With the advent of the internet, online businesses have boomed. You don’t need a physical store or office to reach out to customers all over the world. In the same vein, blogs have also become popular ways to make money online. There are many platforms you can use to start a blog, but which one is the best for making money? In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the most popular blogging platforms and what makes them great for making money. Stay tuned!

What is a Blogging Platform?

To start off, let’s be sure to understand what it is. A blogging platform is an online service that enables you to create and publish a blog. Features, capabilities, and prices vary drastically depending on the platform, so it’s important to understand what your needs are so you can find the perfect one for your blog.

What is Blog Hosting?

blog hosting refers to the process of storing your blog’s files and data on a server, making them accessible to your readers. A blog host will provide you with the tools and resources you need to create and maintain your blog, including a custom domain name, templates, and support from a team of experts. In addition, most blog hosts will also provide features such as security, backup, and spam protection. While there are many different blog hosts to choose from, it’s important to find one that offers the features and support you need to be successful. 

How do beginner bloggers make money?

There are a few different ways to make money blogging, and the amount of money you can make will vary depending on your approach. One way to make money is through advertising. You can sell ad space on your blog or sign up for an advertising network like Google Adsense. Another way to make money is through affiliate marketing, which is when you promote products or services on your blog and earn a commission for each sale that you generate. Finally, you can also sell products or services directly from your blog. If you have a large enough audience, you could create your own physical or digital product and sell it on your site. How much money you can make will depend on factors like the niche you’re blogging in, the quality of your content, and the size of your audience. 

Why It’s Hard to Make Money on a Free Blogging Platform

Starting a blog can be a great way to share your thoughts and ideas with the world. However, if you’re looking to make money from your blog, you’ll likely need to invest in a paid platform. Why is it so hard to make money on a free blogging platform? There are a few key reasons.

First, free platforms often have strict limits on what types of ads you can run. This means that you won’t be able to take advantage of some of the more lucrative ad opportunities.

Second, free platforms typically don’t give you many options for customizing your site, which can lead to slow loading times. Google and other search engines look at loading times among other things to determine search rankings, so this can hurt your organic visibility.

Third, you’re often provided with limited storage space, which means if you’re posting a lot of content, chances are you’ll outgrow your allotment.

Fourth, Your blog will lack that professional look of a polished, fully customized site. You’ll likely have some basic themes to choose from, but that’s just what they are… basic. Another thing to consider is that your blog’s domain will be a subdomain of the host, which doesn’t look as professional as having your own domain.

Finally, free platforms often don’t offer many features or tools that would help you to grow your blog. This means that you may have a harder time attracting new readers and generating income. For these reasons, it’s usually advisable to invest in a paid platform if you want to make money from your blog.

How to Choose the Best Blogging Platform and What to Look For

Purpose:

A blogging platform is a great way to make money. By creating and sharing content regularly, you can attract a large audience of potential customers. In addition, a blogging platform allows you to build a relationship with your audience by providing valuable information and engaging with them in the comments section. 

Monetization:

While there are many ways to monetize your blog, there are a few basic methods that are most commonly used. One popular option is to sell advertising space on your blog. This can be done through a direct approach, such as reaching out to companies that you think would be a good fit for your audience, or by joining an ad network. Another common approach is to use affiliate links, which means including links to products or services on your blog and earning a commission on any sales that are generated. Finally, many bloggers also choose to sell digital or physical products through their blogs. This could include anything from e-books to apparel and can be a great way to leverage your existing audience. No matter which method you choose, monetizing your blog can be a great way to earn some extra income.

Control and Customization:

When it comes to customization options for blogging platforms, some offer more than others. The importance to you of having a unique aesthetic and abundance of features at your fingertips will determine which platform best suits your needs. Some intentionally keep things ultra simple so your readers can just focus on your posts without any distractions, but others give you full control over the appearance, plugins, and features.

Cost:

There are amazing blogging platforms out there that are totally free to use. WordPress is a great example of this. However, there are other costs to running a blog such as web hosting, buying and renewing domains, and sometimes purchasing themes and plugins to customize the look and features of your blog. Some services charge for a membership like Wix, which combines hosting with their awesome drag-and-drop website builder. Paid plans usually offer more customization options, storage space, and support from the platform’s team.

