Blogging Platforms
Discover the best blogging platforms of 2024. I'll show you my top picks - in order - and why/when you should choose each one.
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
A blogging platform is essentially the content management system (CMS) or tool that hosts your blog content and provides features to create, manage, and publish your posts.
Choosing the right platform means balancing usability, customization, and functionality.
Blogging platforms typically fall into two categories: hosted (like WordPress.com or Medium), which provides the hosting and often limits customization, and self-hosted (like WordPress.org), which offers more control but requires separate web hosting.
Each platform has unique strengths, so knowing your goals—whether it's building a large-scale blog, a personal project, or part of a business strategy—will make it easier to find the right fit.
The Difference Between Free and Paid
Before we start, it is worth discussing the difference between free and paid blogging platforms.
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.
If you’re looking to build a blog at scale, skip the free options and go directly for the paid options.
How to Choose
To choose the best blogging platform, consider these key factors:
Ease of Use
If you're new to blogging, look for a platform with a user-friendly interface and intuitive editing tools.
Hosted platforms often offer simplified setups, which can help you get started faster.
Design & Customization
Depending on your goals, you might need extensive customization options to create a unique look and feel.
Platforms like WordPress.org allow you to control nearly every element, while others like Wix or Squarespace offer more limited, template-based designs.
Monetization Options
For bloggers planning to earn income through ads, affiliate links, or sponsored posts, make sure the platform supports these features.
Some platforms restrict ad placements or may have additional fees for monetization.
SEO & Marketing Tools
Built-in SEO features (or compatibility with SEO plugins) and social sharing tools can give your blog an advantage in reaching a wider audience.
WordPress.org, for instance, supports a wide range of plugins for SEO, analytics, and marketing.
Cost
Pricing varies widely among platforms. Free options exist, but they may come with limitations.
Compare pricing for premium features, domain integration, and hosting, especially if you plan to scale up in the future.
My Personal Take
If you manage a ton of content, use WordPress.org hosted on WP Engine.
WordPress.org manages content well, and makes creating new blog posts, power pages, and reviews simple and easy. It’s also scalable and many developers have built tons of themes and functionality specifically for the platform.
WP Engine has made setting up WordPress as easy as logging in and pressing a few buttons. It’s literally the easiest and most hassle-free option that I have ever used.
My Recommendation for Simple Blogs You Won’t Scale
If you are trying to set up a simple blog without having to pay anything, and have no intention of scaling it in the future, choose Wix.
As long as you’re not focusing on making money and you don’t need advanced SEO features or customization, this platform allows you to create and promote a simple blog in minutes.
My Recommendation for a Free Blogging Platform
If you want to simply share thoughts and don’t need a separate website, I suggest writing on LinkedIn or Medium as a free blogging platform.
While they are very limited in features and scalability, both options will allow you to get something live very quickly and get content out to the world.
Our Top Picks
WordPress.org is a highly scalable, self-hosted platform that empowers bloggers to grow from simple blogs to profitable, multifaceted online projects, such as courses, membership sites, or eCommerce stores.
With extensive plugin support, it’s an ideal choice for those seeking to maximize control and functionality for long-term growth.
WordPress.com offers an easy-to-use, all-in-one blogging platform that’s perfect for beginners.
With managed hosting, security, and updates included, it’s ideal for bloggers who want a hands-off setup, even though it comes with some limitations on scalability.
Ghost is a streamlined, open-source blogging platform designed for writers who prioritize simplicity and performance.
With built-in SEO features and a minimalistic design, it’s a low-cost option ideal for focused blogging without the distraction of plugins or add-ons.
Why We Chose This for Top Pick
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.
Notable Features
- Themes and plugins: You have access to a library of free themes and plugins as well as the ability to install custom themes and plugins.
- Customization options: You can edit the code of your theme to customize it further, or hire a developer to do it for you
- Flexibility: You can use WordPress.org for any type of blog, from a personal blog to a corporate website
Is WordPress.org Hard To Use?
WordPress.org isn’t as easy to use as other free blogging platforms, like WordPress.com or Blogger.
However, it’s not difficult to learn if you’re willing to put in the time.
Once you get the hang of things, you can create a beautiful blog with ease.
For the most part, the WordPress.org interface doesn’t require any coding knowledge.
About the Free Version of WordPress.org
The free version of WordPress.org is great for advanced users who want full control over their website.
It’s also perfect for businesses, stores, or membership sites.
If you’re willing to put in the time to learn how to use it, you can create a powerful website with WordPress.org.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
WordPress.org doesn’t offer official pricing plans. It’s a free CMS.
However, you will experience some costs associated with it.
You’ll need to find and pay for your web hosting, which can range from $50-$100 per year.
You’ll also need to purchase a domain name, which usually costs around $15 per year.
