Hey everyone, I’m trying to find the best site to blog for personal or hobby reasons. I’m not looking to make money off of it—just a space where I can share photos, document my life, and write about hobbies. I used to use Tumblr, but I’m not really interested in going back there now.
I’ve stepped away from social media (like Facebook and Instagram) but still want an online space to share personal things. I’d also love suggestions for a platform to post my writing. I know Medium is an option, but I’m open to other ideas if anyone has experience with something else.
WordPress.com is worth checking out. They have affordable plans, and the first year includes a free domain. Just keep in mind the cost goes up after the first year. WordPress is really popular and open source, so if you ever want to switch platforms, it’s easy to move your content.
Tumblr is still a decent option, too, and has a freemium model.
Other platforms like Ghost are more geared toward writers who want to monetize, but it starts at $9/month, so maybe not the best fit for you. Write.as could work if you’re okay with a minimalist setup—great for writing, but not sure about uploading photos. It’s part of the fediverse, which is becoming a thing where everyone can have their own space online.
Don said: @Apollo
Thanks! I’ve heard about WordPress before but got a bit confused between .com and .org. This really helps clarify things. I’ll look into it!
No problem! Basically, WordPress.org is the free software you can use on any hosting platform you pay for. A lot of hosting companies even install it for you. WordPress.com is their paid service where they manage everything for you, including setup and support. It’s a good choice if you’re not super tech-savvy.
@Apollo
Another thing about WordPress—it has a reader section where other users can discover your blog. It’s not as good for getting ranked on Google, but if you engage with other bloggers, you can build an audience there.
Charis said:
Why not try a journaling app? It sounds like you don’t really need a website.
I’ve tried a few journaling apps, but they don’t let me upload photos. Thanks for the idea, though! I might eventually look into monetizing a hobby blog, but that’s way down the road.
I like building my own website. You can follow a YouTube guide to get started. Hosting can be free unless you get a lot of traffic.
For a custom .com domain, it’s about $10.50 a year. If you find it cheaper, it’s usually only for the first year or two, and renewal prices go up after that.
Layla said: @UpvoteVoyager
Where do you find free hosting that works with custom domains? Does it give you access to backend stuff like FTP?
Services like Cloudflare, Netlify, GitHub Pages, and Vercel all offer free hosting for static pages. I’m not super experienced with backend stuff, but I use GitHub Actions for updating my site when needed. Otherwise, it’s just JavaScript and JSON files.
I use SiteGround to host my WordPress blog. It’s cheap for the first year, then the price goes up. They help you set everything up, and you can pick a blogging theme to make things easier. If you’re into writing, Substack might be a good option, too, but I haven’t tried it yet.