Side by side
Bear Blog vs BlogBowl
Both stand on blogging platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan Web
Choose Bear Blog if you want a web-based place to publish words with feeds, scheduled posts, and a free starting plan. Look elsewhere if you need Google Analytics or newsletter sending, or if hiding a blog must prevent access through a direct link.
Visit Bear Blog
Free plan Self-hostedWeb
BlogBowl combines publishing, documentation, analytics and newsletters with hosted or self-hosted options. Compare the plan allowances with your expected audience and email volume.
Visit BlogBowlThe facts
| Bear Blog | BlogBowl | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Web | Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Standard: $19 a month |
| Plans published | 3 | 3 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | bearblog.dev | blogbowl.io |
| On blogging platforms | #47 of 125 | #51 of 125 |
Bear Blog: what it does well
- Free plan includes publishing, free themes, and RSS and Atom feeds.
- Posts and pages support Markdown or HTML.
- Custom domains and scheduled posts are supported.
- Upgraded analytics include referrers, country, device, and browser.
- Readers have no cookies set during regular visits.
What to know first
- Theme customization requires CSS.
- Bear does not support Google Analytics.
- Hiding a blog from search does not block direct-link readers.
- Email subscriber collection is described, not newsletter sending.
BlogBowl: what it does well
- Blogs, changelogs and help docs in one platform
- Custom domains and website paths
- Analytics include audience and referrer details
- Newsletter scheduling and performance tracking
- Free Starter plan available
What to know first
- Starter limits blogs, views, authors and subscribers
- Paid plans limit monthly views and emails
- Self-hosting requires Docker Compose, PostgreSQL and Redis
- Theme customization may require custom code
Alternatives to Bear Blog Alternatives to BlogBowl The whole list