Introduction: The best truly free blogging sites (and how to pick one)
Starting an online blog shouldn’t require a credit card. This guide cuts through the noise with a curated, up-to-date list of truly free blog sites where you can publish without paying - and explains who each option is best for. Whether you want a personal free weblog, a place to test content ideas, or a way to create a blog online free for your startup, you’ll find practical picks and simple next steps.
Why this matters: launching on a free plan lets you move fast, learn what resonates, and only upgrade when you outgrow free limits. You won’t get every premium perk, but you will get momentum - weekly publishing, audience feedback, and a clearer sense of which features you actually need before spending a dime.
What this guide covers:
A curated roundup of free sites to start a blog, with plain-English explanations of strengths and trade-offs
Who each platform is best for (writers, founders, hobbyists, devs, etc.)
Clear guidance on when to stick with free - and when to consider upgrading
How we compared platforms:
Ease of setup and editing on day one
Design/customization and SEO controls on free plans
Audience reach and built-in growth levers
Portability/export and long-term flexibility
Quick tip: start where you can publish weekly with minimal friction. Once you’ve found your groove, you can always migrate - most platforms support exporting, and migration is vastly easier after you’ve validated your direction.
If you’re planning for scale later, keep an eye on long-term portability and SEO fundamentals now. And when you’re ready to automate content, analytics, and growth beyond basic free plans, explore how BlogBowl can launch a professional, SEO-optimized blog in under a minute - so you can focus on publishing, not plumbing: https://www.blogbowl.io
1) BlogBowl - Launch a professional, AI-powered blog for free
If you want a fast, zero-code way to create a blog online free - and keep shipping content consistently - BlogBowl gives SaaS teams and startups an AI-first platform that handles the heavy lifting: daily SEO-optimized posts, internal linking, keyword research, and embedded media, all auto-published to your online blog, help docs, and changelog.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for SaaS/startups and lean teams who want a pro blog, changelog, and help center with AI doing the heavy lifting.
Free way to start: create an account and publish on a BlogBowl subdomain; upgrade only if/when you need advanced limits and branding.
Setup and ease of use
Launch a hosted, SEO-optimized blog in under 60 seconds.
AI assists with daily posts, internal linking, keyword research, and embedded media - so you can focus on strategy and approvals.
Customization, SEO, and growth
Fast, SEO-optimized templates with custom colors, fonts, and layouts tuned for ranking in Google and LLMs.
Built-in newsletter and privacy-friendly analytics to build owned audience and measure what’s working.
Multi-blog/multi-author support; integrates with no-code tools and supports custom domains when you’re ready.
Free plan limitations
Subdomain branding; some advanced features and higher limits are reserved for paid tiers.
Ideal use cases
Ship consistent, search-ready content without a dedicated content team.
Product updates, documentation hubs, and blog/newsletter combos in one place.
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built-in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted SaaS | No (uses BlogBowl subdomain) | Via your content (e.g., affiliate/sponsor links); no native paywalls on free | Yes | Yes, privacy-friendly | Yes (standard content export) |
CTA: Visit BlogBowl - https://www.blogbowl.io
2) WordPress.com - Easiest way to start a classic blog for $0
Spin up a familiar, hosted WordPress experience with helpful guardrails, modern free themes, and a clean editor - no server setup or coding required. Perfect for journals, hobby blogs, or a simple brand presence you can grow over time.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for personal blogs and first-time creators who want hosted WordPress with guardrails.
Free forever plan with a wordpress.com subdomain.
Setup and ease of use
Guided onboarding; write and publish in minutes via web or mobile app.
Customization, SEO, and growth
Dozens of modern free themes; basic SEO controls on free.
Upgrade for plugins, custom domains, and advanced monetization.
Free plan limitations
Platform ads, 1GB storage, no third‑party plugins, subdomain URL.
Ideal use cases
Journals, hobby blogs, basic brand presence before upgrading.
