Multiple platforms are available to write content but which one should you really use? Should you start with free platforms or paid platforms?
There is always a dilemma for beginners, especially after the arrival of AI and tools like ChatGPT. Is blogging even worth it? And what about free blog vs paid blogs: How can we choose one?
First of all, As of today, Blogging is worth it even after the arrival of AI, we just need to focus on providing value to the audience and the E-E-A-T principles of Google which stands for Experience-Expertise-Authority-Trust
Let’s figure it out but remember: There are 25 Tips or parameters that you must know in order to further choose the free platform or the paid platform and if you don’t know these parameters you cannot choose the perfect platform whatsoever.
Do you want to know more about the parameters then first go and read the article on the 25 tips on how to choose the best blogging platform. If you know about these parameters sorry you’ll end up with the wrong choice so choose right, choose wisely.
Table of Contents
Free Blog vs Paid Blog
One of the biggest dilemmas for a newbie is a choice to make between the two free blog vs paid blog: Which one to choose? Well, on Google and other search engines many people often ask:
Should I start with a free blog or a paid blog?
Is it really worth it to start a paid blog?
Do free blogs make money? and many more questions arise when you want to start blogging but don’t worry.
We will know the answer to each question today in detail. Before that, if you don’t know much about blogs then check out this article on what is a blog? with 20 FAQ’s.
First, let’s understand what is a free blog.
What is a free blog?
A free blog is a platform that is easy to set up, made for beginners, and is easy to customize, suitable for bloggers starting out who are tight on budget.
These types of platforms do have limited features compared to paid platforms but the good news is you can even monetize your free blog platforms without paying any fee and earn a significant amount of money.
You can create free blogs on various platforms that offer various features and options for a blogger that helps you to grow your audience and start your business.
Free Blogging Platforms
People often wonder what are the best platforms for free blogging.
Well, some of the best free blogging platforms for new bloggers include the following platforms:
- Blogger
- HubSpot’s Free Blog Maker
- Wix.com
- WordPress.com
- Medium.com
- Weebly
- Substack
- Notion
Now let’s address some basic questions that may come to your mind.
Is Blogger 100% free?
Yes, blogger is 100% free as it’s an entirely free service provided to every new person interested in writing. The best part is Blogger provides free hosting and free sub-domains that a newbie can use to start their own website and a blog for absolutely free.
There are many themes with customization options that are free with some other options as well.
Which website is best for free blogging?
Well, it really depends on your needs and goals but there are some popular and trusted platforms you can consider and they are:
1. Blogger.com ( A Google Product, Easily accessible and easy to set up, I have personally used it for 1 year)
2. WordPress.com (Best for powerful add-ons)
3. HubSpot Free Blog Maker (Extremely important to make professional blogs without coding)
4. Wix.com (One of the best overall with many additional features)
5. Medium.com (Strong in terms of community engagement with less technical maintenance)
6. Squarespace (Best for amazing designs for your blog)
Can I make a free blog on Google?
Yes, definitely you can make a free blog on Google, use blogger.com and sign up for a new account, launch your blog, and earn money.
Do Google pay bloggers?
Yes, even if you are using a free blog platform you can still earn money by applying to Google Adsense.
There are still many more questions to cover and we will cover more down below in the FAQ section. Now let’s move on to paid blog services and platforms.
What is a paid blog?
A paid blog platform provides extreme control, features, design options, security, and multiple monetization options (including ads, sponsorships, affiliate marketing, etc.) to choose from and earn money from your blog.
If you are serious about blogging and want to start it professionally as many individual bloggers and businesses do then go for a paid blog.
Yes, do you have to pay for hosting, domain, and other additional services (only if you buy them it’s optional) from time to time but it’s absolutely worth it.
This website shivamroyindustries.com is launched on a paid blog platform and is running smoothly without any complications and also I am getting many features for free as they are included in the plans.
Paid Blogging Platforms
Some of the best-paid blog platforms present on the planet include:
- WordPress.org (I use it personally) Almost more than 40% of the websites in the entire world are hosted on WordPress only.
- Wix.com
- Squarespace
- Ghost
- Blogger.com
Yes, even in paid blog platforms there are multiple questions that people ask and some of them will be discussed here and others will be discussed down below in the FAQ section of the blog.
Do beginner bloggers make money?
100% Yes, beginner bloggers make money through multiple sources we discussed above like ads, affiliate marketing, sponsorships, and even by selling products and services. It’s just not so easy and requires a lot of hard work and consistency.
What are the benefits of using a paid blog platform?
Well, you can design and customize your website at any time, any place plus you get added security and the ability to monetize your blog.