Skill Level:

You should consider your skill level and the purpose of your blog when considering how to choose the best blogging platform. For example, WordPress is a popular choice for businesses and professionals who want to create a sophisticated blog with features like custom fonts and graphics. However, WordPress can be more difficult to use than other platforms, so it might not be the best choice if you’re just starting out. On the other hand, platforms like Blogger and Tumblr are much easier to use and require less technical knowledge. So if you’re just looking to create a simple blog to share your thoughts and ideas, one of these platforms might be a better fit. Ultimately, the best blogging platform for you will depend on your individual needs and preferences.

Ease of Use:

Similar to the considerations regarding your own skill level, you’ll need to decide whether you’re looking for a blogging platform that’s easy to use, or feature-rich. Typically, the more complex the platform is, the less intuitive it is to use if you’re new to blogging. If you are just creating a personal blog for yourself, friends, or family, we’d recommend using one of the more straightforward platforms, but if you’re planning to start a business or blog professionally, it’s probably best, in most cases, to start with one of the more advanced platforms so you can take advantage of all the features. Plus, it’s a bit of a pain to migrate your blog from one platform to another if you end up deciding you want to switch at a later date.

Compatibility:

If you’re looking to turn your blog into a business, you’ll want to make sure the platform you choose is compatible with other third-party services you need like payment processors, email list builders, e-commerce integrations, etc.

Best Blogging Sites to Make Money

1. WordPress.org

WordPress.org is one of the most commonly used blogging platforms for a reason – it’s easy to set up and use. Most popular hosting companies have a one-click installation of WordPress.org, and you can get started with a free theme or you can purchase one of thousands of amazing themes made by third-party developers.

there are also lots of plugins and monetization programs available, so it’s the perfect platform for blogging business that looks professional online.

What’s also great, which isn’t the case with all platforms, is that all the content you post on a WordPress.org blog belongs to you.

Despite all the good, there are also a few things to keep in mind before using WordPress.org.

One main downside is that even though it’s free to create an account, you have to pay for your own hosting, which can get expensive.

It’s also probably the most complex blogging platform, so there is a bit of a learning curve, especially if you want to take advantage of all it can offer.

2. Ghost

Ghost is a popular blogging platform that actually markets itself as a platform for bloggers who want to turn their blog into a business. They offer a simple and streamlined experience, however, it also has some drawbacks that should be considered before using it.

There are hundreds of custom themes to choose from, plus they make it much more straightforward compared to WordPress to edit the theme colors, menus, etc. to get the exact look you want.

With an emphasis on helping bloggers create an online business, their built-in business features (such as creating, sending, and tracking newsletters, offering paid subscriptions, and more) and their analytics platform all work seamlessly and effectively together.

As of August 2022, Ghost implemented its own native commenting platform, which did not exist prior. But what’s even cooler is that you can still choose from any third-party commenting system if you prefer.

One thing to keep in mind is that this platform is definitely not for everyone. If you’re a hobby blogger or just want a place to document events for yourself, friends, and family, you’d be better off with a different service. Ghost is specifically designed for blogger businesses.

A downside is that you don’t have access to nearly the same number of themes or plugins compared to WordPress. But, what it lacks in options, it makes up for in ease of use since WordPress has a steeper learning curve.

3. Wix

One of the biggest advantages of Wix is that it’s extremely user-friendly. Their biggest selling point is their awesome drag-and-drop website builder which makes it easy to design a website without any coding knowledge.

Another plus is that Wix offers a wide range of business and eCommerce features, so you can really customize your site to effectively build your business and make money online.

However, one potential downside of Wix is that it can be more expensive than some other website builders. Depending on the features, level of support, and storage space you want, you’ll need to pay somewhere between $16-$45 per month.

4. Medium

Medium may not be the best to build your business around, but it’s a great side hustle blogging platform for a couple reasons:

First off, it’s free to set up your blog. And second, it has a built-in community that’s already reading content from fellow Medium writers, so there is a chance your content will be seen by others with little marketing or SEO optimization (although SEO is always recommended).

One of the main issues with Medium is that they don’t allow many of the conventional advertising methods like banner ads, so you’re limited in the ways you can generate revenue. However, they do have a subscription model where you can charge $5 per month for access to your blog posts.

It’s for this reason that we consider this a nice side hustle for some extra cash each month, but if you’re looking to build a larger business, you probably want to look into other blogging platforms to make money.

5. SquareSpace

Squarespace puts a lot of money into influencer marketing, so chances are you’ve seen your favorite YouTuber promoting this blogging platform.