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted WordPress.com | No (uses wordpress.com subdomain) | Limited (external links/affiliates; native tools require upgrade) | Basic options | Built-in stats; advanced analytics require upgrade | Yes (content export supported) |
CTA: Visit WordPress.com
3) Wix - Visual drag‑and‑drop builder with a generous free plan
For creators who want pixel-level control and a site + blog combo, Wix delivers a polished, visual editor, hundreds of templates, and a generous free plan to get you online fast.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for visual creators who want pixel control and a site + blog combo
Free plan with wixsite.com subdomain
Setup and ease of use
ADI or template-based setup; intuitive, visual editor
Customization, SEO, and growth
800+ templates; strong design freedom
Solid basic SEO; ample app market (many free)
Free plan limitations
Wix ads, subdomain, limited storage/bandwidth on free
Ideal use cases
Portfolios, personal brands, local side projects
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted Wix | No (uses wixsite.com subdomain) | Limited (external links/affiliates; ecommerce requires upgrade) | Basic email tools | Built-in stats; advanced analytics via apps | Limited direct export; manual migration recommended |
CTA: Visit Wix
4) Blogger - Google’s classic, free‑forever blogging platform
If you want a simple, text‑first blog you can set up in minutes, Blogger remains a zero‑cost workhorse with tight Google integration and just‑enough controls to share your ideas online.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for simple, text-first blogs that need minimal setup
100% free with blogspot.com subdomain
Setup and ease of use
Dead-simple editor; auto-integration with Google ecosystem
Customization, SEO, and growth
Basic themes and layout widgets; fundamental SEO settings
Free plan limitations
Older theme ecosystem; limited extensibility
Ideal use cases
Personal diaries, school projects, simple niche blogs
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built-in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (forever) | Fully hosted by Google (Blogger) | No (uses blogspot.com subdomain; optional paid domain) | Yes via AdSense and affiliate links | No native newsletter | Built-in stats; Google Analytics supported | Yes (content export supported) |
CTA: Visit Blogger
5) Medium - Write fast, tap into a huge built‑in audience
Medium gives writers a minimalist editor, instant publishing, and platform distribution - so you can focus on ideas, not setup. It’s free to publish, with optional programs if you want to read member stories or earn from your work.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for writers who value distribution and a distraction‑free editor
Free to publish; optional membership for reading/money programs
Setup and ease of use
Minimal UI; start writing immediately; simple multimedia embeds
Customization, SEO, and growth
Uniform design; curation and Boost can expand reach
Free plan limitations
Limited branding/customization; custom domains require paid plan
Ideal use cases
Opinion essays, thought leadership, tech/editorial content
"As of 2024, Medium.com has reported over 100 million monthly active readers." - Source
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free to publish (optional paid membership/programs) | Fully hosted Medium | No (requires paid plan) | Limited; Partner Program available with eligibility | Yes (email to followers) | Built‑in stats | Yes (content export supported) |
CTA: Visit Medium
6) Substack - Blog + newsletter with built‑in monetization later
Substack keeps publishing simple and audience‑centric: write posts, send newsletters, and build a public archive - then turn on paid subscriptions when you’re ready. It’s free to start; the platform only takes a cut if you charge.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for newsletter-first creators who also want a blog archive
Free publishing; platform takes a cut only if you charge subscribers
Setup and ease of use
Simple editor; Posts, Notes, Podcasting, and basic community tools
Customization, SEO, and growth
Light theming; discovery via recommendations and search
Free plan limitations
Uniform look; custom domains require a fee; limited design control
Ideal use cases
Niche newsletters, columnist-style blogs, creator media
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free to publish (revenue share if paid) | Fully hosted Substack | No (one‑time fee to connect) | Yes (turn on paid subscriptions anytime) | Yes (native email) | Built‑in stats | Yes (subscriber and content export) |
CTA: Visit Substack
7) Tumblr - Multimedia microblogging that’s free and fun
Tumblr makes it easy to share bite‑sized posts and build an aesthetic feed with photos, GIFs, audio, and video - ideal for visual-first creators, fandoms, and anyone who loves quick updates.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for visual-first creators and fandoms who post short updates
Free account and posting with robust mobile apps
Setup and ease of use
Quick profile setup; post text, images, GIFs, audio, video
Customization, SEO, and growth
Theme and HTML/CSS edits; tags power discovery
Free plan limitations
Limited long-form SEO controls; platform-first audience
Ideal use cases
Aesthetic feeds, photo journals, fandom blogs
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted Tumblr | Limited (supports custom domains via settings) | Limited (tip jar, affiliate links; ads via third-party) | No native newsletter | Basic Tumblr stats; third‑party tools | Yes (export supported) |
CTA: Visit Tumblr
8) Weebly - Simple site + blog builder that just works
Weebly offers a straightforward, section‑based editor that makes it easy to launch a simple site and blog on a free plan - great for beginners who want structure and speed.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for beginners who prefer a structured, minimal editor
Free plan with weebly.com subdomain
Setup and ease of use
Section-based layouts; fast to publish
Customization, SEO, and growth
Basic themes; built-in forms, galleries, and simple SEO
Free plan limitations
Weebly ads; limited storage; smaller theme catalog
Ideal use cases
Local hobbies, clubs, simple small-business blogs (starter)
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted Weebly | No (uses weebly.com subdomain) | Limited (external links; ecommerce requires upgrade) | Basic email tools via integrations | Built-in stats | Limited direct export; manual migration recommended |
CTA: Visit Weebly
9) LinkedIn Articles - Publish to a professional network of millions
