Top Blogging Platforms for Earning Money in 2025

Whether you're looking for a platform to write short posts, upload large amounts of content, or even run an eCommerce business, there's a platform out there that suits your needs.

It's important to note that blogging offers one of the highest returns on investment compared to other marketing channels.

From WordPress to Write.as, we've compiled some of the best options to help you easily find the right blogging platform to kickstart your successful blogging journey in 2025.

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WordPress

WordPress is a popular choice among hobby bloggers, small business owners, and even some of the biggest brands, powering 43% of all websites on the internet.

It's undoubtedly one of the top blogging platforms for anyone looking to start a blog.

WordPress offers both self-hosted and hosted versions, providing flexibility depending on your needs and technical skills.

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WordPress.org

WordPress.org is a content management system that provides a wide range of blogging features, plugins, and community support through forums.

To run a self-hosted blog, you'll need to install WordPress and find a web hosting provider to get started.

Pros:

• Fully customizable to suit your needs.
• Access to thousands of free templates, themes, and plugins.
• Extensive support guides, webinars, and courses available.

Cons:

• Requires some technical knowledge for setup and maintenance.
• Additional costs for hosting, domain, professional themes, and plugins.

Pricing:Free – but you will need to pay for hosting and domain.

Quick Tip:Consider Namecheap for reliable and budget-friendly hosting plans, starting at $1.58 per month, billed every two years.

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WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a website builder that takes care of the essential technical aspects of running a blog, such as backup storage, security, and software updates.

By choosing WordPress, you can focus on creating and publishing valuable content while leaving the technical details to them.

Pros:

• Easy to use – no advanced technical skills required.
• Free themes, templates, and drag-and-drop layouts available.
• Unlimited pages and users.
• Built-in analytics and site monetization features.
• Allows readers to subscribe via newsletters or RSS.
• Android and iOS apps with positive reviews.

Cons:

• Custom domain names are only available with paid plans.
• 10% commission fee and standard payment processing fee.
• Less flexibility and control over your site.
• Advanced features are locked behind paywalls.

Pricing:

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Medium

Medium is a platform that places a strong emphasis on the quality of your writing, offering a clean, minimalist design that ensures your content takes the spotlight. The site is ad-free, allowing for an uninterrupted reading experience. With limited formatting options, it ensures the focus remains solely on your words.

Readers can highlight excerpts from your articles and leave comments, fostering direct interaction with your audience. Medium is home to many influential writers, including prominent figures like former U.S. President Barack Obama, making it an ideal space for thoughtful and engaging discussions.

Pros:

• User-friendly and easy to navigate.
• Completely ad-free, enhancing the reading experience.
• Monetization available through the Medium Partner Program, allowing writers to place paywalls on their content.
• High-rated Android and iOS apps for smooth content consumption.

Cons:

• No ownership of your domain name, limiting brand identity.
• Customization is quite limited, although the clean design might appeal to many.
• Monetization opportunities are restricted compared to other platforms.

Pricing:

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Blogger

Blogger is a free blogging platform owned by Google, making it an accessible option for anyone looking to start a blog without any upfront costs. It’s straightforward to set up – simply sign in with your Gmail account, choose a theme, and start publishing posts. Blogger also offers integration with Google AdSense, allowing you to monetize your blog by displaying ads.

Customization is simple, enabling you to adjust your theme’s layout, font sizes, and colors, though the platform offers limited design flexibility. It's a great choice for those who want to get started quickly and focus more on content than on technical details.

Pros:

• Easy to set up with your Gmail account.
• Free domain on blogspot.com.
• Simple to use for beginners.
• Can store a large number of posts and photos.
• Monetize your blog through Google AdSense.
• Access to Google Analytics for tracking site performance.
• Functional mobile apps for Android and iOS.

Cons:

• Limited customization and design options.
• Custom domain requires a paid plan.
• Few templates and third-party apps available.
• Content is ultimately owned by Google.

Pricing:

• Free – no cost for using the platform, but you may need to pay for a custom domain if desired.

