09+ Best Free Blogging Platform To Make Money

Choosing the "Best Free Blogging Platform To Make Money" is a common question for beginners looking to start a blog free of cost. Numerous free blogging platforms are available in 2025 that offer monetization opportunities, but selecting the right one can be challenging due to each platform’s unique features, limitations, and earning potential.

This guide provides an overview of the most popular and effective free blogging platforms to start your blog and generate income. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses, so your choice will depend on your goals, technical skills, and monetization strategy. We’ve updated this list with the latest insights and added new platforms that have gained traction in 2025.

Below, we discuss ten blogging platforms, their pros and cons, and how they can help you earn money online. Note that free platforms often come with limitations, and monetization typically requires 3-6 months of consistent effort to see results.

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01. wordpress.org

Launched on May 27, 2003, by founders Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, WordPress.org is an open-source content management system (CMS) built with PHP and MySQL. It powers over 43% of websites globally in 2025, making it the most popular blogging platform due to its flexibility, affordability, and extensive ecosystem.

Starting a blog on WordPress.org is quick, with thousands of free themes and plugins available for customization. While the software is free, you’ll need hosting (starting at ~$3/month with providers like Bluehost) and a domain. The intuitive dashboard allows you to manage themes, plugins, and content without coding skills. WordPress.org supports multiple monetization methods, including Google AdSense, affiliate marketing, and e-commerce.

PROS:

User-friendly interface.
Quick setup with one-click installations.
Thousands of free themes and plugins.
Affordable hosting (~$3/month).
Strong community support and tutorials.
Full control over customization.
SEO-friendly with plugins like Yoast.
Supports Google Analytics and AdSense.
E-commerce integration (e.g., WooCommerce).

CONS:

Requires manual security management.
Backups depend on hosting provider.
May struggle with very high traffic without optimization.
Learning curve for advanced customization.

02. blogger.com

Launched on August 23, 1999, by Pyra Labs and acquired by Google in 2003, Blogger is a free blogging platform hosted on Google’s servers. Blogs typically use a “blogspot.com” subdomain, but custom domains are supported via DNS. Users can create up to 100 blogs per Google account, making it ideal for beginners.

Blogger requires only a Gmail account to start, with no hosting or domain costs. However, customization is limited compared to WordPress.org, as themes require coding knowledge, and plugins aren’t supported. Its integration with Google services like Google Analytics and AdSense makes monetization straightforward. Blogger is a solid choice for those prioritizing simplicity and Google’s reliable infrastructure. Follow our Blogger series for setup guides.

PROS:

Completely free with no hosting costs.
Easy setup with Gmail integration.
Custom domain support.
Fast loading and scalable infrastructure.
AdSense monetization.
High server security by Google.

CONS:

Limited theme customization without coding.
No plugin support.
Google can suspend blogs without notice.
Less SEO flexibility compared to WordPress.org.
Limited customer support.

03. wix.com

Founded in 2006 by Avishai Abrahami, Nadav Abrahami, and Giora Kaplan, Wix is a cloud-based platform for creating HTML5 websites and blogs using drag-and-drop tools. Wix offers a free plan with a subdomain (e.g., username.wixsite.com) and hosting, ideal for beginners.

Wix’s intuitive editor allows template customization without coding, though advanced users can edit themes. Premium plans unlock custom domains and advanced features. Wix supports AdSense and affiliate marketing but requires a paid plan for analytics. Its ease of use makes it a strong choice for visually appealing blogs. For design inspiration, check out our Guide to Responsive Web Design.

PROS:

Drag-and-drop design flexibility.
Free hosting and subdomain.
AdSense integration.
AI-powered design tools.
Automatic backups.

CONS:

Premium plans required for analytics.
Slower loading speeds on free plans.
Difficult to migrate to other platforms.
Limited control over blog ownership.

04. medium.com

Launched in August 2012 by Evan Williams (co-founder of Twitter and Blogger), Medium is an online publishing platform with over 80 million monthly readers in 2025. It’s ideal for writers who want to focus on content creation without managing a website.

Medium’s Partner Program allows writers to earn based on reader engagement, with payments tied to member subscriptions ($5/month or $50/year). No technical setup is required—just sign up with Google or Facebook and start writing. However, Medium doesn’t support AdSense or advanced analytics. For tips on boosting earnings, see Boost AdSense CPC in 2025.

PROS:

Simple signup with Google/Facebook.
Large built-in audience.
No setup or maintenance required.
SEO-friendly platform.
Medium Partner Program for monetization.

