Ever scroll through TikTok and think, “I have way better stories than this”? Or maybe you’ve got a passion—like, a deep passion for sustainable fashion, vintage gaming, or baking cakes that look like cartoon characters—and your friends are tired of hearing about it. Well, guess what? There’s a whole world out there waiting to hear what you have to say. Welcome to the world of blogging.
I know, I know. “Blogging? Isn’t that what our parents did in the early 2000s?” Kinda, but it’s had a major glow-up. Think of it less like an online diary and more like your own personal corner of the internet, your own brand, your own space to build a community. And yeah, it can even be a way to start making some serious money. But before you can go viral or earn your first dollar, you have to answer the big question: where do you even start? Picking from the best platforms to start blogging can feel overwhelming. You’ve got free ones, paid ones, easy ones, and ones that require some serious brainpower.
Don’t sweat it. I got you. In this guide, we’re going to break down everything, and I mean everything. We’ll explore the absolute best platforms to start blogging for beginners, which ones are champs for making money, and the free options that let you dip your toes in without spending a dime. We’re going to get real, with no fluff and no gatekeeping. Let’s build your empire.
What is the best platform to start a blog?
Okay, let’s get this out of the way: there is no single excellent platform for each person. I know, that is not the answer you desired, however it’s the realest one. It’s like asking what the satisfactory video game is—it definitely relies upon on what you are into. Are you a relaxed gamer who loves Stardew Valley or a aggressive beast who lives on Valorant? The pleasant platform for you relies upon absolutely on your desires.
Are you just seeking out a informal area to percentage your thoughts with a few friends? Or are you seeking to build a logo, attain heaps of readers, and maybe even turn this right into a facet hustle? When I began my first blog approximately film evaluations, I become so beaten I simply picked the primary unfastened issue I saw. BIG mistake. The layout became clunky, I couldn’t make it appearance the manner I desired, and it was a pain to share.
To avoid my mistakes, you need to think about three things:
- Your Goal: Fun or future business?
- Your Budget: Are you working with a $0 budget, or can you spare a few bucks a month for more power?
- Your Tech-Savviness: Are you cool with a little bit of a learning curve, or do you need something so easy you could do it in your sleep?
Keep those questions in your head as we dive into the specific options. This will help you find your perfect match among the top blogging sites.
Best free blogging platform
Starting with zero cash? Respect. You don’t need to spend money to get your voice out there. Free platforms are perfect for figuring out if you even like blogging before you commit. They are some of the best platforms to start blogging for beginners for exactly this reason.
Blogger: The OG of Free Blogging
Blogger has been around since… well, probably before you were born (1999!). It’s owned by Google, which means it’s super reliable and 100% free. You can have a blog up and running in literally five minutes. It’s incredibly straightforward.
But let’s be real, it’s not the prettiest. The templates can look a bit dated, and customization is pretty limited. It’s giving major “first-ever-website” vibes. But hear me out—if your goal is just to write and share your ideas without any fuss, Blogger is a solid starting point. Plus, since it’s a Google product, setting up Google AdSense for some early monetization is relatively simple once you have enough traffic (and parental permission to set up the account!).
WordPress.com: The Freemium Powerhouse
This is where things get a little confusing, so stick with me. There are two WordPresses (we’ll break this down more later). WordPress.com is the commercial, for-profit version that offers a fantastic free plan. It’s modern, the interface is clean, and it feels much more professional than Blogger. You get a decent amount of features to start, making it one of the most popular beginner blog platforms.
The catch? On the free plan, you can’t have a custom domain (your URL will be something like yourblog.wordpress.com), they’ll place their own ads on your site, and your ability to monetize is severely restricted. You have to upgrade to a paid plan to remove their ads and add your own.
Medium: For Writers Who Just Wanna Write
Medium is a different beast altogether. It’s less of a blogging platform and more of a social network for writers. You don’t design your site; you just create an account and start publishing articles on their platform. The HUGE advantage here is the built-in audience. If your article is good, Medium’s algorithm can promote it to thousands of readers for you.
The downside? You have zero control. It’s not your website; you’re a guest in their house. You can’t customize the design, and you’re subject to their rules. They have a Partner Program to earn money, but it typically requires you to be 18+. For teens, it’s a great place to build a writing portfolio and find an audience, but not to build your own brand.
Best platforms to start blogging for beginners
If you’re allergic to complicated tech, these platforms are for you. They are designed to be as user-friendly as possible, often using drag-and-drop editors that feel like playing a game. These are truly some of the best platforms to start blogging.
