Blogging Platforms
When you learn how to start a blog, one of the first things you’ll learn is the process of selecting a blog site that best fits your needs.
I’ve previously written about the tech stack that I personally use and recommend, but I do understand there are those that would like a free alternative instead.
When it comes to the best blogging platforms though, there are a lot of them available – over 22 of them exist just in this guide alone.
But which one should you choose for your business or personal blog? More importantly, what are the pros and cons of each site?
I’ll guide you through the process of choosing the best free blogging site so that you can get up and running right away.
Brett Helling is a digital marketing expert with over 10 years of experience building, managing, and scaling websites.
Basics to Understand
Difference Between Free and Paid Blogging Sites
As the name implies, free blogging sites allow you to create a blog without paying any money. These platforms provide free hosting, free domain names, and the tools required to build a blog day by day.
Some of these options give you a forever-free plan that never requires a paid upgrade to continue writing on your website. Others will encourage you to upgrade to a paid plan to access more features.
The main advantage of using a free blog site is that you don’t need as much technical knowledge.
These blogging platforms keep the blog-building process as minimalist as possible. You shouldn’t run into many problems starting your blogging journey with one of these options.
While free blogging sites are a great way to get started, they do have some limitations. For example, you don’t have much control of the design and features.
And because nothing is free, most free platforms will place ads on your blog. These ads can distract your readers and make it difficult for you to monetize your blog.
In addition, free blogging sites usually don’t offer the same level of customer support as paid platforms.
On the contrary, paid blogging sites are subscription-based platforms that allow you to create and customize your blog without limitations. These platforms usually provide a free trial so you can try it before you buy.
Paid blogging sites offer several advantages over free platforms.
For example, they don’t place ads on your blog, which gives you more control over the look and feel of your site. They also usually offer customer support in case you need help with anything.
Finally, paid blogging sites offer more features and tools to help you grow your blog and revenue.
I’ll only say this once more and then I’ll let it go, but…
… if there’s even a remote chance that your blog will grow into something bigger than you currently have in mind, definitely make the choice to build on a paid platform now.
It’s a lot easier to build on a paid platform from day one than it is to try to try to merge over to a paid platform after you’ve already built a site on a free blogging platform.
Once more – you can view the same proven, reliable tech stack that I use on my own blogs to easily get that set up.
How to Choose
My Personal Take
Our Top Picks
WordPress.com, which is owned by Automattic, is the most popular free blogging site on the web.
Millions of people around the world use it to build some of the largest websites on the internet.
As you’ll see, the website offers paid upgrades to access helpful features, which makes it a great option for beginners and experts alike.
WordPress.org is a free and open-source content management system (CMS).
It is probably the most popular free blogging platform used by millions of bloggers around the world.
WordPress.org is self-hosted, which means you need to sign up for a web hosting account and install WordPress on your web server.
- Our Rating: 5
- Best For: Anyone looking for the best free blogging option will enjoy WordPress.org and its wide range of features.
Ghost is a free and open-source blogging platform.
It offers a simple and fast way to create beautiful blog posts.
It is one of the best platforms for bloggers who want a lightweight blogging experience.
Ghost also offers a premium version that gives you access to more features, including custom domains, advanced SEO tools, and priority support.
- Our Rating: 4.8
- Best For: People who want a fast and lightweight blogging platform with a focus on writing.
Why We Chose This for Top Pick
WordPress.com, which is owned by Automattic, is the most popular free blogging site on the web.
Millions of people around the world use it to build some of the largest websites on the internet.
As you’ll see, the website offers paid upgrades to access helpful features, which makes it a great option for beginners and experts alike.
Why We Chose This for Runner-Up
WordPress.org is a free and open-source content management system (CMS).
It is probably the most popular free blogging platform used by millions of bloggers around the world.
WordPress.org is self-hosted, which means you need to sign up for a web hosting account and install WordPress on your web server.
- Our Rating: 5
- Best For: Anyone looking for the best free blogging option will enjoy WordPress.org and its wide range of features.
Why We Chose This for Budget Pick
Ghost is a free and open-source blogging platform.
It offers a simple and fast way to create beautiful blog posts.
It is one of the best platforms for bloggers who want a lightweight blogging experience.
Ghost also offers a premium version that gives you access to more features, including custom domains, advanced SEO tools, and priority support.
- Our Rating: 4.8
- Best For: People who want a fast and lightweight blogging platform with a focus on writing.
Alternatives
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About the Alternatives
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