If you’re a blogger on a Mac, here’s why you need a blogging software: blogging using a browser is pretty much less than optimal and whenever there is a desktop blogging client to choose from, it almost always trumps the web interface. blogging software make it so much easier to upload images simply by dragging and dropping, plus the ability to work offline means that you can blog from just about anywhere. Another good reason for you to start using a desktop blogging blogging software now is ability to save drafts locally, which means that you won’t lose your work if the internet connection is broken or if the server which hosts your site is unresponsive.
I’ve tried and tested three blogging software for Mac OS X so you don’t have to. Which is best?
Qumana
Qumana is a cross-platform desktop blogging software that supports just about every blogging platform.
Pros:
- It’s free
- Cross platform
- WYSIWYG blog editor
- Ability to insert ads into posts
- Drag-and-drop image insertion
- HTML view
- Offline post creation
- Multiple blog support
Cons:
- Doesn’t integrate well with existing posts and cuts of after the MORE tag
- Can’t upload multiple images simultaneously
- Dated UI
Screenshots
Main window with article list and preview
Post editor
Image uploader
MarsEdit
The most popular blogging software for Mac OS X — MarsEdit costs $39.99 but may be worth every penny if blogging is your livelihood. In fact, every post published by TheDailyBuggle was written with MarsEdit.
Pros:
- Very stable
- Includes a dropdown menu of standard codes (h1, div, etc.)
- Post preview
- Supports most blogging platforms
- Integration with other text editors
- Ability to set scheduled publication times
- Browser bookmarklet to help with re-blogging
- Stores a local copy of all uploaded images
Cons:
- Expensive
- Can’t upload multiple images simultaneously
- No visual editor
Screenshots
Main window with article list and preview
Post editor
Image uploader
ecto
ecto is another very popular blogging software for Mac OS X. Even though it’s currently in version 3, I found that the application still has quite a bit of slack to pick up. When I pay for an application, I generally expect it to be as good as it can get.
Pros:
- Amazon affiliate integration
- Flickr support
- Has a visual editor
- Convenient word counter
Cons:
- Can’t add new categories
- Visual editor doesn’t work 100% of the time
- Cumbersome and buggy image editor
Screenshots
Main window with article list and preview
Image uploader
So there you go — three blogging software for Mac OS X and one of them is free. If you don’t feel like busting out $40 just to write your blog posts with MarsEdit, try Qumana. It might work for you.
If you know of any alternatives to these Mac blogging software, please feel free to voice them out in the comments!
Kevin Kuzia
April 26, 2011
I use Mars Edit myself for my blog, but I REALLY miss using Windows Live Writer from during my PC/Windows days. Free, very simple to use and just a great interface. It still pains me to this day that there is nothing equivalent for it on OS X, paid or otherwise.
Jackson Chung
April 26, 2011
I use MarsEdit too. What do you miss about WLW?
macariojames
February 18, 2012
MarsEdit is great, but i don’t think it’s worth $40.
masonworld
March 2, 2012
It just blows my mind that no mac developer is willing to create something that can compete with LiveWriter. It is the only PC software that I truly miss.
JacksonChung
March 17, 2012
@masonworld Well yeah but I guess we have to make do. MarsEdit is pretty sweet though.
Daniel
June 22, 2012
I totally agree. I boot to Windows on my Mac every time I write a blogpost since I really love Windows Live Writer. Its just so darn sweet that it loads the theme right into the editor and shows exactly how the result is after its posted.
Seriously, why can’t anyone do that on Mac?
Des
October 8, 2012
I’m probably stretching the time limit of this post, but I thought readers might like to know about the blogging platform that’s integrated with the mac website building app Sandvox 2. I’m using it on my site http://www.newtimeshomebiz.com and also will be using the same for a blog in a different niche, and with a different theme design.
Quite simple, wysiwyg, easy to add any media, uses Disqus for comments. Nearly all of my blog content is prepared offline and all I do is hit the “Publish” button and the jobs done. Couldn’t be simpler … but of course the host has to be set up first. A heap of other add-ons can be used, they’re all in the main Sandvox package.
The only downside is the cost, but if you’re going to get into website building then the cost can be written off pretty quickly.
Wordpress to me is just a bit too complex if I can use that term. There are so many plugins, and the interface doesn’t click with my brain lobes!!
Hope this helps.
Cheers
Des
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