If you want access to premium themes and plugins, you’ll need to pay for them.
Prices for premium themes and plugins can range from $50-$200.
Our Take
Overall, we think WordPress.org is the best free blogging platform for advanced users and businesses.
If you’re willing to put in the time to learn how to use it, you can create a powerful website with ease.
Keep in mind that there are some costs associated with it.
Budget for them and enjoy a powerful CMS website-building solution.
Pros
- WordPress.com takes care of hosting and security for you. Otherwise, you would need to learn how to update your blog and protect it from hackers.
- WordPress.com gives you an easy platform to learn and operate even if you’re not familiar with WordPress.org.
- Data backups: WordPress.com automatically backs up your site data. In the event of a security breach, you can retrieve your older work.
- Community: The WordPress.com community is large and provides free support
- All-in-one solution: WordPress.com provides a domain name, hosting, and email all in one place.
Cons
- You have less control over your website than you would with a self-hosted WordPress.org site.
- Limited customization options: You can’t install many custom themes or plugins on a free WordPress.com blog.
- You don’t own your content: If you ever want to move your WordPress.com site, you may have to start from scratch because you don’t technically own your content.
Why We Chose This for Runner-Up
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.
Notable Features
- Themes and plugins: With WordPress.com, you have access to a library of free themes and plugins.
- Custom domain: You have the option to buy a custom domain (e.g., mysite.com) through WordPress.com for an annual fee. Doing so frees your blog from operating as a WordPress.com subdomain.
- Integrated blogging tools: You can schedule posts, which means you can post any time and anywhere. You can also create categories and tags and moderate comments.
Is WordPress.com Hard To Use?
No, WordPress.com is not hard to use.
It works as a solution for people not familiar with the self-hosted WordPress option.
Therefore, it’s fairly user-friendly.
The free plan offers a dashboard that doesn’t require prior technical knowledge.
If you can drag and drop elements on a page, you can use the WordPress.com interface.
About the Free Version of WordPress.com
The free version of WordPress.com is a good option for people who want to create a simple blog or website.
To summarize, you get a free domain, access to a library of free themes and plugins, the ability to buy a custom domain, and integrated blogging tools.
Other benefits include that WordPress.com takes care of hosting and security for you and backs up your site data.
You also get access to the WordPress.com community.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
You can upgrade to one of two paid pricing options with WordPress.com.
- WordPress Starter plan: $5/month
- WordPress Pro plan: $15/month
The starter plan provides a custom domain, an ability to collect payments, 6 GB of storage space, and Google Analytics.
The pro plan gives you the domain, 50 GB of space, Google Analytics, the ability to collect payments, unlimited plugins, and premium themes.
It also gives you premium support and provides access to WooCommerce if you’re building an eCommerce store
Our Take
WordPress.com is best for its overall ease of use.
It provides an easy platform to learn and operate.
The free version of WordPress.com is a good option for people who want to create a simple blog or website.
You can upgrade to one of two paid pricing options for further functionality.
Pros
- Cross-platform: You can access your WordPress.org site from any device with an internet connection. This makes it one of the most versatile free blogging platforms.
- Full control: You have full control over your website with WordPress.org. This includes the ability to edit your site’s code, which is great for advanced users.
- Full ownership: You own your blog, its data, and its content. Since you pay for third-party hosting, you aren’t subject to the decisions of a parent company (such as the previously-mentioned Automattic, which owns WordPress.com).
- No ads: One of the great things about WordPress.org is that you can run your site without any third-party advertisements. If you decide to place advertising on your WordPress.org blog, it will generate revenue for your business.
- Stores and memberships: You can use WordPress.org to create an online store or membership site. You can also sell courses, coaching, or any other product.
Cons
- Requires hosting: You’ll need to find and pay for your web hosting, which makes it more expensive than other free blogging platforms.
- Not as easy to use: WordPress.org can seem tricky for beginners. The process requires that you set up and manage your hosting, domain name, and website.
- Constant updating: You need to keep your WordPress.org site updated, which some people find time-consuming.
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.
Notable Features
- Themes: Ghost offers a library of free and premium themes to choose from. Once you choose a theme, Ghost helps you install it on the blog.
- Code injection: You can add code snippets to your Ghost blog to customize its look and feel.
- Publication: You can create a publication on Ghost, which is a collection of articles from multiple authors.
Is Ghost Hard To Use?
No, Ghost is not hard to use. It provides a minimalistic approach to blogging.
The platform is also fast and easy to navigate.
Its creators built it specifically to help beginners create blogs without requiring technical knowledge.
About the Free Version of Ghost
The free version of Ghost works well for personal use. It includes all the basic features you need to get started.
Using the free option, anyone can create a blog without any technical online skills.
If you need support, however, you’ll need to ask for help in its community forum.
Using the forums means waiting for an answer.
