Whether you’re hoping to turn your passion into income or simply want a creative outlet to share ideas, knowing how to start a blog is the first step. We’ll walk through key tools, services, and tips to help you quickly and easily launch your blog and start earning money, if that’s your ultimate goal.
To get started, you’ll need a few essentials: a blogging platform (including a domain name and web hosting), and possibly tools for graphic design, marketing, keyword research, and writing. Here are some reliable options to consider.
WordPress.com: Free Basic Blog Hosting
- Free, open-source blogging platform
- Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins
- Large community with extensive documentation
- Supports advanced features and full site admin control if you’re tech-minded
Why it’s great:
Perfect for bloggers who want full ownership of their site and the flexibility to grow. It’s ideal if you’re serious about learning how to start a blog for money or building a long-term brand.
Bluehost: Simplified WordPress Hosting for Growth
- WordPress #1 recommended hosting provider
- Free domain name for the first year
- Free SSL certificate included
- One-click WordPress installation
- 24/7 customer support
- Affordable starter plans
Why it’s great:
A great choice for beginners who want reliable hosting without complications. Bluehost makes it easy to launch your blog quickly with minimal setup stress.
Wix: Super Easy Website Builder with a Free Plan
- All-in-one website builder with drag-and-drop tools
- Free plan available with Wix-branded domain
- Dozens of customizable blog templates
- Built-in SEO and analytics tools
- E-commerce and monetization options
Why it’s great:
Wix is a user-friendly option for casual bloggers or those testing the waters. You can start for free and upgrade later if you decide to grow your blog into a business.
ConvertKit: Complete Email Marketing Solution with a Free Plan
- Email marketing platform designed for creators and bloggers
- Free plan available for up to 1,000 subscribers
- Create landing pages, email sequences, and forms
- Automate email campaigns to grow your audience
- Offers digital product sales and newsletter monetization
Why it’s great:
If you’re ready to build a community or sell products, ConvertKit helps you connect with readers and turn your blog into a true business.
Canva: Top-Rated Graphic Design Tool with a Free Plan
- Free design tool with drag-and-drop features
- Create blog graphics, social media posts, and logos
- Thousands of templates and stock images
- User-friendly even for non-designers
- Free and Pro plans available
Why it’s great:
Canva is an easy way to make your blog look polished and professional without needing a design background. It’s especially helpful for creating shareable content and branding.
Grammarly: Terrific Writing Checker with AI Tools
- AI-powered writing assistant for spelling, grammar, and clarity
- Real-time suggestions for tone, conciseness, and word choice
- Works across Google Docs, WordPress, email, and more
- Chrome extension and desktop app available
- Free version available; Premium unlocks advanced edits and plagiarism checks
Why it’s great:
Whether you’re writing blog posts, emails, or affiliate content, Grammarly helps you polish your writing without slowing you down. It’s especially useful for catching small errors and tightening your tone — so you sound more professional, even on your first draft.
ChatGPT: Amazing AI Tool for Crafting Content in Your Writing Style
- AI content assistant for brainstorming, drafting, editing, and research
- Great for outlining blog posts, generating titles, and repurposing content
- Custom instructions and memory features help tailor responses
- Supports Markdown formatting for blog-friendly output
- Free version available; ChatGPT Plus unlocks GPT-4 and more advanced features
Why it’s great:
ChatGPT can seriously streamline your blogging workflow — from idea generation to first drafts to keyword research. With the right prompts, it becomes a powerful writing sidekick that saves time, sparks ideas, and helps you stay consistent across platforms.
Lasso Affiliate: Simplifies Affiliate Link Management with a Free Plan
- WordPress plugin to manage and display affiliate links beautifully
- Customizable product boxes with pricing, buttons, and comparison tables
- Link cloaking and tracking built in
- Alerts for broken or out-of-stock links
- Works with Amazon, ShareASale, CJ, and custom affiliate programs
- Free plan available, paid plan unlocks added display, tracking and reporting features for growth
Why it’s great:
Lasso makes your affiliate links look clean, clickable, and trustworthy — all while helping you track performance and fix broken links automatically. It’s ideal for bloggers who want a more professional way to showcase affiliate products and increase conversions without extra effort.
How to Start a Blog for Free or with a Few Low-Cost Tools
There are loads of blog platforms and blogging support tools on the market, but not all are worth your time or budget. Picking the right set of tech tools (your “tech stack” in tech-speak) early can make your blogging journey smoother, faster, and far more profitable. Look for user-friendly, low-cost blogging platforms and tools (like our picks listed above) that offer free features for startup needs, plus provide advanced features in paid plans to support growth over the long haul.
Here’s how to think strategically when choosing your blogging tech stack.
Know Where You Are in the Blogging Journey
Before comparing tools, ask yourself:
Are you just trying to figure out how to start a blog for free? Look for tools with a free intro tier or free trial
- Wix or WordPress.com + a free theme for blog building and hosting
- Canva for creating logos and graphics for your blog and social media
- MOZ free keyword tool for keyword research
- Expand onto social media channels for free with blog post shares, reels, and social media. poss
Do you already have a blog or website and want to turn it into a money-making side hustle? It’s time to start monetizing your work with ads, affiliates, digital sales, or physical products. See a full breakdown on how to monetize your blog below.
