Looking for personal blogs that actually inspire you to start (and maybe even grow) your own?
Starting a personal blog? That’s easy.
Making money from it? That’s the tricky part.
But here’s the good news: some bloggers have cracked the code. They’re not just writing for fun—they’re earning a full-time income doing what they love.
In this post, I’ve handpicked some of the most popular personal blog sites across different niches.
So, are you ready to discover those blogs? Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
13 Most Popular Personal Blogs for 2025 (Quick Overview)
Want a quick look at the list? I’ve got you! Here are the most popular personal blogs that I feel you should check out.
| Sr. No. | Blog name | Owner | Niche |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Clear | James Clear | Beauty and Self-improvement |
| 2 | Zen Habits | Leo Babauta | Lifestyle and Self-improvement |
| 3 | Riskology | Tyler Tervooren | Leadership for Introverts |
| 4 | Minimalist Baker | Dana Shultz | Food |
| 5 | Mr. Money Mustache | Peter Adeney | Money and Finances |
| 6 | My Wife Quit Her Job | Steve Chou | Lifestyle and Self-improvement |
| 7 | Chris Guillebeau | Chris Guillebeau | Travel and Lifestyle |
| 8 | Cookie and Kate | Kathryne Taylor | Food |
| 9 | The Book Smugglers | Thea James | Book Review |
| 10 | Gala Darling | Gala Darling | Beauty and Self-improvements |
| 11 | Pinch of Yum | Lindsay | Food Blogs |
| 12 | David Lebovitz | David Lebovitz | Food Blogs |
| 13 | Cup of Jo | Joanna Goddard | Women’s Lifestyle |
Let’s now find out the 13 handpicked popular personal blog websites and their income sources.
1. James Clear
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | LifeStyle and Self-improvement |
| Popular Post | Atomic Habits |
| Founded | 2012 |
JamesClear.com is one of the most popular personal blogs, attracting millions of monthly visitors. If you want to build better habits, improve your decision-making, and continue improving work and life, this blog is a must-read.
Who Runs the Blog?
This amazing personal blog is run by James Clear, a life coach, entrepreneur, photographer, and the author of the NYT’s best-selling book Atomic Habits.
He was also featured in some of the biggest publications, such as the New York Times, Entrepreneur, Time, and CBS This Morning.
James Clear’s blog is FULLY packed with science-backed strategies to build better habits, make smarter decisions, and improve your life. If you’re looking for real-life advice on self-improvement that actually works, James Clear’s blog is a must-read.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
James Clear mostly writes about the following topics on his blog;
- How to build good habits (and break the bad ones)
- How to make significant decisions in life and work
- How to get more things done in less time
- How to achieve goals in life, and many more
What is the primary source of income?
Here are some of the ways James monetizes his blog;
- Speaking gigs
- Affiliate product selling
- Selling his own products, such as books and tools like the “Habit Journal”
2. Zen Habits
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Life Style and Self-improvement |
| Popular Post | Life’s Enough: Stop Comparing Yourself to Others |
| Founded | 2007 |
If you’re looking for the best personal blogs about life and minimalism, Zen Habits is a must-read for you. You’ll love this blog if you want to learn how to simplify your life, be more mindful, and be productive.
Who Runs the Blog?
Leo Babauta is the creator of Zen Habits, which was launched in 2007. Currently, the blog is read by a ton of people worldwide. The best part? His entire blog and all his ebooks are uncopyrighted (since January 2008).
Leo writes with a minimalist approach that gets straight to what matters. If you’re looking for only ONE resource to learn simplicity, mindfulness, and a minimalistic life—Zen Habits is a great blog to follow.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here are the main topics you’ll discover on this blog;
- Minimalism
- Productivity
- Life advice
- How to master your life and many more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Zen Habits makes money;
- Affiliate marketing
- Leo sells his online training programs, such as Fearless Training, Fearless Mastery, and Sea Change, to make money from his blo.g
- He also sells multiple books, such as Essential Zen Habits, The Habit Guide Ebook, and mor.e
You might also like: Popular Mom Blogs for motherhood tips and inspiration.
3. Riskology
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Leadership for Introverts |
| Popular Post | The Psychology of Dressing Well |
| Founded | 2013 |
Riskology is one of the best personal blogs that offers advice on leadership for introverts. If you want to improve your productivity, get more done in less time, reduce stress, and improve your health, you should follow this blog.
Who Runs the Blog?
Tyler Tervooren is the founder of riskology, and he mostly writes about helping introverts lead a great life. He’s also a TEDx speaker and ran a marathon on every continent, including Antarctica.
