If you want to showcase your work online but lack funds and coding skills, the top free blog website platforms are ideal. Not only can they save you money, but they also provide superior creative options compared to social media platforms, which focus too heavily on shares and likes. These platforms offer numerous stylish templates that grant you greater creative freedom.
When making a selection, one must prioritize either convenience or creative freedom. The simpler platforms typically impose limitations on the appearance of your blog. To achieve a more flexible design, you must be ready to utilize your technical and coding abilities.
What makes the best blogging platform?
Blogs have been in existence since the beginning of the internet, hence people generally have a fair comprehension of its concept, although they may not have explicitly articulated it. To us, a blog refers to a website that may have other pages, but the crux of it is the sequence of blog posts arranged in descending order of time.
The distinction between the software required for a blog and the content management systems (CMS) utilized by big enterprises to run their websites is subtle. Several platforms such as WordPress and Drupal have the capability to serve both purposes, i.e., developing a blog or boosting a standard website.
Two criteria were used in determining which tools were included in our essential list of blogging tools. Firstly, they should facilitate an easy and speedy setup of a real blog. Secondly, their backend for blog post writing must be user-friendly and comprehensive. Squarespace, for example, allows for blog building but the setup process is not very straightforward and the backend is poorly designed. Although Drupal is an exceptional CMS, it is not suitable for non-developers as it is challenging to get started with, and therefore cannot be regarded as a universal blogging platform. On the other hand, WordPress is both quick and simple for the average person to use and the backend is easy-to-use and intuitive.
Only blogging tools that meet the essential requirements for blogging are listed here. However, that isn’t sufficient. We also demanded that all the blogging tools meet the following criteria:
Having a customized website is crucial in the blogging world, as it sets your blog apart from the numerous generic Twitter accounts. Our goal was to provide users with user-friendly tools that enable them to select their preferred theme and establish their own unique brand. Simplifying this process was our top priority.
Sufficiently backed. Although our intention was to ensure that the tools enlisted here have user-friendliness, during website setup, one is bound to face some peculiar technicalities. Thus, we mandated that these tools must possess either a group of users who create guides and offer assistance, or a committed customer service staff. (Deciding on which support alternative to bank on usually depends on the amount you are willing to shell out per month.)
Cost-effective. The lineup does not consist solely of budget-friendly blogging platforms, however, reasonable pricing and getting your money’s worth were still crucial factors. While there are free blogging platforms out there to commence your blog, if your goal is to generate a significant amount of traffic or require premium support, a fee will be necessary.
The best free blog website platforms for creatives
1. Wix
If you require a fast and effortless way to create a blog, consider using Wix – the most suitable free platform for blogging. With its user-friendly drag and drop feature, you can easily construct any website, including a blog.
Upon our review, we discovered that starting and using the interface was exceptionally easy. Furthermore, the assortment of templates was commendable, and the offer of 500MB of online storage and 1GB of bandwidth for free was impressive.
Wix draws numerous artists and designers due to several factors, despite not being tailored primarily towards them. Nevertheless, it is worth mentioning that the free account comes with restrictions, an advertisement for Wix on your website, and a Wix domain name. To eliminate these and gain access to features like an online store and Google Analytics, payment is necessary, though the pricing for the paid plans is reasonable. It is advisable to commence with the free plan and move on to an upgrade once you start receiving visitors and require a more refined appearance.
2. Weebly
Weebly is worth considering if you feel overwhelmed by the prospect of creating a blog. In our evaluation, we discovered that it is even more user-friendly than Wix, which is ranked first on our list.
Both platforms share numerous similarities with each other as they operate on a drag-and-drop mechanism, allowing swift website creation with pre-designed templates. Through our testing exposure, we noticed that the distinguishing factor between Weebly and Wix lies in the extent of customization available. While Weebly offers fewer options, this limitation proves to be advantageous as the interface remains uncluttered and user-friendly, making it an ideal choice for a complimentary blogging platform.
Similar to Wix, using the free plan for Weebly includes an advertisement for the platform on your website and a domain name that features the Weebly brand. However, this plan does offer access to various customizable layouts, multiple free themes, and features for social media sharing. Opting for a paid plan eliminates the ads, provides a personalized domain name, and allows for more customization choices.
3. Substack
There is a growing trend among artists and designers to market themselves through email newsletters. While some view this as a substitute for blogging, it is not necessarily the case. We found that Substack offers a convenient solution for both. Although it specializes in newsletters, subscribers are provided with a webpage where they can archive all past newsletters, making it a cost-free blogging platform as well.
It’s important to note that if you desire an exceptional blog appearance, Substack may not be the ideal option. This is owing to the fact that Substack’s chief concentration is on emails, thereby its blog capabilities are highly restricted. Nevertheless, you’ll have access to a fundamental content management system along with tools for formatting text and the capacity to incorporate images, videos, and additional online resources. Additionally, Substack is free as long as your posts or emails are free for public viewing. Only when you begin charging subscribers will Substack receive a percentage of the revenue.
Setting up a newsletter/blog using Substack proved to be incredibly user-friendly, with one of the simplest interfaces we’ve ever encountered. Notably, the version history function was a standout feature that allowed easy access to previous versions of posts. Additionally, despite poor mobile connectivity, we appreciated that the interface remained efficient and lightweight.