It functions very similarly to Wix in terms of offering a super intuitive drag-and-drop website builder, so absolutely no coding knowledge is required.

They offer more templates to choose from compared to Wix, and they integrate well with eCommerce tools, so it’s a great blogging platform to make money. You can also sell digital products, schedule appointments and sell courses/classes, and even add a pay gate to your blog.

However, just like Wix, the main downside is the cost to use the service. The lowest level plan that still offers eCommerce features is their Business Plan, which is $23/month. But if you want useful eCommerce analytics, the ability for customers to leave reviews, and more, you’ll have to upgrade to their $27/month Basic Commerce Plan. And if you want all the bells and whistles plus the ability to sell subscriptions, you’ll need to fork over $49/month for their Advanced Commerce Plan.

6. HubPages

HubPages is a blogging platform that allows users to earn money through publishing articles, generating ad revenue, and selling products and services.

The platform is a community full of writers who love to share information and learn from each other. Part of what makes it so great is the built-in community with whom you share your work.

The main way people make money through HubPages is through their built-in ad program that allows users to earn revenue from advertisements placed on their articles.

The downside is that you don’t own your site, and you’re limited in the other ways bloggers can make money online. They also state on their website that the average writer makes between $50-$100 per month, so unless you put in a ton of work, it’s probably better suited as a side hustle blogging platform like Medium.

7. Jimdo

Jimdo is perfect if you’re self-employed and just need a simple, modern, straightforward blog and/or shop for your products.

They don’t have all the features and customization options as a platform like WordPress, but they offer no commission fees, all kinds of payment options, a legal text generator that can create 100% compliant Terms & Conditions, Return Policies, and more, and even an Instagram and Facebook integration so your followers can browse all your products from your social media pages.

Unfortunately, this is another paid service, but it won’t break the bank. Plans start at $14/month for a blog and go up to $18 and $24/month, respectively, for their plans with eCommerce integrations.

Another potential downside, depending on your aesthetic and taste, is that their themes are very minimalistic. To us, they almost look too simple and a little outdated compared to modern websites, but if simple is your thing, this probably won’t bother you.

8. Vocal.Media

Vocal.Media is a Medium competitor and relative newcomer to the space.

Users have reported higher earnings compared to Medium, especially since they pay per view of your posts and give bonuses for reaching certain milestones.

They also give readers the ability to tip you if they’re so inclined, in addition to allowing contributions, which readers can donate to you on a recurring basis.

Again, like Medium, you do not own your blog, so you’re at the whim of the developers. We would, once again, recommend this as a side hustle and not a primary blogging business option.

9. Weebly

Consider Weebly the poor man’s Wix or SquareSpace.

You get a lot of the same easy-to-use features like fully customizable professionally designed themes and a drag-and-drop website builder.

The plans range from free to $26, which is a steal considering the $40+ price tag on the other similar platforms we mentioned.

The main difference is the theme selection, with fewer than 100 as of writing this. If you can find one you like, awesome! But if not, you may be better off with one of the other blogging platforms.

10. Tumblr

Tumblr is kind of like a cross between a blog and a social media platform. It allows users to create and share short-form content.

While it has some drawbacks, it also offers some unique benefits that make it well worth considering for blogging. One of the main pros of Tumblr is that it’s easy to use and learn. Even if you’re new to blogging, you’ll be able to pick it up quickly and start sharing your content with the world.

Another big plus is that Tumblr has a large and active community of users, which can be helpful if you’re trying to build an audience for your blog.

You can monetize your page through Google Adsense or other ad networks, sponsored posts, affiliate marketing, and linking to your online store.

On the downside, Tumblr doesn’t offer as much flexibility as some other blogging platforms when it comes to customization and monetization. However, if you’re looking for an accessible and user-friendly platform with a built-in community that has some social media aspects to it, Tumblr is definitely worth checking out.

11. Substack

When it comes to blogging platforms, substack is a relatively new kid on the block. Launched in 2017, substack has quickly gained popularity as a blogging platform that allows writers to make money from their work.

In many ways, substack represents a promising new model for blogging. For example, substack makes it easy for writers to set up paid subscriptions, and it provides a simple way for readers to support the work of their favorite bloggers.

However, there are also some potential drawbacks to using substack. For instance, because substack takes a cut of every subscription, it can be difficult for writers to earn a significant income.

Additionally, because Substack hosts all of its content on its site, bloggers give up some control over how their work is presented and shared. 