His blog is all about taking calculated risks, personal growth, and building confidence as an introvert. If you’re ambitious and want to live a great life on your own terms, Riskology is a must-read.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Leadership skills for introverts
- Risk management
- How to make smarter decisions
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Riskology makes money;
- Affiliate marketing
- Training courses including The Systems Course (which helps you with reducing stress, and improving your health) and Connect + Lead (which helps you with building relationships and becoming a leader)
- Speaking gigs
4. Minimalist Baker
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Food Blog |
| Popular Post | Overnight Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding |
| Founded | 2012 |
If you’re looking for delicious yet straightforward cooking ideas, the Minimalist Baker blog is exclusively for you. Minimalist Baker is one of the popular personal blog sites about cooking, with over 2 million followers on Instagram.
Who Runs the Blog?
Dana Shultz founded the popular personal blog The Minimalist Baker in 2012. She is also a food stylist and the author of the book The Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking.
The best part about her blog is that she shares recipes that require 10 ingredients or fewer, 1 bowl, or 30 minutes or less to prepare.
Her blog is a go-to resource for quick, delicious, and plant-based recipes that anyone can follow. If you love simple cooking without sacrificing flavor, this one’s a must-follow.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Simple yet yummy recipes
- Vegan recipes
- Gluten-free recipes
- Oil-free recipes and many more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Dana makes money from her blog;
- Selling eBooks
- Affiliate marketing
- Selling her own products, including kitchen essentials
5. Mr. Money Mustache
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Money and Finances |
| Popular Post | How To Afford a House These Days |
| Founded | 2011 |
Mr. Money Mustache is one of the best personal blogs about personal finance. Are you looking to retire early? Then, you should read this blog and follow the financial advice.
Who Runs the Blog?
Peter Adeney is the founder of Mr. Money Mustache. He retired from his job as a software engineer in 2005 at age 30. In 2011, he launched this blog to share advice on how others can do the same (i.e., retire early).
His writing is brutally honest and OFTEN packed with practical tips on frugal living and financial independence. If you’re aiming for FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early), this blog is a great read.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Getting rich
- Retire early
- Life advice and more
What is their primary source of income?
- Affiliate marketing
- Paid partnerships
- Other financial products he recommends through his blog
6. My Wife Quit Her Job
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | eCommerce |
| Popular Post | Is Temu Legit Or A Scam? |
| Founded | 2008 |
Want to be your own boss and build a money-making business online? Then, you should definitely check out “My Wife Quit Her Job,” one of the widely popular personal blogs with over a ton of monthly readers.
Who Runs the Blog?
Steve Chou is the founder of the “My Wife Quit Her Job” blog and podcast. Both his blog and podcast teach people how to sell profitable products online.
He shares real-life case studies, in-depth guides, and interviews with successful entrepreneurs. If you’re thinking about launching an eCommerce business, his blog is a must-read.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover;
- How to make money online
- How to sell products
- Interviews with experts on building an empire
- Entrepreneurship
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how this blog makes money;
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsorships
- Selling his own products
7. Chris Guillebeau
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Travel and Lifestyle |
| Popular Post | 9 Predictions For The Year 2050 |
| Founded | 2005 |
In 2008, Chris Guillebeau founded the blog “The Art of Non-Conformity,” which covered topics such as entrepreneurship, self-employment, and travel. It quickly became a popular personal blog, which is now ChrisGuillebeau.com.
Who Runs the Blog?
Chris Guillebeau is the founder of this blog and an NYT best-selling author, entrepreneur, and speaker. Before his 35th birthday, Chris visited every country in the world (193 in total).
He published some of the New York Times bestsellers, including The $100 Startup and The Art of Non-Conformity.
His blog is an excellent resource for entrepreneurs, side hustlers, and creators. If you’ve ever felt like the 9-to-5 job isn’t for you, Chris’s blog will inspire you to lead a better life.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here are the main topics you’ll discover on this blog;
- How to travel around the world
- How to use the $100 Startup model for creating personal freedom
- Entrepreneurship
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Chris monetizes the blog;
- Selling his own books
- Affiliate marketing
- Events and speaking gigs
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Food |
| Popular Post | Perfect Roasted Asparagus |
| Founded | 2010 |
Are you looking for a personal blog that covers fresh vegetarian recipes? Cookie and Kate blog is the popular personal blog sites is for you, where you can find many food recipes.
Who Runs the Blog?
Kathryne Taylor runs the “Cookie and Kate” blog, which she named after her dog Cookie. The blog is a popular destination for vegetarian recipes. In 2017, she published her best-selling first cookbook, Love Real Food.