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Squarespace

Squarespace is a popular website builder that allows you to easily create a professional website with a blog and store. Known for its modern design templates, Squarespace offers a sleek, customizable platform that makes building a visually appealing website simple—even without technical expertise.

While it’s perfect for those looking for a polished, professional appearance, it does have some limitations in terms of customization flexibility and third-party integrations.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
• Built-in SEO tools to optimize your site for search engines.
• Analytics and marketing tools for tracking and promoting your content.
• Highly rated Android and iOS apps for on-the-go management.

Cons:

• Limited customization options compared to more flexible platforms.
• Fewer third-party extensions and integrations.
• No control over the website’s loading speed, which may impact user experience.

Pricing:

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Wix

Wix is a freemium website builder that allows users to create professional-looking blogs and websites without any prior coding experience. With its intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Wix offers a vast library of templates, customizable designs, and even AI tools to help generate content seamlessly.

While it’s perfect for beginners, there are some limitations, such as restricted customization after creation and the presence of ads on the free plan.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor.
• Built-in SEO, AI tools, and other marketing features.
• Extensive library of professional designs and templates.
• Good quality Android and iOS apps for managing your site on the go.

Cons:

• Cannot change the template once the site is created.
• Limited control over the back end of your website.
• Wix ads appear on the free plan, and they don’t generate revenue.
• Free version comes with limited storage space.

Pricing:

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Ghost

Ghost is a clean, simple blogging platform designed for those who want a professional and minimalistic approach to their online presence. It offers both self-hosted and hosted versions, catering to a wide range of needs from beginners to advanced users.

Self-hosted Ghost

Self-hosted Ghost is free and open-source, but you’ll need to handle hosting independently, as your blog will not be hosted on Ghost's servers.

Pros:

• Fully customizable to suit your needs.
• Access to a wide range of products and services, including free themes.
• No restrictions on the number of members you can have.
• Regular software updates provided weekly.

Cons:

• Requires some technical knowledge to set up and maintain.
• Paid hosting is required.
• No official Android or iOS apps available.

Pricing: Free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting.

Quick tip: Consider using DigitalOcean, with hosting plans starting at $4/month, or explore other providers recommended by Ghost.

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Ghost(Pro)

Ghost(Pro) is the hosted version of the platform, where Ghost takes care of the hosting, maintenance, and updates, so you can focus solely on content creation.

Pros:

• Easy to use with no technical setup required.
• Includes themes and built-in integrations.
• Managed server maintenance and backups.
• Weekly software updates ensure your blog stays current.

Cons:

• No official Android or iOS apps.
• The starter plan offers limited themes and customization options.
• Some advanced features are locked behind paywalls.

Pricing:

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Tumblr

Tumblr is a great choice for bloggers who want to share a variety of media, such as videos, GIFs, music, and images. It's a content-rich platform that combines the features of both a blog and a social media site. While it’s a fantastic platform for creative expression, it can be competitive due to the high volume of content shared.

If you’re looking for a hosted platform and want to focus on multimedia content, Tumblr is one of the best free blogging platforms to get started with.

Pros:

• Free Tumblr subdomain.
• User-friendly interface for easy setup and posting.
• Well-rated Android and iOS apps for on-the-go content creation.

Cons:

• Limited customization options for design and layout.
• Highly competitive environment with tons of content.
• Additional costs for a custom domain and premium themes.

Pricing: Free

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Weebly

Weebly is a website builder that is tailored for business websites and eCommerce stores, making it a solid choice for monetizing your blog. It offers a variety of services and customization options, allowing you to build a professional-looking online store or blog without needing to know how to code.

Pros:

• Easy-to-use drag-and-drop editor for smooth website building.
• Multiple customization options and built-in SEO tools to enhance visibility.
• Seamless integration with the Square payment platform for eCommerce.
• High-quality Android and iOS apps for managing your site on the go.

Cons:

• Square ads are only removed with the Professional plan.
• Custom domain names are available only with paid plans.
• Some advanced features require additional payments.