Leverage your existing professional network to distribute articles directly in the LinkedIn feed - ideal for B2B topics, hiring content, and sales enablement pieces that benefit from social proof and shares.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for B2B and career-focused content that benefits from network effects
Free for all LinkedIn users
Setup and ease of use
Write directly in LinkedIn’s editor; distribute via your profile/feed
Customization, SEO, and growth
Minimal design control; reach driven by your connections and topic
Free plan limitations
No custom domain/branding; algorithm-dependent distribution
Ideal use cases
Thought leadership, hiring, sales enablement content
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (LinkedIn account required) | Fully hosted on LinkedIn | No | Limited (external links; sponsored distribution off‑platform) | Newsletter features available to eligible profiles/pages | Built‑in post analytics | Limited; content remains on LinkedIn |
CTA: Visit LinkedIn Articles
10) Notion (Public Pages) - Publish pages instantly from your workspace
If you already draft in Notion, public pages are the fastest path to a lightweight blog or resource hub - flip a page to “public,” share the link, and you’re live on a notion.site subdomain.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for creators who draft in Notion and want zero-friction publishing
Free Notion plan allows public pages on a notion.site subdomain
Setup and ease of use
Toggle a page to public and share the link; great for notes, guides, docs
Customization, SEO, and growth
Limited theming and SEO fields; simple structured content
Free plan limitations
Minimal branding; basic analytics only via third-party
Ideal use cases
Resource hubs, documentation, lightweight blogs
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted Notion public pages | No (uses notion.site subdomain) | Limited (external links; no native paywalls) | No native newsletter | Basic via third‑party embeds | Yes (export as Markdown/CSV) |
CTA: Visit Notion
11) Google Sites - Zero‑cost, no‑code pages with a basic blog flow
Google Sites is a straightforward option for schools, clubs, and internal teams that want zero‑cost publishing with Google Drive integration - great for announcements and simple resource hubs.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for schools, clubs, and internal teams that need simple publishing
Free with a Google account
Setup and ease of use
Drag‑and‑drop sections; tight integration with Google Drive
Customization, SEO, and growth
Basic themes; minimal SEO controls; simple navigation
Free plan limitations
Limited blogging features; no native RSS; basic design only
Ideal use cases
Announcements, resource pages, classroom updates
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with Google account) | Fully hosted Google Sites | Limited (custom domains via Google Domains/redirects) | Very limited (external links only) | No | Basic via Google Analytics | Limited; manual copy/Drive export |
CTA: Visit Google Sites
12) Hashnode - Free developer blogging with custom domains
Hashnode gives developers a clean, fast publishing experience with Markdown, syntax highlighting, community distribution, and custom domains included on the free plan - perfect for engineering posts and product updates.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for developers who want a tech audience and custom domain support for $0
Free plan includes custom domain and Markdown editor
Setup and ease of use
Start a dev blog in minutes; syntax highlighting and GitHub-friendly
Customization, SEO, and growth
Clean themes; community distribution; built-in analytics
Free plan limitations
Narrow audience fit (developer topics perform best)
Ideal use cases
Engineering posts, tutorials, release notes, open-source updates
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (with optional upgrades) | Fully hosted Hashnode | Yes (custom domains and sub‑paths) | Limited (external links; sponsor listings vary) | Basic subscriber tools | Built‑in stats | Yes (export supported) |
CTA: Visit Hashnode
13) WordPress (self‑hosted) - Ultimate flexibility, still free with community hosting
Self‑hosted WordPress lets you own every piece of your stack - plugins, themes, data, and monetization - making it the most flexible path from a simple blog to a full‑scale content site or store.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for builders who want full control, plugins, and long‑term scalability
WordPress.org software is free; can be deployed on select free hosts
Setup and ease of use
One‑click installers on many hosts; massive docs/community support
Customization, SEO, and growth
60k+ free plugins, countless themes; industry‑standard SEO
Free plan limitations
Free hosting can be slow/limited; best for testing or MVPs
Ideal use cases
Blogs that may evolve into full sites, magazines, or stores
"As of 2025, WordPress powers approximately 43.4% of all websites globally." - Source
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free software (hosting varies) | Self‑hosted (choose your provider) | Yes (depends on host/domain) | Full flexibility (ads, affiliates, products, memberships) | Via plugins | Full analytics via plugins (GA, Matomo, etc.) | Full control; export/import tools |
CTA: Visit WordPress.org
14) Jekyll + GitHub Pages - Free, fast static blogs for devs
For developers who prefer Markdown and Git, Jekyll turns plain text into static sites you can host for free on GitHub Pages - delivering speed, security, and full control over your code.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for developers who want a blazing‑fast, secure static blog
Free hosting via GitHub Pages; Jekyll is open source
Setup and ease of use
Templates (themes) and CLI; publish from your repo
Customization, SEO, and growth
Full control over HTML/Markdown; strong technical SEO potential
Free plan limitations
Developer‑centric workflow; no WYSIWYG editor
Ideal use cases
Dev diaries, documentation, technical guides
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (open source + GitHub Pages) | Static site generated by Jekyll, hosted on GitHub Pages | Yes (custom domain supported) | Full flexibility via code (ads, affiliates) | No native newsletter | Add via code (e.g., GA) | Full control (Markdown + repo) |
CTA: Visit Jekyll
15) WriteFreely - Minimal, open‑source blogging without distractions
WriteFreely strips blogging back to the essentials with a calm, Markdown‑friendly editor, lightweight pages, and optional federation - ideal for writers who want to focus on words, not widgets.
