The 14 Best Sites to Create a Free Blog

Have you caught the blogging bug? Do you feel ready to refine your texts and publish them? Excellent! But which platform to choose to create a free blog? Do not panic, here is the list of the best sites tocreate your blog:

As you may have guessed, there are plenty of free blogging platforms online and not all are created equal. So the best will vary depending on your needs:

• Do you want to reach a wide audience?
• Want to join a community of like-minded people?
• Do you want to display your words as nice as possible?
• Do you want to earn money?
• Do you need a multilingual system?
• Don't worry, I will give you a good option for each answer. But first, let's see how to get started:

Blog Creators: How To Start A Free Blog?

It starts with logging in. So this usually applies:

Sign up for a free blogging site (usually just an email address) Create a username Select a blog template Create a new post Add formatting (links, bold, etc...) and media Press publish. And that's all! At least this is the case with the best solutions.

14 Free Blog Makers and their Pros and Cons

1. Wix
2. WordPress.com
3. WordPress.org
4. Weebly
5. Medium
6. Webnode
7. Webflow
8. Bookmark
9. Blogger
10. LinkedIn
11. Tumblr
12. Ghost
13. Postachio
14. LiveJournal

Have you heard of a platform that deserves to be on our list? Do you have questions about creating a blog? Let us know in the comments (at the bottom of the page).

1. Wix

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The behemoth of online website publishers

In our opinion, Wix is the most used, well-known and recommended website editor. The Wix team's strategy is clear: make its free version irresistible. This also applies if you want to start your first blog.

If we compare the free version to the paid plans, we notice that most of the features remain available. Let's see what you get with the free version.

The most of a free Wix blog

✔️ A large choice of models
✔️ Ideal for graphic and photo blogs
✔️ Access to royalty-free image banks
✔️ Full access to the best app store among website builders
✔️ Basic email marketing and social integration features
✔️ Ability to fully customize SEO settings
✔️ Wix app for publishing and managing tickets when you're on the go

The less of a free Wix blog

❌ Annoying static advertising (mediocre on desktop, a little better on the mobile version)
❌ 500MB of storage with the free plan
❌ Domain name too long: account-name.wix.com/site-name
❌ Readers must log in to leave comments

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

You'll need the Basic plan to remove ads ($16 per month). This plan includes a free domain name for one year, and increases storage capacity up to 3 GB.

2. WordPress.com

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The giant of blogging platforms

Let's start at the beginning, there are two versions: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. It's a bit confusing, but here's how to remember it:

• WordPress.com offers you acompletewebsite, which includes hosting.
• With WordPress.org, you will have to organize yourself on your side for accommodation.

This section is dedicated to the .com version of WordPress. Discover the differences between the two options here:

To summarize, WordPress.com is a platform that allows you to choose between a free or paid plan, and use its blog editor immediately. Hosting is included and the software pre-installed, so you don't have to set anything up.

It's much easier to get started, but it still comes with some constraints, especially when it comes to the free version.

The advantages of a free blog WordPress.com

✔️ Good text and media management
✔️ Responsive and fast editor
✔️ Stylish themes suitable for mobile viewing
✔️ Release schedule
✔️ Ability to publish blog posts from mobile and desktop apps
✔️ Excellent import and export features

The less of a free blog WordPress.com

❌ 1GB storage space with the free plan
❌ Display of WordPress ads
❌ Limited choice of themes
❌ Rudimentary theme customization options (colors, fonts, and that's about it)
❌ Unable to install extensions

What about free WordPress.com themes?

About 80 free themes are available. This is a nice selection, and all the themes are fast, stylish and suitable for mobile viewing. Be aware, however, that you will not benefit from all the customization options (CSS and HTML), unless you upgrade to a higher plan. Premium themes are not available in the Free plan.

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

Unfortunately, that's a pretty big jump from the free plan to WordPress.com's only paid plan, Pro – it costs $15 per month.

The good news, however, is that you'll unlock access to premium themes and plugins, as well as advanced SEO settings.

Support and site backups are also included.

3. WordPress.org

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Incredibly powerful, but first and foremost a software solution

Now let's focus on the software WordPress.org offers. As a reminder: this is only the software, so you must install it on your own server (hosting). It's an open source solution and one of the most powerful content management systems you can get.

Unlike the hosted version, you have access to all the available features. Thanks to the software, extensions and free templates, there are countless possibilities available to you. Let's look at the rest of the features of the software WordPress.org when you use it for your site.

