What's my best option for a multiple-user blog?

March 15, 2007 10:58 AM

What's my best option for a multiple-user blog?

I want to set up multiple blogs in kind of a network setup. Ideally you could just login to one location and post to several different blogs from the same backend. I'm messing around with Wordpress-MU (I currently have several Wordpress blogs) but would like to try out other options before I commit to anything. Whatever I use, it needs to be free.

posted by apetpsychic to Technology (13 answers total)

Vox allows crossposting to other locations, though I'm not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for.

Here's more on the subject.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:10 AM on March 15, 2007

Response by poster: Thanks. I want whatever I use to be self-hosted, though. And fully customizable.
posted by apetpsychic at 11:44 AM on March 15, 2007

Movable Type is easily your best option and is free for personal use. You didn't specify what this is for, but if you're not planning to make any money then Movable Type provides the easiest way to allow multiple users to post to multiple blogs on the same install.
posted by capndesign at 11:46 AM on March 15, 2007 [1 favorite]

Drupal can do this.
posted by bru at 11:46 AM on March 15, 2007

Response by poster: I'll probably never make any money since, personally, I think AdSense is kind of tacky!
posted by apetpsychic at 11:59 AM on March 15, 2007

Response by poster: Has anyone had any experience with Lyceum? It's built on Wordpress apparently...
posted by apetpsychic at 12:01 PM on March 15, 2007

ExpressionEngine does unlimited blogs, with a fine level of control over who can post in what blog, all from the same backend. It costs money, but you can download a free, light version or try a full 30 day demo with tech support for $10.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:14 PM on March 15, 2007

I do just that with MovableType and it works just fine.
posted by john m at 2:11 PM on March 15, 2007

AdSense is a.ok for personal blogs on MT. From the FAQ:

If you're an individual with blogs that do not directly support a commercial endeavor, you can use the Personal Use license. (Incidental revenue such as Google AdSense, Amazon Associates fees, PayPal tip jars, or other similar programs which aren't the main purpose of the site are okay under the personal license.)
posted by capndesign at 2:13 PM on March 15, 2007

After considering Wordpress-MU and Lyceum with a client, we opted for b2evolution because it was easier to install and seemed to have more user & developer support behind it. YMMV. I gather that it shares common roots with Wordpress.
posted by Robert Angelo at 2:19 PM on March 15, 2007

Blogger gives you a dashboard from which you can view all the blogs you've set up to that user id. You can click a little "new post" button under each one and it will take you to a new post window for that specific blog, however I don't believe there's an option to post to all at once. Its free, however.
posted by allkindsoftime at 3:27 PM on March 15, 2007

I use Movable Type, but I'm looking at Drupal for a new multi-blog site.

You might want to try some of the free CMS demos at http://www.opensourcecms.com/
posted by TechStuff at 9:35 PM on March 15, 2007

FWIW, I think Wordpress MU is far from ready for prime-time. I'd strongly recommend giving some of the other suggestions serious consideration before defaulting back to it.
posted by treepour at 5:54 PM on March 16, 2007