Turn passion into profit with Printify
Blogging consistently ranks as one of the highest-ROI ways to make money online. Experienced bloggers average over $53 thousand a year, making it a valid career choice for those with a knack for writing.
But it all starts with choosing the right blogging platform – one that boosts your reach, simplifies monetization, and gives your content room to take off.
We’ve pulled together the best blogging platforms to make money in 2026, from industry giants like WordPress to newer, creator-first tools like Substack, to help you launch with confidence.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no additional cost to you.
Best blogging platforms to make money: An overview
Short on time? Here’s a quick comparison between the most popular blogging platforms to optimize your revenue streams in 2026.
| Platform | Cost | Use and customization | Monetization options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.org | Free, but requires hosting and a custom domain | Full control over code and design | Ads, eCommerce, memberships, digital content, donations, affiliate links | Tech-savvy users, scalable monetization strategies, and long-form content |
| WordPress.com | $0-45 per month | Limited on free and lower-tier plans | Vary by plan | Beginners who want the WordPress features without the setup |
| Medium | Free | Minimal, standardized platform look | Partner Program (based on reading time) | New writers, immediate exposure |
| Blogger | Free | Simple setup, limited to blog elements | Ads, affiliate links, sponsored content | Budget-conscious writers who just focus on writing |
| Squarespace | $16-99 per month | Template-based design with drag-and-drop blocks | Ads, memberships, affiliate links, eCommerce, digital content, donations | Visual content, businesses wanting more online visibility |
| Wix | $0-159 per month | AI-powered website builder and tools | Ads, eCommerce, affiliate links | Beginners looking for an easy-to-use editor |
| Ghost | Free, but requires hosting.Hosted version starts at $15 per month | Minimalist publishing, extensive built-in SEO tools | Memberships, affiliate links, ads | Professional writers focused on paid subscriptions |
| Tumblr | Free, ad-free plan costs $6.99 per month | Design-focused, highly visual themes | Affiliate links, ads (requires a custom domain) | Short-form content focusing on communities |
| Weebly | $0-26 per month | Simple editor, eCommerce-focused tools | Ads, eCommerce, affiliate links | Simple eCommerce integration |
| Hubpages | Free | Platform templates with fixed look | Platform-managed ads, affiliate links | Writers wanting a simple revenue-sharing model |
| Write.as | $6-25 per month | Focus on distraction-free, private writing | Donations, exclusive content, affiliate links | Targeted paid content |
| Substack | Free | Newsletter tools, email-focused design | Email subscriptions, donations | Writers focused on building a direct, paying email audience |
WordPress
Used by hobby bloggers, small business owners, and some of the biggest names out there – WordPress powers 43.2% of all websites on the internet.
WordPress offers self-hosted and hosted versions. Check out this breakdown to understand why it’s one of the top blog platforms today.
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is the world’s most popular blogging platform for a good reason. The free, open-source software gives you complete control over your blog site. Add any design or feature you want using themes and plugins.
It’s self-hosted, so you need to buy your own hosting service and domain name (your site’s address).
Pros:
- Powerful content management system – excellent for handling high volumes and varied types of content.
- Thousands of free WordPress plugins and themes.
- Complete freedom in monetization.
- Highly scalable.
Cons:
- Requires technical skills.
- Maintenance and security are handled independently, unless you get managed hosting.
Pricing: The core software is free, but your WordPress blog needs hosting and a custom domain name to run.
Best for: Tech-savvy bloggers and serious businesses who want a site that can grow as big as they need.
Try Namecheap for reliable and affordable hosting options. Plans start at $1.58 per month, billed every two years.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress. Unlike WordPress.org, it handles all the maintenance, updates, and backups for you.
Launch your WordPress site for free, then upgrade once you’re ready to monetize it. Overall, it offers less control than the self-hosted version but provides a much easier way to get started.
Pros:
- Easy to set up – all plans include web hosting and a domain.
- The platform manages security, updates, and backups for you.
- Built-in analytics and site monetization features.
- Readers can subscribe to your content via a newsletter or RSS.