Wix: The Drag-and-Drop Dream
You’ve probably seen the YouTube ads. Wix is famous for its visual, drag-and-drop website builder. You can literally pick up an element—a text box, an image, a video—and place it anywhere on your page. This makes it incredible for people who have a very specific vision for how their blog should look. If you’re starting a fashion, art, photography, or design blog, Wix is a top contender.
They have a free plan, but like WordPress.com, it comes with Wix branding and a wix.com subdomain. To get serious, you’ll want to upgrade to a paid plan, which unlocks more features and your own custom domain name.
Squarespace: The Sleek & Stylish Option
Squarespace is Wix’s slightly more sophisticated cousin. It’s also known for being incredibly easy to use but is less about total freedom and more about giving you stunning, professionally designed templates to work with. You can’t really “break” a Squarespace site; their templates are designed to look good no matter what.
It’s perfect for portfolios, lifestyle blogs, and anyone who wants a polished, high-end look without hiring a designer. There’s no free plan, but they offer a free trial. It’s a bit pricier, so it’s a choice for when you’re ready to invest a little in your blog’s appearance and functionality. For many, it’s the best place to start a blog if aesthetics are your number one priority.
Platform Comparison Table
| Platform | Ease of Use | Cost (Starting) | Best For… | Monetization (for Teens) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org | Harder | ~$5/mo | Serious bloggers, future business | Full Control (AdSense, Affiliates) |
| WordPress.com | Easy | $0 (Free plan) | Casual blogging, trying it out | Limited on free/cheap plans |
| Blogger | Easiest | $0 | Quick start, personal journals | Google AdSense (with approval) |
| Wix | Easy | $0 (Free plan) | Visual blogs (art, design, fashion) | Limited on free plan, better on paid |
| Medium | Easiest | $0 | Writers wanting a built-in audience | Partner Program (usually 18+) |
Best blogging platform to make money
Alright, let’s talk cash. If your primary goal is to turn your passion into profit, your choice of platform matters. A LOT. While you can technically make money on most platforms, one stands head and shoulders above the rest as the undisputed king.
WordPress.org: The Self-Hosted Champion
This is the other WordPress. WordPress.org is free, open-source software that you install on your own web hosting. Think of it like this: WordPress.com is like renting a furnished apartment—it’s easy, but you have a landlord and rules. WordPress.org is like buying your own land and building a house—it’s more work upfront, but you have total freedom. You are in complete control.
This freedom is why it’s the best blogging platform to make money.
- Total Monetization Freedom: You can run any ads you want, use any affiliate links, and sell any products without sharing a cut with the platform.
- Plugins Galore: You can install plugins for literally anything—improving your SEO, adding an online store with WooCommerce, building contact forms, and so much more.
- Complete Customization: You can use any theme and customize the code to make your site look and function exactly how you envision it. This is how you can make your own business that looks 100% unique.
The catch? You have to pay for web hosting (usually around $3-$10 per month for a starter plan) and a domain name (around $15 per year). There’s also a steeper learning curve than with Wix or Blogger. But the long-term potential is unlimited. It’s the platform that grows with you. If you want to learn how to make money online with a blog, this is the path.
Best platforms to start blogging reddit
This is a great question because it’s a bit of a trick one! Reddit itself isn’t a blogging platform. You can’t host your blog on a subreddit. But—and this is a big but—Reddit is one of the most powerful tools for promoting your blog.
Think of Reddit as a massive collection of super-niche communities. Is your blog about restoring old bikes? There’s a subreddit for that. Is it about vegan recipes? There are dozens. Here’s the strategy:
- Become a Real Community Member: Don’t just spam your links. Join relevant subreddits, post helpful comments, and engage in discussions.
- Share Your Content (When It’s Genuinely Helpful): I saw a teen blogger who wrote about learning to code. When someone in r/learnprogramming asked a question, he’d write a super-detailed blog post answering it and then share the link. His traffic went through the roof because he was providing value, not just advertising.
Safety Tip: Reddit can be an amazing place, but it can also be the Wild West. Some communities are harsh. Stick to well-moderated, positive subreddits, and never share personal information.
WordPress
As we’ve covered, the “WordPress” question is a common point of confusion. Let’s make it crystal clear.
- WordPress.com: A for-profit company that uses the WordPress software to offer an all-in-one, easy-to-use service. Great for beginners, but with limitations.
- WordPress.org: The free, open-source software itself. It offers unlimited freedom but requires you to buy your own hosting and handle the setup. This is the choice for serious bloggers.
