Currently, From social networking services to instant messaging applications to video sharing websites, there are numerous means by which information can be shared online. Although, when it comes to effectively communicating thoughts and ideas over the web, there’s hardly a medium that works better than blogging. This is probably why, these days, anyone and everyone, from individuals to big corporations, has a blog. So, Out of the many blogging platforms available out there, the Verizon owned Tumblr is probably the most unique.
Now, Built around a “short-form” blogging approach, it lets users post text, pictures, and multimedia from an easy to use dashboard. However, as impressive as it is, what if you want something else? It looks like you’re in luck, as we’ve curated this listing of the best Tumblr alternatives from you. So what’s the hold-up? Get reading!
10 Best Tumblr Alternatives You Can Use
Mastodon
Mastodon is a lot of like Twitter in the way it functions with people creating posts on the website, following interesting people, and getting followed by people who find them interesting. However, that’s also a lot like Tumblr, and Mastodon is a Tumblr alternative you can check out. This service is entirely decentralized and open-source and has a pretty enormous user-base already. So, Like Tumblr, you can make posts on Mastodon, and just like Tumblr, other people can like your posts, repost them, and make comments. All the user interface here is not a lot like Tumblr to be fair, but it does have a lot in common as far as features go. Well, There are hotkeys here too, so you can easily create new posts and do a lot more with just the keyboard.
Pros:
- Decentralized
- Large community
- Ad-free, non-algorithmic feed
- Dedicated servers for different types of content
Cons:
- Can be a bit confusing to get started with
Best Suited for:
- People watching for an ad-free social media network
Blogger
The tech giant Google owns it, and Blogger is one of the most accessible blogging platforms out there. And if you are invested in the Google ecosystem, this is one of the best Tumblr alternatives for you. This includes a super simple web-based post editor, and you can have up to 100 blogs per account. So, Blogger also has options for viewing detailed stats, such as monthly page-views, traffic sources, etc. Now, for your blog. Ohh, and there is full integration with Google’s AdSense program as well, for easy monetization. So, Blogger’s terrible UI has finally been updated. This now has a beautiful Material Design language used across the platform, making it one of the gorgeous looking Tumbler alternatives.
Finally, all the regular blog features such as multi-user support (with permissions), posting via Email, and comments are supported. The Blogger isn’t without its downsides, most notable of which is that it doesn’t let you host your blog on a web-server. Thus, if you have your custom domain, you have to use DNS functionality to redirect it to the blog.
Pros:
- It’sGoogle backs it
- It’s Straightforward to set up
- And, AdSense integration for easy monetization
Cons:
- Not scalable
- Limited plugin support
- Restricted customization, with barely any themes
Best Suited for:
- Different looking for occasional blogging
- So, People who don’t want to spend on features like hosting, custom templates
WordPress
It is impossible to talk about blogging platforms without mentioning WordPress. So, WordPress is undoubtedly the most popular Tumblr alternative that you should consider. Now, WordPress comes in two variants, a free and open-source script-based content management system (CMS) that can be installed on a web server, and a freemium blogging platform that helps you get your first blog started in seconds. It is incredibly customizable, thanks to the many themes and functionality enhancing plugins available for it. It has everything you’d expect from a dependable blogging service, including multi-user support, social network integration, SEO, and custom tags/categories. Well, In reality, if you want a fully loaded blogging service, WordPress is an absolute no-brainer.
Pros:
- Strong administration features
- Extremely popular and reliable
- Fully scalable, with robust support
Cons:
- custom plugins, etc.)
- Web-based post editor, not precisely the best
- Gets somewhat complicated (especially if your blog has multiple scripts,
Best Suited for:
- Monetization focused blogs
- Individuals getting started with blogging.
- Corporations wanting tailor-made product/communication blogs
Soup
It’s maybe oddly named, but Soup almost exactly mirrors Tumblr in both user interface and features, thus making a strong case for a robust Tumblr alternative. Well, From texts to quotes, and from images to videos, it lets you post everything, and then some more. This can directly import posts from a large variety of social networks (e.g., Twitter, Reddit, SoundCloud), and lets you automatically publish posts to Facebook too. Plus, you can point your custom domain to your Soup micro-blog quickly. There are lots of Soup groups (based on topics like animals, TV shows, etc.) that users can join and post to create a collaborative stream of posts. Finally, Soup is a simple micro-blogging platform that works. Thus, don’t expect it to match up to heavyweights like WordPress.
Pros:
- Auto-posting via Email
- Relatively high customization options, along with custom CSS editing
- Most similar to Tumblr in features, helpful for migrating Tumblr users
Cons:
- Looks unpolished
- Nothing in the way of monetization support
- No custom plugins, the ad-supported free tier
Best Suited for:
- Young bloggers looking for simple blogging and reposting of content
Typepad
If you are finding for a simple yet powerful Tumblr alternative, look no further than Typepad. Having been about for quite some time, it is used by major names such as MSNBC, ABC, and the BBC to host their blogs. So, Getting started is easy, and there are numerous built-in analytics tools to give you the best idea of stats on your blog(s). Well, What is more, Typepad also promotes blogs on its network, further increasing the chances of garnering traffic. And of course, regular features such as CSS-based theme editing, Google Analytics support, etc. are there. Now, Typepad does offer a free trial, though you’re still required to provide payment details for it.
Pros:
- Map custom domains
- Reliable & established
- Ability to import posts from WordPress
Cons:
- considering free alternatives
- Not as extensible as solutions like WordPress
- Especially Starting plans of $8.95/month a bit on the steep side
Best Suited for:
- Bloggers looking for an established platform
Medium
The ex-chairman and CEO of Twitter found it, and Medium has quickly risen to become one of the most popular blogging platforms in less than four years. It is distinctly unique from the other blogging services. This focuses more on factors such as quality of content, and how published stories connect with the readers, as opposed to statistics like page-views and traffic. The best Medium (pun intended) for people who love to write and appreciate kind words, Medium sports a minimalistic text editor, and has features such as keyboard shortcuts, sharing links, and the ability to set visibility, tags, etc. for the articles. Now, You can even import posts from other services, as well as tickets, follow your favorite authors. There is also support for setting up custom domains.