The advantages of free blogging software WordPress.org

✔️ One of the most powerful content management systems on the market
✔️ Access to hundreds of excellent extensions (free and paid)
✔️ Possibility to install the themes of your choice (free and paid)
✔️ Full SEO features
✔️ Solution that allows you to evolve your blog as you wish
✔️ Very important community

The minuses of free blogging software WordPress.org

❌ Requirement to purchase your own hosting service (some bloggers will appreciate more control though)
❌ Rather complex for beginners
❌ Manual updates (in all honesty, most of the time it only takes a few clicks)
❌ No official support

4. Weebly

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A flexible platform that offers many free features

Weebly is probably not the most well-known name in the blogosphere, and personally, I think it's a shame. Thisblog editor proves to be excellent and offers great flexibility as well as multiple customization options.

Your URL will look like monblog.weebly.com, and the themes are elegant. You also get access to the app center, even if you're using a free version of Weebly. Other than that, using Weebly for your free blog has its advantages, here are a few:

The advantages of a free Weebly blog

✔️ Arguably one of the most efficient blog builders when it comes to dragging and dropping (you can easily lay out and move elements around the page)
✔️ Free, stylish and_responsive_ themes
✔️ Good SEO Options
✔️ Sharing on social networks
✔️ Release schedule

The less of a free Weebly blog

❌ Support only available in English
❌ Invasive and imposing advertising
❌ 500 MB storage
❌ Limited media capabilities (no audio or video player)
❌ Does not allow users to register
❌ Weebly hasn't updated the platform in a while, so you may be limited in the features you can add.

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

The first paid version that allows you to remove annoying ads is called Personal and costs $8 per month. It gives you access to a free domain name for one year and an SSL certificate.

5. Medium

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The minimalist platform dedicated to writing

Launched in 2012 by one of Twitter's founders, Medium.com aims to change the way people blog. The goal is tocreate a space that values quality writing. No ads are displayed, but readers are encouraged to become paying members. Revenue from subscriptions is then distributed among content creators, based on different indicators, such as the number of subscribers, user engagement and the number of_claps_ (applause, the Medium equivalent of "Like").

Using Medium for blogging couldn't be easier. In reality, its minimalist, no-frills style is gradually becomingthe standard that all blogs should strive to follow. It gives pride of place to typography, without distractions or decorative elements. It is easy to recognize that this is a site dedicated to those who enjoy reading posts published by authors who like to write beautiful texts.

In addition, Medium is more than just a blogging platform: it's also a community. Withmore than 60 million users, and this figure continues to grow, your tickets will find an audience, however small it may be at first.

Finally, a reservation to make: in my opinion, Medium is certainly one of the best choices for bloggers, but does not offer the most successful publisher. You have virtually no control over design and customization options, and very few features or tools.

The advantages of a free Medium account

✔️ Elegant and minimalist typography
✔️ Opportunity to (potentially) earn money for your items
✔️ Easy account creation and setup
✔️ Access to a wide audience
✔️ No ads
✔️ Trustworthy platform (used by well-known journalists, entrepreneurs, politicians and authors)
✔️ Possibility to republish the posts of your different blogs (the platform even allows you to optimize your content for search engines)

The less than one free Medium account

❌ Only available in English
❌ No control over the design
❌ Medium keeps encouraging users to download its app
❌ Hard to get organic traffic
❌ Not ideal for a photo blog
❌ - No custom domain name
❌ Niche market-focused solution: not ideal for informal blogging

6. Webnode

-- The Polyglot

Webnode is another example of a website builder that also allows you to start a blog for free. This is a rather ordinary platform, except for one feature: you can display your pages and posts in several languages, provided you use a paid version.

Apart from that, the drag and drop editor is decent, and the templates are modern and_responsive._ You can add a small online store, which is pretty cool without being extraordinary.

The advantages of a free Webnode blog

✔️ Stylish models
✔️ Discreet advertising
✔️ Simple and intuitive solution

The less of a free blog Webnode

❌ 200 MB storage
❌ Bandwidth limited to 1 GB
❌ No comments section

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

There are two paid plans (Limited and Mini) that allow you to connect a domain, but you'll still need the Standard plan for $12.90 to remove ads.

7. Webflow

A creative way to launch your blog

San Francisco-basedcompany Webflowis a mix between a website builder and a CMS. To some extent, it reminds me of WordPress, but it's easier to use and maintain. In addition, Webflow will host your site and provide you with assistance in case of any problems...

You can fully customize the design through the visual editor: it's a great choice for designers and advanced users.

Benefits of a Free Webflow Blog

✔️ Flexibility: You can fully customize all aspects of the design (layout, HTML, style, etc.).
✔️ Knowledge Base: Webflow offers courses, videos, and articles to help you build your website.
✔️ Availability: Webflow guarantees 99.99% availability.

Limitations of a Free Webflow Blog

❌ Complexity: The editor is powerful but it takes some getting used to.
❌ Post limit: The free plan allows you to publish a maximum of 50 blog posts only
❌ Webflow subdomain: If you're using the free plan, your site URL will be: monsite.webflow.io
❌ Pricing: Plans can be confusing. It's hard to know which one is appropriate.
❌ Missing features: Webflow would be much better with multi-language support and user login functionality.