Are you building a content or product-focused website with income in mind from day one? Launch with that plan in mind.
- MOZ paid plan will help your blog target content for growth from day one
- Convert Kit’s lead-gen forms and automated emails
- Affiliate programs, ad programs and online shopping carts support all types of monetization opportunities. See more details on these platforms below.
Free vs. Paid Blog Tools: When to Invest
Free plans and trials are a great way to explore new platforms, but if you’re serious about growing your blog, paid tools can unlock time-saving automation, pro-level features, and support that actually helps when things go sideways.
Here are a few examples where upgrading can deliver added features that improve productivity and deliver ROI.
- ConvertKit’s free plan is perfect for starting your email list, but the magic happens with automation, tagging, and subscriber segmentation — features only available on the paid tiers.
- Moz Pro offers a generous 30-day free trial, but the real power lies in its full Pro dashboard, which includes deeper keyword suggestions, SERP tracking, site audits, and competitive analysis tools that help you build long-term SEO traffic.
- Wix has a solid free version if you’re testing things out. But paid plans unlock tools that a serious blogger needs, such as custom domains, integrations, and premium themes without the Wix ads. Plus, paid tiers give you access to advanced SEO settings and e-commerce features, which are essential if you’re building a brand or selling anything directly from your site.
- Bluehost + WordPress is one of the most affordable pro blogging setups around. While WordPress itself is a free CMS, Bluehost’s low-cost hosting plans unlock everything you need — a custom domain, one-click WordPress installation, SSL security, and reliable support. It’s a small monthly investment that gives you complete control over your site and monetization strategy.
- Canva Pro builds on the free version with powerful features like Brand Kits, background remover, Magic Resize for different platforms, and access to premium templates and stock content. If you’re creating graphics for blog posts, Pinterest, or social, these upgrades can easily save you hours each week.
Pro Tip: Bottom Line on Free vs Paid Blogging Tools
Start with free trials or tiers when you’re testing, but don’t be afraid to upgrade once a tool saves you time, improves your blog’s look, or helps you monetize and earn faster. Paid plans are often the difference between blogging as a hobby and growing it into a consistent income stream.
How to Decide What to Blog About
If you’re excited to start a blog, but stuck on what to write about, here’s how to find your path. The best blogs start at the intersection of:
- What you already know (or want to learn)
- What people are already searching for online
- What topics have related products and services that you can monetize over time
Here’s how to pinpoint a topic that works for you and your future readers.
Start with Your Passion (or Interests) + Experience
Your blog doesn’t have to be groundbreaking. But it should feel personal and sustainable. You’ll be more consistent (and relatable) if you choose something you care about or have real-life experience with.
Ask:
- What do people come to you for advice on?
- What could you talk about for 20 minutes without notes?
- What problems have you solved in your own life?
That’s blog gold.
Research for Search Audience + Money Potential
It’s not enough to be passionate — you also need readers. And ideally, income potential.
Research your topic to make sure:
- People are searching for answers (use Google, Reddit forums, or tools like Moz)
- There are products, services, or affiliate opportunities tied to it
- You could eventually sell a digital product or service to this audience
Blogging about your daily breakfast? Tough sell. Blogging about gluten-free meal prep on a budget? Much better angle.
How to Start a Blog and Make Money
Blogging income doesn’t happen overnight, but it is happening. In 2025, more creators than ever monetize their content across multiple channels. The key? Create useful, shareable content, build a community, and plug into monetization models that fit your niche.
Here are some of the most reliable ways to make money blogging and expand your reach into influencer-level income as you grow.
1. Affiliate Marketing
Recommend products or services and earn a commission when readers click your link and make a purchase. Top programs include:
- Amazon Associates
- ShareASale
- CJ Affiliate
- LTK (for lifestyle and fashion bloggers)
Use affiliate links naturally — in product reviews, how-to guides, comparison posts, and email roundups.
2. Display Ads
Once you have steady traffic, ad networks can pay you based on views (CPM) or clicks (CPC). Options include:
- Google AdSense (easy to join, low payout)
- Mediavine (requires 50,000 monthly sessions)
- Raptive (formerly AdThrive, requires 100,000+ monthly pageviews)
Ads can be passive income, but they work best on blogs with consistent content and traffic.
3. Sponsored Posts & Partnerships
As your audience grows, brands may pay you to feature their products, write sponsored posts, or partner on giveaways and social media influencer campaigns.
You can also pitch brands directly, especially if you can offer a blog and cross-channel influencer content (like Instagram, TikTok, or Reels).
4. Social Media Cross-Promotion
Turn your blog content into short-form video, pins, or carousels to attract a wider audience and drive affiliate revenue:
- Use Pinterest to share blog graphics and link back to monetized posts
- Create Facebook Reels or TikToks that summarize blog tips or review affiliate products
- Post Instagram stories or highlights with “Shop” links or swipe-ups (once you become eligible)
This creates more touchpoints for traffic and trust.
5. Sell Digital or Physical Products
Many successful bloggers monetize by selling:
- Digital downloads (checklists, planners, templates)
- Online courses or webinars
- Print-on-demand merch (like mugs or shirts)
- Handmade or niche physical products
Use tools like EZ Digital Downloads, Stripe, Square, Gumroad, Podia, or Shopify to host and sell products directly from your blog site.