Wondering how much it really costs to start and run a blog? Never blogged before, and your ultimate goal is to make money online? You’re not alone. Many beginners ask the same questions:
How much will I spend per month or per year?
Should I go with WordPress?
How do I figure out what to write about?
Let’s break it down in a clear, practical, and honest way.
Good news: you can start a blog for $0. Yes, really. Several platforms let you publish without spending a dime:
WordPress.com (free plan)
Blogger (by Google)
The advantage? You can write, publish, and test your ideas with zero investment. The downside: you don’t fully own your blog, and advanced features are limited.
So start free, write regularly, and see if blogging is something you enjoy before investing any money.
If you want to go professional, you’ll need a domain name (the web address people type to visit your site) and web hosting (a service that stores your website online). Here’s the average cost:
Domain name: $12–$17/year
WordPress hosting: $5–$10/month (depending on if you manage it yourself or hire someone)
Think of hosting like renting space on the internet.
Premium plugins/themes: $50–$150/year (optional)
In short, you can start a serious blog for around $100/year, which is very affordable if your goal is long-term monetization.
💡 Use hosting providers like Bluehost or SiteGround for easy WordPress integration and low costs.
Wondering about the best posting schedule? If you want to dive deeper, read how many blog posts per week.
If you hear “WordPress, WordPress, WordPress” everywhere, it’s for a reason. WordPress is:
Flexible: customize your site almost any way you want
Scalable: grows with your blog and audience
Affordable: cheap to start
💡 Choose WordPress.org (self-hosted) over WordPress.com if you want full control and easier monetization.
Many beginners just want to “write about themselves” or “document their life.” And that’s fine to start! But if you want to make money, think about your audience:
What problems can you solve?
What advice, tutorials, or guides can you offer?
Why would someone else care about your content?
💡 Start writing what you enjoy, then see which topics get the most engagement to narrow your focus. The key is the value you provide to readers.
Remember: making a lot of money from a blog takes time. Most serious bloggers take years to earn significant income. Monetization options include:
Ads (Google Adsense, Ezoic)
Affiliate marketing and sponsorships
Selling products or services
Consulting or coaching
💡 Many bloggers use their blog as a professional showcase to sell services, instead of relying solely on direct blog income.
Starting a blog is usually more about investing your time than spending money (on hosting, domains, or premium tools). In the beginning, you don’t need to spend anything, focus on learning, writing, and finding your voice.
Here’s a simple roadmap:
Start free: Use platforms like WordPress.com or Blogger to practice without financial risk.
Write consistently: Publish regularly to build habits and attract readers.
Find your style: Experiment to discover your unique voice and your niche (specific topic or audience).
Upgrade when ready: Move to a custom domain (your own web address, example: myblog.com) and hosting (a service that makes your site live online) once confident.
Prepare for monetization: A professional blog can eventually earn money through ads, products, or services.
💡 Treat early blogging as a time investment, it pays off later when your skills, audience, and blog are ready to grow.
💡 SEO = making your blog show up on Google.
SEO tools help you improve your blog’s visibility on search engines like Google. They assist in finding the right keywords, analyzing your competitors, tracking your rankings, and optimizing your content to attract organic (non-paid) traffic.
SEO tools range from free (with limited features) to $1,000+ per month for advanced suites with comprehensive data and analytics. Many bloggers start with free or affordable options and scale up as their site grows.
Find valuable keywords: Discover what your audience is searching for.
Track performance: See how your blog ranks over time and identify opportunities.
Optimize content: Get suggestions to improve your posts for better search visibility.
Analyze competitors: Understand what’s working for others in your niche.
Ahrefs: Powerful keyword research and backlink analysis.
Semrush: All-in-one SEO and marketing platform.
Google Search Console: Free tool by Google for monitoring your site’s search performance.
Wix SEO : Built-in SEO tools for Wix users, easy to use for beginners.
Moz, Ubersuggest: Other popular SEO tools for different needs and budgets.
Inblog :blogging-focused CMS with many SEO features like meta tag editing, sitemap generation, and Google Search Console integration, are already built-in, so you won’t need extra plugins to handle the basics.
