Blogging Software Comparison

Wordpress.com (Free, Hosted by Wordpress):

Wordpress.com is a free blogging software that provides a limited amount of customization by way of free templates you can download for your blog. It is very easy to learn and provides automatic features such as a spam blocking plug-in (Akismet), automatic pinging and more. On the negative side, Wordpress.com does not allow ads of any kind on blogs, so monetizing your free Wordpress blog through advertising is not an option.

Wordpress.org (Paid, Third-Party Host Required):

Wordpress.org offers free blogging software, but users have to pay to host their blogs through a third-party website host such as GatorHost or 1and1. For bloggers with some technical skills who need advanced customization, Wordpress.org is a great choice. The software, itself, is the same as Wordpress.com, but the customization options make it very popular among power bloggers, business bloggers and more.
Follow the link to read a complete overview of Wordpress from About Web Logs.

Blogger:

Blogger equals easy. Many novice bloggers choose to start their first blogs with Blogger because it's free, very easy to use, and it allows ads to help monetize blogs. The downside of Blogger is it's prone to outages, so you may not always be able to access your blog when you want to.

TypePad:

TypePad is very easy to use, but it's not free. Even though it doesn't require a third-party host, it does have a cost associated with it. With that said, TypePad does provide great features and a high level of customization without the technical knowledge of some other customizable blogging software options.

Moveable Type:

Moveable Type is a great blogging software, but it requires users to obtain pricey licenses. The installation process is cumbersome and the features are not as rich as other blogging software programs provide. Many people like Moveable Type because it supports multiple blogs without having to install the software again and again.

LiveJournal:

LiveJournal requires users to pay a monthly fee, and it provides a limited amount of features and customization.

Suggestions from About Web Logs:

For bloggers who are looking for a free blogging software that allows monetization, you may want to try Blogger. If monetization is not important to you, then Wordpress.com might be a better choice.
For bloggers who want full customization and advanced feature capability (and aren't afraid of technical challenges and out-of-pocket expenses), Wordpress.org and TypePad are excellent choices.

More Information to Help You Choose a Blogging Software:

Bottom-line, decide what your goals are for your blog upfront to help you choose the best blogging software for you from the start. Take a look at these six questions bloggers should ask themselves when choosing a blogging software to help you decide which blogging software is right for you.