Blogging has taken the market by storm. We have been witnessing young entrepreneurs boosting and expanding their businesses with the help of blogging. If you are interested in becoming a professional blogger, the simplest step that you need to follow is to use a free blogging website to get started. The free blogging websites allow all aspiring bloggers to reach out to the web audience without paying a single penny.
If you are looking for the ideal website that can help you start your blog venture, then you have just landed at the right place. The list presented in this article will help you become familiar with the top free blogging sites. Check out the features and drawbacks of each free blogging website to find one that is ideal for you.
What is the Importance of Free Blogging Sites?
Acing the trends of blogging always requires something out of the way. Just imagine the number of blogging sites striving to make an individualistic space virtually. In that competition, you have to stand out and reach out to the audience rather than being ignored. In this case, you will need to incorporate a few blogging strategies. A blogging website tends to provide you a platform where you can implement your strategies and make your content reach more and more people.
You can not only avail yourself of a wide range of tools on blogging platforms but you can also come across various features to beautify your content Above all, you can customize your website exactly the way you want it to be. And to meet all such requirements, you would need an effective blogging website.
10 Best Free Blogging Websites
1. Wix
Wix is one of the most popular choices when it comes to designing a website and managing its front-end. One of the best features that people love about this platform is the availability of the drag-and-drop interface. Also, the websites created using Wix do not require users to manage the back-end. This platform can be used by beginners as well as by advanced website developers.
The intuitive tools available for the creation of a blogging website make everything convenient here. Above all, another perk of creating a blogging website is the free hosting offer. Hence, all that you are left to do to have a perfect functional blogging website is choose the layouts and the template from the library. Apart from blogging sites, Wix also allows you to create websites for various purposes.
Features
- Free website building tools
- Free web hosting availability
- Free online store builders
- Availability of SEO tools
- Good customer support
Drawbacks
- Paid plans are required for analysis and tracking of websites
- The site created is not transferable.
- Templates are not interchangeable.
2. WordPress
WordPress is another popular free blogging website. But you are entitled to bear the hosting expenses yourself and build the whole of your website afterward. You can also get free hosting to start blogging on WordPress but the best strategy for the long-term is to go for a paid WordPress hosting plan that allows you to have a dedicated domain for your website.
If you are planning for the creation of a website for free blogging, then WordPress tools will be handy for you. You will be in complete authority of the process and you can customize your website as per your preferences. You can even monetize your website and start earning for your blog.
Features
- Screen options to show or hide things
- Add, delete, or move dashboard widgets
- Tools available for image editing
- The keyboard shortcuts and word files help in writing faster
Drawbacks
- Your website will be vulnerable and can go down at any moment without notice
- You have to frequently keep up with theme and plugin updates
3. Weebly
Whether you are looking forward to creating a website for blogging or simply starting your new e-commercial venture, Weebly can help you with that. This platform is quite similar to Wix. Users can use the drag-and-drop feature as well as the editor. If you want to add a few buttons on your site, you can use the drag-and-drop and then customize it. You can also do the same for things like slideshows, photos, or other multimedia content.
Apart from the aforesaid features, one can also avail of media boxes, ad spaces, sidebars, forms, social media icons, and many more. If you look forward to using the paid features, then you can get built-in analytics tools and a customized domain. But if you want to stick to the free plan, then you can get a domain, storage of 500 MB, five custom pages, and ad spaces.
Features
- Drag and drop option
- App integrations
- Availability of responsive templates
- Free availability of sub-domain
- Easy publishing platform
Drawbacks
- Platforms can come with a glitch and you will require refreshing them multiple times
- You will not be able to customize all the formats in the website
4. Ghost
Ghost is a famous platform for blogging and its routes are from WordPress. You can use the software for free. But there is a problem if you are using this platform for creating a blogging website. It might not be as simple as WordPress when it comes to setting up your website. If you want to get it started in the blogging field, then this is an ideal place for you. It is an affordable platform that also comes with top-notch features. But you will have to toil with a bit of server work. The server work and adjustments depend on the type of hosting you prefer for your content.
Once you set up your website successfully, creating posts in Ghost becomes an easy task. There is a simple editor with minimalist tools that will help you to create content for your blog posts.
