The Cheapest Way To Start A Blog Website That Makes Real Money in 2024 {3 Step Guide}

This article contains the easiest 3-step guide on the cheapest way to start a blog.

When we first started, we didn’t have much money—certainly not $250 or $500—to invest in a blog. So, what should you do in this situation?

In this article, I’ll share my personal experience on how to create a new blog for under $100 only using;

• The cheapest domain name (from Namecheap),
• Affordable and cheap blog website hosting (Hostinger – the most reliable web host for new bloggers),
• Step-by-step guidelines for designing your new blog,
• And much more.

If you want to start a blog on the lowest possible budget and make money through blogging, this post is for you.

To help you get started, I’ve figured out the exact steps for the cheapest way to start a blog. In this article, I will walk you through the 3 steps to launch your blog on budget.

Let’s dive in!

What Is The Cheapest Way To Start A Blog?

Contrary to what many believe, you don’t need a lot of money to start blogging. With as little as $40 to $100, you can launch your self-hosted blog in just a few minutes.

To start your cheap blog website, you need to follow our 3-step guidance;

1. Register Your Domain Name: Your domain name is your blog’s address on the internet. Choose a name that represents your blog’s niche and is easy to remember.
2. Buy Web Hosting: A blog hosting is where your blog lives on the internet. Look for affordable and reliable hosting services. Many companies offer great introductory deals for new bloggers.
3. Design Your Blog: Select a blogging platform (like WordPress) and a theme that suits your style. Many free and low-cost themes are available that can make your blog look professional without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Register Domain Name

Your first step is to buy a great domain name. Choosing a domain name is very important for your blog because it represents your online identity.

If you don’t know what a domain name is, let me give you a bit of an overview.

Understanding a Domain Name

A domain name is your blog’s online address. When someone types your domain name or its IP address into a browser, it will point them to your blog. Essentially, it’s your blog’s identity on the internet.

Choosing a Domain Extension

Deciding on a domain extension is important. Here’s a quick guide:

• .com: This is the most popular and recognized domain extension. However, finding an available .com domain can be challenging because many names are already taken.
• .co: A good alternative to .com. It’s often considered its sister extension and is more likely to be available.
• .net: Another viable option if .com and .co are not available.

While the extension itself doesn’t impact your search results, according to Google, it’s crucial for branding. Therefore, opting for .com or .co is generally recommended.

Tips For Choosing a Domain Name

Here are some tips to register a great domain name for your blog site.

• Keep it short and relevant: Ensure it’s easy for visitors to remember and type.
• Avoid special characters: Don’t use letters, numbers, or hyphens, as they can make the domain harder to remember and type correctly.

Where to Buy a Domain Name?

When you have done everything about the domain name selection, next to make the final decisions on its registrations.

So, where can you buy your favourite domain name? I highly recommend buying it from;

• Namecheap: Known for low prices, offering .com domains for around $7 to $10.
• Hostinger: Popular for its cheap hosting plans, which include free domains worth $15 when purchasing a web hosting plan.
• Bluehost: Great host for both beginners and experienced WordPress users. With web hosting sign-up, you can get free domain registration worth $12 or more.

These are the most reputable places to purchase a cheap domain name. While Namecheap is often the cheapest domain registration option, any of these providers.

What’s Next After Buying Your Domain Name?

You have bought a domain name! Now what?

The next step you need to make is a blog hosting selection. As you read this blog post, you need something that saves your pocket.

Let’s find a great web hosting service for your new blog.

Step 2: Buy Web Hosting

Alright, the next step is to host your blog on a server, to do that you have to buy hosting services for server space.

Let’s start it with one of the most common queries: what exactly is web hosting, and why is it crucial for your online website blog?

What is Web Hosting and Why It’s Important?

Web hosting is like renting space on a big computer that’s always connected to the internet. Your website’s files are stored there, so when someone types in your website’s address, they can see it online.

Buying web hosting is just getting that space on the computer server. With so many choices, picking the right one is the most confusing market ever because there are many options.

Budget-Friendly Hosting Options

I have had a pretty good experience with web hosting companies since 2016.

And I have tried and hosted dozens of my personal blogs on different web hosts. Some of them are pretty good, and some are worse than ever.

With that in mind, if you want to start a blog on a budget (for under $100), here are the most affordable blog hosting companies I recommend:

• Namecheap
• Hostinger
• Bluehost

From my experience, since I started blogging, these hosts have made starting a blog straightforward and affordable.

If you have a budget of $100 or more, you have more options available. Here are some of my personal favourites:

• Cloudways: Provides managed cloud hosting with high reliability and performance.
• Nexcess: Reliable and user-friendly, with various managed WordPress hosting plans to choose from.
• Inmotion: Known for fast servers and excellent support.

These hosting providers offer quality services and are suitable for websites with higher budgets. You can explore their offerings and choose the one that best fits your needs and budget.

In-Depth Hosting Insights

1. Namecheap

The biggest expense when starting a blog is usually web hosting, and Namecheap is a top choice for saving money

In fact, I started my first blog with Namecheap in 2016 and have used it ever since. Namecheap is also known for its cheap website hosting plans, which make it suitable for new blogs that don’t initially receive much traffic.

Here are the details:

• Starter Plan: $18.44/year for 3 websites, including free CDN.
• Plus Plan: $31.84/year with unlimited websites and auto-backup.

Namecheap is cost-effective, allowing you to invest in other essentials like themes and plugins. 

However, it’s not recommended for high-traffic blogs. For high traffic, consider migrating to Cloudways or Nexcess.