For 99% of people who want to build a long-term, profitable blog, WordPress.org is the answer. It powers over 40% of the entire internet for a reason. While the initial setup seems scary, there are thousands of tutorials on YouTube that can walk you through it step-by-step. It’s a skill worth learning if you are serious about starting a blog. You can even find great advice on freelance writing for teens which can be a great way to create content for your new blog.
Blogger
Let’s give Blogger one last moment in the spotlight. Don’t let its old-school vibe fool you entirely. For a teen who wants to test the waters with zero financial risk and almost no technical headache, it’s still one of the best platforms to start blogging.
Imagine you want to start a blog where you review a new book every week for a school project or for your friends. Do you need a fancy, self-hosted WordPress site for that? Absolutely not. Blogger is perfect. You can sign in with your Google account and have a post published in minutes. It’s a fantastic, no-pressure sandbox to play in. You can always move your content to a more powerful platform like WordPress.org later if you decide to get serious.
Getting Started: Your First 5 Steps
Feeling hyped? Awesome. Here’s a super simple, step-by-step plan to go from idea to published author.
- Pick Your Niche: What are you going to blog about? Get specific! Not just “gaming,” but “reviews of indie horror games on Steam.” Not just “baking,” but “learning to bake with my grandma’s recipes.” A clear niche helps you find your audience.
- Choose Your Platform: Based on everything we just covered, make a choice. Don’t overthink it for weeks. Pick one and go. If it’s wrong, you can always change later.
- Brainstorm Your First 10 Post Ideas: This proves to yourself that you have enough to say. Write them down as headlines. (e.g., “Why Stardew Valley is the Best Cozy Game Ever,” “My Top 5 Scariest Moments in Phasmophobia”).
- Write & Hit Publish! This is the hardest part. Your first post won’t be perfect. It might be awkward. That’s OKAY. The “Distracted Boyfriend” meme applies here: you’re the boyfriend, your amazing blog is your girlfriend, and “waiting for it to be perfect” is the distraction. Just hit publish!
- Share It! Tell your friends. Post it on a relevant (and friendly!) subreddit. Create a TikTok talking about your post. Getting your first few readers is an amazing feeling. And if you are looking for other ways to earn, check out some simple websites that make money.
Conclusion
Wow, we covered a lot. From the super-simple and free options like Blogger to the powerhouse that is WordPress.org, the online world is your oyster. The most important takeaway is this: the perfect platform is the one that gets you to start. Don’t get stuck in “analysis paralysis” for weeks. Choosing from the best platforms to start blogging is your first exciting step toward building your own space online.
Your voice is unique, and your story matters. Whether you want to build a community, share your art, or create a money-making machine, blogging is an incredible way to do it.
So, what are you waiting for?
Your Challenge: What platform are you leaning towards? Drop a comment below and let us know what you’re excited to blog about!
Spread the Word: If this guide helped you, share it on TikTok, Instagram, or with a friend who has a story they need to tell!
Stay Tuned: The world of blogging and online platforms changes fast! We’ll keep this guide updated with the latest and greatest info. Last updated: June 2025. Now that you have a platform, your next challenge is learning how to write content that grabs attention. Keep an eye on our site for more guides!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the best platform to start a blog?
The best platform truly depends on your goals. For absolute beginners who want something free and easy, Blogger is a great starting point. For those who want more design control and are building a brand, a self-hosted WordPress.org site is the most powerful and scalable option in the long run, giving you full control over monetization and customization. It’s the top choice for serious bloggers.
2. Which blog is best for beginners?
For beginners, the best options are platforms with a low technical barrier. Wix and Squarespace are fantastic for their user-friendly drag-and-drop editors, making them some of the best platforms to start blogging if you value aesthetics. WordPress.com also offers a very gentle learning curve with its free plan, allowing you to get a feel for blogging without any upfront investment or technical stress.
3. How long does it take to make $1000 per month blogging?
There’s no magic timeline, but most successful bloggers report it takes anywhere from 12 to 24 months of consistent effort. This involves regularly publishing high-quality content, mastering SEO to get traffic from Google, and building a monetization strategy like affiliate marketing or selling products. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but earning $1000 per month is an achievable goal with dedication.
4. Can I earn $1000 from blogging?
Yes, absolutely! Many bloggers earn well over $1000 per month, and some even turn it into a full-time career. The key is to treat it like a business. You need to choose a profitable niche, create content that solves problems for your readers, drive traffic to your site, and implement effective monetization methods like affiliate marketing, ads, sponsorships, or selling your own digital products.
