By utilizing the finest free blogging platforms, you have the opportunity to communicate your opinions to a global audience via the internet, whether they are focused on the latest popular TV program or the latest developments within your profession. Blogging is a highly efficient means of expressing yourself, and certain top-rated webpage construction tools offer a free option for blogging.
Which blogging site is best suited for you or your business? It’s important to think about whether you prefer a leading website builder, a content management system (CMS) like WordPress supported by high-quality web hosting services, or if you prefer to write a blog post on a platform like Medium.
Those with minimal knowledge of website mechanics can take advantage of drag-and-drop tools which are often integrated into website builders and blogging sites. This allows beginners to create their own website without the need for HTML skills. For those with more advanced knowledge, there are many free blogging platforms with extra customization options to achieve a more sophisticated look.
Although some platforms lack the features of their competitors, the finest cost-free blogging sites can effectively serve as a platform for launching a new blog, be it personal or professional. Following our evaluation of the most widely used blogging platforms with respect to their pricing, features, and user-friendliness, we have presented our top recommendations below.
The best free blogging sites of 2023 in full
Wix
Wix is often acknowledged as a top-notch website builder, but it’s important to note that the platform’s free blogging feature is also highly valuable for aspiring bloggers, regardless of their skill level.
If you’re unsure of how to begin a blog, utilizing a generator tool can suggest potential blog names and the platform offers a variety of design templates that are perfect for those new to blogging.
After mastering the platform, you can access a variety of advanced features that enable you to incorporate videos, images, and photo galleries into your posts. Bloggers with lofty goals may be interested in the limitless page count and the option to automatically share posts on Facebook.
One significant drawback of the no-cost option is that the Wix logo will appear on your blog automatically. To eliminate these promotions, you must switch to one of the premium plans. Additionally, it’s essential to be aware that the free version restricts you to 500MB of data transfer per month.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is often the top choice for bloggers when creating a new site, even if they have only done minimal research into the best free blogging sites available.
The reason for this is apparent. When you are ready to publish your initial post, WordPress’s installation guide will guide you through the procedure, and offer assistance in making choices like picking your theme design. However, individuals who are new to blogging should be aware that WordPress does not use a drag-and-drop interface.
To fully utilize the numerous customization options and plugins available on WordPress, it is necessary to dedicate some time and effort to learning the different menus and interfaces provided by the platform.
Although WordPress may pose some initial challenges with its menu system, once you become adept at navigating it, you can customize virtually every aspect of your blog. As a result, your blog can stand out amongst the rest and establish a unique online presence.
Although WordPress offers privacy protection for free with domains registered on their platform, one drawback of the free plan is the absence of email or live chat support.
When creating your blog using WordPress.com, make sure you don’t make the mistake of mistaking it for WordPress.org, which is a free open publishing platform that necessitates users to host their blogs with a third party.
Blogger
Google’s Blogger, which was introduced on the eve of the new millennium, is considered one of the pioneers of online publishing and evokes a sense of sentimentality for individuals who initiated their blogging journey in the 2000s. Despite its age, it remains a viable option and boasts a robust community that can assist with troubleshooting.
Its built-in analytics function is among the most appealing features and for those who want a more detailed understanding of their readers, it is possible to link their blog directly to Google Analytics. In addition, Blogger is compatible with Google AdSense and could be useful for those interested in monetizing with categorized support topics.
Are there any drawbacks to using Blogger? To begin with, the platform does not provide customized customer assistance and while using a Blogspot.com domain name might not be a concern for individuals, it may not meet the professionalism standards expected by certain business owners.
Medium
Should you wish to avoid some of the stress involved in launching and hosting your own personal blog, Medium could be the right online publishing platform for your needs.
Other solutions mentioned earlier provide the option to build a website completely from scratch, but Medium offers a platform for sharing your blog with a lively online community. Essentially, on Medium you retain ownership of your content but not the platform itself where you publish it.
Medium, which was created by one of the founders of Twitter and has over 170 million readers globally, is a platform where numerous reputable publications like The Economist and influential thought leaders regularly share their content. Posting your blog on Medium means you’ll be among distinguished company.
With the Medium model, technophobes can avoid the headaches associated with running their own website, including operational difficulties and the need to optimize their own SEO.
On Medium, by sharing your content, you give up some control over it. The worst-case scenario is that Medium’s moderators may suddenly delete your content if they believe it isn’t appropriate or offensive. According to the platform’s terms and conditions, all content must consider factors such as novelty, but your posts must also comply with applicable laws and must not pose any danger. In the event that your blog is removed, there isn’t much you can do about it.
Whether or not Medium is the most suitable option for you depends on whether you would rather manage your own website or be willing to let go of some platform control to reach a bigger audience in Medium. If the latter is true for you, then Medium might be an appealing alternative.
Web.com
Since 1999, Web.com has been a well-liked website building service that offers a simple drag-and-drop interface. Regardless of your level of technical expertise, you can use it to effortlessly build any kind of website, including a blog.