It also means you might not get an answer.
Consider upgrading to a paid plan if you need more support and features.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
With its four different pricing plans, Ghost offers a paid version for a variety of needs.
- Starter: $9/month for free themes and standard integrations.
- Creator: $25/month for Starter features plus unlimited custom themes and more integrations.
- Team: $50/month for Creator features plus priority support and higher usage limits
- Business: $199/month for Team features plus unlimited staff users and advanced domain configurations.
Our Take
We recommend Ghost for people who want a fast, lightweight, and minimalist blogging experience.
The free version is great for personal use.
If you need more features or support, however, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Paid plans give you the ability to add custom code, access premium themes, and use advanced integrations.
Pros
- Minimalism: Ghost brings a minimalistic approach to blogging, which can be appealing to some users.
- Speed: Ghost is one of the fastest free blogging platforms available. Your blog will load quickly for website visitors.
- Markdown support: Ghost supports markdown, making it easy to format your posts
- Membership management: With the premium version of Ghost, you can manage memberships and give people access to your publication.
- SEO optimization: Ghost provides built-in SEO tools to help you optimize your blog posts. Using these tools will help improve your blog’s Google rankings.
Cons
- Limited customization options: Ghost doesn’t offer as many customization options as some other free blogging platforms.
- No support for free users: As an open-source platform that you download free to use, the company can’t provide support for free accounts.
- Overall lack of features: Some users may look at the lack of features on Ghost as a big downside.
Alternatives
Contentful is a headless CMS that offers unmatched flexibility for developers, separating content management from design. Its API-first approach is ideal for advanced users who want full control over their blog’s look and feel.
Wix is a beginner-friendly platform with a drag-and-drop editor that simplifies blog creation. Its templates and customization options make it easy for bloggers to build attractive sites without coding knowledge.
Free Option
Medium is a free, minimalist platform focused on content and engagement. Writers can reach a broad audience through Medium’s built-in readership, making it perfect for bloggers prioritizing reach over site control.
About the Alternatives
Contentful, Wix, and Medium each offer distinct advantages based on different blogging needs.
Contentful is especially appealing for experienced marketers and developers managing complex content structures or distributing content across multiple channels, as it’s built with an API-first approach that promotes seamless integration with various tools.
Wix, with its user-friendly drag-and-drop editor, is an ideal solution for those without technical skills who still want a polished, customizable site.
It combines intuitive design tools with essential features like SEO and analytics, making it a strong alternative to more complex platforms.
For bloggers who simply want to write and reach a large audience, Medium provides a no-fuss solution.
With a focus on content and community, it gives writers instant access to an established readership, ideal for growing engagement without site management.
Other Options
If you’re looking to build a blog at scale, skip the free options and go directly for the paid options.
Traditional CMS Blogging Platforms
The first type of blog sites we’ll focus on are traditional content management systems (CMS) – platforms built to easily produce, publish, and manage digital content.
But these platforms do much more than content. In fact, most options in our list allow users to design and build entire platforms.
Read More
The free Contentful blogging platform provides a way to get started with a content management style of blogging.
It offers a free plan that includes basic features, such as the ability to create and publish blog posts, manage authors, and track analytics.
If you need more features, such as eCommerce integration or custom code features, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
- Our Rating: 4.5
- Best For: Developer teams who want a CMS-based blogging solution.
Notable Features
- Create and publish blog posts: Using Contentful, you can write a blog post and push it live on the Internet.
- eCommerce integration: Integrate eCommerce into your blog to turn it into a powerful revenue asset for your business.
- Manage authors: With Contentful, you can manage authors and contributors with ease.
Is Contentful Hard To Use?
Yes, it’s more difficult to use when compared to other options like Ghost, WordPress.com, Blogger, or WordPress.org.
If you don’t have a development team to help you, you’ll need to become comfortable with final rendering and API rules to use Contentful.
You should choose a different option if you’re looking for an easy drag and drop editor solution.
About the Free Version of Contentful
With the free Contentful plan, you can create and publish blog posts, manage up to five users, and track analytics.
Even with the free option, you must understand API keys and basic coding skills to work up a personal blog.
It’s an open platform with a design system, including an app platform and SDKs (software development kit).
Under the paid plan, however, you can work more effectively with teams.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
You can choose from the free plan or two paid plans when using Contentful.
- Community (free plan): Offers a fully-featured content management system with GraphQL.
- Team: Starts at $489/month. The “Team” plan works well for small teams building out digital projects. The plan can go as high as $1,995 per month.
- Enterprise: You need to contact Contentful for this plan’s pricing details.
Our Take
Contentful is a high-end blogging option better suited for teams of developers than solopreneurs or small business owners.
It requires some coding skills to use but offers a free plan with enough features to get a blog up and running.
