Which blog sites offer free websites

1. What “free” actually covers — small print you’ll see across reviews

Most roundup articles explain that free plans let you publish immediately but impose restrictions: your site typically uses a provider subdomain (example.myplatform.com), the platform may display its own ads or branding, and advanced features (custom domain, e‑commerce, advanced SEO, plugin ecosystems) require paid upgrades; reviewers repeat this caution for Wix, Weebly and similar builders ^{[2] [7] [8]}. Reviews also warn that platform rules can lead to content removal if you violate terms — a control risk not present with self‑hosted solutions ^[1].

2. Platforms commonly listed as “free” and why reviewers recommend them

Consumer guides and expert lists repeatedly name the same set of options for free blogging: WordPress.com for turnkey blogging, Wix for generous free features and ease, Weebly for simplicity, Blogger/Tumblr for instant setup, Medium and Substack for audience‑centric publishing, and Strikingly for simple visual sites — each gets highlighted for specific strengths (ease of use, templates, audience reach) in multiple sources ^{[9] [2] [3] [10] [4]}. For example, WordPress.com is noted as a turnkey CMS with a large audience, while Substack and Medium are described as platforms where you “don’t get your own website” but can access built‑in audiences ^{[9] [3]}.

3. The self‑hosted WordPress corner: “free software, not always free site”

Several experts elevate WordPress.org (self‑hosted) as the most flexible free blogging software because the code is open source; but they also point out you typically must pay for hosting and a domain—so it’s “free” in software but not necessarily in total cost. Guides recommend self‑hosted WordPress for monetization and growth because of plugins/themes and full control ^{[5] [6]}.

4. Tradeoffs that influence which free option fits you

If you want the fastest, lowest‑skill path, drag‑and‑drop builders like Weebly or Wix are repeatedly flagged for beginners ^{[2] [7]}. If you want discoverability and built‑in audiences, Medium and Substack are praised ^{[3] [10]}. If you care about scale, ownership, plugins and monetization, reviewers point to self‑hosted WordPress ^{[5] [6]}. Guides uniformly stress you’ll sacrifice either control or convenience on free plans ^[8].

5. Warnings reviewers give about vendor practices and upgrades

Some sources explicitly warn about later conversion pressures and billing practices: for instance, Strikingly’s free plan is useful but reviewers advise caution around upgrading because of reported billing complaints; similarly, Wix and others restrict custom domains or remove branding only on paid tiers ^{[4] [11]}. Guides recommend reading terms and checking whether essential features are paywalled before committing ^{[4] [2]}.

6. Practical next steps for different goals

• If you want “publish now, no cost” and don’t mind platform control: consider Medium, Substack, Blogger or a free Wix/Weebly subdomain ^{[3] [2]}.
• If you want design ease and the option to scale later: start on Wix/Weebly but evaluate costs to remove branding and add a domain ^{[2] [7]}.
• If you want long‑term ownership and monetization: plan for self‑hosted WordPress (free software) but budget for hosting/domain — reviewers identify this as the best path to grow into a business ^{[6] [5]}.

Limitations and what’s not covered here: available sources cover platform features, free plan tradeoffs and reviewer recommendations, but they do not provide exhaustive real‑time pricing comparisons, nor do they list every free niche platform; for up‑to‑date promotional pricing or current user complaint volumes, consult the platforms and recent reviews directly (not found in current reporting).