Her recipes are simple, delicious, and perfect for anyone trying to eat more plants. If you want to fall in love with cooking, Cookie and Kate is one of the best food blogs to follow.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here are some of the topics you’ll discover on this blog;
- Recipes and food
- Desserts
- Cocktails and much more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Kathryne monetizes her blog;
- Affiliate marketing
- Selling her own products
- Sponsorships
9. The Book Smugglers
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Book Review |
| Popular Post | THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET BY BRIAN SELZNICK |
| Founded | 2008 |
The Book Smugglers is a popular book review blog that has covered chiefly fiction and pop culture for all ages since 2008.
Who Runs the Blog?
Thea James is the founder of this blog, which she launched in 2008 and for which she received the “Hugo Award for Best Fanzine.” Her blog covers mostly sci-fi, fantasy, and fiction with thoughtful reviews. If you’re a book nerd who’s looking for solid book recommendations and honest book reviews, this blog is a great read.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Book reviews
- Comics
- Fiction and more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how this blog makes money;
- Advertisements on the blog
- Affiliate marketing
- Paid reviews and sponsored posts
10. Gala Darling
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Beauty and Self-improvements |
| Popular Post | Why Do I Keep Seeing 11:11? |
| Founded | 2006 |
Gala Darling is a popular personal blog read by over 1 million women a month who want to live without fear and improve their lifestyle.
Who Runs the Blog?
Gala Darling is the founder of this blog. She’s also a bestselling author of Radical Self-Love and a speaker. She has been featured in The New York Times, Girlboss, New Zealand Herald, Teen Vogue, New York Post, Elle, Cosmopolitan, Time Out New York, and many more.
Her blog primarily focuses on practicing self-love and living without apologies. If you’re looking to boost your confidence, Gala’s blog is the perfect guide.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Travel
- Self-help
- Beauty
- Style and more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how Gala makes money from her blog;
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsorships and collaborations
- Selling ebooks
- She also sells courses such as “Radical Rituals: Abundance” and more.
Related Read: Discover some famous female bloggers making waves in personal blogging.
11. Pinch of Yum
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Food Blog |
| Popular Post | The Best Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies |
| Founded | 2010 |
Pinch of Yum is an award-winning food blog that shares delicious yet straightforward recipes and is read by millions every month.
Who Runs the Blog?
Lindsay is the founder of this amazing personal blog with over 1.5 million followers on both Pinterest and Instagram. Her blog’s content is featured in The Kitchn, CNN, Refinery29, Brit + Co, POPSUGAR, Huffington Post, The Everymom, PureWow, and more.
Whether you’re looking for vegan recipes or instant pot recipes or freezer meals, you’ll find them on Pinch of Yum.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Healthy recipes
- Instant pot recipes
- Vegetarian recipes and more
What is their main source of income?
Here’s how Lindsay monetizes her blog;
- Selling her own courses and membership sites like Food Blogger Pro
- Affiliate marketing
- Sponsorships
12. David Lebovitz
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Food Blogs |
| Popular Post | Pasta bolognese |
| Founded | 1999 |
If you’re looking for a MASSIVE collection of delicious recipes from a professional cook and baker, follow David Lebovitz’s blog. In fact, David Lebovitz is a household name in the culinary world.
Who Runs the Blog?
David Lebovitz is the founder of this blog and a professional cook and baker. He launched davidlebovitz.com in 1999.
Yes, that was over two decades ago, and he has been sharing his original food recipes since then. In 2019, Saveur magazine honored David with their first-ever Blog of the Decade award.
What Topics Does This Personal Blog Cover?
Here’s what you’ll discover on this blog;
- Recipes of all kinds, ranging from cakes to sandwiches to desserts
- Chef & Photographer Interviews
- Travel tips and more
What is their primary source of income?
Here’s how David Lebovitz makes money from his blog;
- He makes money by selling books, as he has written nine books so far (including The Perfect Scoop, Ready for Desserts, and more)
- Selling affiliate products
- Through events
- Sponsorships and brand collaborations
13. Cup of Jo
| Blog URL | Here |
| Niche/Topic | Women’s lifestyle |
| Popular Post | What It Feels Like to Be a Sociopath |
| Founded | 2007 |
Cup of Jo is a popular daily lifestyle blog for women. It is a top destination for women seeking practical advice on fashion, relationships, and parenting.
Who Runs the Blog?
Joanna Goddard founded the Cup of Jo website in 2007. Since then, her blog has become a go-to source of lifestyle content for women and has been featured in major publications like Forbes, People, and more.
Her blog covers everything from relationships and career advice to style and motherhood. So, if you’re looking for practical and thoughtful advice on lifeestyle, Cup of Jo is a must-visit.
What Topics Does the “Cup of Jo” Blog Cover?
Here are some of the topics you’ll discover on this blog;
- Travel advice
- Lifestyle
- Food
- Relationships
- Motherhood
What is their main source of income?
