Hostinger
Affordable WordPress hosting
Budget friendly hosting that is easy to set up, with a money-back guarantee. A solid first home for a new WordPress blog.
Discounted plans available
Get Hostinger deal
My blogging toolbox: the tools I use to run, grow and monetize All Blog Ideas
After years of blogging, I have tried plenty of hosting, themes, SEO tools and email platforms. This is the short list I trust, with plain notes on who each tool is for and what it does best.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I trust, and deals can change, so check the final price on the official site.
My core stack
If I were starting a new blog tomorrow, these are the three I would set up first.
Semrush
Keyword research and site audits
An all-in-one marketing toolkit. I use it for keyword research and to see what my competitors rank for.
Free trial available
Start Semrush trial
Astra Pro
Lightweight WordPress theme
A fast, flexible theme that works well with Elementor. A free version is available if you want to start small.
Free version available
See Astra plans
Every tool I recommend
Pick a category to narrow the list.
Hosting
Where your blog lives. Speed and support matter most here.
Hostinger
Best for: new blogs on a tight budget
Affordable, beginner friendly WordPress hosting with a simple dashboard and a money-back guarantee.
Discounted plansGet Hostinger deal
Bluehost
Best for: the lowest starting price
Beginner friendly WordPress hosting. Includes a free domain name on hosting plans.
From $3.95/moGet Bluehost deal
GreenGeeks
Best for: eco-friendly WordPress hosting
Beginner friendly hosting that matches the energy it uses with renewable energy credits.
Discounted plansGet GreenGeeks deal
WP Engine
Best for: high-traffic sites that want managed hosting
Fully managed WordPress hosting with plans starting from $25/mo.
3 months freeClaim 3 free months
Cloudways
Best for: growing blogs that want cloud hosting
Managed cloud hosting with pay-as-you-go pricing, so you get strong performance without managing a server yourself.
Free trialTry Cloudways free
Themes and builders
Design a fast, good looking blog without writing code.
Astra Pro Used on this blog
Best for: speed and flexibility
A popular, lightweight WordPress theme. The free version is a good place to start.
Elementor Pro
Best for: building custom pages visually
The free builder is great. Pro adds advanced widgets, a visual form builder and more.
Up to 20% off, limited timeGet Elementor Pro
SEO and research
Find keywords you can actually rank for, then optimize every post.
Semrush Used on this blog
Best for: keyword research and competitor analysis
An all-in-one toolkit that shows what to improve for SEO. I use it for keyword research.
Free trialStart free trial
Rank Math Pro Used on this blog
Best for: on-page SEO inside WordPress
An SEO plugin that guides you through optimizing each post, with schema, redirects and rank tracking in Pro. The free version is a good place to start.
Free version availableGet Rank Math Pro
Email marketing
Own your audience. Do not rely on social media or Google alone.
Kit (formerly ConvertKit) Used on this blog
Best for: creators and bloggers
Popular email marketing software for creators, with a free plan for up to 10,000 subscribers.
Free to startSign up free
GetResponse
Best for: email plus automation on a budget
Email marketing software with plans starting from $15/mo and a 30 day free trial.
30 day free trialTry free for 30 days
Writing
Write cleaner, clearer posts.
Grammarly Used on this blog
Best for: proofreading every post
A popular grammar checker and proofreader. I use it and recommend it to every writer.
Free planGet Grammarly free
How I pick what goes on this page
I use it or I research it
Tools marked “Used on this blog” run on this site. For the rest, I read the features, pricing and real user feedback first.
It solves a real blogging problem
Every tool here helps you publish faster, rank higher or earn more. If it does none of those, it does not make the list.
The price is fair for beginners
Most tools have a free plan, a trial or a discount, so you can test before you commit.
Questions I get a lot
Which tool should I buy first?
Start with hosting and a theme. Once your blog is live, add a keyword research tool and an email platform so you can grow traffic and own your audience.
Do you earn money if I use your links?
Yes. If you buy through an affiliate link I earn a commission, and the price you pay stays the same. That income helps me keep publishing free guides on this blog.
Do you use all of these tools?
No. Tools marked “Used on this blog” are ones I use myself. The others are products I have researched and consider reliable for the job they do.
Are the discounts always available?
Not always. Companies change their offers often, so confirm the final price on the official checkout page before you pay.
What do I need to start a blog?
You need a domain name, web hosting and a WordPress theme. After your blog is live, add a keyword research tool to choose topics and an email platform to build your list.
Are there free options on this list?
Yes. Astra, Elementor and Rank Math have free versions, Kit is free for up to 10,000 subscribers, and Grammarly has a free plan. Start free and upgrade when your blog grows.