12. Write.as

Write.as is a fantastic anonymous blogging platform that doesn’t try to sell you on anything. You just go to their homepage, hit that blue “Start writing” button, and you’re on your way to creating your content.

There are a few notable pros to using Write.as. First, there are no ads on free plans.

Second, you can monetize through micropayments from your readers, as well as exclusive content you put behind a paywall.

If you choose the Pro Plan, it even includes newsletter blasts, so you can monetize through affiliate marketing with your subscribers.

The Pro Plan is only $6, which is enticing, but the whole idea behind Write.as is to keep things ultra minimal and free from distractions, so the themes are extremely basic and not very exciting.

13. Blogger

Blogger is a decent free-to-use blogging platform known for being user-friendly and great for beginners. But that’s where our issue with it lies: It’s fairly basic.

If you’re really trying to make a business from your blog, you’ll probably outgrow Blogger relatively quickly.

You will have a subdomain of the Blogger site by default, but you can purchase a domain and redirect it to your blog if you’d like. And since it’s owned by Google, you can easily integrate Adwords to monetize your work.

The themes are limited and not very impressive, and there aren’t as many third-party add-ons and features compared to a platform like WordPress, so while it’s easy to start up quickly, it’s a pain to migrate a blog to a new platform, so we’d recommend going with something more robust.

14. Kajabi

Is your all-in-one marketing platform that’s perfect for those creating educational content, especially online courses.

You can create landing pages, sales funnels, email lists, newsletters, and a blog to help drive traffic and generate leads.

The number one issue is definitely price. You’ll be paying $119, $159, or $319 per month depending on the plan you choose, which is steep, but if you’re serious about your business it’s an awesome platform that conveniently combines everything you need to be successful into one service.

15. Twitter

Twitter is a social media platform that has always been amazing for joining conversations about various topics, but the way it’s been used has evolved over time.

What makes Twitter unique from other social media platforms is its short 280-character limit. But their users have started chaining a multitude of tweets together to basically post longer form content within the constraints of Twitter.

If you combine that with relevant hashtags, you can gain exposure from like-minded users and build your following.

From there, you can direct people to another blog or your online store, generate leads, do affiliate marketing, and build relationships with your followers.

Twitter also introduced Super Follows, which is a way for you to put up a paywall for exclusive tweets. We think this would be great for chained longer-form content like we mentioned above.

16. NewsBreak

Newsbreak is a little different from the others we’ve been discussing. They started the company because they believed that the news should be told by locals living the current events, even if they are amateurs. As a result, it’s a niche platform for writing about news and current events, so it will not apply to everyone.

To apply for monetization, you need a minimum of 100 registered followers and 10 published articles.

While this can be a great way to earn some extra income, there are also some potential drawbacks to consider. One downside is that Newsbreak takes a percentage of each article’s earnings, so writers may not keep as much of the profits as they would if they sold their articles directly to publications.

But if you are a committed writer and interested in making some extra cash on the side, Newsbreak can be a great option.

17. Wattpad

Wattpad is another unique niche platform that focuses on storytelling. They have a built-in audience of 90 million readers, and it’s a great place to get your stories out in front of people and start building a following.

It’s relatively easy to set up, and as you grow and gain recognition, you have the opportunity to get your stories published or even produced to movies or TV shows.

Aside from getting published, Wattpad offers in-story ads as well as a Creator Program to monetize your account.

However, as mentioned, this is very niche for storytelling, so if you write about anything else, this isn’t the blogging platform for you.

18. Steemit

Steemit is one of the more innovative options in the blogging space. They are a blockchain-based blogging and social media platform that incentivizes great content creation by allowing users to upvote, and as a result, pay the writer in their own cryptocurrency.

You can either use the coins to make purchases on their platform or transfer the coins to an exchange and convert it to another cryptocurrency of your choice or dollars to pay yourself out.

The main downside is that it looks to be based on Reddit, so it’s more of a social media platform than a true blogging platform.

As a result, you also do not own your writings since they’re all posted on their platform.

Final Thoughts

So, which is the best blogging platform for you? It depends on what you need and what you want to achieve with your blog. If you’re looking for a platform that gives you lots of options and flexibility, WordPress is probably the best choice. However, if you want something that’s easy to use and doesn’t require any technical knowledge, Blogger or Tumblr might be better options. Whichever platform you choose, make sure it meets your needs so you can focus on creating great content and growing your audience. Have you tried any of these blogging platforms? Which do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!