The 5 best examples of top blogging platforms for beginners

Real-world examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners in 2024–2025

When people ask for examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners, they’re usually not asking for a giant comparison chart. They want to know:

• Which platform will be easiest on day one?
• Which one will still make sense if their blog grows?
• And where do real beginners actually start in 2024–2025?

Let’s walk through five of the best examples: WordPress.com, Wix, Squarespace, Ghost, and Medium. I’ll show you how each one fits different beginner needs, and I’ll weave in real examples of how they’re used.

WordPress.com: The classic example of a beginner-friendly platform that can grow with you

If you ask almost any blogger for an example of a platform that works for both beginners and pros, WordPress.com will come up fast. It powers millions of sites worldwide and is one of the most common examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners because it hits a rare sweet spot: easy to start, powerful later.

Why beginners like WordPress.com

WordPress.com handles the hosting and technical setup for you. You don’t need to:

• Buy separate hosting
• Configure servers
• Worry about security patches or updates

You sign up, pick a theme, and you’re writing your first post in minutes. For someone who has never managed a website before, that’s a huge relief.

Some starter-friendly features:

• Visual editor that feels like a word processor
• Built-in basic SEO tools (titles, descriptions, permalinks)
• Free plan to experiment, with paid upgrades as you grow
• Large theme library, including clean, minimalist blog layouts

Real examples of blogs using WordPress.com

Here are a few styles of blogs that often use WordPress.com as a starting point:

• Personal development blogs sharing life lessons and reflections
• Teacher blogs posting classroom resources and reflections on education
• Hobby blogs about photography, gardening, or fitness

While I can’t link to random personal blogs for privacy reasons, WordPress.com itself showcases user stories and examples on its site: https://wordpress.com/go.

When WordPress.com is the best example for you

Use WordPress.com if:

• You want a long-term home for your writing
• You might eventually sell digital products or services
• You want to learn a platform that’s widely used across the web

It’s one of the best examples of a platform where a beginner blog can slowly mature into a serious content site without needing to move everything somewhere else.

Wix: A visual example of drag-and-drop blogging for beginners

If you’re a visual person and want an example of a blogging platform that feels more like designing a slide deck than coding a website, Wix is worth a close look.

Wix is often listed among the best examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners because of its drag-and-drop editor. You literally move blocks around the page with your mouse until it looks right.

Why beginners choose Wix

Wix shines when you care a lot about design but don’t want to touch code:

• True drag-and-drop layout editing
• Hundreds of templates, including blog-specific ones
• Built-in tools for email forms, simple stores, and booking pages

You can start with a blog and later add:

• A small online store for digital downloads
• A simple portfolio to showcase your work
• A contact page for freelance or consulting inquiries

Real examples of Wix use cases

You’ll often see Wix used for:

• Lifestyle blogs that double as personal brand sites
• Local business blogs (salons, fitness trainers, small studios) adding articles for SEO
• Creative portfolios where the blog is one part of a visually rich site

Wix maintains a gallery of real examples of user sites: https://www.wix.com/explore/websites.

When Wix is a strong example for your first blog

Choose Wix if:

• You care deeply about how your site looks on day one
• You want to drag, drop, and rearrange without learning WordPress themes
• You might want to bolt on simple business features later

It stands out as one of the most beginner-friendly examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners if your priority is visual control.

Squarespace: A polished example for bloggers who love clean design

If you’ve ever looked at a site and thought, “Wow, that looks really polished,” there’s a good chance it was built on Squarespace.

Squarespace is another common example of a platform that beginners choose when they want a blog plus a beautiful overall site. It’s especially popular with creatives, coaches, and small businesses.

Why beginners like Squarespace

Squarespace focuses on:

• Elegant, modern templates
• Consistent typography and spacing
• All-in-one setup (hosting, templates, analytics, basic SEO tools)

You don’t have to piece together plugins and tools. For a beginner who doesn’t want to tinker, that’s very appealing.

Real examples of Squarespace in the wild

You’ll often see Squarespace used for:

• Author blogs paired with book pages and speaking info
• Photographers who blog behind-the-scenes stories and client sessions
• Coaches and consultants who publish weekly articles and host a services page

Squarespace highlights real user sites here: https://www.squarespace.com/websites/examples.

When Squarespace is one of the best examples for your needs

Squarespace is a strong option if:

• You want your site to look “finished” without hiring a designer
• You plan to mix blogging with a portfolio, services, or a simple store
• You value simplicity over maximum customization

Among the examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners, Squarespace often appeals to people who say, “I don’t want to fiddle. I just want it to look good and work.”

Ghost: A focused example for serious writers and newsletter-style blogs

Ghost is a bit different from the other examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners. It’s more focused, more writer-centric, and often used by people who already know they want to publish consistently.

Think of Ghost as a platform built for:

• Blogging
• Newsletters
• Member-supported content

Why some beginners still choose Ghost

Ghost can be a little more technical if you self-host it, but Ghost(Pro) hosted plans make it accessible enough for committed beginners.

People choose Ghost because:

• The writing experience is clean and distraction-free
• It has built-in membership and subscription tools
• It’s fast and optimized for content-first sites

Real examples of Ghost blogs

Ghost is commonly used for:

• Independent journalism and analysis blogs
• Niche newsletters (tech, finance, creator economy, etc.)
• Thought leadership blogs for founders and experts

The Ghost team shares real examples of sites running on their platform here: https://ghost.org/customers/.

When Ghost is a good example to follow as a beginner

Ghost makes sense if:

• You’re serious about writing and publishing regularly
• You like the idea of memberships or paid newsletters
• You want a minimalist, writing-first interface

It’s not the first example I’d give to a nervous beginner who just wants to test the waters, but it is one of the best examples for beginners who already know they want to build a writing-centered business.