2. Hostinger

If Namecheap doesn’t suit your needs, Hostinger is another excellent option for creating a blog in 2024.

Here are the details:

• Premium Plan ($2.99/Mo + 2 months free): Standard Performance, 100 Websites, 100 GB SSD Storage, Weekly Backups, Unlimited Free SSL, Unlimited Bandwidth, Free Email, Free Domain ($9.99 value), Free CDN, Dedicated IP Address, Managed WordPress, WooCommerce, and more.
• Business Plan ($3.99/mo + 2 months free): Increased Performance (Up to 5x), 200 GB NVMe Storage, Daily Backups ($25.08 value), Basic WooCommerce, and more.
• Cloud Startup Plan ($9.99/mo + 2 months free): Maximum Performance (Up to 10x), 300 Websites, and more.

Hostinger’s prices are slightly higher than Namecheap’s, but their premium plan allows hosting on up to 100 websites. Namecheap, on the other hand, allows hosting up to three sites with its starter plan.

There are various reasons why Hostinger may be a better fit than Namecheap, but ultimately, the choice depends on your blog’s specific needs and vision.

3. Bluehost

The other cheapest way to start a blog at the cheapest price is Bluehost (review). Here are the WordPress hosting plans that you can buy from Bluehost website:

• Basic Plan ($2.95/mo – up to 75% off): 1 Website, 10 GB SSD Storage, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st Year, Professional Email – Free Trial, Custom WP Themes, Free SSL – 1st Year, and more.
• Choice Plus Plan ($5.45/mo – up to 75% off): 3 Websites, 40 GB SSD Storage, Chat/Phone Support, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st Year, Free SSL, Daily Website Backups – Free 1st year, Domain Privacy – Free 1st year, Malware Scanning, and more.
• Online Store Plan ($9.63/mo – up to 63% off): 3 Websites, 40 GB SSD Storage, Chat/Phone Support, Sell Products Online, Free CDN, Free Domain 1st Year, Free SSL, Daily Website Backups – Free 1st year, Domain Privacy – Free 1st year, Malware Scanning, Exclusive Store Theme, Store Analytics, Unlimited Products, Secure Online Payments, Bookings & Appointments, Shipping Labels, Product Search & Filtering, Gift Cards, Wishlist, Customer Account Creation, and more.
• Cloud Plan ($29.99/mo – Early Access Pricing): Up To 50 Websites, Up To 225 GB SSD Storage, Up To 150 vCPU Compute Power, 24/7 Priority Chat/Phone Support, Built for WordPress sites by WordPress experts, Unrestricted Bandwidth, Global Edge Caching, High-Burst Capacity, Web Application Firewall (WAF), High-Frequency CPUs, DDOS Mitigation, Daily Automated Backups, and more.

Overall, Bluehost’s WordPress hosting plans are designed to accommodate various website needs, from simple blogs to professional online stores.

Lastly, selecting the right hosting service is crucial for your blog’s performance and growth. Make sure to consider your budget and your blog’s specific needs when deciding.

 3. Design Your Blog

When it comes to designing your blog website, you can use a WordPress theme. Numerous themes are available on the internet, some free and others paid.

Selecting a WordPress theme, you might question the need to pay for one when numerous free options are available.

The answer boils down to one thing: time-saving.

Even so, I recommend some free themes to get started;

• Kadence
• GeneratePress

But remember that the free themes are more complicated, even if it’s a bit hard to learn. So, it’s better to buy a premium WordPress theme today so that you can focus on other things.

In a paid WordPress theme, you can use many features and demos, and your website design will be ready in a few moments.

Additionally, purchasing a premium theme upfront allows you to focus your energy on other aspects of your blog. With ready-made designs and features, premium themes can save you valuable time and effort in the long run.

So, is it worth paying for a WordPress theme?

Absolutely. Quality themes are often reasonably priced, typically ranging from $39 to $59, such as:

• Kadence Theme Pro: Packed with features and customization options, Kadence Theme Pro offers versatility and speed, making it a favourite among WordPress users.
• GeneratePress Pro: Known for its lightweight code and extensive functionality, GP Premium is highly customizable and ideal for creating professional websites.
• Divi Builder: Divi by Elegant Themes provides a drag-and-drop interface and a wide range of design options, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced users looking to create stunning websites.
• Avada: Renowned for its flexibility and comprehensive features, Avada remains a top selling theme on ThemeForest, offering endless possibilities for customization and design.

Whether you’re starting a blog on a tight budget or have more room to explore, these themes offer a range of features to suit your needs.

FAQs – Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some frequently asked questions to help you understand the basics of starting a blog website on a limited budget. These answers will guide you through the essential steps and costs involved, ensuring you can get your blog up and running without breaking the bank.

Final Thoughts On Starting A Cheap Blog Website

If your goal is to earn money from blogging, starting a blog for free isn’t realistic. You’ll need to invest in at least three essential tools, but these costs are quite affordable.

Here’s the cheapest way to start a blog under $100. The actual cost will be;

• $40 at Namecheap for Stellar Plan with a free domain name
• $42 at Hostinger for a 1-year free domain with web hosting service
• $42 at Bluehost with 1 year hosting account including free domain

And a paid WordPress theme (optional) will cost you;

• $59 – GeneratePress Pro (GP Premium)
• $79 – Kadence Theme Pro

So, you can build your own blog for less than $100. After making these purchases, the final step is to install WordPress and essential plugins to complete your blog setup.