4. LinkedIn
If your blog targets a certain professional group, there’s a high likelihood that a large number of your potential readers are active on LinkedIn. Despite being primarily a professional social network, LinkedIn has evolved into a platform that frequently hosts blog posts. Some individuals choose to publish their posts entirely on LinkedIn, while others cross-promote their blog by linking it to LinkedIn. Regardless, having a substantial LinkedIn network is a fantastic opportunity to reach out to a wider audience.
Your request for a personal blog website cannot be fulfilled, however, LinkedIn can be a viable option to get your blog post read by a substantial number of individuals who share your interests. Best of all, the platform is user-friendly and costs nothing to use. To begin, go to the ‘Write an article’ icon where you would typically publish an update. Write a captivating headline, upload an appropriate article photo, and input your blog post by typing or pasting it in.
5. WordPress.org
The current choices provided do not offer complete control on the appearance of your blog posts which may be limiting for artists and designers accustomed to having greater control over their work. Hence, we recommend WordPress.org (distinct from WordPress.com which we’ll be discussing next) as the top choice for individuals seeking a high level of control over their blog’s design.
You can utilize this open-source website creation software without any cost, and its potential is practically boundless. However, mastering the system demands some extra effort. Upon evaluation, we discovered that comprehension of WordPress.org’s software necessitates some learning curve, and achieving your desired outcome may entail acquiring some website design skills. Given that this is a self-managed platform that lacks specialized customer support, it may not be a viable option for everyone.
If your goal is to create a blog within a day, then this might not be the ideal free blogging platform. It is important to keep in mind that you will still have to pay for web hosting and a domain name to launch your blog. Nevertheless, if you invest effort into understanding it, you will have more control over your website than ever before. Additionally, any advertisements that emerge on your blog will be of your selection.
6. WordPress.com
The WordPress.com platform is a managed variant of WordPress, operated by the developers, that can be easily launched. Although there are no charges for basic accounts, the ability to fully customize the platform similar to the self-hosted version requires a fee to access.
Commencing with WordPress is effortless; visit WordPress.com, create a complimentary account, respond to a few straightforward questions, and voila! Within minutes, you will possess a free blog with a .wordpress.com domain (such as harryszapiertestblog.wordpress.com). The appearance of the default theme and the content stated in the sample posts are governed by your replies to the inquiries. It’s pretty convenient, but it does have some constraints. You have a pool of only 100 free themes to choose from (plus 200 or so premium themes you can purchase). Moreover, there will be advertisements for WordPress.com exhibited on your website, and you won’t be able to access support personnel.
If you are familiar with the self-hosted version of WordPress, then you will feel comfortable using WordPress.com. The backend is simplified, with fewer customization options. However, it still features the reliable Gutenberg post editor. Simply select Posts > Add New, write your post, then hit Publish to make it visible on the internet. Additionally, you can include permanent content such as an about page or a contact page. With a few hours of effort, you can easily have a fully functional blog. However, keep in mind that it may appear more generic compared to a self-hosted WordPress installation.
If you want to go beyond a simple blog with a .wordpress.com domain, you must sign up for a paid plan. The Personal plan costs $7 per month and allows you to utilize your own domain name, removes advertisements, and provides email support. However, you are limited to the 100 standard themes unless you purchase a premium theme or upgrade to the $14/month Premium plan, which provides access to all themes. It isn’t until you upgrade to the $33/month Business plan or the $59 eCommerce plan that you can upload and utilize third-party themes and plugins, comparable to your own WordPress server.
7. Ghost
Ghost was created by former WordPress developer John O’Nolan in 2013 as a response to WordPress’s quirks, outdated technologies, and drama within its open source community. Despite the many new features WordPress has acquired since its inception in the early 2000s, some still criticized it as bloated.
The Ghost platform was created to provide a robust and easy-to-use solution for managing blogs and audiences, particularly for paid publications. Its emphasis on blogging is more pronounced than that of WordPress, which, due to years of evolution, incorporates numerous CMS traits.
Ghost follows a business model resembling that of WordPress, where the platform can be downloaded and used free of charge as it is open-source. However, setting up a server requires a certain level of expertise and resources, making it more challenging than WordPress due to the limited pre-configured options. Besides this, Ghost offers Ghost Pro, a hosted version starting at $11/month. Despite being a non-profit organization, the revenue generated from Ghost Pro is utilized to develop the open source software.
Although Ghost’s origins were as a blogging platform, it has adapted to the surge in popularity of paid newsletters in recent years. While users have the option to disable or disregard subscription and membership attributes, those who desire to monetize their premium content have the necessary resources available. Additionally, this feature influences the pricing structure, as the least expensive GhostPro package limits membership to 500 individuals, while unrestricted visits to the website are permitted.
If you seek a more targeted platform, Ghost is an excellent substitute for WordPress, particularly for blogging with a profit motive. This is due to the availability of Ghost Pro, which allows for paid subscription. While WordPress offers plugins for SEO management and membership, Ghost provides these features as standard. However, you sacrifice the unrestricted ability to incorporate any desired features into your site.