Medium: A low-friction example when you want to write without building a site

Medium is the clearest example of a blogging platform for beginners who want to skip all the “website stuff.” You don’t design a site. You don’t manage hosting. You just write.

That’s why Medium still shows up in so many lists of examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners—especially for people testing whether they even enjoy blogging.

Why beginners start on Medium

Medium is popular with beginners because:

• You can sign up and publish your first story in under 10 minutes
• The editor is clean and simple
• There’s a built-in community of readers

You can also submit stories to Medium publications, which can help you reach more people without building your own audience from scratch.

Real examples of Medium usage

You’ll often see Medium used for:

• Personal essays and reflections
• Tech and startup commentary
• Writers building a portfolio before launching a standalone site

Medium showcases popular topics and writers on its homepage: https://medium.com.

When Medium is the right example for your first step

Medium is ideal if:

• You’re not ready to run a website yet
• You want to practice writing in public
• You care more about improving your craft than customizing a design

Later, many writers move from Medium to WordPress.com, Wix, or Squarespace once they’re ready for their own fully controlled site.

Honorable mentions: More examples beginners often consider

Beyond the classic examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners, there are a few honorable mentions worth knowing about. These aren’t in the main five, but they’re real examples many beginners try:

Substack

Substack is primarily an email newsletter platform, but it also creates a simple blog-like archive of your posts. It’s a common example of a platform for writers who want to build an email list first and a traditional blog second.

Blogger (Blogspot)

Blogger is a long-running, free platform owned by Google. It’s less modern than the other examples listed here, but some beginners still use it to experiment with blogging at zero cost.

Notion as a public blog

Some creators now publish public Notion pages as a lightweight blog. It’s not a traditional blogging platform, but it’s a real example of how people are sharing posts without a formal website.

How to choose among these examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners

You’ve seen several real-world examples. Now the question is: which one fits you?

Here’s a simple way to think about it, based on your priorities:

1. “I want the most flexible long-term home for my blog.”

Leaning toward WordPress.com makes sense. It’s one of the strongest examples of a platform that can start simple and grow into a serious website.

2. “I care most about visual design and layout.”

If you want to drag and drop your way to a pretty site, Wix is a great example to follow. If you prefer cleaner, more structured templates, Squarespace is another strong example.

3. “I just want to write and see if I like blogging.”

Medium is the lowest-friction example here. You can always move to WordPress.com, Wix, or Squarespace later once you’re sure blogging is something you want to stick with.

4. “I want to build a writing business with memberships or paid content.”

In that case, Ghost is one of the best examples to study. It’s built for writers who view their blog as the core of a business.

Practical next steps: Going from examples to your first published post

Seeing examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners is helpful, but it only matters if you actually start. Here’s a simple, low-stress way to move forward today:

Step 1: Pick one platform to try for 30 days

Don’t overthink this. Based on everything above, ask yourself:

• Do I want design control (Wix/Squarespace)?
• Do I want long-term flexibility (WordPress.com)?
• Do I just want to write (Medium)?
• Do I want memberships or paid content (Ghost)?

Choose the platform that fits your current season, not your fantasy five-year plan.

Step 2: Create a simple starter blog

On your chosen platform:

• Pick a clean, minimal theme or template
• Add a short “About” page (2–3 paragraphs)
• Set up a basic navigation: Home, Blog, About, Contact

Don’t get stuck picking fonts for three hours. You can always refine later.

Step 3: Publish three short posts

Instead of planning a giant content calendar, aim for three simple starter posts:

• Why you’re starting this blog
• One helpful tip or story in your niche
• One resource list or recommendation post

This lets you test how the platform feels: writing, editing, hitting publish, and sharing.

Step 4: Adjust after 30 days

After a month, ask:

• Did I enjoy using this platform?
• Did anything feel confusing or frustrating?
• Do I need more design control, or is this enough?

If you outgrow your first choice, you can switch—many platforms provide export tools and guides. Universities like the University of Michigan’s web publishing resources offer general guidance on planning and managing websites that can help you think through long-term needs.

FAQ: Real questions about examples of beginner blogging platforms

What are some real examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners?

Some of the best real-world examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners are WordPress.com, Wix, Squarespace, Ghost, and Medium. Many beginners also experiment with Substack or Blogger, but those five give you a strong mix of ease of use, design options, and growth potential.

Which example of a blogging platform is best for someone non-technical?

If you’re not technical and don’t want to be, Wix and Squarespace are strong examples to follow. Their drag-and-drop and template-based editors make it easier to focus on writing and visuals without touching code.

Which platform is best if I want to grow a serious content site?

WordPress.com is often the best example here. It’s widely used across the web and can scale from a tiny personal blog to a large content site. Many educational institutions and organizations rely on WordPress-based setups; for instance, Harvard and other universities discuss content management and digital publishing on sites like https://digital.hbs.edu, which can give you a sense of how flexible WordPress-style systems can be.

Are free blogging platforms a bad idea for beginners?

Not necessarily. Free plans on WordPress.com, Medium, or Blogger are good examples of low-risk ways to start. Over time, you may want your own domain name and more control, but using a free plan for your first few months is a very normal path.

Where can I learn more about writing better blog content, not just choosing a platform?

Choosing among these examples of top 5 blogging platforms for beginners is only half the story. To improve your writing itself, look at university writing centers and online resources. For example, the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) at https://owl.purdue.edu offers guidance on clarity, structure, and style that applies directly to blogging.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: pick one platform, write three posts, and learn by doing. The best examples of blogging platforms for beginners are only helpful if you actually hit “publish.”