Weblog software (also called blog software or blogware) is a category of software which consists of a specialized form of Content Management Systems specifically designed for creating and maintaining weblogs

Many weblog applications are available for users to download and install on their own systems. Some of these are open-source software that can be used, modified, and redistributed freely, with no usage restrictions. Others are proprietary software, licensed for a fee, sometimes with a limited-usage version available free of charge.

Other weblog applications are offered only through their developers' hosts, either free of charge or for a fee. These typically include hosting service for the published blog itself, but some offer the option of using this hosted software to update a blog published elsewhere.

Different blogware packages feature varying levels of community support and documentation. Because the installation of some types of software requires an advanced knowledge of computer administration, community support and documentation can be very helpful. The web servers and database software can be more difficult to install than the blogware itself. Also a strong and active community surrounding the blogware gives advice on integrating the blogware into a personal site.

Software packages installed by weblog authors to run on their own systems:

• Plone
  

• Traction Software
provides a blogging platform, TeamPage, that many large companies, especially in the government and pharmaceuticals industries, use internally. TeamPage has highly refined permissions features, allowing access control to be set even at the post level, and affords easy management of multiple blogs. However, it suffers from proprietary language used in the interface, as well as minimal content, comment, and spam management tools. TeamPage is best suited for companies looking to set up internal blogs.

• Drupal
  provides an open source solution for integrating blogging into an overall community or content site. That integration allows authors to take traditional blog publishing tools and extend them into discussion boards, wikis, and traditional Web pages. Drupal's biggest disadvantage is that its interfaces are difficult to configure and use, although there is a large user community supporting the platform. Companies should use Drupal if they have open source experience and want blogs to be an integrated part of a publishing and community platform.

• Roller
  As an open source solution, Roller has been deployed only in a few instances, but it has been used by thousands of bloggers on a single installation. It features an excellent ability to allow administrators to manage permissions across blogs, but individual blog management is cumbersome, and robust content management workflow tools are lacking. Roller is ideally suited for companies that want to deploy blogs in an enterprise where content management and oversight will be minimal.

• UserLand Software
  A longtime provider of blogging services, UserLand Software offers Manila as an enterprise solution, available in both hosted and software forms, that has strong permission controls and integrates with corporate identity systems. Basic blogging features like comment management are strong, but the platform suffers from the use of proprietary language and confusing interfaces, which make it difficult to use initially. UserLand is ideally suited for companies looking for a low-cost enterprise solution — for both internally and externally facing blogs — in which the authors have a strong ability to work with new interfaces.

• Six Apart - Movable Type
  A popular blogging software solution from Six Apart, Movable Type's greatest strength is its experience in working with businesses. Hallmarks of that experience are its excellent online and help ticket support system, as well as its very robust content and comment management tools. The platform is generally easy to use but suffers somewhat from having to preload images, in addition to poor permissions and poor multiple blog management. Movable Type is ideally suited for companies that want robust content management for external blogs or that are deploying a relatively smaller number of internal blogs where ease of use is paramount.

• Six Apart - TypePad
  Provided by Six Apart, TypePad is an easy-to-use, hosted service that has been widely adopted by individuals and small businesses. TypePad frequently improves its service, especially in the areas of author publishing options and comment and spam management. While TypePad does have an enterprise edition, it has limited ability to manage multiple sites and cannot be integrated into a company's authentication system. TypePad is ideally suited for companies that want to set up quick, easy, externally facing blogs.

• Telligent Systems
  Telligent Systems' blogging solution is an outgrowth of its Community Server software suite, which has a strong presence in the discussion forum space. Other community tools include a member point system, photo galleries, and a basic social networking function. Built on the .NET platform, Telligent integrates easily with Active Directory and other authentication systems. A major shortcoming of the solution is a lack of content management workflow tools. Companies should use Telligent if they want a blogging and community software solution that serves a trusted community where content management is not needed.

• iUpload
  iUpload's hosted service, the iUpload Customer Conversation System, is very strong in overall ease of use, including customization of both design and functionality. Featuring easy integration into authentication systems like Active Directory and robust permission management, iUpload is ideally suited for business managers eager to quickly tap into the power of both internal and external blogging. But weaknesses in spam management mean that extra measures need to be put in place for external marketing blogs.

• WordPress
  A popular open source solution, WordPress has a well-developed set of plug-ins, making it customizable and well suited to extensions beyond blogging. Companies like CNET Networks use WordPress as a content management tool, and community functionality like discussion boards and wikis can also be easily added. In its current incarnation, WordPress is ideally suited to support externally facing blogs at companies that want a robust platform. But support from an IT team accustomed to working with open source software is essential.