Pros:
- Curated content, rich in quality
- Private or public posts, scheduling options
- It’s Built-in stats for checking user engagement on posts
Cons:
- It is heavily restricted, with almost no customization.
- Not Google Analytics support
Best Suited for:
- Serious authors finding writing quality content
- Individuals focused on interaction & networking, driven by posts.
DeviantArt
Well, I have correctly picked out DeviantArt for the folks looking for a Tumblr alternative for sharing artwork. Given, the DeviantArt is nowhere near as popular as its famed counterpart, nor does it boast a range of customization tools. Still, when it comes to discovering unique art, it’s a better service. This niche community is excellent for exploring artistic content and also having the much-needed inspiration. So, Another notable feature of this platform is that it’s not just limited to digital art. Suppose you are good at hand-drawn art, it can give enough exposure to your creativity.
Well, What has caught my attention in DeviantArt is a fan-fiction that I have loved to catch up with. Suppose you are fond of creative stuff, it can quickly become one of your baking ingredients. Well, As someone who has always admired literature in its pure form, I have found its poetry collection quite impressive. Thus, From emotional poems to hilarious couplets, it’s got a lot to inspire you.
Pros:
- Interesting fan-fiction
- Great for sharing artwork
- A variety of artworks to explore
Cons:
- Lack of pro tools for blogging
- It is entirely limited to sharing and exploring an artwork.
Best Suited for:
- Designers and artwork creators
Posthaven
You Want a Tumblr alternative that’s going to stick around for good? Then Posthaven might be what you’re looking for. Well, With an upfront asking price of $5/month for a blog account (each having up to 10 blogs), Posthaven, in its own words, is a service that aims to last forever. So, They also have a pledge that states that the service will never be sold or acquired. It is founded by the creators of the now-defunct Posterous and includes features like password-protected blogs, email notifications for blog activity, and posts having documents and audio/video content. This should also be noted that Posthaven is quite young and still under development. Well said, Posthaven is promising, but the fact that it doesn’t even offer a trial account, and you can’t start using it unless the monthly fee is paid, is a downer.
Pros:
- Near guaranteed to keep running
- Minimal, with a balanced set of features
- So, Future goals include permanent post links, even after users stop paying.
Cons:
- Sparse information on the site
- Not trial accounts, nothing about monetization
Best Suited for:
- Users wishing to support an upcoming platform
- People who want a reliable & straightforward service, & don’t mind paying for it
Site123
If you find creating a more personalized website a complicated affair, I would recommend you to check out Site123. So, While Site123 may not be as versatile as Tumblr, it offers all the essential tools to create a pretty good-looking website. Also, that too without having to dive into a steep learning curve. Now, One of my favorite features of this website is a substantial collection of templates that can help fierce competition with Tumblr’s offerings. Being available in a wide variety offers you the needed flexibility to design your website to your heart’s liking. If you want to create a business website, a highly interactive blog, or aphotography site, it has got you fully covered.
So, Not to mention, it also allows you to use your custom domain name for online business. This means you can make the most of this platform to create an online store to give your business a facelift. Plus, with the website builder at the disposal, it will always be a tad easier to provide a different look for your website. That is not all, and you don’t have to shell out a single penny to get started. Finally, if you want a Tumblr alternative for a more simplified website creation experience, Site123 is what you should give a shot.
Pros:
- Pretty easy-to-use
- A handy website builder
- An extensive collection of templates
- Option to utilize a custom domain name for online business
Cons:
- Lack of pro tools
- Not enough customization
Best Suited for:
- People found to create something more than just a blog
Ghost
So, The result of a successful Kickstarter funding campaign, Ghost, is an open-source blogging platform intended to do writing and publishing content simple. Well, The Ghost is based on the Node.js run time environment, which makes it extremely fast and responsive. Now, Just like WordPress, Ghost is also available in two variants, and a web server hosted package (starting at $19/month), or a self-hosted one ($5-10/month). The Ghost is in active development, with features such as third-party apps, post analytics, and developer tools in the pipeline. Suppose you want a fast and responsive Tumblr alternative, do try out the 14 day trial of Ghost.
Pros:
- Fast and responsive, Powerful dashboard
- Collaborative posting, direct code injection
- Real-time automatic formatting & preview as you type
Cons:
- Hosted plans, not precisely the cheapest
- It’s Still under development
Best Suited for:
- Users who don’t like to bother with formatting content too much
- People focused on ease of use and set up.
Bonus: Twitter
Now Twitter is not a full-fledged alternative to Tumblr, and I suggest you take a close look at it for more than one reason. For the starter, the micro-blogging site is loaded with a range of features to let you interact with your followers. So, From conducting a poll to figure out the opinions of a large number of people to communicate with followers via direct message, it’s hard to find a more agile platform than Twitter. Shortly, if you are hunting for a platform that can keep you in sync with the latest happenings and also let you share your views with millions, you’ve got to be already on board with tweeting.
Try Out These Tumblr Alternatives
While Secure is one of the most popular and unique blogging platforms out there, Tumblr isn’t the only one. And, there’s little denying the fact that it’s geared more towards teenagers and casual bloggers. However, if you’re looking forward to having (some of) Tumblr’s features with a bit of customization afforded by advanced blogging platforms, the above alternatives will serve you just fine. Thus, try them out, and talk to us in the comments below.