Best provider for a blog?

[eilif]

Just in case anyone else is looking to start a blog.  I did a bit of research before I starting a second blog.  Between Blogger and Wordpress.

Blogger: 
Pro's: Completely free, very easy to use and already integrated with the various google apps. Requires no programing skill and things like security are already handled
Cons: More limited in terms of layout, features, etc.  Google has ultimate control and technical ownership of the blog (if they kill Blogger you loose everything.)  Less opportunity to make your Blog really unique

Wordpress:
Pro's: Wide open flexibility to make your blog unique.  Good community support (It's open source).  You own the blog content.
Cons: It costs money (Server Space, Buying a domain name, security, etc), Making use of the possibilities for WP requires programing ability and/or money.

My blog is basically an open air journal. Not something I need to use to make $, and not something I want to spend money on so I choose Blogger.

[Arteis]

Wordpress has two versions:

Wordpress.com - this is free, dead easy to use, and has tons of options. Basically similar to Blogger, but more features.  I use it for my own blog https://arteis.wordpress.com/

Wordpress.org - this is the more complex and professional one, as you need the hosting etc.  

So when people talk about Wordpress as a singular, the question is which Wordpress they're talking about ...

[eilif]

Wordpress has two versions:

Wordpress.com - this is free, dead easy to use, and has tons of options. Basically similar to Blogger, but more features.  I use it for my own blog https://arteis.wordpress.com/

Wordpress.org - this is the more complex and professional one, as you need the hosting etc.  

So when people talk about Wordpress as a singular, the question is which Wordpress they're talking about ...

Good to know. I was not aware of the .com version.

[zenbadger]

No, I wasn't aware of the wordpress.com site either. I looked into Wordpress when I started thinking about a blog and since I didn't know if it was going to lead to anything worthwhile I plumped for the entirely free Blogger. I also wanted to post bits from my android tablet and the Wordpress.org site didn't work properly for me on my tablet, which may just be a problem with my particular tablet but Blogger worked perfectly so it was an easy decision at the time.

[Into The Eagle`s Nest]

+1 for Wordpress!   

I use Wordpress for many years, had huge traffic and never a problem. Cool templates, many possible modifications, good statistics, nice storage, etc.

[demi_morgana]

I've been using blogger for a while, somehow I found it easier to use than wordpress, but it might be just a matter of taste.

http://demimorgana.blogspot.com/

Besides I also use other google applications so I like to log in only once to check email, write a blog post, update ad words etc.

[ShortscaleDave]

Thanks for all the fantastic feedback everyone, time to start making a decision methinks!

As an additional question the:  Presumably one needs a decent photo storing site to host the photos - which is the best free one these days?  I've got photobucket and flikr accounts from years ago but not used them in a long time.

[demi_morgana]

Photobucket is still doing the trick for me

[Vermis]

I noticed one if those 'magazine books' in Sainsburys a couple of weeks ago - a guide to using Wordpress. Dunno if it was .com or .org! Still, I might go see if it's still there, for my own use.

[Paint Pig]

I have a google blog http://paintpigdave.blogspot.com.au/

and wordpress blog https://figvfig.wordpress.com/

Googles blogger is dead simple to use and you will be on your way pretty quickly wordpress may take you a little while longer and you may have to think about what you want from your blog and how to set it up but you will have a very customizable and beautiful blog (depending on the skins and theme you use)

I started with wordpress because serious bloggers (ie not war games   ) recommended it, it was a sharper learning curve, but I learned exactly what was going on. Blogger gets you up and running quick  but you will soon realize that customization will require you to go back in there.

Both are free, Wordpress.com has large good internal storage space for you blog photo's, I prefer using over Googles Picasso

One last point blogger has a larger instant gaming community at your finger tips with wordpress your going to have to do a bit of work and advertise yourself and follow zemjw's advice and dont forget to let us know!

[Paint Pig]

I noticed one if those 'magazine books' in Sainsburys a couple of weeks ago - a guide to using Wordpress. Dunno if it was .com or .org! Still, I might go see if it's still there, for my own use.

Wordpress provides software for a number of social applications this is "wordpress.org" the commercial side of wordpress

[6milPhil]

I used to use Blogger, which being owned by google becomes easy to find on a google search, but more recently Wordpress which I prefer.