Pricing:

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Write.as

Write.as is a beginner-friendly blogging platform that offers a clean and distraction-free writing environment. It focuses on written content, serving as an alternative to social media, ideal for bloggers who prioritize writing over multimedia.

Paid plans unlock additional features, such as adding photos to blog posts.

Pros:

• Easy to use with a simple interface.
• No ads to distract from your content.
• High writer privacy with minimal data collection.
• Custom domain name options.
• Good quality Android and iOS apps for on-the-go writing.

Cons:

• Limited monetization options for the site.
• Advanced theme and text editing features are behind a paywall.
• Photo hosting requires a paid plan.

Pricing:

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Key points to consider when choosing a blog platform

Cost

Free Options: If you're looking to start a blog with no financial investment, several platforms offer free plans, including:

• WordPress.com
• Medium
• Blogger
• Wix
• Tumblr
• Weebly
• HubPages
• Write.as

Self-Hosted Platforms:

• WordPress.org: Ideal for those who want full control over their blog. Hosting plans start at $4.48 per month (or $1.58 billed every two years).
• Ghost: A great option for those who prefer a streamlined, minimalist blogging experience. Hosting plans begin at $4 per month.

Paid Platforms with Additional Features:

• Ghost(Pro): Starts at $11 per month (or $9 if billed yearly).
• Wix: Starts at $17 per month.
• Squarespace: Starts at $23 per month (or $16 billed yearly).

Take into account your blogging goals, whether you need advanced customization, SEO tools, or eCommerce integration. Choose a platform that aligns with your budget and long-term needs.

User-friendliness

Many blogging platforms are designed to be intuitive, making it easy for beginners to write, format, and publish posts without technical experience.

If you're new to blogging, choose a platform with a website builder, so you won’t have to worry about finding and managing hosting providers.

Look for platforms with an active user community that can help you troubleshoot any issues and answer questions as you go.

Monetization

• Hosted Blogs: These usually offer built-in tools and options for monetizing your blog directly through the platform (e.g., advertising, paid subscriptions).
• Self-hosted Blogs: You’ll need to configure the platform yourself to enable monetization features. Common options include:
  • Displaying ads (e.g., Google AdSense).
  • Posting sponsored content.
  • Using affiliate marketing.
  • Setting up memberships or donation systems.
  • Creating an online store to sell branded merchandise.

Customization

Hosted Blogs: Often come with pre-designed templates, offering limited customization options for layout and design.

Self-hosted Blogs: Provide more freedom and flexibility in customization, allowing you to fully control the look and functionality of your blog.

If you need professional help, consider hiring experts from platforms like Fiverr to assist with blog design and customization.

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Monetize your blog with Tapstitch

Tapstitch offers an excellent way to monetize your blog by selling custom, print-on-demand products directly to your audience. You can easily promote your personalized merchandise through blog posts and guide readers to your online store. Whether you sell on platforms like Etsy or Shopify, or integrate a store directly on your blog, Tapstitch provides the tools you need to generate income.

1.Sign Up：Start by registering for a free Tapstitch account. This will grant you full access to our services, from a diverse product catalog to design support.

2.Create Products：Browse through our Catalog products. Pick the items that best suit your blog’s theme and audience. Once you've found your favorites:

• Choose a Print Provider
• Click Start Designing

3.Add Designs：Use our Product Creator to upload your designs or create fresh ones using our free graphics, fonts, and professional design tools.Adjust your design for the perfect look and generate high-quality product mockups to showcase on your blog.

4.Connect Your Store：Seamlessly integrate your Tapstitch account with multiple popular blogging and eCommerce platforms.

• Go to your Tapstitch Dashboard
• Click store
• Choose your sales channel (Etsy, Shopify, Wix, etc.)

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Final Thoughts

Whether you choose a WordPress site or a Tumblr page, exploring the various blogging platforms we've listed is key to finding the one that best suits your needs. Take into account your budget, technical skills, and the specific features you require to determine whether a hosted or self-hosted platform, a free blog, or one with additional paid features is right for you.

Once you’ve selected your platform, start blogging your heart out and generating income.

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