Margin Notes › Start free
Start free with Margin Notes Write
Not ready to pay for a site? Margin Notes Write is a small, free place to publish what you write. No adverts, no tracking, nothing to set up. If you later want more, you can move to a Ghost site and we bring your posts with you.
Accounts are by invitation only to reduce spam. Send us an email at hello@marginnotes.me, and we'll setup your writing space.
What you get
- A free blog of your own at
write.marginnotes.me/yourname/. - A clean, quiet reading page that works on any device.
- Plain-text writing with simple formatting, written in Markdown.
- No adverts, no tracking, and your posts are never sold.
- Your posts can be downloaded at any time.
What it is not
It is a simple writing space, not a full website. There are no uploaded images (you can link to images hosted elsewhere), no comments, no newsletter and no custom domain name. It is run by one person on a small server, so we do our best to keep it running and make a backup every night, but we cannot promise it will never fail. Keep your own copy of anything you care about.
Free or a Ghost site?
| Margin Notes Write | Ghost site | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | From 7.49 € a month |
| Best for | Starting to write, with nothing to set up | A site of your own that you want to grow |
| Images and design | Plain text, linked images only | Uploads, themes and full design |
| Newsletter | No | Yes (Standard plan through your own Mailgun account) |
| Your own domain name | No | Yes, on Standard |
| Availability | By invitation, limited places | Open: see pricing |
Prices exclude applicable VAT.
Moving up later
Many people start free and some outgrow it. If you want a newsletter, images or your own domain name, you can move to a Ghost site with us. Download your posts, tell us, and we create the same posts in your new site with their original dates. Your free blog stays as it is until you decide otherwise. There is no pressure and no countdown.
Before you join, please read the terms of use and the privacy policy for the free service.
Questions
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no charge, no advert and no tracking. It is a small side service, so places are limited and by invitation.
Can I add images, comments or a newsletter?
Not here. It is plain text with links. Images can only be linked from elsewhere. For images, comments, newsletters or your own domain name, a Ghost site is the better fit.
Can I take my writing with me?
Yes. You can download all your posts at any time from the Export page in your account, and if you move to a Ghost site with us, we move them for you with their original dates.
What happens if you stop the service?
You get at least 30 days' notice on the site, and by email where we have your address, so you can export your posts.
Who is it for?
Anyone who wants to start writing without setting up or paying for anything. If you already know you want your own site, a newsletter or your own domain, start with a Ghost plan instead.
Already know you want your own site? See plans and pricing, or read what managed Ghost hosting means.
Last updated 2026-11-03.