Brought to you by WriteStack* — I am actually using the premium version right now, and I am loving it so far.
Blogging can be a pain in the b*tt…
Platforms, hosting, SEO, design… it’s enough to make you want to just keep your thoughts to yourself.
But luckily, in 2025, there are many tools designed to strip away the complexity and let you focus on writing and publishing.
No maintenance, no technical issues, no complicated setups required.
Those are my favorite tools. And here are my top 3 picks right now.
1. Medium
Is it surprising? Nope.
Medium is my favorite writing platform and has been since 2021.
Why it’s stupid easy: Medium stands for effortless publishing. There’s virtually no setup. You create an account, click “Write a story,” and you’re good to go. No themes to choose, no plugins to install, no servers to maintain. It’s a pure writing experience.
High Reward: The beauty of Medium is its built-in audience. Unlike starting a standalone blog from scratch, Medium already has millions of readers looking for engaging content. Their algorithm helps surface your articles to interested readers, giving your words a much higher chance of being discovered. It doesn’t work all the time, but it’s much more than most other platforms offer. This discovery algorithm can lead to rapid audience growth without you lifting a finger for promotion. Beyond writing.
Chance to Make Good Money: Medium’s Partner Program allows you to monetize your writing based on member engagement. While it’s not a get-rich-quick scheme, consistent quality content can lead to a steady income stream directly from your writing. You focus on writing, Medium handles the rest, including the payment processing.
Still, a no-brainer in 2025. Every online writer should (re-)publish on Medium, in my opinion.
2. Substack
Of course. No surprise here, either.
Why it’s easy to set up and run: Substack is trending like no other place for writers looking to build direct relationships with their readers, and it continues to deliver on ease of use. It’s marketed primarily as a newsletter platform, but for me, it’s a blogging platform first. You write, you publish, post goes live on the web. That’s blogging 101. Setting up your publication is incredibly straightforward as well.
Great for Discovery: Substack’s ecosystem is designed for discovery. Readers can browse publications, subscribe to topics, and follow their favorite writers on Substack Notes. The integrated paid subscription model allows you to directly monetize your content from day one if you wish. You set your price, and Substack handles the billing and delivery.
More: You can easily connect a custom domain to your Substack, giving your publication a professional, branded look. And the “Notes” feature is basically the built-in social media platform writers always wished for. Share shorter updates, engage with other writers, and promote your work within the Substack ecosystem.
Again, a no-brainer to me. Substack is free, and you should make use of it.
3. Quotion*
Here’s the underdog if you want full control and independence but without the technical hassle of something like WordPress or Ghost.
Why it’s truly unique: This is for the Apple Notes enthusiasts out there! Quotion offers a great solution for those who love the simplicity and seamless syncing of Apple Notes but want to publish their thoughts as a blog as well. Instead of a separate blogging platform with its own complex interface, Quotion turns your Apple Notes into a live blog. No CMS needed.
Just Write Notes: You open Apple Notes, write your blog post as a new note, and with a few clicks, it’s live on your Quotion-powered blog. There’s no complicated backend to navigate, no learning a new editor. It leverages a tool you already know and likely use daily.
No Complicated Backend: This is the ultimate “set it and forget it” solution for blogging. Quotion takes care of all the technical heavy lifting, leaving you free to simply write. It’s ideal for those who want a distraction-free writing environment and minimize the administrative overhead of running a blog.
If you’re in the Apple ecosystem and want a simple blogging solution, Quotion* is it!
The Bottom Line
In 2025, getting your blog out there doesn’t have to be a tech challenge. And it shouldn’t take much time.
Ideally, you use multiple platforms. For discovery, audience growth, and control.
Those 3 would be my choices. Yours?
*this is an affiliate or SparkLoop* partner link. I’ll get a commission if you decide to sign up.
I primarily wrote on M, it was so simple to write and publish, but now I'm trying to put in more effort here too.
Do you repurpose your pieces for M, or do you simply repost, Burk?
Is there anyway for Wordpress.org to build a social network or build community? I see them losing a lot right now. Is it the end of the self-hosted blog?