Blogging is modern writing and people do blogging to share their knowledge and experience. It is the best way to share your thoughts and make them available online. Many people do blogging as a full-time profession. Although, most of the pro-bloggers use self-hosted WordPress blogs. But there are many nice blogging platforms available that allow users to create a blog for free. If you are new to blogging and want to create a blog just for fun or to share knowledge, you can use a free blogging platform to create a free blog and start your blogging career.
A blogging platform is an online software or service that enables individuals or businesses to create, manage, and publish blog posts on the internet. It provides a user-friendly interface, and tools for content creation and customization, and often includes hosting services to make blogs accessible to online readers.
There are many good and free Blogging platforms where you can create a free blog. In this article, I will list the best free blogging platforms to create free blogs.
A few of my blogs were previously hosted on Blogger. But now it is on self-hosted WordPress. In this post, I am listing the best websites to create a free blog. You can select any of these free blogging platforms to start your blogging.
Best Free Blogging Platforms to Create Free Blog
1. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the most popular blogging platform that allows users to create a blog for free. It provides the basic functions of WordPress, the most popular open-source blogging CMS. But you can not upload your own theme and plugin. It also provides a free wordpress.com sub-domain for your blog. You just need to create an account, select a good theme from freely available themes and publish your blog.
It gives a wordpress.com sub-domain to use for your blog. If you want to use a custom domain, you will have to pay for it.
2. Blogger
Blogger is another popular blogging platform by Google. It provides a free Blogspot sub-domain and unlimited hosting. The most important thing about Blogger is it works flawlessly even if you have millions of traffic. So, you can save hosting costs and still have a high-traffic blog. Your blog is powered by Google, so it is also secure from hackers until your Google account is safe.
It comes with a nice theme collection. So, you can choose a good theme for your blog. It also offers a theme editor where you can customize your blog’s look and feel. It also allows you to add a custom domain to use for your blog.
You can also monetize your blog by using Adsense or any other ad network.
3. Medium
Medium is a popular online publishing platform by Evan Williams. It is worth mentioning that Evan Williams is the one who founded Blogger and later served as CEO of the microblogging social networking site Twitter.
Medium is one of the fastest-growing blogging platforms because it is easier to use and lets you create your own newspaper or magazine online. You can run a blog for free with limited features but there is also a $5 monthly charge. The medium also does not allow you to run your own ads. Medium offers a Partner Program that allows eligible writers to earn money from their content. By participating in the program, you can potentially generate revenue.
It offers a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy to use for both beginners and experienced. The most notable feature of Medium is its built-in audience that makes your content reach potential readers. The activity community of Medium will help you get engagement and discussions around your articles quickly. Medium takes care of the technical aspects of SEO, such as site speed, mobile responsiveness, and metadata, to ensure your content is search engine friendly. However, note that the extent of customization for SEO is limited compared to self-hosted platforms. It also provides basic analytics to track the performance of your articles.
4. Tumblr
Tumblr is a microblogging platform owned by Oath INC. Tumblr was acquired by Yahoo in 2013 and then Yahoo was acquired by Verizon which put both Yahoo and Tumblr under Oath.
Tumblr is a microblogging platform that lets users post multimedia content and short blog posts. It is free and also allows you to add custom domains. You can easily share and showcase photos, videos, GIFs, and audio files, making it ideal for creative individuals or those who want to emphasize visual elements in their blogs. The platform also has vibrant and active community of users. You get wide range of customizable themes and templates. While Tumblr doesn’t have built-in monetization features like ad placements, you can still incorporate external monetization methods.
5. Ghost
Ghost is similar to WordPress which offers both downloadable blogging software and a hosted blogging platform. The downloaded version is free but the hosted pro version costs you depending on the number of blogs you want to run. The hosted version starts at $29. It includes the most of SSL and CDN.
Ghost offers a minimalist and distraction-free writing experience. The platform uses Markdown for formatting and structuring your content. It also offers a wide range of customizable themes. You can modify themes using HTML, CSS, and Handlebars templating language. This blogging platform also offers SEO friendly blogging experience and includes built-in SEO features, such as meta tags and XML sitemaps. The platform also lets users offer premium content by offering select content only to paid subscribers. It also offers a robust multi-author collaboration features. So, you can invite other users to contribute to your blog.