Cons:
- Unique domain names are only for paid plans.
- Up to a 10% commission fee and a standard processing fee for payments.
Pricing: Check out WordPress pricing for price and feature breakdown.
| Free plan | $0 |
| Personal plan | $9 per month or $4 billed annually |
| Premium plan | $18 per month or $8 billed annually |
| Business plan | $40 per month or $25 billed annually |
| Commerce plan | $70 per month or $45 billed annually |
| Enterprise plan | Starts at $25,000 per year |
Best for: Bloggers who need an easy start and don’t want to worry about hosting or site maintenance.
Medium
Medium is a unique publishing platform focused purely on the value of your writing. The site has a clean, simple design with limited formatting, placing your content at the center of attention.
Join the Partner Program and earn money based on how much time paying members spend reading your content.
Cons:
- Uniform look.
- Limited monetization opportunities.
Pricing: Signing up is free, but you need to become a paying Medium member to join the Partner Program and earn money from your posts.
| Free account | $0 |
| Medium Member plan | $5 per month or $50 annually |
| Friend of Medium plan | $15 per month or $150 annually |
Best for: New bloggers looking for immediate exposure from a built-in audience.
Blogger
Blogger is a classic, completely free platform owned by Google. It’s one of the quickest and simplest ways to get your blog online without any cost or technical skills.
Since it’s a Google product, it integrates easily with Google AdSense for earning money from ads.
Pros:
- Simple to set up – just sign in with your Gmail account.
- Offers free subdomains for users without custom domains.
- User-friendly built-in tools.
- Built-in integration with Google AdSense and Analytics.
Cons:
- Advanced customization options rely on HTML and CSS code.
- Limited third-party app integrations and free themes.
Pricing: Free, with custom domains and premium templates costing extra.
Best for: Budget-conscious writers wanting to experiment with blogging without spending a dime.
Squarespace
Squarespace is known for its beautiful, modern templates and user-friendly drag-and-drop editor. This makes personalizing a professional blog’s appearance hassle-free.
It’s one of the best blog hosting sites for a personal blog or business that wants style and powerful monetization tools right out of the box.
Pros:
- AI website builder and designer-made templates.
- Built-in search engine optimization (SEO) and eCommerce tools.
- Supports popular payment gateways.
- 24/7 support.
Cons:
- No free plan.
- A 2% transaction fee on the lowest-tier plan.
Pricing: Check out the complete list of plans and all the features they offer on Squarespace.
| Basic plan | $25 per month or $16 billed annually |
| Core plan | $36 per month or $23 billed annually |
| Plus plan | $56 per month or $39 billed annually |
| Advanced plan | $139 per month or $99 billed annually |
Best for: Bloggers and creatives who prioritize their blog’s appearance and visual, engaging content.
Wix
Wix is another blogging platform that offers scrumptious templates and handy AI tools – it can even build a custom blog site based on prompts alone.
While Wix supports eCommerce, not all plans include these premium features. Make sure you select a Core plan or higher if you want to pursue this monetization method.
Pros:
- Large library of templates and apps.
- 24/7 support.
- Built-in SEO tools and setup checklist for beginners.
- Allows writer collaboration.
Cons:
- Can’t change the template after the blog is published.
- The free plan shows Wix Ads and can’t take payments.
Pricing: Take a look at Wix Premium plans for a comprehensive comparison.
| Free plan | $0 |
| Light plan | $17 per month |
| Core plan | $29 per month |
| Business plan | $39 per month |
| Business Elite plan | $159 per month |
Best for: Beginners looking for an easy-to-use editor and who want to experiment. Use the free plan to create a temporary blog to practice writing and design for as long as you’d like before upgrading.
Make it happen today!
Ghost
Ghost is a modern publishing platform designed specifically for professional bloggers. It features a clean, minimalistic design that removes distractions and is built with membership and newsletter tools right inside.
Like WordPress, you can choose between running a self-hosted site or using their hosted platform to get your blog live.
Self-hosted Ghost
If you’re comfortable managing your own hosting and domain name and taking care of the technical maintenance yourself, the self-hosted version can kickstart your money-making blog with a low starting price.