Pricing for paid plans is far more than other options that keep your budget at less than $100 per month to get started.
If you have the budget, we recommend Contentful as an option for businesses that want a professional blogging site.
- Track analytics: Keep track of your blog’s performance with detailed analytics reports
- Its cloud-based approach means you can scale more easily than you can with WordPress.org, for example.
- Image editing feature: Contentful provides an image editing feature that lets you crop, resize, and compress images within the platform. If you load large images to your blog by mistake, this feature helps prevent loading-time slowdowns.
- Video support: You can add videos to your blog posts without first uploading the content to a third-party website like YouTube.
- Text editing: Contentful’s text editing interface is similar to a word processor, making it easy to format your posts.
- You need to become comfortable with code to use Contentful: While it’s not as difficult to use as other code-dependent platforms, you will need at least some developer skills to take full advantage.
- No drag and drop feature: Contentful doesn’t offer a drag and drop interface. Again, this fact makes the platform harder for a beginner to navigate.
- Paid plans are expensive: Once you need to upgrade to a paid plan, you’ll pay at least $500 per month.
Read More
SilverStripe is another free and open-source blogging platform.
Cofounded by Sigurd Magnusson, it’s a blogging platform that’s gaining in popularity with each passing year.
The user interface is very clean and simple, which makes it great for new bloggers.
SilverStripe is fully internationalized, meaning you can create a blog in any language.
- Our Rating: 4.5
- Best For: Bloggers and businesses with some developer knowledge and looking for a quality alternative to WordPress.org.
Notable Features
- WYSIWYG editor: You can see what your post will look like as you type it out.
- Media library: Upload and store photos and videos on SilverStripe’s cloud-based media library (up to 500MB free).
- Custom fields: Add custom fields to your blog posts to make them more robust.
Is SilverStripe Hard To Use?
Yes, this isn’t an easy drag and drop option for blogging.
Businesses with developer teams will find this more useful than a person operating a small business.
Its interface is easy to use, however, for anyone with some developer knowledge.
The dashboard makes it easy to customize modules and web pages.
About the Free Version of SilverStripe
As an open-source website development solution, you get all the features for free.
You don’t need to upgrade to any paid versions with SilverStripe.
The platform prides itself on the level of security provided to web developers.
You can use it free and benefit from more security than you get from an out-of-the-box WordPress.org website.
Its best features include a WYSIWYG editor, media library, and custom fields for blog posts.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
SilverStripe doesn’t offer a paid plan.
It’s a free open-source web content management system for non-profit organizations, businesses, and governments.
Over 50,000 websites use SilverStripe’s free plan to power themselves.
You can watch the SilverStripe demo here.
Our Take
SilverStripe is a free and open-source CMS that gives developers the freedom to create websites exactly how they want.
It’s not quite simple enough for beginners but you can master it after taking a little time to learn it.
Anyone looking for similar results provided by WordPress.org can look to SilverStripe as a quality alternative.
- SEO: SilverStripe automatically generates SEO-friendly URLs for all of your blog posts.
- Comments: Readers can leave comments on your blog posts.
- Tagging: You can tag your blog posts to make them easier to find.
- RSS Feed: SilverStripe automatically generates an RSS feed for your blog.
- Available in multiple languages: You can build a blog in languages such as Spanish, English, Dutch, Danish, Italian, French, German, Swedish, and more.
- Not as user-friendly as some of the other free blogging platforms: It’s not as user-friendly as platforms like Medium or Blogger.
- No third-party plugins: You’ll need to create your plugins and other add-ons when using SilverStripe.
- Lack of third-party documentation: You won’t find the vast third-party help resources like you do when using WordPress.org.
Read More
Joomla is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) for publishing web content.
The platform uses a model–view–controller web application framework you can use independently of the CMS.
More advanced developers like Joomla because of the free templates, extensions, and add-ons. Joomla works well for websites with a lot of content to manage.
- Our Rating: 4.2
- Best For: Joomla is perfect for developers who want to build their websites without paying for a hosting platform.
Notable Features
- Free templates: Joomla offers free templates and extensions.
- Built-in access control: Protect your website from unauthorized access.
- Database Abstraction: The database abstraction layer allows you to use a variety of databases.
Is Joomla Hard To Use?
Maybe people view Joomla as one of the more difficult free blogging platforms to use.
It requires a working knowledge of HTML and CSS.
If you’re not a developer, you might want to consider another blogging option that offers a drag and drop way to build websites.
About the Free Version of Joomla
The free version of Joomla is the only option available on the platform.
Its developers created Joomla so that developers could access a way to build online applications and websites.
Download it and start using exciting features like RSS feeds and blogs without having to upgrade to a paid plan.
The platform provides plenty of free video training classes, which you can download on the home page.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
You never need to worry about paying for a Joomla upgrade. Start using it for free.