Expense | Monthly Cost | Yearly Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
Domain Name | $1–$1.50 | $12–$17 | Annual registration. Some sales can reduce this. |
Hosting (shared, WordPress) | $5–$10 | $60–$120 | Depends on provider and plan. Start cheap, upgrade as needed. |
Premium Theme | N/A | $50–$100 | Optional. Free themes available. |
Plugins/Tools | $0–$10 | $0–$120 | Some plugins are free; premium adds features like SEO, backups. |
Stock Photos / Design Tools | $0–$10 | $0–$120 | Optional. Canva or free stock images can reduce cost. |
Total Estimated | $6–$21 | $122–$477 | Basic setup is under $150/year; more advanced setups increase cost. |
Platform | Best For | Self-hosted? | Pricing | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marketing teams, SEO-friendly blog with lead gen | No | $39/month (Basic) | SEO optimization, lead capture forms, analytics | |
Hostinger Blog Maker | Beginners, easy setup | No | From $2.99/month for Website Builder | AI tools, easy setup, hosting included |
Substack | Writers, newsletter monetization | No | Free to start; 10% fee + Stripe fees | Subscription-based monetization, email distribution |
Beginners, all-in-one website builder | No | $5.99/month (Website plan) to $34.99/month (eCommerce) | Website builder, free domain, SSL, logo design | |
HubPages | Writers seeking passive income from ads | No | Free to join, earns from ads & affiliate links | Ad program, Amazon affiliate links |
Writers seeking easy monetization | No | Free, or $9.99/month for Vocal+ | Earns per views, tips from readers | |
Ghost | Independent bloggers needing control | Yes | $9+ (Self-hosted) / $36 (Ghost Pro) | Full control over design and monetization, memberships, SEO-friendly, fast performance |
WordPress | Bloggers wanting full customization | Yes (org) / No (com) | Free – $45+ | Thousands of themes and plugins, powerful SEO tools, scalable from small blog to business |
Squarespace | Design-focused bloggers | No | $16 – $52 | Gorgeous templates, built-in SEO, analytics, hosting, security |
Blogger | Beginners looking for a free option | No | Free | 100% free, Google integration, easy to use, hosting included |
Wix | Beginners looking for a visual editor | No | Free / Starts at $17/month | Drag-and-drop editor, 900+ templates, built-in SEO tools, no coding required |
Tumblr | Creators, artists, social bloggers | No | Free / Premium from $2.99/month | Great for visual content, interaction through reblogs, more suited for short-form content |
Weebly | Bloggers with simple eCommerce needs | No | Free / Starts at $6/month | Built-in eCommerce tools, drag-and-drop editor, SEO and security tools |
Professionals sharing industry insights | No | Free / Premium from $29.99/month | Professional audience, built-in analytics, SEO benefits, great for B2B content | |
Notion users wanting a seamless blogging experience | No | Starts at $39/month | Direct Notion integration, minimalist interface, built-in SEO features |
Starting a blog doesn’t have to cost a fortune, but understanding the potential expenses upfront helps you make smart decisions. Whether you’re blogging for fun, growing a personal brand, or aiming to build a business, there’s a setup that fits your goals and budget.
You can start completely free, or choose to invest in tools that offer more control, professionalism, and growth potential. From domains and hosting to branding and marketing, every element plays a role in building a blog that not only looks great but performs well too.
The key is to start where you are, scale as you grow, and invest wisely in the tools that truly move your blog forward.
Not sure which blogging platform suits you best? Discover the top 15 blogging platforms to find the perfect fit for your blog’s success !
1️⃣
Q: How long does it take to make $1,000 per month blogging?
A: Earning $1,000 per month from a blog usually takes time and consistent effort. Most serious bloggers achieve this within 1–3 years, depending on niche, audience growth, content quality, and monetization strategies.
Early focus should be on building traffic, refining your writing, and understanding your audience before expecting significant income.
2️⃣
Q: Can you start a blog with no money?
A: Yes! You can start a blog for $0 using platforms like WordPress.com, Blogger, Write.as, or GitHub Pages. Free blogs let you practice writing, test ideas, and learn the basics without investing any money.
Keep in mind that free blogs often have limitations in customization and monetization options.
3️⃣
Q: Can I start a blog for free?
A: Absolutely. Free plans allow you to publish content immediately and experiment with your blog.
However, for long-term growth, full control, and professional features, upgrading to a self-hosted WordPress blog with your own domain is recommended.
4️⃣
Q: How much does a 1,000-word blog post cost?
A: The cost varies depending on who writes it. Freelance writers typically charge between $50–$500 per 1,000-word post, depending on experience, research requirements, and niche complexity. If you write yourself, your main investment is time, not money.
5️⃣
Q: How much does it cost to run a blog per month or year?
A: A professional self-hosted blog can cost around $5–$10/month for hosting and $12–$17/year for a domain name. Optional costs include premium themes ($50–$150/year) and plugins/tools ($0–$120/year). In short, a serious blog can start at roughly $100/year, scaling up as your blog grows.
6️⃣
Q: Why is WordPress recommended for blogging?
A: WordPress is flexible, scalable, and affordable. With thousands of themes and plugins, it allows full customization and easier monetization. Choosing WordPress.org (self-hosted) gives you complete control, while WordPress.com is a simpler but limited option.
7️⃣
Q: How do I choose what to write about for my blog?
A: Start by considering your audience and the value you can provide:
What problems can you solve?
What tutorials or guides can you share?
What content will others find useful or entertaining?
Experiment with topics, track engagement, and focus on areas that resonate with readers. Over time, you’ll find a niche that balances your passion and audience interest.