Here are some of the ways Cup of Jo makes money;
- Display ads such as Google AdSense ads
- Banner advertising and paid partnerships
- Affiliate marketing
What Is a Personal Blog?
A personal blog is a blog run by an individual author, and they add a “personal touch” to their content by sharing their experiences, writing in a conversational tone, and so on.
Personal blogs are NOT those blogs with a ton of guest contributors. You will NEVER find a “corporate tone of voice” on personal blogs, as the author loves to share their ideas and thoughts with their audience in a “friendly writing tone.”
Many personal bloggers are blogging full-time by combining their passions, such as fitness or travel, with passive income sources like affiliate marketing to make a living from blogging.
Top 5 Reasons to Start a Personal Blog
So, what are the benefits of personal blogs? Why should you even consider creating personal blogs? Here are some of the MAJOR reasons to start a personal blog in 2025.
One of the biggest reasons to start a personal blog is to share your thoughts and ideas. Just make sure to define your target audience (your ideal audience) so you can create content accordingly.
2. Networking with others
One more reason people start personal blogs is to build and grow their online connections. When you start a new blog on any topic, you’ll find and engage with hundreds of people within a year.
Bonus Read: Start your blog and earn a good amount of money. Find the best hosting options and get your free domain to begin now by checking out our best hosting guide.
3. Create and grow your personal brand
Personal branding is something you can’t ignore. The best way to build and grow your personal brand is to create a blog, share your views, engage with influencers, and try to make a difference.
4. Do it for fun
Or you can start a personal blog just to have fun. You can keep your blog posts private if you want to use them as an online diary. You can also write whatever you think and improve your writing skills.
5. Make money online
Blogging helps you make money online. You can sell your products or start offering services such as freelance writing, design, or whatever you’re good at to make money. You can also use your blog to monetize with affiliate marketing, display ads, and more.
A Quick Guide to Starting a Personal Blog In 2025
Are you curious about starting a personal blog? Here’s a simple tutorial on how to create a personal blog using WordPress.
Quick note: We HIGHLY recommend a reliable web host like Bluehost, which is used by over 2 million websites and officially recommended by WordPress.
Click on this SPECIAL link to visit the Bluehost website, and you’ll be redirected to their shared hosting packages, which look like this;
You can go with any of their hosting plans, but we HIGHLY recommend their Basic plan as you get excellent features only at 1.99/mo and the features include;
- Free domain
- 10 GB storage
- chat support
- Free SSL and so much more
If you want to know about all Bluehost’s shared hosting plans, pricing, etc., read our Bluehost hosting plans post.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred hosting plan from Bluehost, you’ll be asked to pick your domain (it’s free to register a domain from Bluehost). You can also set up your domain for free anytime you want.
In the final step, you will be asked to create an account with Bluehost so that you can use your Google account.
In the final step, you will be asked to create an account with Bluehost so that you can use your Google account.
Uncheck all the extra addons if you want ONLY hosting and a free domain. It will only cost you $23.88 for 12 months!
Have a look;
Finish the payment process, and you’ll get a confirmation welcome email from Bluehost.
Then, you’re ready to install WordPress on Bluehost. If you want more details, you can read our How to Start a Blog for Money guide, where you’ll discover amazing strategies to build a money-making site from day one.
Final Thoughts: James Clear Is My Personal Favorite Popular Blog
It’s extremely easy to start a personal blog. Also, blogging helps you with online connections, fame, money, and more.
So why not take inspiration from the best personal blogs listed here to create your blog?
What are your thoughts on the popular personal blogs shared on this page? Did we miss any of your favorite personal blogs? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
FAQs on Best Personal Blogs
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about personal blogs.
Yes, personal blogs can make good money if done right. You can consider monetization strategies like affiliate marketing, selling own products, and brand deals. However, consistency and value are the KEYS to blogging success.
Yes, personal blogs are still relevant. Millions of people read personal blogs every day to find solutions to their problems, improve their lives, and become healthier.
The self-hosted WordPress platform is the best blogging platform for personal blogs, as you’ll have complete control over your site.
The best way to start a personal blog is to use a self-hosted blogging platform like WordPress.org. Then, you can use reliable web hosts like Hostinger or Bluehost to start your own blog within a few minutes.
Here are some of the best personal blog examples.
– Zen Habits (run by Leo Babauta)
– James Clear (self-help blog)
– Pinch of Yum (food blog)
– Mr. Money Mustache (personal finance blog)
If you plan to start a personal blog, you can use any of the following topics to build an audience and make money from blogging as a beginner.
– Travel
– Finance
– Parenting
– DIY (Do It Yourself)
– Productivity
– Life Advice
