How to Start a Blog for Under $100 This Year

Have you ever asked yourself: “How much does it actually cost to start a blog in 2025?”

If so, you’re not alone. Many beginners want to start a blog. They want to share their passion or make money. But they worry about the cost.

Starting a blog in 2025 is cheaper than you think. You can start a professional blog for less than $100 a year. This is cheaper than new shoes, but your blog can make money.

In this guide, we’ll cover every cost you need to know about. This includes hosting, themes, SEO tools, and more. So, you can start your blogging journey with confidence.

✅ Quick Answer: How Much Does It Cost to Start a Blog in 2025?

The average cost of starting a blog in 2025 is $50–$250 per year. This depends on your choices.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

Domain Name: $10–$15 per year
Web Hosting: $35–$120 per year
Theme/Design: $0–$50 (free or premium)
SEO & Tools: $0–$50 (optional but powerful)
Optional Add-Ons: $0–$100 (email marketing, plugins, photos, etc.)

👉 That means you can start your blog for less than $5/month.

Now, let’s break down each cost in detail.

1. Domain Name ($10–$15/year)

Your domain name is your blog’s online address—think yourblog.com.

It’s the first thing readers see. It helps them remember your site.

What to Consider When Buying a Domain:

Stick with .com — it’s still the most trusted extension in 2025.
Keep it short & memorable — “bestfitnessguide.com” is better than “thebestfitnessguideforyou2025.net.”
Avoid numbers & hyphens — they make your blog hard to type.

💡 Pro Tip: Both Bluehost and HostGator give you a free domain name for the first year when you sign up for hosting. This saves you money right away.

2. Web Hosting ($35–$120/year)

Hosting is the engine of your blog. Without it, your site won’t show online.

Think of it like this: your domain is your blog’s “address.” Hosting is the “house” where your content lives.

Best Hosting Options in 2025:

Bluehost – Great for beginners, starts at $2.95/month. It’s perfect for starting out.
HostGator – Easy to use and affordable. Plans start at $3.50/month.

💡 Why hosting matters for SEO: Site speed and uptime are now ranking factors. Cheap hosting can slow your blog. Good hosting means a successful blog.

Both are good for beginners. They offer one-click WordPress installation. You don’t need to write code.

3. Website Design & Themes ($0–$50)

A good design keeps readers on your site. It makes them trust your content.

You have two main choices:

Free Themes (Budget-Friendly): WordPress has thousands of free themes. You can customize them.
Premium Themes (Professional Look): For a polished blog, try Envato Market. Prices start at $30–$50. You’ll look like a pro right away.

💡 Pro Tip: Your blog doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to be clean, readable, and fast. A simple theme is better than an over-designed one.

4. Essential Blogging Tools (Free–$50)

Tools are like a GPS for blogging. Without them, you’ll waste time.

Must-Have Tool in 2025:

Ubersuggest – It helps with SEO and finding keywords. It’s free, but the paid version is affordable for beginners.

It’s a must-have for finding content people search for.

💡 Why it matters: Traffic is the lifeblood of a blog. Without visitors, you won’t make money. Ubersuggest helps you create content that people want.

5. Optional Add-Ons ($0–$100)

After the basics, you might want to add extras.

Here are a few worth considering:

Email Marketing Tools (like MailerLite or ConvertKit) – Build an email list. Free plans are available.
Premium Plugins – Plugins like WP Rocket or Rank Math Pro can cost $20–$50/year.
Stock Photos & Graphics – Envato Market has millions of premium images. Prices are small.

🧾 Total Cost of Starting a Blog in 2025

Here’s what it looks like depending on your setup:

Bare Minimum Setup: $50/year (domain + hosting)
Professional Setup: $100–$250/year (hosting, domain, premium theme, tools)

👉 Either way, you’re starting a real online business for the cost of a few Starbucks runs each month.

6. The Hidden Costs Nobody Tells You About

While the numbers above are accurate, many beginners forget about a few “hidden” costs:

Your Time – Blogging takes effort. Writing, editing, promoting—it all adds up.
Learning Curve – You’ll need to spend time learning SEO, design, and content strategy.
Consistency – The real cost is whether you stick with it for 6–12 months to see results.

💡 Pro Tip: Treat your blog like a business from day one. The small investment you make upfront will pay off later if you stay consistent.

7. Is Blogging Still Worth It in 2025?

This is the big question. With TikTok, YouTube, and AI everywhere, is blogging still relevant?

The short answer: YES.

Here’s why:

Google is still the #1 way people search for information.
Blogs are evergreen—your post today can bring traffic for years.
Blogging opens doors to affiliate marketing, sponsorships, digital products, and freelance work.

In fact, blogging in 2025 has more income potential than ever—because it’s easier to monetize with tools, ads, and partnerships.

8. How to Start a Blog in 2025 (Step-by-Step)

Here’s your simple action plan:

Choose a Niche – Focus on something you’re passionate about that has audience demand.
Get Hosting + Domain – Sign up with Bluehost or HostGator and grab your free domain.
Install WordPress – One-click setup with both hosts.
Pick a Theme – Start with a clean free theme, or upgrade to a professional design from Envato Market.
Install Essential Plugins – SEO (Rank Math), caching (WP Rocket), and security plugins.
Do Keyword Research – Use Ubersuggest to find easy-to-rank keywords.
Write Your First 5–10 Blog Posts – Answer questions your audience is searching for.
Promote Your Content – Share on social, Pinterest, and build backlinks.

❓ FAQs About Blogging Costs

Q: Can I start a blog for free?
A: Yes, but free sites like WordPress.com or Blogger have limits. For more control, use self-hosted WordPress with Bluehost or HostGator.

Q: What’s the biggest mistake beginners make?
A: Picking cheap or free hosting. It causes slow sites, no help, and trouble.

Q: How long until I make money blogging?
A: Most bloggers see money in 6–12 months. Stay consistent and use SEO tools like Ubersuggest.

🚀 Final Thoughts: The Real Cost of Starting a Blog in 2025

Starting a blog in 2025 is one of the most affordable online businesses you can create.

For about $50–$250/year, you can have a site that brings in traffic, grows your brand, and makes money.
The biggest cost isn’t money—it’s time and consistency.

👉 Here’s your starter kit:

Start today. A year from now, you’ll wish you had started

👉 Next, check out my article on: 10 Common blogging mistakes and how to avoid them