6. Weebly
Weebly is primarily known as a website builder, but it also offers basic blogging features. So, you can also use it to create your blog. Weebly provides essential blogging features such as the ability to create blog posts, categorize them into different sections or categories, and add tags for better organization. You can also schedule posts for future publication. It also offers a reasonable level of customization for blog layouts. You can choose from a variety of pre-designed blog templates, customize colors, fonts, and add multimedia elements to enhance the appearance of your blog. This platform also offers a built-in SEO tools that allow you to optimize your blog posts for search engines. It also offers social media integration, enabling easy sharing of your blog content on various platforms.
7. Livejournal
Livejournal is another nice blogging platform. Just create an account and share your thoughts for free. Livejournal is a feature-rich blogging platform that comes with nice features like multiple authors, commenting, calendars, and polls. You can see it as a self-contained community or some kind of social networking website. There are many other free blogging platforms that you can try. Just create a free account and start your blog for free.
LiveJournal’s primary focus was on personal blogging. Users could create their own journals and publish posts about their thoughts ad experiences. It also lets users control the visibility of their posts. The platform also has a friend and follower system, where users could add others as friends or follow their journals. Users get extensive customization options for their blogs and can select from a variety of themes and templates.
This to consider while selecting a good blogging platform
When searching for a free blogging platform, there are several key factors you should consider to ensure it meets your needs. Here are some important things to look for:
- Ease of Use: Choose a platform that offers a user-friendly interface and an intuitive content management system. This will make it easier for you to create and manage your blog without technical expertise.
- Customization Options: Look for a platform that provides flexibility in terms of design and customization. It should offer various themes, templates, and layout options to help you create a unique and visually appealing blog.
- Hosting: Check if the platform offers free hosting for your blog. Hosting refers to the server space where your blog is stored and made accessible to visitors. Reliable and secure hosting is crucial for the performance and availability of your blog.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Ensure that the platform supports mobile responsiveness, meaning your blog will look and function well on different devices such as smartphones and tablets. This is important as an increasing number of users access the internet through mobile devices.
- SEO Features: Search engine optimization (SEO) helps improve your blog’s visibility in search engine results. Look for a platform that provides built-in SEO features or allows you to install plugins or add-ons to optimize your content for search engines.
- Monetization Options: If you plan to monetize your blog through advertising or other means, verify whether the platform supports such options. Some platforms have restrictions on monetization for free users, so consider the limitations before making a choice.
- Community and Social Integration: Check if the platform offers features for reader engagement, such as comments, social sharing buttons, and integration with social media platforms. These features can help you build a community around your blog and increase its reach.
- Support and Resources: Consider the availability of support and resources provided by the platform. Look for platforms that offer documentation, tutorials, forums, or responsive customer support to assist you in case you encounter any issues or have questions.
- Scalability: While starting with a free platform is a good choice initially, consider the platform’s ability to grow with your blog. If you anticipate significant growth in the future, ensure that the platform offers options for seamless transition to a self-hosted or premium plan.
- Ownership and Data Control: Review the terms of service and privacy policy to understand who owns the content you publish and whether you have control over your data. It’s important to choose a platform that respects your ownership rights and data privacy.
By considering these factors, you’ll be able to find a free blogging platform that aligns with your goals and provides the necessary features to establish and grow your blog.
What are free blogging sites?
Free blogging sites are online platforms that allow users to create and publish blogs without any cost. They provide basic blogging features and hosting services without requiring payment.
How to choose the best free blogging sites for you?
To choose the best free blogging site for you, consider factors such as ease of use, available features, customization options, community engagement, scalability, and any limitations that may affect your blogging goals. Assess which platform aligns best with your specific needs and preferences.
Are free blogging platforms worth it?
Free blogging platforms can be worth it for beginners or those on a tight budget who want to start blogging quickly and easily. However, they have limitations, such as restricted customization, limited monetization options, and a potential lack of control over your content and branding. If you have specific requirements or long-term goals, a self-hosted or paid platform may offer more flexibility and benefits.
