How to Start Your Blog for Free
Whether you want to promote your business, design a portfolio, or are looking for the perfect creative outlet, you may be wondering how to create a blog. Fortunately, starting a blog isn’t that complicated.
Thousands of people prefer to try free blogging before they invest in paid hosting plans.
Here is the list of top free blogging platforms
- WordPress.com
- Wix.com
- Blogger
- Medium
- Tumblr
- Weebly
Let’s take a look at each platform one by one, we will see their pros and cons
1. WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a blog hosting service offered by Automattic, a company created by WordPress.org cofounder Matt Mullenweg.
WordPress.com offers a basic blog hosting service for free. You can purchase additional options like a custom domain name, additional storage, and other premium services. Example: Start Blog Free
Pros:
- No setup required.
- Easy to use and manage.
Cons:
- Limited options to extend your site.
- You cannot run advertisements on your blog.
- You do not own your blog and WordPress.com can suspend your account if they find you are violating their terms of service.
2. Wix.com
Wix is a hosted platform to build websites. It offers an easy way for small businesses to build a website using drag and drop tools. You can also add a blog to your website by adding the Wix Blog app. Example: Start Blog Free
Pros
- You can customize your site using dozens of templates and third-party apps.
- Build your site with easy drag and drop tools; no coding skills required.
- Setup is quick and easy.
Cons
- The free account is limited and shows Wix branding and ads on your site.
- Free third-party apps are limited.
- Once you choose a template you cannot change it.
- E-commerce features are limited to paid plans, and even those features are limited.
3. Blogger
Blogger is a free blog hosting service. Acquired by Google in 2003, it offers a quick and easy way to create a blog for non-tech-savvy users.Example: Sayyad Imran’s Blog and Hindi Wire
Pros:
- Blogger is free.
- It’s easy to use and manage without any technical skills.
- Has the added advantage of Google’s robust secure platform and reliability.
Cons:
- You’re limited to basic blogging tools and can’t add new features as your blog grows in popularity.
- Design options are limited, with fewer templates available. Third-party templates for Blogger are often low quality.
- Blogger does not receive frequent updates or new features.
- Google can suspend your blog at any time, or even cancel the Blogger service altogether.
4. Medium
Launched in 2012, Medium has grown into a community of writers, bloggers, journalists, and experts. It is an easy-to-use blogging platform with limited social networking features. Example: The Life Blog
Pros:
- Medium is easy to use, with no setup required and no coding skills needed.
- It allows you to reach an existing online community of people of similar interests.
- You can focus solely on writing, instead of designing a website.
Cons:
- Features are very limited in terms of design or building a brand.
- Medium owns your audience, so losing your blog means losing all your followers.
- You cannot run your own ads to make money.
5. Tumblr
Tumblr is a little different than other blogging platforms. It is a microblogging platform with social networking features including following other blogs, reblogging, built-in sharing tools, and more. Example: Sayyad Imran
Pros:
- Tumblr is free and very easy to use.
- It has an integrated social media component.
- As a microblogging tool, Tumblr makes it easy to quickly blog videos, GIFs, images, and audio formats.
Cons:
- Tumblr comes with a limited set of features that you cannot extend as your blog grows.
- There are many themes available for Tumblr, but they can’t offer additional features.
- Backing up your Tumblr blog or importing it to other platforms is difficult
6. Weebly
Weebly is a hosted platform that allows you to build your website using drag and drop tools. It comes with dozens of ready-to-use themes that you can customize using their web-based interface. Example: Sayyad Imran’s Blog
Pros
- Easy-to-use drag and drop website builder with no technical skills required.
- Quick and easy setup, since Weebly will host your site for you.
- Weebly’s free plan allows you to try out the service before buying.
Cons
- Built-in features are limited, and you can’t add new features.
- Limited integration with third-party platforms.
- Exporting your site from Weebly to another platform is difficult.