- Blogs
built with Blogger are mobile-friendly and can be edited from mobile
devices.
- Monetization
- Supports
AdSense and affiliate marketing for bloggers to earn money.
- Unlimited
Posts and Pages
- No
limit on how many blog posts or pages you can publish.
6. Benefits of Using Blogger
- Cost-effective: 100%
free to use with free hosting and domain.
- Google
Reliability: Secure, fast, and backed by Google’s servers.
- Beginner-Friendly: Perfect
for users with no technical knowledge.
- Custom
Domain Support: You can connect your own domain easily.
- Built-in
SEO Features: Meta tags, search descriptions, and robots.txt
support.
- Easy
Integration with Google Ads: Monetize your blog from day one.
7. Limitations of Blogger
- Limited
Templates: Compared to WordPress, the theme variety is limited.
- Fewer
Plugins: No plugin support like WordPress for extending
functionality.
- Less
Control: You don’t own the platform; Google can suspend blogs for
policy violations.
- Old
Interface: Although functional, the dashboard and editor haven’t
had a major update recently.
- Not
Ideal for Complex Websites: Suitable only for basic to
moderate-level blogging.
8. Blogger vs Other Blogging Platforms
Feature |
Blogger |
WordPress.org |
Wix |
Medium |
Cost |
Free |
Paid (Hosting) |
Paid |
Free/Paid |
Custom Domain |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
SEO Control |
Basic |
Advanced |
Moderate |
Limited |
Monetization |
Yes (AdSense) |
Yes (Full) |
Limited |
Partner Program |
Learning Curve |
Easy |
Medium |
Medium |
Easy |
Plugin Support |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Blogger is best for beginners, personal blogs,
or hobbyists who want a low-maintenance platform with Google’s trust. However,
if you want advanced customization and growth, WordPress.org is a
better option.
9. SEO and Monetization on Blogger
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) plays a key
role in getting traffic to your blog. Blogger offers:
- Custom
Meta Descriptions for posts and pages
- Image
Alt Text support
- Custom
Permalinks for clean URLs
- Robots.txt
File Editor
- Google
Search Console integration
For monetization, Blogger supports:
- Google
AdSense: Display ads and earn per click or impression
- Affiliate
Marketing: Promote third-party products and earn commission
- Sponsored
Posts: Collaborate with brands
- Selling
Digital Products: E-books, courses, etc.
With consistency, good content, and SEO, you can build a
profitable blog on Blogger.
10. Final Verdict: Should You Use Blogger?
If you are just starting your blogging journey and want
a free, reliable, and simple platform, Blogger is
a great choice. It’s ideal for:
- Beginners
- Hobby
Bloggers
- Writers
& Journalists
- Educators
- Students
But if you’re planning a long-term professional blog
or online business, you might eventually want to move to a self-hosted
WordPress blog for more features and control.