Our Take
If you are new to website development or design, you’ll probably find it overwhelming to use Joomla.
The learning curve is steeper than some of the other free blog software platforms.
It’s best for advanced users familiar with coding languages and website development.
If you are an experienced developer, definitely give Joomla a try.
- Easy to use for developers: Joomla is easy to use if you already possess coding skills.
- The platform offers a wide range of tutorials for its developers.
- Extensions: The extensions let you customize your website.
- Blogs: You can use Joomla to create a blog.
- RSS feeds: Joomla can help you syndicate your content.
- Joomla is not as user-friendly as WordPress and might require some coding skills to use it effectively.
- The platform can turn slow at times.
- It doesn’t offer as many free templates as other platforms.
Drag-And-Drop Website Builders With Blogging Functionality
If content management systems aren’t for you, there are easier options in the form of website builders. These options still offer blogging functionality, but they’re a bit easier to use for beginners.
Years ago, you’d never think that you would be able to blog on on a website built with a builder. However, the product teams at these companies done a great job of building CMS-type features into their platforms with time.
Read More
Weebly is a free blogging platform that’s owned by Square.
The platform is easy to use and offers plenty of features, including templates, hosting, and an integrated eCommerce platform.
The best part about Weebly is how easy it makes setting up a free blog.
- Our Rating: asdf
- Best For: Anyone looking for an easy-to-use free blogging platform with eCommerce integration.
Notable Features
- Templates: Weebly offers over 40 free blogging templates for you to choose from.
- SEO help: Weebly makes it simple to include title tags, descriptions, and custom URLs to help your blog posts rank well in the search engines.
- Advanced scheduling: Schedule your blog posts in advance and Weebly will automatically publish them for you.
Is Weebly Hard To Use?
Weebly is one of the simplest free blogging sites to use.
The user interface is straightforward.
Even complete beginners should get the hang of it quickly.
However, some users find the lack of customization options frustrating.
If you’re looking for a platform that will let you completely change the look and feel of your site, Weebly may not be the best option for you.
About the Free Version of Weebly
The free version of Weebly is more generous than some other options on this list.
You can use an unlimited number of pages and sell an unlimited number of items on your blog.
The free plan comes with free SSL security, the ability to add third-party embed code, a shopping cart, an automatic tax calculator, inventory management, in-store pickup options, lead capture features, SEO help, and a community forum.
The free version doesn’t give you a custom domain.
You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to access unlimited storage space, remove Square ads, use advanced site stats, get password protection, add shipping labels, use abandoned cart emails, and benefit from priority support.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
When you decide to upgrade your blogging options with Weebly, you can choose from one of three paid plans.
- Personal: $6/month
- Professional: $12/month
- Performance: $26/month
Considering its fair price, the Performance plan gives you every added advantage without breaking the bank.
Our Take
Weebly is an excellent free blogging site for those who want an easy-to-use platform with a good selection of features.
You may want to look elsewhere if you need more customization options, third-party plugins, and additional templates.
However, for the low monthly pricing options, anyone on a budget can build a professional-looking blog on the Weebly platform.
- Free eCommerce: One of the best things about Weebly is that it offers free eCommerce integration. It means you can sell products directly from your blog.
- Free hosting: Weebly provides free hosting for all of its users. You don’t need to worry about buying a separate hosting plan or paying for hosting fees.
- Drag-and-drop: The platform offers a drag-and-drop interface that makes it easy to add content, photos, and videos to your blog posts.
- RSS and social sharing: Weebly automatically generates RSS feeds for your blog, so people can subscribe to your content. The platform also makes it easy to share your posts on social media.
- Customized blog management: Weebly gives you the ability to moderate comments, track stats, and manage multiple blogs from one account.
- Weebly branding: Free plans include Weebly branding in the footer of your blog. You can remove it by upgrading to a paid plan.
- Ads: Weebly will display Square ads on your free blog.
- Limited storage: Weebly’s free plan doesn’t come with unlimited storage.
Read More
Squarespace is a popular blogging site for those who want a sleek, modern look for their blog.
The platform is easy to use, even for beginners.
However, the free version of Squarespace is technically only a free trial.
You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan if you want to use the platform on a long-term basis.
- Our Rating: asdf
- Best For: artists, photographers, or anyone else looking for outstanding visual design.
Notable Features
- Layouts: Squarespace offers a wide range of layouts for its users, all of which are customizable. Layouts include a basic grid, side by side, alternating sides, and single-column blogs.
- Design Tools: With Squarespace, you can use drag-and-drop design tools to create a unique look for your blog.
- eCommerce Functionality: If you want to sell products on your blog, Squarespace makes it easy to set up an online store.
Is Squarespace Hard To Use?
No, Squarespace is not hard to use.