Best for and why it’s free
Best for minimalist writers who want a calm, fast, open platform
Open source; publish on community instances or self‑host
Setup and ease of use
Distraction‑free editor; Markdown support
Customization, SEO, and growth
Minimal theming; lightweight pages that load fast
Free plan limitations
Sparse feature set; fewer built‑in growth tools
Ideal use cases
Essays, notes, focused writing without social features
Quick facts
Plan type | Hosting model | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Built‑in newsletter | Analytics | Export/portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Free (open source; community instances) | Self‑host or join a free community instance | Varies by instance/self‑host | Limited (external links; sponsor buttons) | No | Basic via third‑party embeds | Yes (export Markdown/HTML) |
CTA: Visit WriteFreely
Overall comparison table
Platform | Plan type (Free/Freemium/Open source) | Hosting (Hosted/Self‑hosted) | Custom domain on free | Monetization on free | Editor ease (1–5) | Design flexibility (1–5) | Audience reach (Built‑in/Organic/Network) | SEO controls (Basic/Advanced) | Export/Portability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BlogBowl | Freemium | Hosted | No | Limited (external links; no paywalls) | 5 | 4 | Organic | Advanced | Yes |
WordPress.com | Free | Hosted | No | Limited (affiliates/external links) | 5 | 3 | Organic | Basic | Yes |
Wix | Freemium | Hosted | No | Limited (store requires upgrade) | 4 | 5 | Organic | Basic | Limited |
Blogger | Free | Hosted | No (paid mapping optional) | Yes (AdSense/affiliates) | 4 | 2 | Organic | Basic | Yes |
Medium | Free to publish | Hosted | No | Limited (Partner Program) | 5 | 2 | Built‑in | Basic | Yes |
Substack | Free to publish | Hosted | No (one‑time fee) | Yes (revenue share if paid) | 5 | 2 | Built‑in/Network | Basic | Yes |
Tumblr | Free | Hosted | Yes | Limited (tips/affiliates) | 4 | 3 | Built‑in | Basic | Yes |
Weebly | Freemium | Hosted | No | Limited (store requires upgrade) | 4 | 3 | Organic | Basic | Limited |
LinkedIn Articles | Free | Hosted | No | Limited (off‑platform) | 5 | 1 | Network | Basic | Limited |
Notion (Public Pages) | Free | Hosted | No | Limited (external links) | 4 | 2 | Organic | Basic | Yes |
Google Sites | Free | Hosted | Limited | Very limited (external links) | 4 | 2 | Organic | Basic | Limited |
Hashnode | Free | Hosted | Yes | Limited (sponsors/affiliates) | 4 | 3 | Built‑in (dev community) | Advanced | Yes |
WordPress (self‑hosted) | Open source | Self‑hosted | Yes | Full flexibility | 4 | 5 | Organic | Advanced | Full control |
Jekyll + GitHub Pages | Open source | Hosted (static on GitHub Pages) | Yes | Full (via code) | 2 | 4 | Organic | Advanced | Full (repo/Markdown) |
WriteFreely | Open source | Self‑hosted/Community | Varies by instance | Limited (external links) | 4 | 2 | Organic | Basic | Yes |
Conclusion: Pick the platform that gets you publishing weekly
The best free blog sites are the ones you’ll actually use every week. Start where setup is easy, writing feels natural, and the free plan’s limitations won’t block your next 6–12 months of growth. Whether that’s a visual builder, a distraction‑free editor, or a developer‑friendly static setup, momentum matters more than perfection.
Adopt a migration mindset from day one. Your first platform isn’t your last: most tools offer export options so you can move when you’re ready for custom domains, advanced SEO, or deeper monetization. Keep backups, write with portability in mind, and avoid lock‑in features you don’t truly need.
If you want a professional, SEO‑ready online blog that grows itself, try BlogBowl first. You’ll ship high‑quality, search‑optimized posts consistently with AI, leverage built‑in analytics and newsletters, and upgrade only if you outgrow the free limits. Start here: https://www.blogbowl.io