Welcome to my article “Best Blogging Platforms to Make Money Online: Pros & Cons”.
You want to make money online with blogging? Smart move! With the right blogging platform, you can turn your words into cold, hard cash—or at least a steady stream of passive income. But here’s the catch: not all blogging platforms are created equal. Some give you full control over your blog and revenue, while others keep you on a tight leash. Some are great for SEO, and others… well, they make Google cry.
In this guide, we will break down the best blogging platforms for making money online, comparing their pros and cons so you can pick the one that suits your goals. Whether you want to monetize through ads, affiliate marketing, selling digital products, or even membership subscriptions, we’ve got you covered. By the end of this post, you’ll know exactly where to start your blogging journey—and avoid wasting time on platforms that won’t pay off. Let’s dive in.
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WordPress – The Most Powerful & Flexible Choice
If blogging platforms were superheroes, WordPress would be Iron Man—powerful, customizable, and capable of making you a fortune (if you use it right). Unlike its distant cousin WordPress (which has more restrictions than a strict parent), WordPress gives you complete control over your blog, from design to monetization. This is why most successful bloggers, businesses, and content creators swear by it.
Pros:
✅ Full Control & Customization – You can tweak, design, and optimize your blog exactly how you want. Want a minimalist blog? Done. A full-fledged eCommerce store? Easy. A unicorn-themed food blog? No judgment here—WordPress can handle it.
✅ Best for SEO – Google loves WordPress blogs. With the right SEO plugins (hello, Yoast SEO), you can rank higher and get more organic traffic—which means more money in your pocket.
✅ Unlimited Monetization Options – Unlike some platforms that limit your income streams, WordPress.org lets you monetize however you want. Display ads, affiliate marketing, selling online courses, membership sites—you name it.
✅ Massive Plugin Library – With over 59,000 plugins, you can add anything from email marketing tools to AI-powered content suggestions. It’s like an app store for your blog.
✅ Large Community & Support – If you ever get stuck, there’s a huge community, thousands of tutorials, and support forums to help you out.
Cons:
❌ Requires Hosting & Domain – Unlike free platforms, you need to buy web hosting (like Bluehost or SiteGround) and a domain name. But hey, that’s a small price to pay for complete ownership of your blog.
❌ Learning Curve – Let’s be honest—WordPress isn’t as plug-and-play as Wix or Blogger. But once you get the hang of it, you’ll never look back.
Best For:
If you’re serious about blogging and want full control over your site, the best SEO potential, and unlimited earning opportunities, WordPress is hands down the best choice. Sure, there’s a slight learning curve, but the long-term rewards make it totally worth it.
Blogger – Free and Beginner-Friendly
If WordPress is Iron Man, then Blogger is your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man—simple, reliable, and best of all, free. Owned by Google, Blogger has been around since the early 2000s, helping newbie bloggers dip their toes into the world of content creation without spending a dime. If you want to start a blog with zero investment, this is one of the easiest ways to do it. But before you get too excited, let’s talk about what it can (and can’t) do.
Pros:
✅ Completely Free – Unlike WordPress, you don’t need to pay for hosting or a domain name. Google takes care of everything—all you have to do is start typing.
✅ Beginner-Friendly – Blogger is as simple as it gets. If you can handle a basic Word document, you can run a blog on Blogger. No need to worry about installations, updates, or security—it’s all managed by Google.
✅ Easy AdSense Integration – Since Google owns Blogger, monetizing with Google AdSense is a breeze. Just a few clicks, and boom—you can start earning from ads (as long as you get enough traffic).
✅ Reliable Hosting – Your blog is hosted on Google’s servers, so you don’t have to worry about downtime or speed issues. It’s fast and secure, with almost no maintenance required.
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Cons:
❌ Limited Customization – Compared to WordPress, your design options are pretty basic. You can change themes and colors, but forget about advanced plugins or fancy features.
❌ Less Control Over Your Blog – Here’s the catch: Google owns your blog, not you. If they decide to shut down Blogger (or your blog violates their policies), poof—it’s gone. You have no real ownership over your content.
