Free Website Hosting

~ for beginners

Free Website Hosting

Free website hosting is available for anyone who wants to start a blog.

This type of hosting is more suitable for hobby blogging.

Choosing the right blogging platform is an important step for beginners.

There are many free platforms available to host your website and blogs. It is almost impossible to keep up with them all and not all are created equal.

The free ones may be attractive to you and ideal for your budget but keep in mind that the affiliate brands you’d like to ultimately work with may not like them.

That being said, free blogging platforms are helpful tools especially if you just want a basic website without all the bells and whistles.

If you blog for fun or a hobby, then why pay?

It is helpful to be aware of the choices available to host your blog.

We like to keep you informed about free tools and services in our posts

When beginners are aware of the many options available, it helps to make the selection process easier.  They can “shop around” at no cost before committing to a premium plan.

Many plans offer month-long or week-long free trials and some may have a forever free basic plan with limited features.

In keeping with our motto:

“Free Is Your Friend”

We’ve compiled a list of free and paid blogging platforms to get you started.  

Beginners typically have a low budget and are indecisive about which premium tools to invest in, if any.  

● WordPress.com

 WordPress is awesome. 

We’d be remiss if we didn’t put WordPress first on the list of free website hosting. 

WordPress is the most popular blogging platform in the world. You can get started for free on the WordPress.com free plan and receive a subdomain. 

Feeling Overwhelmed?

Don’t be.

 WordPress does not leave you hanging or feeling lost. They offer a considerable amount of free training to get you on your way. 

Training Suggestions

Learn how to build a free website with WordPress here.

WPBeginner Training

WPBeginner was launched in 2009 by Sayed Balkhi. 

This site has invaluable training and tutorials that will benefit WordPress users of all levels. 

Learn from experts and increase your skill level

When researching blog hosting platforms keep the following things in mind: 

• • Will it be user-friendly?
  • Will it be customizable? 
  • Will you own your blog?
  • Will your blog make money? 
  • Is support available if needed? 
  • Will you have a custom domain?
  • Will you have a branded website?

It’s a good idea to check if the free hosting platform also has an easy website builder, preferably drag and drop with templates for ease of use.

Even though your hosting platform says it’s “free” make sure a domain is also available free and if not, find out if you need to pay for it.

Also, there could be a trial period or a free forever plan so make sure you are clear on what you are signing up for. Free plans are great for testing; when more features and space are needed, you can upgrade if your budget allows.

That being said, here are some more free blogging platforms.

• Blogger

Blogger has a free blog hosting service. If you want a basic blogging platform that’s easy to learn without any bells and whistles, then Blogger might be a good free choice for you. Keep in mind that although your blog and content are yours, you don’t own your site. For this reason, some affiliate brands may be hesitant about working with creators who host with Blogger. Check Blogger’s terms and conditions to make sure you comply. Your site can be deleted or blocked without your consent if you violate Blogger’s terms. 

• Medium

Medium is another good choice. 

There is no charge for hosting and domain registration. Although this is a budget-friendly choice it may not be brand friendly. 

• Wix

Wix has free website hosting.

It is optimized for mobile. Unfortunately, on this platform, there are no free tracking or analytics tools.

Google Sites

Yaay Google Sites

Google never ceases to be amazing. You can get free website hosting with Google Sites; all you have to do is create a free Gmail account. Your site will be built, hosted and maintained free of cost. 

Visit sites.google.com and take a look around. It also has some limitations like all the other free hosting platforms.

Google announced the shutting down of websites made with Google Business Profiles in March 2024

• Don’t Forget Canva

Canva has many features!

Use Canva’s drag-and-drop tools and customizable templates to quickly create a free, unique, one-page website including a free Canva domain.  If you’d like to link to your custom domain then you’d need to upgrade to the premium plan. 

How many free websites does Canva allow?

• Free users can publish 5
• Pro users can publish unlimited

What types of websites can Canva design?

Single-page sites like newsletters and landing pages can be made.

Free Blog Hosting Also Available On

• Weebly

• Write.as

Premium Hosting Ideas

So you want to be a pro blogger; work from home or anywhere with an internet connection; quit your job; earn ad revenue; earn affiliate marketing income and live an entrepreneurial laptop lifestyle?

N o  W o r r i e s

Please note that:

If You’re Building A Business

It is best to get a self-hosted website so you can create and customize your blog fully without limitations, have more flexibility, more storage and way more speed. 

The problem with free hosting platforms is that you don’t own them and they tend to have several limitations including slower speed and less storage. Being self-hosted means you’ll need to pay for a domain and a hosting company to operate your site. 

My site is hosted inexpensively with Bluehost. 

(I also have an older site hosted with SiteGround.)

Bluehost offers low-cost hosting for under $3 per month!

Bluehost also has a huge library of free plugins along with free and paid themes that will enhance your blog’s functionality and improve its design.

Here are some premium website hosting platforms for your review.

Premium Website Hosting

You already know that Bluehost would be FIRST on the list so don’t even play with me 😉 

1.  Bluehost

• Web hosting for under $3 per month
• Free domain for the first year
• 24/7 customer support
• Free SSL certificate 
• Unlimited storage
• Website Builder
• Free training
• Free themes
• Access to numerous free plugins

2.  SiteGround

3.  GoDaddy

4.  Hostinger

5.  BigScoots

6.  HostGator

7.  Dream Host

8.  InMotion Hosting

Free Website Hosting

Wrap Up

If you are a Beginner opting for free website hosting, you should note that the free ones are not suitable for operating a business or a monetized blog. They are perfect to get you started if your blog is a hobby or a personal one that requires no bells or whistles. If you are indecisive about what direction your blog will take, consider a low-cost, self-hosted website with Bluehost to get started. If you outgrow your blog and it evolves into a huge one, you may require more space and speed. SiteGround, BigScoots, or one of the aforementioned suggestions would be a great upgrade choice.

If you are still on the fence about blogging, consider the fact that a monetized, self-hosted blog could ultimately earn enough passive income and ad revenue while you sleep to replace your 9 to 5. An extra income stream is a huge plus and it won’t hurt to have a plan B side hustle!

Cheers to free website hosting and as always, much success to you on your entrepreneurial journey!

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