The platform caters to people of all skill levels.
Even if you’re new to blogging, you can create a professional-looking blog using Squarespace’s intuitive dashboard.
About the Free Version of Squarespace
The only free option with Squarespace is the 14-day free trial.
It doesn’t provide features that you can use indefinitely.
You’ll need to try the trial and then decide if you want to upgrade to a paid plan.
Once you upgrade, you’ll discover that each paid plan gives you everything you used during your trial.
The benefits include a free custom domain, video storage capabilities, unlimited blog bandwidth, SEO help, 24/7 support, mobile-optimized templates, and SSL security.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
Squarespace offers four different pricing plans to choose from.
- Personal: $14/month
- Business: $23/month
- Basic Commerce: $27/month (eCommerce functionality)
- Advanced Commerce: $49/month (eCommerce functionality + advanced features)
Once your 14-day trial ends, decide which plan to continue with.
If you choose the Personal or Business plans, you can always upgrade to one of the eCommerce plans at a later date.
Our Take
Squarespace is a blogging site that helps artistic types create visually stunning layouts.
It’s an ideal platform for beginner bloggers who want an uncomplicated way to start writing and sharing their stories.
While it doesn’t offer as many features as some of the other free sites on this list, Squarespace offers a simple and elegant interface.
- Manage daily workflows: If you’re managing a team or working with clients, Squarespace can help you stay organized and on top of your work.
- Track analytics: With Squarespace, you can track your site’s analytics and see how your audience is engaging with your content.
- Featured posts: You can highlight and feature certain posts on your Squarespace blog to help promote them.
- Drive engagement: With Squarespace’s integrations, you can add social media buttons to your blog posts and encourage your readers to share your content.
- SEO tools: Squarespace provides users with a wide range of SEO tools to help them optimize their content and improve their search engine ranking.
- Limited customization: While Squarespace offers a wide range of templates, they may not be suitable for everyone. If you need a lot of customization options, you may want to look elsewhere.
- No free plan: While Squarespace does offer a free trial, you’ll need to enter your credit card information when you sign up. If you don’t upgrade to a paid plan, you can’t continue using the platform.
- No support for plugins or apps: Squarespace doesn’t provide support for any of the third-party plugins or apps you might install.
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Jimdo is a free blogging platform designed to help you host and design your blog.
You don’t need to purchase third-party hosting to use Jimdo.
You won’t need to download any software. Jimdo runs as a browser platform.
Simply log in and start building your new blog.
- Our Rating: asdf
- Best For: Jimdo is a solid choice for beginners who need a free option to start blogging.
Notable Features
- Responsive design: Jimdo’s responsive design ensures that your blog looks great on all devices.
- Design help: Jimdo provides users with a wide range of design templates to choose from. If you’re not sure where to start, Jimdo’s templates can give you some inspiration.
- Free hosting: As mentioned, Jimdo doesn’t require you to purchase third-party hosting. All you need is a Jimdo account and you can start building your blog.
Is Jimdo Hard To Use?
Ease of use is one of Jimdo’s main marketing points.
It’s designed to be as user-friendly as possible.
You don’t need any prior coding or design experience to create a beautiful blog using Jimdo.
About the Free Version of Jimdo
With a free plan, called the Play plan, Jimdo gives you all of its basic features for building a blog.
These features include 500 MB of storage, 2 GB of bandwidth, a free Jimdo.com subdomain, GDPR-compliant pages, and the ability to add photo galleries, videos, and contact forms.
You also get basic access to Jimdo’s customer support team.
The free plan doesn’t include some of Jimdo’s more advanced features, such as eCommerce functionality and SEO help.
If you want to use these features, you’ll need to upgrade to one of Jimdo’s paid plans.
The Grow plan also provides more customized customer support and visitor statistics data.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
You can upgrade from the free plan to two paid options.
All three plans give you contact forms, image libraries, and mobile-ready templates.
- Play: Free
- Start: $9/month
- Grow: $14/month
The Start plan adds in 5 GB of storage, 10 GB of bandwidth, a free custom domain for one year, and email functionality.
With the Grow plan, you get upgraded to 15 GB of storage, 20 GB of bandwidth, and premium support.
Our Take
Jimdo is one of the easiest free blog sites to use.
If you’re looking for a platform that you can quickly and easily set up, without any design or coding experience, Jimdo is a good option.
However, if you want more advanced features, such as eCommerce functionality or extensive SEO help, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Further, you won’t get as many third-party plugin add-ons as you would with WordPress, for instance.
- Domain name: You can use a free Jimdo subdomain or purchase a custom domain.
- Photo galleries: Jimdo makes it easy to add photo galleries to your blog posts.
- Contact forms: Jimdo provides users with a contact form builder so you can easily add forms to your blog.