CONS:

No Google Analytics integration.
No AdSense support.
Limited control over content.
High competition among writers.

05. wordpress.com

Launched in November 2005 by Matt Mullenweg, WordPress.com is a hosted blogging platform built with PHP and JavaScript. Unlike WordPress.org, it offers free hosting and a subdomain (e.g., websitename.wordpress.com).

The free plan includes basic features, but ads appear on your blog. Premium plans ($4-$25/month) remove ads, enable custom domains, and unlock monetization options like AdSense and affiliate marketing. WordPress.com is user-friendly but less flexible than WordPress.org. For optimizing blog performance, explore Top Tools to Measure and Optimize Page Speed.

PROS:

Easy setup with free subdomain.
Automatic backups and updates.
Custom domain support on paid plans.
Google Analytics integration.
E-commerce capabilities.

CONS:

Ads on free plans.
Limited theme and plugin customization.
Scalability issues with high traffic.
Less control compared to WordPress.org.

06. tumblr.com

Founded in February 2007 by David Karp, Tumblr is a microblogging platform with a social media-like interface. It hosts over 550 million blogs in 2025 but has seen declining traffic (~300 million monthly visitors).

Tumblr is free, with unlimited storage and easy setup. It supports ads for monetization and integrates with Google Analytics. However, it’s less suited for professional blogging due to limited customization and security concerns. For creative design ideas, check 40+ Creative Timeline Design Ideas.

PROS:

Easy to use with quick setup.
Free hosting and subdomain.
Unlimited storage.
Suitable for microblogging.

CONS:

No plugins or theme customization.
Limited blog ownership.
Lower security standards.
Declining user base.

07. squarespace.com

Launched in January 2004 by Anthony Casalena, Squarespace offers drag-and-drop tools for creating professional websites and blogs. While not entirely free, its 14-day trial allows testing.

Squarespace is SEO-friendly and supports AdSense and e-commerce. Plans start at $16/month, which may be steep for beginners. It’s ideal for visually focused blogs but lacks robust backup options. For font inspiration, see Top Free Fonts Websites.

PROS:

Intuitive drag-and-drop editor.
SEO-friendly templates.
AdSense and e-commerce support.
Social media integration.

CONS:

Expensive plans ($16+/month).
Limited backups.
No phone support.

08. weebly.com

Founded in March 2006 by David Rusenko, Chris Fanini, and Dan Veltri, Weebly is a drag-and-drop website builder similar to Wix. Its free plan offers 500MB storage, a subdomain (e.g., websitename.weebly.com), and ads.

Weebly’s responsive themes and built-in analytics are beginner-friendly, but monetization requires a paid plan ($10+/month). It supports e-commerce and SEO but has limited design flexibility. For design resources, explore 10+ Free Stock Photo Websites.

PROS:

Easy drag-and-drop builder.
Responsive themes.
SEO-friendly.
E-commerce support.

CONS:

Limited design flexibility.
Paid analytics and monetization.
Slow loading on free plans.
Migration challenges.

09. ghost.org

Launched in 2013 by John O’Nolan, Ghost is an open-source CMS designed for professional publishing and blogging. While it requires hosting for the free version, Ghost offers a sleek interface and built-in membership/monetization features.

Ghost’s free version requires self-hosting (e.g., via DigitalOcean, ~$5/month), but its paid hosted plans start at $9/month. It supports memberships, subscriptions, and AdSense, making it ideal for creators focused on newsletters or paid content. For coding tips, see Top 10 Best Online Code Compilers.

PROS:

Clean, modern interface.
Built-in membership and subscription tools.
SEO-friendly and fast.
AdSense and affiliate marketing support.

CONS:

Self-hosting requires technical setup.
Higher learning curve than Blogger.
Fewer themes/plugins than WordPress.org.

10. substack.com

Launched in 2017 by Chris Best, Jairaj Sethi, and Hamish McKenzie, Substack is a platform for newsletters and blogs with a focus on subscription-based monetization. It’s free to start, with no setup costs.

Substack allows writers to charge for premium content (Substack takes 10% of subscription revenue). Its simplicity and built-in audience make it ideal for writers targeting niche communities. However, it lacks AdSense support and advanced customization. For social sharing tips, see 72+ Social Share Button Collection.

PROS:

Free to start with no hosting costs.
Subscription-based monetization.
Built-in audience discovery.
Simple, no-code setup.

CONS:

No AdSense integration.
Limited design customization.
10% revenue share on subscriptions.
Less suited for traditional blogging.

We strive to provide accurate and up-to-date content. If you spot any errors or know of other platforms we should include, please let us know.