Back in 2008, I wrote a quick post about a free hosted WordPress blog offer. The original post was basically a heads-up that someone was offering to set up a blog for you at no cost. That offer is long gone, but the underlying question is still one I hear all the time: should I use a free blogging platform or self-hosted WordPress?
The answer in 2026 is the same as it was back then. If you are serious about building an online business, you need self-hosted WordPress.
Free Platforms vs. Self-Hosted WordPress
Free platforms like WordPress.com, Blogger, and Medium let you start writing immediately with zero investment. That sounds great, but it comes with serious limitations:
- You do not own your platform. The service can change its terms, restrict your content, or shut down entirely. If your entire business lives on someone else's domain, you are building on rented land.
- Limited monetization. Most free platforms restrict advertising, affiliate links, and other revenue-generating strategies.
- No custom functionality. You cannot install plugins, customize your theme fully, or add the tools your business needs.
- Branding limitations. Your URL includes the platform name (yourblog.wordpress.com), which does not look professional to potential customers or partners.
What Self-Hosted WordPress Gives You
With self-hosted WordPress from WordPress.org, you install the free software on your own hosting account. You get complete control over your site:
- Your own domain name that builds brand equity over time
- Full plugin access for SEO, email marketing, e-commerce, and anything else you need
- Complete design control through themes and custom code
- Monetization freedom to run ads, sell products, and use affiliate links however you choose
- Data ownership so you can export and move your content at any time
Getting Started in 2026
The good news is that setting up self-hosted WordPress has never been easier. Most quality hosting providers like SiteGround, Cloudways, or Hostinger offer one-click WordPress installation. You can have a fully functional site running in under an hour.
The cost is minimal. A domain name runs about ten to fifteen dollars per year, and solid hosting starts around five to ten dollars per month. That is a trivially small investment for the foundation of an online business.
If you are still blogging on a free platform and wondering why your business is not growing, the platform might be the first thing holding you back. Make the move to self-hosted WordPress. It is the single best infrastructure decision you can make for your online business.
Garry helped put my blog together and I’ve never been happier. Though most of what he did was back end tweaks, I’m more than happy with the results.
Actually there is someone (a company?) doing the same thing: MyAffiliateValet.com
I never used them but it seems pretty interesting for newcomers or people who are not tech-savvy. It appears to be free while I believe Garry charges $125…? (which is still quite a deal!)
Wow, Wako. How did you find that site? As far as I can tell, it is not indexed in any of the search engines, and there are no backlinks. There is no documentation that qualifies the person the runs the website. There is no privacy policy or other legal disclaimers that would indicate that this site you pointed out is a serious business. There is not even an about page. I would be very careful dealing with someone who won’t even tell you their name on their web site.
What do you know about it?
Regarding Garry, the “retail value” of the service is $125 (which is low). That is the price if you do not register for hosting under his affiliate link. This makes the service available to people that already have hosting (a request he gets a lot).
Regards,
Mark
Wako, the link you provided is basically doing the samething Garry is. You have to sign up for hosting or a product that they are an affiliate for. That covers their expenses. I did send them an email that if they are serious they should provide some info on themselves. It almost looks like they are copying Garry, but who knows.
Garry is building a site for me. I’ll post a link when he is done.