Blogspot vs. WordPress (Free Version): Which is Better for SEO in 2026?

 As we head into 2026, the advice for new bloggers hasn't changed much in the last decade. Go to any forum, ask "How do I start a blog?", and 99% of people will scream the same answer at you: "Use WordPress!"

But they usually leave out a tiny, critical detail.

They are talking about self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org), which costs money for hosting, themes, and plugins. But what if you have zero budget? What if you want to start completely for free?

That leaves you with two titans: Google's Blogspot (Blogger) vs. WordPress.com (Free Plan).

I have tested both extensively. And I’m going to tell you something that might make the "SEO Gurus" angry: In 2026, if you want to rank on Google and make money for free, Blogspot is actually the better choice.

Here is the honest, no-nonsense breakdown of why the underdog might be your best bet this year.

The "Free" WordPress Trap

Let’s start with the elephant in the room. WordPress is the best content management system in the world. I won't deny that. However, the Free Version (WordPress.com) is severely crippled.

When you sign up for a free WordPress.com site, you are not getting the powerful tool you read about. You are getting a trial version designed to upsell you.

  • No Ads (Zero Income): You cannot place Google AdSense or affiliate banners on a free WordPress site. In fact, WordPress puts their own ads on your site and keeps 100% of the money. You are building content to make them rich.

  • No Plugins (The SEO Killer): This is the biggest dealbreaker. You cannot install essential plugins like Yoast SEO, RankMath, or caching tools on the free plan. You are stuck with basic features.

  • No Code Access: You cannot edit the HTML, CSS, or PHP. Want to add a custom tracking code for analytics? You can't. Want to tweak the design slightly? You can't.

You are essentially renting a room where you aren't allowed to move the furniture.

The Blogspot Advantage in 2026

Blogspot, on the other hand, is a relic that has quietly aged into a powerhouse for bootstrappers. It doesn't have a "premium" tier to upsell you to. It’s just... free.

Here is why it wins for the "Zero Budget" blogger:

1. You Own the Code (and the SEO)

On Blogspot, you have full access to the HTML source code (the "Theme XML"). This is a massive advantage for technical SEO.

  • Verification: Want to verify your site with Pinterest, Google Search Console, or Bing Webmaster Tools? You can just paste the HTML tag into your header. On free WordPress, this is often blocked or difficult.

  • Schema Markup: Want to add "Review" or "Article" Schema to get those fancy stars in Google Search? You can manually add this code in Blogspot.

  • Custom Tools: As I proved recently with my Rank Checker Tool, you can embed working JavaScript tools directly into posts. This is impossible on free WordPress.

2. Monetization from Day One

This is the deciding factor for most people.

  • WordPress (Free): Strictly prohibits you from running ads.

  • Blogspot: Is owned by Google. It has Google AdSense built right into the dashboard. You can start showing ads and earning money as soon as you get approved. You can also use Amazon Affiliate links, sponsored banners, or whatever else you want. Google doesn't care; it's your real estate.

3. Design Freedom (CSS & HTML)

On the free WordPress plan, you are stuck with the default fonts and colors of the theme you pick. You often have to pay extra just to edit the "CSS" (the styling code).

On Blogspot, you can change everything. If you know a little bit of code, you can make a free Blogspot site look like a $5,000 custom website. You can hide the sidebar, change the font, create a custom footer, or completely redesign the layout. There are no "paywalls" blocking the design settings.

4. The "Custom Domain" Factor

If you eventually decide to spend $12/year on a custom domain (like yourname.com instead of .blogspot.com), Blogspot lets you connect it for free.

WordPress.com charges you a monthly subscription fee just to connect a domain you already own. If you stop paying that monthly fee, your site breaks. With Blogspot, you only pay the domain registrar (like Namecheap or GoDaddy), and Google charges you nothing.


Blogspot vs. WordPress

But... Can Blogspot Actually Rank in 2026?

This is the big question. Critics say Blogspot is "dead" and Google hates it.

That is a myth.

Google does not hate Blogspot. Google owns Blogspot. The platform runs on Google's own servers. This means:

  • Uptime: Your site will basically never crash, even if you go viral.

  • Speed: With a simple theme, Blogspot sites are incredibly fast—a major Core Web Vitals ranking factor.

  • Indexing: While new sites always take time (the "Sandbox"), once you are trusted, Google crawls Blogspot sites very efficiently.

The reason many Blogspot sites don't rank isn't the platform; it's the user. Many Blogspot users treat it like a diary. They don't do keyword research. They use messy themes.

If you apply modern 2026 SEO strategies—long-tail keyword research, clean structure, internal linking—a Blogspot URL can rank right next to a WordPress URL.

The "Exit Strategy": What If You Want to Move Later?

One valid concern is "locking" yourself into Blogspot. People say, "Start with WordPress so you don't have to migrate later."

But migrating from Blogspot to WordPress.org later is actually very easy.

  1. You can export all your content.

  2. You can set up a "301 Redirect" so all your old Blogspot links automatically send visitors to your new WordPress site.

You lose nothing by starting here. It is a safe sandbox to learn SEO, write your first 50 posts, and make your first dollar without spending a penny.

The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

It comes down to your budget and your goals.

Choose Free WordPress.com IF:

  • You never plan to make money from the blog.

  • You just want a beautiful, easy-to-write-on interface.

  • You don't care about technical SEO.

  • You plan to upgrade to a paid ($300+/year) plan very soon.

Choose Blogspot IF:

  • Your budget is $0.

  • You want to make money (AdSense/Affiliates).

  • You are willing to learn a little bit of HTML/SEO to tweak your site.

  • You want a site that is 100% yours to control without monthly fees.

Conclusion

In 2026, don't let the "WordPress snobs" scare you away. If you are starting a side hustle with zero capital, Blogspot remains the undisputed king of free blogging. It’s not the platform that makes the rank; it’s the content.

Start writing, focus on helpful content, and let the Google crawler do the rest.

This post is part of a live, public case study: The Blogspot Experiment. I am currently testing these exact theories by trying to rank this free blog from scratch. Follow along to see the real data.

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