Pros:
- Complete control over blog settings and content.
- Built-in membership functionality.
- Lightweight – fast load time.
- High scalability – scale your own hosting as traffic grows.
Cons:
- Requires technical knowledge.
- No dedicated support.
Pricing: Free, but you’ll need to pay for hosting.
Best for: Tech-savvy bloggers who want full control over how the software runs.
Check DigitalOcean, with plans starting at $4 monthly, or any other recommendation from Ghost’s list of supported hosting providers.
Ghost(Pro)
The official hosted version is the better option if you want Ghost’s newsletter and membership capabilities without the technical headache of managing your own servers and maintenance.
Pros:
- Easy setup.
- Custom themes and built-in integrations.
- Server maintenance and backup.
- Weekly software updates.
Cons:
- Limited themes and customization options on the Starter plan.
- Monetization features require a Publisher plan or higher.
Pricing: Ghost(Pro) pricing plans go up based on your total audience size. Here’s the projected cost for blogs with up to 10,000 members.
| Starter plan | $18 per month or $15 billed annually |
| Publisher plan | $35 per month or $29 billed annually |
| Business plan | $239 per month or $199 billed annually |
Best for: Bloggers wanting to focus on writing or don’t have a technical team to maintain their own blog.
Tumblr
The home for content enthusiasts, Tumblr acts like a highly visual social network built around your blog. Share videos, GIFs, music, and images to its built-in audience base and build a following whose interest matches yours.
While the competition for attention is high, Tumblr is completely free to use and is one of the best blog platforms available for building a fun, community-focused blog.
Pros:
- Connects to custom domains.
- Tagging system – makes your blog content easier to discover.
- Strong community vibe.
- Visual-heavy themes yet easy to customize.
Cons:
- No longer allows tipping.
- Google AdSense requires a custom domain.
Pricing: Free. Upgrade to Tumblr Premium for $6.99 per month to remove ads and unlock higher daily limits for posting, liking, and file uploads.
Best for: Visual bloggers and creators focused on building a strong following through highly shareable content.
Weebly
Weebly is a website builder that doubles as a blogging platform. It comes with eCommerce tools, so it’s easy to embed a store into your blog and turn traffic into sales.
Ideal for quickly creating multiple revenue streams from affiliate links, ads, and selling products while boosting your presence online – all on one platform.
Pros:
- Drag-and-drop editor.
- Customization options and SEO tools.
- Native integration with Square payment platform.
- Category system.
Cons:
- Square ads are only removed with the Professional plan.
- Unique domain name only with paid plans.
Pricing: Check out Weebly’s pricing plans to see if this is the best platform to host your blog.
| Free | $0 |
| Personal | $13 per month or $10 billed annually |
| Professional | $16 per month or $12 billed annually |
| Performance | $29 per month or $26 billed annually |
Best for: Less technical bloggers who want to launch a simple blog fast and maximize their return on investment (ROI) by selling physical or digital products.
HubPages
HubPages is another community-centered blogging platform for a wide range of topics. The ad revenue-sharing site lets you earn money based on your article’s view count.
It handles the technical side of ads and promotion, allowing you to focus on what you do best – content creation.
Pros:
- Drag-and-drop elements.
- Built-in monetization system.
- Access to a built-in audience base.
- Dedicated and community support.
Cons:
- No control over ad placement.
- Strict quality control to be featured and to show ads.
Pricing: Free.
Best for: Writers who prefer passive, side income from ad revenue.
Write.as
Write.as is a beginner-friendly blogging platform that provides a clean and distraction-free writing environment. It’s text-focused and serves as a simple, private alternative to social media.
While it’s minimalist, the paid plan adds features like the ability to include photos in your posts.
Pros:
- Simple text editor.
- No ads.
- Private feature for personal journals.
- Web Monetization support.
Cons:
- Free account registration is currently unavailable.
- Need high engagement from many paying members to earn a significant income.
