5 Best Free Blogging Platforms for Beginners in India (2025 Edition)

01 Sept, 2025By Team MakeMoney

The idea of sharing your thoughts, expertise, or stories with the world is exciting. Blogging is a fantastic way to do just that, but the initial investment in a domain and hosting can be a barrier for many beginners in India, especially students or those just testing the waters. What if you could start your blogging journey without spending a single rupee?

The great news is, you can! In 2025, there are several excellent free blogging platforms that allow you to create and publish your content online at no cost. These platforms are perfect for hobby bloggers, writers looking to build a preliminary portfolio, or anyone who wants to experience blogging before committing financially.

However, "free" often comes with trade-offs. These platforms have limitations in terms of customization, branding, and monetization. In this guide, we'll break down the 5 best free blogging platforms available to Indian beginners, highlighting the pros and cons of each so you can make an informed choice and start writing today.

1. WordPress.com

Not to be confused with its self-hosted sibling WordPress.org, WordPress.com is a commercial service that offers a free, albeit limited, blogging plan. It's powered by the same robust software, making it a powerful and reliable choice.

Pros:

Easy to Use: The setup is incredibly simple. You can have a blog up and running in minutes without any technical knowledge.
Powerful Editor: You get access to the excellent WordPress block editor (Gutenberg), which makes formatting your posts a breeze.
Reliable and Secure: The platform handles all the technical aspects, including security and backups, so you can just focus on writing.
Good for SEO: WordPress has solid built-in SEO features to help your content get discovered on Google.

Cons:

Limited Monetization: You cannot run Google AdSense or other ad networks on the free plan. Monetization options are severely restricted.
Subdomain URL: Your blog address will be a subdomain, like yourblog.wordpress.com, which looks less professional.
Limited Customization: You cannot install custom plugins or themes, which severely limits your blog's functionality and design.
WordPress Ads: WordPress.com will display its own ads on your free blog.

Best for: Beginners who want a powerful editor and a no-fuss platform, and who are not immediately concerned with making money.

2. Blogger (Blogspot)

Blogger is one of the oldest and most well-known free blogging platforms, owned by Google. It's incredibly simple and has been the starting point for millions of bloggers worldwide.

Pros:

Completely Free: It's 100% free, with no hidden costs or upsells.
Owned by Google: This means excellent security and reliability. It also integrates seamlessly with other Google products.
Easy Monetization: It's very easy to integrate Google AdSense into your Blogger blog and start earning from ads.
Simple Interface: The dashboard is clean and straightforward, making it perfect for absolute beginners.

Cons:

Dated Templates: The available themes and templates look quite old-fashioned compared to modern platforms.
Limited Features: The platform lacks the advanced features and plugins available on WordPress. It hasn't been updated significantly in years.
Subdomain URL: You get a yourblog.blogspot.com address.
Less Professional: It's often perceived as a platform for hobbyists rather than serious bloggers.

Best for: Hobby bloggers and those who want to monetize through AdSense with zero initial investment.

3. Medium

Medium is different from a traditional blogging platform. It's more of a social network for writers and readers. When you publish on Medium, your content has a built-in potential audience of millions of readers who are already on the platform.

Pros:

Built-in Audience: Your articles can be discovered and read by Medium's large user base, which is great for getting initial visibility.
Beautiful, Minimalist Editor: The writing experience on Medium is clean, elegant, and focused.
Zero Setup: You just create an account and start writing. No need to worry about design or technical settings.
Partner Program: You can earn money through the Medium Partner Program, where you get paid based on how much time members spend reading your articles.

Cons:

You Don't Own the Platform: You are building your brand on rented land. Medium can change its rules or even shut down your account at any time.
No Customization: You have no control over the design or branding. Every article looks the same.
Limited Monetization: You cannot run your own ads or use most affiliate links. Your primary earning method is the Partner Program, which can be unpredictable.
No Personal Branding: It's hard to build a personal brand when your content lives on Medium's domain.

Best for: Writers who want to get their ideas in front of a large audience quickly and are less concerned with building their own branded website.

4. Wix

Wix is a popular drag-and-drop website builder that also offers a free blogging plan. Its main strength is its incredible design flexibility.

Pros:

Stunning Templates: Wix offers hundreds of beautiful, modern templates to start with.
Total Design Freedom: The drag-and-drop editor allows you to customize every single element of your blog's design without any code.
All-in-One Platform: It includes many built-in features for which you'd need plugins on WordPress.

Cons:

Wix Branding: The free plan places prominent Wix ads on your site.
Subdomain URL: You get a complex URL like username.wixsite.com/yourblog.
Limited Storage and Bandwidth: The free plan comes with caps on storage and traffic, which can be an issue if your blog grows.
Cannot Switch Templates: Once you choose a template, you cannot switch to another one without rebuilding your site.

Best for: Visually-focused bloggers (like photographers or designers) who prioritize aesthetics and want maximum design control.

5. LinkedIn Articles

For professionals and B2B (business-to-business) bloggers, publishing articles directly on LinkedIn can be a powerful strategy. It's not a traditional blogging platform, but it's an excellent way to build authority in your industry.

Pros:

Professional Audience: Your content is placed directly in front of a network of professionals, potential employers, and clients.
Builds Authority: Publishing insightful articles on LinkedIn positions you as an expert in your field.
Drives Profile Views: Good articles can drive significant traffic to your LinkedIn profile, leading to job offers and freelance opportunities.

Cons:

Limited to a Professional Context: It's not suitable for personal blogs or topics like food, travel, or fashion.
No Monetization: There are no direct monetization options like ads or affiliate marketing. The value is in career and business development.
Content Lives on LinkedIn: Like Medium, you are building on rented land.

Best for: Professionals, job seekers, and B2B freelancers looking to build their personal brand and attract career opportunities.

FAQ: Choosing a Free Blogging Platform

Can I move my blog to a different platform later?

Yes, but it can be a technical and complicated process, especially when moving away from platforms like Wix. Starting with WordPress.com often provides the easiest migration path to a self-hosted WordPress.org blog in the future.

Which free platform is best for making money?

Blogger is the most straightforward for making money through Google AdSense. Medium offers its Partner Program. However, for serious, long-term income potential, none of these free platforms can compete with a self-hosted WordPress blog.

Should I just start with a paid plan?

If you are serious about blogging as a business and can afford the small initial investment (around ₹3,000-₹5,000 for a year), starting with a self-hosted WordPress blog is the best long-term decision. Our guide on how to start a blog in India explains this in detail.

Choosing a free blogging platform is an excellent way to dip your toes into the world of blogging without any financial risk. Each platform has its unique strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your goals—whether it's just for a hobby, to build a portfolio, or to start earning—and choose the one that aligns best with your vision.

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