❌ Not Ideal for Long-Term Growth – If you’re serious about making money blogging, Blogger’s limitations will eventually hold you back. Most successful bloggers start on Blogger but move to WordPress once they’re ready to scale.
Best For:
If you’re just getting started and want a completely free, no-fuss blogging experience, Blogger is a solid choice. However, if you plan to build a serious, money-making blog, you might outgrow it pretty quickly. Think of it as a great training bike—but eventually, you’ll want a real one.
Medium – Great for Readership but Limited Monetization
If blogging platforms were dating apps, Medium would be the one that instantly gets you in front of a huge audience—but makes it really hard to turn that attention into a long-term relationship (or in this case, sustainable income). Launched in 2012, Medium is a content-focused platform that attracts millions of readers looking for high-quality, thought-provoking articles. But while it’s great for exposure, making serious money here is a different story.
Pros:
✅ Built-in Audience – Unlike WordPress, where you have to grind for traffic, Medium brings the audience to you. If your article gets picked up by Medium’s algorithm or featured in a publication, it can go viral overnight. 🚀
✅ No Technical Setup – No need to worry about hosting, plugins, or website maintenance. Just sign up, start writing, and hit publish. It’s as hassle-free as it gets.
✅ Medium Partner Program (MPP) – Medium pays writers based on reading time, not clicks or ads. So if people actually read and engage with your content, you can earn some money. (Spoiler: You won’t get rich unless you’re pulling in thousands of views regularly.)
✅ Great for Building Authority – Writing on Medium can boost your credibility, especially if your articles get recommended in major publications. It’s a good place to establish yourself as an expert before launching your own site.
Cons:
❌ You Don’t Own Your Audience – Sure, Medium has millions of readers, but they’re Medium’s readers—not yours. There’s no way to build an email list or retarget visitors like you can on a personal blog.
❌ Limited Monetization – Besides the Medium Partner Program, there’s no ad revenue, no affiliate links (in some cases), and no control over monetization. If you want to sell products, run ads, or use other income streams, Medium won’t be much help.
❌ Algorithm Dependency – Getting views on Medium is hit or miss. If the platform’s algorithm doesn’t favor your post, it might never get seen, no matter how good it is. Unlike SEO-based blogs, where content can rank for years, a Medium article has a short shelf life unless it gains traction.
Best For:
If you’re a writer who loves storytelling and wants instant exposure, Medium is a great place to start. But if your goal is to build a long-term, profitable blogging business, you’ll eventually want to move to a self-hosted platform like WordPress. Think of Medium as a rented apartment—great for short-term convenience, but not something you truly own.
Wix – Easy to Use but Expensive for Monetization
If you want to start a blog without touching a single line of code, Wix is like the IKEA of website builders—super easy to set up, packed with drag-and-drop convenience, and visually appealing. But much like IKEA furniture, once you start adding extra features, the price starts climbing fast. Wix is great for beginners who want a simple, all-in-one blogging platform, but when it comes to serious monetization, it can feel like you’re paying premium prices for basic features.
Pros:
✅ Beginner-Friendly & No Coding Needed – If WordPress gives you a blank canvas, Wix gives you a fully-furnished house where you can just move things around. The drag-and-drop builder makes customization a breeze, no tech skills required.
✅ Hosting & Security Included – Unlike WordPress.org, where you need to find a hosting provider, Wix takes care of everything for you—including security, backups, and updates. Just focus on blogging, and Wix does the rest.
✅ Good for Visual & Business Blogs – Wix’s beautiful templates and built-in design tools make it ideal for photographers, artists, and small business owners who want a visually appealing blog.
✅ E-Commerce & Membership Features – Wix allows you to sell products, courses, and memberships—but be prepared to pay extra for those features.
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Cons:
❌ Expensive for Monetization – Want to remove ads? Upgrade. Want a custom domain? Upgrade. Want e-commerce features? Upgrade again. Wix’s pricing starts cheap but quickly adds up if you want to make serious money from your blog.
❌ Not as SEO-Friendly as WordPress – Wix has improved its SEO tools, but it still doesn’t match WordPress when it comes to ranking on Google. If organic traffic is your main monetization strategy, you might struggle with Wix.