Pricing: Take a look at Write.as pricing plans for signup costs.
| Pro plan | $9 per month or $6 billed annually |
| Team plan | $30 per month or $25 billed annually |
Best for: Minimalist writers who want to experiment with small, real-time earnings through micropayments instead of relying on large subscriptions or ads.
Substack
Despite being a relatively new platform, Substack has become the best free blogging platform for paid email newsletters. Turn your new blog into a subscription business and deliver exclusive content right into your audience’s inbox.
Signing up is completely free, so you can start building a recurring income stream as your loyal readers join your community.
Pros:
- Built-in monetization tools.
- Own and export your email list at any time.
- Set your own prices.
- Supports videos and podcasts.
Cons:
- A 10% platform fee on each paid subscription.
- Lacks advanced email marketing tools.
Pricing: Free.
Best for: Bloggers with a strong voice or unique expertise looking to build a loyal, paying community.
Make it happen today!
Future-proof blogging: Key trends and strategies
The average article in 2025 is under 1,500 words. However, detailed articles (2,000+ words) are far more likely to drive results.
Focus on cornerstone content (+2,000 words) for authority and SEO. Use clear formatting to help readers easily scan the information. WordPress.org is best for these large guides.
Publishing multiple times a week leads to strong results.
Be consistent with your content calendar. Mix short updates with long articles. Platforms like Medium and Substack reward you for frequent publishing within their networks.
Over 60% of bloggers use AI for brainstorming and edits.
Use AI as a co-pilot for outlines and quick edits to save time. To maintain trust, always add your unique voice and expertise to the final post. Wix integrates AI to speed up drafting.
Blogs get 94% more views with relevant images.
Optimize all media (images, video, GIFs) for fast loading times. Always use alt text for SEO and accessibility. This is especially important for visual platforms like Squarespace and Tumblr.
Four in five bloggers drive traffic through social media.
Diversify your traffic. Repurpose your blog into platform-specific content to capture a wider audience. Blogging websites like Ghost or HubPages integrate with social networks for easy sharing.
Monetize your blog with Printify
Printify offers a simple, zero-inventory way to turn your blog into a store. Design and sell custom products like t-shirts, mugs, and notepads to grow your brand and revenue.
Advertise your print-on-demand store directly in your posts, or integrate it with the following blogging platforms to sell custom merchandise with no upfront cost.
| WordPress | Connect through WooCommerce (free for WordPress.com Creator plan users). |
| Squarespace | Integrates with Printify directly. |
| Wix | Integrates with Printify directly. |
| Ghost and Ghost(Pro) | Connects through BigCommerce. |
1. Sign up
Take a minute to register a free account on Printify to gain access to all of our services, from products to design support.
2. Create products
Browse our Catalog with over 1,300 products to find the best items to bring to your blogging platform.
Choose from our Catalog → Pick a Print Provider → Click Start designing.
3. Add designs
Use our Product Creator to upload your designs or make new ones with our free graphics, fonts, and professional design tools.
Adjust your design to perfection and generate high-quality product mockups.
4. Connect your store
We have set up automated integrations with multiple popular platforms and some of the leading eCommerce sites and marketplaces.Go to your Printify Dashboard → Add a new store → Choose your sales channel.
FAQ
Yes, blogs are still profitable in 2025 and are projected to reach over $107.5 billion by 2026. Your earnings will greatly depend on your specific niche, how often you publish, and the age of your blog.
For total control and unlimited monetization, start with WordPress.org. If you prioritize ease of use and a fast setup, Squarespace or Wix are great. For immediate paid subscriptions, Substack is the best choice.
Wealth (online business, finance), health (fitness, food), and lifestyle (beauty, fashion) are top blog niches that monetize well through affiliate links, sponsored posts, and product sales.
Absolutely. It takes smart strategy and patience, but the average professional blogger makes around $53,025 per year, proving it’s a realistic goal.
Final thoughts
Ready to start your blogging journey? Check your goals: What is your budget? How tech-savvy are you? What features do you need? Explore the platforms we’ve listed – from WordPress to Substack – and pick the one that feels right.
Start writing and boost your income in 2026 by adding custom merch with Printify!