What if I want to change my plan?

Webflow offers 2 main plans for bloggers: the CMS plan for beginners with 100,000 monthly visits: $20/month. And the Business plan, for high-traffic blogs at $45/month.

8. Bookmark

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Blog templates powered by artificial intelligence

Bookmark is a website publisher whose only selling point is itsartificial intelligence system. This asset is not entirely unique, Wix and Jimdo offering comparable features, but Bookmark particularly highlights it on itslanding page.

In any case, this is a feature that is supposed to help you design a neat and stylish blog. I tested it and the results are quite conclusive. Perhaps not enough, in my opinion, to make it a selling point, but it is nevertheless aquite decent option for a free blogging platform.

The most of a free blog Bookmark

✔️ Fast, AI-assisted setup
✔️ Ease of use
✔️ Simple interface

The less of a free blog Bookmark

❌ Bandwidth limited to 1 GB per month
❌ 500MB of storage with the free plan
❌ Bookmark Ads
❌ Lack of adaptability of models

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

Plans that allow you to remove ads start at $9.59. This is a pretty high price compared to well-established platforms like Wix or Weebly. You can also get a business email address for $2 per month, a rather affordable price.

9. Blogger

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Create a blog with Google

I wanted to add Blogger to this list, as this service provided by Google remains a well-known name. However, it must be recognized that it is becoming more and more difficult today to recommend this platformto anyone who is new to the world of blogging. I wouldn't be surprised to see it joinGoogle's graveyard of abandoned and "dead" products.

What for? The service has been around for 15 years and it's starting to show. Templates sometimes take a long time to display. The product has not been the subject of any innovation for years. In 2018, only one post was published on the official Blogger blog.

However, let's not forget some advantages that the platform could offer, as we will see below.

The most of a free blog Blogger

✔️ Totally free and ad-free
✔️ Unlimited storage space
✔️ Integrated data analysis
✔️ Integration with Google's suite of products (Photos, Drive, etc.)

The less than one free blog Blogger

❌ Aging back office
❌ Sometimes slow page display
❌ Limited choice of models
❌ Few customization options

10. LinkedIn

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The new benchmark for professional blogs

You probably know LinkedIn for one of two things: the champion of spam invitations or the social network of the business world. Nevertheless, it is anincreasingly renowned platformfor publishing articles on topics related to business, entrepreneurship or finance, among others.

Creating an account is free and complex, and you canboost your professional profileby presenting your articles to other like-minded experts. Just like Medium, it's an ideal platform for blogging, but the publisher itself isn't very good. You can't choose a template or control the design. Everything is LinkedIn like LinkedIn, hosting included, making it difficult to migrate your content to other platforms later.

The most of a free LinkedIn account

✔️ Ideal for developing professional relationships
✔️ Trustworthy platform
✔️ Easy-to-use editor
✔️ Allows you to reach your audience (your network first, other professionals second)

The less of a free LinkedIn account

❌ Only suitable for writing corporate or business articles
❌ Unable to connect your domain (you can still request a public LinkedIn URL)
❌ No customization options
❌ Aggressive email marketing strategy (for your network)

Note that it is possible to create a professional website for free. Our article on thebest free software might interest you.

11. Tumblr

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Microblogging and Social Media

In 2013, the acquisition of the Tumblr platform by Yahoo for the impressive sum of $ 1.1 billion caused a stir andit was not to the taste of its users. Besides, you may be familiar with the tendency of Tumblr users to make their voices heard. The community is very close-knit, involved and often predisposed to controversy.

However, the user base is Tumblr's main asset. The site welcomes 550 million visitors each month and hosts more than 459 million blogs. It is designed on the model of social networks: users are encouraged to reblog posts they like, subscribe to blogs and in general add comments and share each other's content.

But in practice, how do we blog on Tumblr? You will realize that the tickets are rather short and that the platform occupies a niche. Tumblr is indeed the number one microblogging, users favoring short content that can be shared. The site is also heavily focused on graphic content. Illustrators, graphic designers and photographers are doing well (even if Tumblr is losing more and more popularity to Instagram).

The most of a free Tumblr blog

✔️ Totally free and ad-free
✔️ Intuitive interface
✔️ Access to a very large and active community
✔️ Unlimited storage capacity
✔️ Flawless content management

The less of a free Tumblr blog

❌ 250 tickets and 75 images per day (more than enough)
❌ File size restriction to 10 MB or 1 MB for GIFs
❌ Not ideal for long tickets
❌ No data analysis features or SEO features
❌ Limited choice of free themes

What if I want to upgrade to the next plan?

You can connect your Tumblr to your domain name for free. Premium themes are also available and will cost you between $9 and $49 on average.

