Blogging Software Options

The Weblogs Compendium probably has the most complete list of blogging solutions and tools. Blogging solutions fall into 2 categories:

• Hosted (with/without mapping to your own domain)
• Download to run on a web server
  
• see WordPress' instructions to see what this entails
  

Google

1. Blogger - free and hosted (w/ option to FTP to your own domain); can set up and blog within minutes, and administrator can do quite a bit with limited experience. Lots of "under-the-hood" potential with third-party widgets and templates.
   

WordPress

1. WordPress - free and download to run on your server; considered by many to be superior to Movable Type; administrator will need more experience and time to get this up and running.
2. WordPress.com - free and hosted version of WordPress, with many of its features; can add and move the sidebar widgets and edit CSS to change the style after selecting one of the 50+ templates; setup time/experience similar to Blogger.
3. UCSD WordPress (Multi-User) - UCSD's new blogging software; based on regular WordPress but designed for large-scale deployment; individual accounts based on UCSD network username and Active Directory password; easy to use, but very limited number of templates and even fewer customization options. This is what S&E, BML and SSHL use for their library blogs. Moderate-to-high comment spam (e-mail notifications).
   

Six Apart

1. Movable Type - equivalent to WordPress.org, software that can be downloaded to run on your server; free/personal use, and licenses for everyone else (based on #users, prices for commercial and nonprofits); more experience and time to get this up and running.
2. TypePad - MT's original hosted version, with monthly feess of $5-$9-$15-$30/month; customization and features increase (including FTP to your own domain) increase with subscription level.
3. Vox - new, free hosted service, with emphasis on personal blogging.