- GDPR-compliant: The platform provides GDPR-compliant pages so you know you’re following EU rules.
- Support: Jimdo focused on providing excellent customer support to all of its users.
- Advertisements: Free accounts include Jimdo-branded ads. You can remove the ads by upgrading to a paid plan.
- A free account doesn’t come with a custom domain. You’ll need to host your blog as a Jimdo.com subdomain.
- The Play (free) and Start plans don’t offer help with search engine optimization. You’ll need to upgrade to the Grow plan to obtain SEO tools.
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Site123 is another free blogging platform that’s designed for simplicity.
The platform focuses on helping users build a professional blog, without any design experience required.
You will benefit from most of the blogging features you might expect from a free blog site.
- Our Rating: 4.0
- Best For: Site123 is best for people without prior blog-building experience.
Notable Features
- Commenting system: Site123 includes a commenting system so you can easily enable comments on your blog posts.
- Social media integration: You can add social media buttons to your blog posts so readers can share your content.
- Blog templates: Site123 offers a variety of free templates that you can use for your blog.
Is Site123 Hard To Use?
Site123 is one of the easiest free blog sites to use.
People without prior blog-building experience should find it well worth it.
You will log in and find the interface one of the most intuitive builders on the market.
You don’t need any coding experience. Drag and drop your way to building your blog.
About the Free Version of Site123
You’ll gain access to most of the main blogging features with the Site123 free plan.
For example, you can use the platform’s commenting system, perform social media integration, see visitor statistics or add Google Analytics, set up password-protected areas, use custom widgets, set up navigation areas, and use blog templates.
The 250 MB of storage is the main drawback of the free version.
You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to increase your storage.
You will also need to upgrade if you want to distance yourself from the Site123 subdomain.
The paid plan gives you a custom domain name.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
You can start on the free plan and then upgrade to the one Site123 paid option.
Premium is $12.80 per month
The Premium plan removes Site123’s floating branding tag, gives you eCommerce tools, provides for 10 GB of storage, and upgrades your bandwidth from 250 MB to 5 GB.
Our Take
Site123 is one of the easiest free blogging sites to use.
You can get your blog up and running within minutes.
If you want to move to a paid plan later, it will only cost you a few dollars per month.
The paid option is one of the most affordable options on the blogging platform market.
We recommend Site123 for those people getting started with blogging.
- Domain name: You can get a free Site123 subdomain or purchase a custom domain.
- SSL certificate: All Site123 sites come with an SSL certificate to ensure your site’s security.
- Customer support: You can reach out to Site123’s customer support team via email or live chat.
- Simple newsletter tool: Site123 includes a simple newsletter tool so you can easily send updates to your subscribers.
- Contact form creator: The platform includes a contact form creator so you can easily add forms to your blog.
- Advertisements: Free accounts display Site123-branded ads. You can remove the ads by upgrading to a paid plan.
- No mobile app: Site123 doesn’t provide a mobile app. However, you can make basic edits on a mobile device.
- Storage limitations: With a free account, you only get 250 MB of storage. You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to increase your storage.
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Strikingly is a free blogging platform known for its simplicity and ease of use.
You can create a basic blog or website in minutes.
Using its simple website builder, you can do so without any design experience required.
You can also use it to create nice-looking landing pages for your blog.
- Our Rating: asdf
- Best For: asdf
Notable Features
- Drag and drop editor: The Strikingly editor operates as a drag and drop system. You can add content blocks to your pages and rearrange them with ease.
- Mobile-friendly designs: All Strikingly templates show up well on any device.
- Built-in contact form: With Strikingly, you can easily add a contact form to your blog.
Is Strikingly Hard To Use?
A big selling point for Strikingly is its ease of use.
After logging in the first time, the system directs you to create a new website.
You can start from scratch or use one of the pre-made templates.
Once you’ve chosen your template, you can begin customizing it to fit your needs.
About the Free Version of Strikingly
You get everything you need to start building a blog with the free plan.
The editor works as a drag and drop system.
You can add content blocks to your pages and rearrange them with ease.
If you need to add more pages, you can do so from the editor.
You can also change the theme of your website at any time.
There are a limited number of free themes available.
If you want access to more, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
You’ll also want to upgrade to a paid plan if you want the ability to sell more than one product on your website.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
Strikingly provides three paid plans in addition to the free plan.
- Forever Free plan: Free
- Limited: $12/month
- Pro: $20/month
- VIP: $59/month
The big reasons to use the VIP plan include the 100 GB of storage, priority customer service, live chat widgets, a dedicated account manager, and the ability to send newsletters to 2000 subscribers.
Our Take
Strikingly is a great platform if you’re looking to create a simple, one to five-page site.
The free plan is generous and gives you everything you need to create a beautiful website.