12. Ghost

Before concluding, here are some additional options for very specific cases. Ghost is an impressive professional publishing platform if you haveambitious online publishing projects. This is probably a solution a little too advanced for a single blogger, but it is a powerful and open source tool. Paid plans start at $29 per month for two users, and you can also try the platform for free.

13. Postachio

Postachiois a nice little website that is part of the Evernote family. It allows youto convert your Evernote content into simple blog posts. Simply connect your notes and add the #publish hashtag in your public content. It lacks a few features, but you get access to the Disqus commenting service, you can embed content, and you have Dropbox storage options.

14. LiveJournal

LiveJournal, which is perhapsthe oldest platform on this list (created in 1999!). Certainly, the back office betrays its age, but the community of unwavering users makes this platform very interesting to share your ideas, thoughts and daily reflections.

How to choose your publisher and get started?

As you can imagine, there aredozens of free blogging solutions online, but they are not all created equal. The best option will largely depend on your needs:

• Do you want to reach a wide audience?
• Join a community of like-minded people?
• Present your texts in as pleasant a way as possible?
• Do you want to make money?
• Do you need a multilingual solution?

You will first need to create an account. I only know of one platform that allows you to publish blog posts without registration. Here are generally the steps to follow:

1. Create an account on a platform (an email is enough most of the time)
2. Choose a username
3. Select a template for your blog
4. Write a blog post
5. Format your text (links, bold, etc.) and add media
6. Click Publish

There you go! In any case, this is the method to follow for the best software on the market.

Why are these blogs free?

Good question! It all depends on the platform, but in general these blog builders are free for one of three reasons:

• They have higher packages that you can upgrade later (freemium model); In any case, this is the expectation of the platforms.
• They want to grow their user base to satisfy advertisers, shareholders and investors.
• They display their logo and advertisements on your blog posts, which therefore serve as free marketing materials.

Free blog vs paid blog...

Yes, unfortunately. In the freemium model mentioned above, providers reduce the number of features available for free to entice users to upgrade to a paid plan. Here are the usual limitations:

• No professional domain name: Your blog will be hosted at an address similar to www.votre-nom-de-blog.platforme.com. Your credibility will take a hit.
• Unable to remove ads: another aspect that gives the impression of a low-end site.
• Reduced storage capacity: You are limited when it comes to data storage. Although text takes up very little space, the weight of images and other media is higher.
• Limited bandwidth: If your posts attract too many readers, you'll reach a monthly limit and your blog will go offline.

Can I make money with my free blog?

In most cases, yes. For example, Wix offers a list of convenient ways to monetize your site, just like Weebly. It is usually possible to activate an advertising network (such as AdSense) and publish affiliate marketing links, even with a free version.

However, there are restrictions, especially if you use the WordPress and Medium platforms, for example. The latter has its own monetization system, which you can discover in more detail below. Be sure to read the terms of use if you want to set up a monetization system on your blog from the beginning.

Creating a blog: what about SEO?

Want to drive traffic to your blog from Google or other search engines? Good luck! Although getting into the first results of search engines is still possible using a website edit, the task will be difficult if you opt for a free version. What for? Search engines appreciate personal domain names. And you won't have a choice: you'll have to buy one.

Finally, there are some additional problems. A good optimization for search engines is done by respecting the page structures, which does not always allow free platforms (URLs, title tags, meta description, etc.).

As we recommended in our review of the best free website builders, if you value SEO, choose a cheap option rather than a free one.

Conclusion

When it comes to free platforms, it's on a case-by-case basis. If I had to choose only one or two, I would probably choose Weebly or Webnode, which are among the best solutions for their ease of use and functionality.

However, one of the main challenges for beginner bloggers remains finding their audience. You will often feel like you are publishing in a vacuum, hence the interest of joining a community to boost your publications. That's why Medium is, in my opinion, one of the best choices for bloggers, without offering the best blog editor.

Nevertheless, let's take a detailed look at the options available depending on your goal.

• Find the best compromise between functionality and ease of use: Webnode or Weebly.
• Create a blog with neat aesthetics: Wix and Weebly offer beautiful and ready-to-use templates.
• Make money from your blog: Medium, without hesitation.
• Generate interest and find readers: Medium is the best choice for niche blogging. Prefer Tumblr if your posts include a lot of images.
• Have the most flexible content management system: WordPress.org, an excellent tool that is a reference in the field. Moreover, it allows you to easily export your blog to other platforms. Webflow is also a good competitor.
• Drive traffic through SEO: WordPress, Wix, Weebly, and Webflow are great options.
• Use your blog to network: LinkedIn remains your best ally.
• Create a free and multilingual blog: Webnode remains the best (paid) solution.

Finally, if you want to create a full-featured website for free that includes a blog, remember that Wix, Weebly, and Jimdo aren't your only options.

Ready to get started? Don't forget to also read our article to create a blogthat works!