Blogging is one of the most popular ways to earn money online, and the best part is, you don’t need to spend anything to get started. Numerous free platforms offer the ability to start blogging and provide monetization options, making it easy for beginners to turn their passion into profit!
Below, we list five of the best free blogging platforms that enable users to earn money.
1. Blogger
Blogger is one of the oldest free blogging platforms owned by Google, making it highly reliable and beginner-friendly. With an easy setup, you can get started quickly and even connect it directly with Google AdSense to start monetizing your content on Blogger.
The platform offers a simple drag-and-drop interface and is ideal for those looking for a straightforward blogging experience.
Pros:
- Free hosting and subdomain.
- Direct integration with Google AdSense.
- Easy to use for beginners.
Cons:
- Limited customization options.
- Lacks modern design themes.
Best for: New bloggers who want to earn money quickly with minimal effort.
Tip: If you are on Blogger and are planning to scale up the operation, read how we migrated from Google Blogger to WordPress.
2. WordPress.com
WordPress.com offers a free version of its powerful blogging platform, which is ideal for beginners. While the free plan comes with a subdomain and ads placed by WordPress, you can upgrade to remove them or use affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and merchandise sales to make money. It has a large variety of themes and customization options.
Pros:
- Extensive customization and theme options.
- Built-in audience with WordPress Reader.
Cons:
- Ads placed by WordPress on free blogs.
- Limited monetization unless you upgrade.
Best for: Bloggers who want extensive design control and are okay with upgrading for full monetization features.
3. Wix
Wix provides an intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, which allows you to create a fully customized blog even on the free plan. You can make money from affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, and selling digital products.
Wix offers modern design templates, making your blog look professional, but there are limitations on free accounts.
Pros:
- Simple drag-and-drop website builder.
- Lots of free, modern design templates.
- Monetization via affiliate marketing and e-commerce.
Cons:
- Free plan has Wix branding and ads.
- Limited storage on free plans.
Best for: Bloggers focused on visually appealing content and design flexibility.
4. Medium
Medium is unique in that it focuses on content rather than design, and writers can earn through the Medium Partner Program. You get paid based on how much time Medium members spend reading your content.
While it doesn’t offer ad revenue like other platforms, its direct monetization from readers makes it a viable choice.
Pros:
- Built-in audience with high engagement.
- Simple, distraction-free writing interface.
- Monetization through the Medium Partner Program.
Cons:
- Less control over blog design.
- Content is hosted on Medium, not your own site.
Best for: Writers who want to focus purely on content creation and earn through reader engagement.
5. Weebly
Weebly offers a free plan that allows you to create a professional-looking blog with e-commerce integration, which can help monetize your blog through product sales or affiliate marketing.
It has an easy drag-and-drop builder and comes with decent SEO tools to help your blog rank well in search engines.
Pros:
- Free e-commerce integration.
- Easy-to-use drag-and-drop builder.
- Good SEO tools for blog visibility.
Cons:
- Limited free plan features.
- Weebly branding on free sites.
Best for: Bloggers who plan to monetize through product sales or affiliate marketing.
How much can I earn from free blogging platforms?
The earning potential from free blogging platforms can vary widely based on your traffic, content quality, and monetization strategies. For instance, if you’re using Google AdSense on platforms like Blogger or WordPress, you could earn anywhere from $1 to $10 per 1,000 page views, depending on your niche and audience demographics. Also, Google AdSense alternatives tend to be easier to set up and have payouts in the same range.
Besides, if your Google AdSense application is rejected, opt for affiliate marketing or sponsored content, and your earnings could rise significantly. For example, Medium‘s Partner Program can pay anywhere from $100 to $10,000+ monthly, depending on the engagement of Medium members with your articles.
On average, a beginner blogger could earn between $100 to $500 per month after building some traffic. Over time, with consistent content creation and SEO efforts, this figure could easily grow into the thousands.
If you are just starting out, discover how to create a website for free!