Free Blog vs Paid Blog (What’s The Major Difference)
There is a major difference and let’s check it out in detail so that you can finally decide which one you should consider and end the dilemma of free blog vs paid blog.
1. Easy To Use
Any blog whether it is free blog or paid blog must be user friendly. Free blog vs paid blog dilemma will not arise when you focus on how easy and effective the platform is to operate for you.
If you think something is extremely complex then start with a simpler platform and learn more about the complex platform side by side. When you are comfortable at that time shift your blog to other platform.
In General, best free blog platforms are easy to use with plenty of features. Even best paid blog platforms are easy to use.
You may think about free vs paid content discrimination, right? Well, any content that’s posted on your blog if it’s genuine will rank, it’s not about free or paid, it’s about the quality, experience, trust, and expertise.
2. Cost
Free blogs are free so they are pocket-friendly. Remember, free doesn’t mean they are bad it’s just that features compared to paid platforms will be limited.
Paid platforms have a standard range and the range varies depending on the technology the platform is providing to you. Better you check out hosting services like Hostinger if you are tight on budget but are happy to spend some money as a serious blogger.
3. Designing
Free blog platforms have beautiful design features that you can use to customize your website with pre-defined themes. They are really good themes, I have used some personally and it looks nice.
On the other hand, with paid blogging platforms, you get plenty of free themes completely customizable and easy to use, probably 1000’s of themes are available that you can play with, and you can change colors, fonts, size, and much more.
4. Security
Even though the security in free blogs are not bad enough but in paid blog hosting platforms/ other platforms you get dedicated security with many plugins ready to serve you along with daily and weekly backups.
From the security point of view, consider going with paid blogs as they are not very costly and can start from 1-2$ per month, like buying a tea or coffee cup. It’s worth it in the long run.
5. Monetization
Here’s comes probably the most important point for every blogger. Many of you ma have even skipped the article to read this section only right?
Well, free themes do offer monetization options but are a bit limited compared to paid tools that offer multiple opportunities like ads, affiliate marketing, sponsored posts, selling products and services, digital downloads, and more.
6. Extra Features
Free tools are great to start and experience the life of a blogger with sufficient features while paid services obviously offer extra features and services.
It’s not like you will be missing out on these features if you are a complete beginner but if you are experienced then you might be compromising a bit for sure.
7. Domain name
In free themes you do get a domain like a sub-domain while in paid tools you get a domain registered with your name and is completely yours for every year, remember to renew it.
8. Business Plans And Expansion
If you want to start a business and grow your business then remember that you can choose any platform you like based on your circumstances and need.
For a free blog remember you can absolutely start with the free platforms but if you want to expand your business and you see visitors coming to your blog, and your website is growing then consider switching to paid platforms and hosting services.
If you wonder when should I switch to paid services from free ones then remember that once you start seeing traffic then switch still consider 6 months to 1 year at least to check and try the free blog platform and then later consider switching.
FAQ
What is the difference between free and paid WordPress?
WordPress offers both free and paid versions WordPress.com and WordPress.org. While the free version is good enough for beginners it has comparatively fewer features than the paid version.
The paid version offers plenty of features, added customizations, and added security that make it a better choice but if you are tight on pocket then starting with a free version is also good.
Is the WordPress free version worth it?
Yes, it’s worth it, WordPress is an open-source software and offers basic features and customizations, yes the monetization features are limited compared to the paid version but start with it if you are tight on budget and later switch to the paid version.
Can a blog be completely free?
Yes, a blog can be completely free but paid versions or platforms provide more features and support.
What is replacing blogging?
Well, nothing is replacing blogging since Google earns most profits from google ads that are shown on bloggers website. If blogging ends then probably Google will end too. Yes, some alternatives to blogging include Podcasts, Videos, Infographics, Audio creation, and more.
What is the difference between free and paid content?
Well, free content presents you with some features and tells you what you can expect from paid content while the paid content offers extreme flexibility, control, customizations, and the ability to solve people’s problems.
Is WordPress SEO friendly?
Yes, WordPress is SEO friendly as it’s easy to use, user friendly, and has many customizations, as it’s easy to manage and work with WordPress.
Conclusion On Free Blog vs Paid Blog
So the battle between free vs paid content and free blog vs paid blog is over for you now right?
I know it’s still not easy to consider and choose between the two but based on the above differences and features you know what’s right for you and what is pocket-friendly for you in the long run.
If you still have any doubts, I am still here to answer all your queries in the comments down below okay? But make sure you make your decision right now, don’t overthink, and get started with blogging.
If you like this blog post, can please share it on your favorite social media platforms so that others can be benefitted? Kindly tag me with @ShivamRoyIndustries.
