For the purposes of create a blog, you can have two options:
1.- Platforms blogging those that operate as if they were a cloud service, for example, Blogger, Wix, WordPress.com, etc.
2.- Generate the blog through WordPress.org with hosting of your property (that is, with the web server that you purchased). WordPress.com and WordPress.org use the same software (WordPress) but they have a radically different vision regarding their exploitation.
Free blogging platforms
They are characterized by being very limited in the services they offer.
How to Live Aligned with WordPress (.com), Wix, Blogger, Weebly, etc. These platforms are usually all free, that is, they give a limited version and freemium and then different levels of payment to be expanded as their functionalities grow.
The only exception to the above is Blogger, a platform owned by Google, which is only free.
Blogs based on WordPress.org
The most powerful alternative is WordPress.org with self-control. Hosting is the service that makes a web-type server connected to the Internet and companies such as Webempresa and Raiola Networks available to the user.
With WordPress.org there are no limits: your free repository is 4000 sketch templates and almost 60.000 applications (application extensions) that will allow you to do great tasks with WordPress. For example, it will generate a complete online store.
Likewise, other hostings such as those recommended in this article (Webempresa, Raiola Networks and Hostinger), provide extremely useful assistance for specialized technical support in hostings. WordPress That they will give you a hand at any time and on any problem or question you have.
The only negative is that they are hosting pay. However, if we take into consideration that there are hosting alternatives that offer a decent service such as Hostinger at the cost of € 3 per month, much cheaper than the basic free or fremium services (which will continue to be the most limited).
The best alternative
In principle, whatever paidOf course, if you do not have sufficient resources, look for those that offer the best services at the lowest cost, if you intend to offer a professional project of considerable importance.
I do it especially for limitations on the table:
Not having the possibility of using your own domain (there are no free own domains) domains of the class wordpress.com or others supported in a poor, unprofessional image.
Google does not place these kinds of places well because it does not consider them serious and "reliable”. Hence, it is very difficult to build an important audience with such a website.
The publicity generated in them it is not possible to eliminate it in the own contents, hence, only charge the platform and you do not have access to that payment.
Their editing and ability to typify the sketch is usually be somewhat limited.
It is not possible to enter applications somewhat more advanced. For example: combination with a mailing list and online payments class "Paypal" and similar.
These platforms They intend to make you a captive of them, in reality they make it very difficult for you to go to WordPress.org your own hosting if you want.