Features
- Content editor
- Content management tools
- Availability of custom domains
- Automated backup system
Drawbacks
- No comment functionality available
- Hosting is expensive
- Limited themes availability
5. LinkedIn
Yes, this side of LinkedIn also exists! LinkedIn has to be one of the popular choices for bloggers. The reasons for this are – it is quite an easy platform to interact with and use for writing and publishing blog articles and secondly, there is a pre-existing audience. Hence, you end up getting exposure, opportunity, individuality, and attention.
Features
- Pre-existing audience
- Best blogging tool for beginners
- Showcases achievements of bloggers
Drawbacks
- Candidates looking for job or recruiters looking for candidates might not be interested in blogs
- Premium tools for designing your website are available in paid subscriptions
6. Medium
One of the major advantages that bloggers can get by using Medium is that they can reach out to a wide range of audiences. This is a platform that is visited by around 60 million people or more in a month. Above all, the website is simple to use and has a visually appealing interface. To get your blogs published on Medium, all you need to do is sign up and start writing.
Along with many advantages, there is one disadvantage that you have to bear using Medium for publishing blogs. And that is you will not be the owner of the space where your blogs are being published. All the contents created by you will be available on the Medium website. You just have the ownership of your content which is put out in a space that is not owned by you.
Features
- The text editor is easy to use
- Basic SEO tools are available
- Articles can be monetized
Drawbacks
- Less potent for the generation of leads
7. Tumblr
One of the easiest website builders is Tumblr. It is used for publishing blogs and articles. It is user-friendly and great for those who are novice in blogging ford. Besides that, Tumblr is great for creating relevant social media and multi-media posts. With easy and playful software tools, you can easily use them for posting.
Features
- Networking tools
- Customizable designs
- Custom domain availability
Drawbacks
- No plugins
- You can’t own a website
- Can’t be used for long-term
8. Blogger
Blogger is one of the oldest platforms that come up with solid solutions for all bloggers. But is a strict no-no if one has to monetize his or her site or use it professionally. Creating an account on this platform is quite simple and then it is all set to use. You can come across a bunch of themes, other gadgets, and advanced designing options. These tools allow a blogger to customize a site easily.
Features
- Archive posts feature
- Comment system
- Search option available
- Integration with social media sites
- Spam comment protection
Drawbacks
- It is a limited platform for bloggers
- Fewer prospects for traffic
9. Jimdo
Jimdo is among the top recommendations for all bloggers who want to create an ideal website. The free version of the platform has basic features which can almost meet your basic needs as a blogger. There appears a questionnaire and you need to answer them so that the platform can help you create a blogging website that suits your preferences. But there also comes a drawback of Jimdo and that is there is no availability of customizable domains.
Features
- Mobile device optimization
- Social media integration
- Password-protection
- Photo editors and other tools
Drawbacks
- Less number of templates available
- Can’t view template before choosing them
10. Joomla
Joomla is a platform that resembles WordPress quite a lot. But there are few differences there. Joomla is a flexible website builder platform that allows you to create not only blogging websites but also other complex websites. The editing tools pretty much appear to be old school. You can choose the font color, style emoticons, background, etc.
Features
- Multilingual platform
- Content management tools
- Search option available
- Supported by a wide library of tools
Drawbacks
- Complex platform
- Can’t be used without having technical knowledge related to web development
How to Choose the Best Blogging Website?
Whether you are a beginner or a pro in blogging, your goal remains pretty much the same and that is to reach more audience. Your blogging platform or website can help you achieve your goal effectively. Thus, it is essential to make sure that you choose the right blogging website for you. The following list would reveal all the things that one should look for while choosing a blogging website:
- Specifications: The first thing that needs your attention is specifications. You must know the features of the blogging platforms well and then make a comparative study to choose one that particularly meets your needs. You do not need to choose a website platform that comes with a wide range of tools for various things. You just need to see whether the blogging website is apt to meet your requirements or not.
- Pricing: Money is a huge differentiator. Pricing is important because you need to make sure that you are making the most out of your investment. Make sure to go for a paid plan that suits your budget.
- Hosting and domain availability: It would be a great deal if you could find a blogging website or platform that offers hosting and domain at a reasonable price or for free.
Final Words
The list gives you an overview of the blogging websites that you can start using for free. If you want to make it big in blogging, you can choose any of the above websites to get started. Don’t forget to do thorough research on the blogging website that seems to be a good choice. We hope that this article may help you with your journey of becoming a professional blogger.