❌ Limited Flexibility & Scalability – Once you pick a template, you can’t switch it without rebuilding your entire site. And while Wix does have an app marketplace, it’s nowhere near as powerful as WordPress’s 60,000+ plugins.
Best For:
If you want a quick, hassle-free blogging experience and don’t mind paying extra for convenience, Wix is a great choice. But if you’re looking to scale a serious blogging business, WordPress.org offers way more flexibility at a lower cost. Wix is like renting a luxury apartment—great for comfort, but expensive if you’re staying long-term.
Ghost – Best for Paid Membership Blogs
If WordPress is the Swiss Army knife of blogging platforms, then Ghost is the sleek, no-nonsense katana—built specifically for publishing and monetization through memberships and subscriptions. Unlike bloated website builders, Ghost keeps things clean, fast, and distraction-free, making it a top choice for bloggers, journalists, and content creators who want to turn their audience into paying subscribers. But while it shines in certain areas, it also comes with a few trade-offs.
Pros:
✅ Perfect for Subscription-Based Blogs – Ghost is designed for membership-based content, meaning you can charge readers for access to premium articles, newsletters, and exclusive content—without relying on third-party plugins.
✅ Blazing Fast & SEO-Friendly – Ghost is built on modern, lightweight code, making it much faster than WordPress. Plus, it has SEO and AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) baked in, so your blog has a better chance of ranking on Google.
✅ Built-in Email Marketing – Unlike other platforms where you need Mailchimp or ConvertKit, Ghost comes with native email newsletter tools, making it easy to send updates and monetize your audience directly.
✅ No Middleman Fees (Unlike Substack or Patreon) – Unlike platforms that take a cut of your earnings, Ghost lets you keep 100% of your subscription revenue.
Cons:
❌ Not as Flexible as WordPress – Ghost is fantastic for membership sites, but if you want to add complex features like forums, e-commerce, or extensive customization, you’ll feel limited.
❌ Self-Hosting Can Be Tricky – Ghost is open-source, meaning you can self-host it (just like WordPress.org) or use Ghost Pro (their managed hosting). But if you choose to self-host, be ready for a more technical setup.
❌ Higher Costs for Beginners – If you go with Ghost Pro, plans start at $9/month for a basic blog and $25/month for monetization features—more expensive than basic WordPress hosting.
Best For:
Ghost is perfect for writers, journalists, and creators who want to run a paid newsletter or premium content blog. If you’re looking for a fast, distraction-free blogging experience with built-in membership features, Ghost is a solid choice. But if you want more flexibility, extensive plugins, or a lower-cost setup, WordPress.org might be a better long-term investment.
Ghost is like a high-performance sports car—sleek, fast, and powerful for a specific purpose, but not the best choice if you need a versatile, all-in-one platform.
Conclusion:
So, which blogging platform should you choose? Well, that depends on how serious you are about making money and what kind of blog you want to build. If you’re just dabbling in blogging for fun, platforms like Blogger or Medium might do the trick. But if you’re looking to turn your blog into a revenue-generating machine, you’ll need something with more flexibility and control—which is where platforms like WordPress and Ghost shine.
Here’s the bottom line:
- If you want full control and long-term monetization? → WordPress is your best bet.
- If you prefer a simple, all-in-one solution (but don’t mind the costs)? → Wix could work.
- If your goal is a membership-based, subscription blog? → Ghost is built for that.
- If you just want easy publishing with built-in traffic? → Medium is great, but don’t expect big earnings.
- If you want a completely free and beginner-friendly platform? → Blogger is an option, but you’ll eventually outgrow it.
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At the end of the day, blogging is a business—and like any business, your success depends on the tools you use and the effort you put in. Pick the platform that fits your monetization strategy, budget, and long-term goals, and you’ll be on your way to making money online with blogging.
Now go forth, pick your platform, and start writing. The internet is waiting.
Thank you for reading my article “Best Blogging Platforms to Make Money Online: Pros & Cons” till the end. Hope it helped you. See you with another article.