Additionally, Web.com presents numerous pre-designed website templates to facilitate a speedy start. Modifying the templates can be achieved effortlessly through pointing and clicking. Further, one can readily incorporate features such as contact forms, photo galleries, videos, social media buttons, and other elements.
The greatest advantage is that you can commence for an extremely affordable cost.
Advantages:
- The drag and drop builder makes it easy to design your blog
- You can add unlimited pages to your site
- It comes with a free domain name, business email address, SEO tools, website analytics, and more
Negatives:
- Blogging functionality is limited compared to other platforms like WordPress.org
- Switching to a different platform in the future will be difficult since Web.com is a proprietary site builder
Web.com offers a range of pricing options for their website plans. Their Starter plan is available for as little as $1.95 per month, with the option to upgrade to the Marketing plan for $2.95 per month, which includes added SEO capabilities. For those looking to set up an online store, the eCommerce plan is available starting at $3.95 per month.
Gator Website Builder
You can build any type of website, be it a blog, small business site or eCommerce site, with Gator Website Builder which is a comprehensive website builder.
Regardless of your level of expertise in blogging, you will discover that the Gator website builder is highly beneficial.
Advantages:
- It provides free domain name registration with any plan
- It comes with 200 mobile-optimized designs
- Includes access to analytics, social and productivity tools
- Friendly customer support that is available 24/7 and 365 days a year
Disadvantages:
- Unlike other blogging platforms, HostGator’s website builder is not free of cost
- It’s not as feature rich as WordPress.org
- It offers limited customization options
The starter plan has a monthly fee of $3.46. For a price of $5.39 per month, customers can upgrade to the premium plan that comes with priority support. The eCommerce plan has a monthly cost of $8.30.
Tumblr
With Tumblr, you can effortlessly share anything on the web, be it photos, quotes, or other content, making it an excellent tool for blogging, microblogging, and social networking. It is considered the most user-friendly blogging platform available today and has a predominantly younger user base in contrast to other social networks. As of now, there are over 417 million blogs hosted on Tumblr.
Advantages:
- The easiest free blogging platform in existence
- It has an integrated social media component
- Unlike other social media sites, Tumblr gives you the ability to heavily customize your own page
Negatives:
- Compared to other blogging platforms, Tumblr comes with a limited set of features
- While you can choose from an extensive collection of Tumblr themes, you don’t have control over formatting, similar to other platforms like WordPress.com
- Exporting your site to another platform can be quite difficult
There is no charge for this service.
Squarespace
Creating a visually impressive website is possible with Squarespace, a website builder that doesn’t require coding expertise. This platform presents several site templates to choose from, with each template offering numerous features you can personalize. By subscribing annually to Squarespace, you can avail of a free domain name registration.
Pros:
- It’s a nice platform to easily build a basic website
- It also allows you to integrate an eCommerce storefront into your site
- You can choose from an extensive collection of highly-customizable site templates
- No transaction fee is charged for eCommerce transactions
Drawbacks:
- Unlike other site builders such as Wix.com, Squarespace doesn’t allow you to build a free website
- Limited marketing tools are available
- No third-party apps or extensions are allowed
For pricing, the Personal plan will require a payment of $16 per month, the Business plan will cost $23 per month, and the Basic Online Store plan will be $27 per month.
Don’t miss out on these excellent alternatives to Squarespace. Additionally, take a look at our detailed guide that outlines the process of moving from Squarespace to WordPress.
Ghost
Ghost is a simplistic blogging tool that ensures easy initiation and publication of content. It aims to simplify the process of blogging for individual bloggers as well as digital publications. Its availability is similar to WordPress, being offered on both hosted and self-hosted platforms.
Ghost is the most appropriate option for bloggers and publishers who require a smooth writing process, allowing them to concentrate solely on the content they are producing.
Ghost might not be the appropriate choice if you want to create a basic website with budgetary constraints.
Advantages:
- Clean, clutter-free, and easy-to-use interface
- Built-in SEO and distribution tools
- No setup required for the hosted version
Drawbacks:
- Self-hosted version works best on VPS servers and above
- Compared to WordPress, running cost will be high
- Only limited themes and plugins are available in the marketplace
The monthly fee for the basic plan is $9.
Weebly
With the user-friendly drag and drop builder provided by Weebly, you can easily create your website to your liking. Moreover, you have the ability to incorporate a blog and establish an eCommerce storefront into your Weebly website.
Advantages:
- A free plan is available that lets you start a basic website on Weebly.com subdomain
- All plans come with free SSL
- You can easily start and grow your email list with Weebly Promote
Disadvantages:
- Exporting Weebly to another platform is difficult
- Limited integration with third-party platforms
- Limited built-in features to create a website
For those using Weebly who desire a more adaptable platform, this guide offers instructions on transferring your website to WordPress.
The starter plan comes at no cost, while the fundamental Personal plan incurs a monthly fee of $10.