If you’re looking for more features, such as the ability to add an eCommerce store or more than five pages, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Overall, we think Strikingly is a great choice for small businesses, personal websites, and portfolios.
- 24/7 support: All the plans provide customer support at any time of day.
- Built-in eCommerce options: You can add eCommerce functionality to any plan. Add the Strikingly Simple Store option, connect the store to Stripe or PayPal, and start selling to your blog visitors.
- Social feeds: With Strikingly, you can add social media feeds to your blog.
- Analytics: You can see detailed insights into your blog’s traffic with the Strikingly analytics tool.
- Subscriber sign-up forms: You can add a sign-up form to your blog so visitors can subscribe to your content.
- Limited eCommerce functionality: You can only sell one product on your blog using the free plan.
- Limited storage: With free accounts, you only get 500 MB of storage. You’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan to increase storage limits to 1 GB and more.
- Subdomain: You can’t use a custom domain name unless you pay from one of the upgraded plans.
eCommerce Blogging Sites
Although many of the above options provide some eCommerce functionality, nothing beats Shopify in this area. Let’s look at the industry leader in the eCommerce market.
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Shopify is the market leader for a reason.
It’s easy to use and packed with features.
It integrates seamlessly with all the other tools you need to run your business, such as accounting software, email marketing, and social media.
- Our Rating: 5.0
- Best For: Shopify works well for eCommerce companies that understand the value of blogging.
Notable Features
- Free Themes: Shopify also has a huge selection of free and premium themes so you can find the perfect design for your blog.
- “Add a blog” feature: Shopify’s team understands that eCommerce companies must use blogging to attract traffic for their products. The platform makes it easy to add blog posts to your online store.
- Marketing tools: Shopify provides free and paid marketing tools to help you promote your products and grow your business.
Is Shopify Hard To Use?
Beginners may struggle with some of the features and terminology in Shopify.
The dashboard isn’t as intuitive as other options on the market.
However, there are plenty of resources to help you get started, including tutorials and a customer support team that responds quickly.
About the Free Version of Shopify
As mentioned previously, Shopify doesn’t offer an official plan.
You’ll need to pay for a plan if you want to use Shopify for longer than 14 days.
However, you can use the free trial period to try out all the best features.
Take the time to use features like setting up your online store, adding a blog, testing the 24/7 support staff, using discount codes, offering gift cards, setting up automation tasks, and looking at your analytics and reporting dashboard.
Upgrade: Pricing & Plans
When you’re done with your 14-day trial, you can decide to upgrade to one of Shopify’s three paid plans.
- Basic: $29/month
- Shopify: $79/month
- Advanced: $299/month
- Plus: $2,000/month
The Shopify plan should work well for most businesses.
It gives you more staff accounts than the Basic plan.
You’ll also pay less on payment processing fees than you will with the Basic plan.
For enterprise customers looking to unlock everything the platform has to offer, they can check out Shopify Plus.
Our Take
Although not a traditional blogging platform, Shopify’s blogging features work well for an eCommerce company.
You get the best of both worlds by using Shopify.
The platform helps you list and sell products.
It also helps you add in blogging duties to improve your search engine optimization results.
Use a Shopify blog to write about the needs of your target audience.
On your blog pages, include links over to your category and product pages to encourage new sales.
- Customer support: Shopify provides all plan owners with excellent customer service.
- Generous free trial: You can try Shopify for free for 14 days, no credit card required.
- Single dashboard view: All the tools you need to run your business are in one place.
- Shopping cart: The platform provides a customizable shopping cart so you can sell your products online.
- Pricing: Shopify’s pricing is on the higher end, but the Shopify fees are worth it for the features and support you get.
- No true free plan: It’s a benefit to open a Shopify account without a credit card. However, the company doesn’t offer a “free forever” plan.
- Paid add-ons: The monthly plan pricing isn’t your only cost with a Shopify account. You need to budget for add-ons, such as the plugin to help your visitors obtain discounts.
Community Blogging Platforms
Community blogging platforms are the next area of free blog sites to consider using.
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When selecting the best blogging platforms, we evaluated a mix of popularity, versatility, ease of use, and scalability.
We looked for platforms that balance beginner-friendliness with powerful options for advanced users, as well as robust support for monetization and growth.
We prioritized those with active communities and ongoing updates, ensuring they’re well-maintained and secure.
Our final recommendations span from straightforward hosted options for beginners to flexible self-hosted solutions for experienced users or businesses.
Each platform has pros and cons, and there may be trade-offs depending on your specific goals.
If you’re looking to grow a large audience or have very specific branding needs, a platform with more customization like WordPress.org might be ideal.
However, simpler platforms like Medium or Ghost can be effective for sharing content without worrying about design or technical upkeep.
Always consider the learning curve and long-term costs, as migrating between platforms can be time-consuming and may affect your audience or SEO.
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