This post was significantly updated in June 2025 to reflect new information. An archived version from 2024 is available for reference here.
Every creator reaches a crossroads.
Do you write… or do you perform? Do you build a blog, or start a vlog?
For all the shifts in content over the past decade—vertical video, TikTok takeovers, YouTube automation—this question still sits at the heart of the creator economy. And it’s not just about preference. It’s about sustainability. Creative freedom. And yes, money.
I’ve run media sites, helped friends launch niche YouTube channels, and spoken with more creators than I can count. Some built six-figure businesses off blogs powered by search traffic and email funnels. Others made it big with video—until burnout hit, or the algorithm stopped favoring their niche.
The question “blogging vs. vlogging” isn’t just about which one pays more. It’s about which one can pay well without draining your sense of purpose.
In this piece, we’ll explore the deeper dynamics of money-making in blogging and vlogging—beyond the hype, beyond the latest trends. Because if you’re serious about making content that matters and makes money, you need to understand what you’re really building.
Core explanation: How both models make money
Let’s get something out of the way first: both blogging and vlogging can make serious money. But they get there through different routes—and those routes shape how creators work, scale, and earn.
Blogging revenue models tend to be diversified and infrastructure-based. They include:
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Display ads (via networks like Google AdSense or Mediavine)
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Affiliate marketing (Amazon Associates, niche programs)
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Digital products (eBooks, courses, templates)
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Services or coaching
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Email list monetization (via sponsored content or product funnels)
The income may grow slowly, but it often becomes more stable over time—especially for bloggers who focus on evergreen search-driven content.
Vlogging revenue models are usually more direct and audience-dependent. These include:
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YouTube AdSense
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Sponsorship deals
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Merchandise
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Patreon or fan memberships
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Livestream tips or Super Chats
The upside? If your video goes viral, you can earn thousands overnight. The downside? Your income can crash just as fast if your views drop or an algorithm change hits.
Here’s what we know: YouTube creators with 100,000 monthly views can expect to make $1000-$3000 per month with AdSense.
Meanwhile, successful niche bloggers reported similar (and sometimes higher) income levels, particularly when diversified across multiple revenue streams.
The real difference? How that money flows—and how tied it is to your constant presence.
Strategic perspective: The real cost of content
Let’s take the question of money and push it further: what’s the real cost of creating and sustaining that income?
Blogging scales through systems. Once you have a well-ranked post on Google or a strong email funnel in place, it can keep earning while you sleep—or while you take a month off. Smart bloggers outsource content, hire editors, and build processes around SEO and monetization. It’s less about charisma, more about infrastructure.
Vlogging scales through personality. That’s both a gift and a trap. If your face, voice, or presence is central to your channel, your revenue depends on staying “on” and visible. Even successful vloggers with teams often find themselves trapped in the creator hamster wheel: record, edit, upload, repeat.
The emotional and cognitive labor of being constantly watchable can take a toll. Research from Awin showed that 78% of influencers and creators experience symptoms of burnout.
By contrast, many bloggers—especially those who remain anonymous or semi-anonymous—avoid that kind of psychological overhead.
The strategic question isn’t just “what earns more?” It’s “what’s more resilient?”
If your goal is to build a long-term, values-aligned content business, then how you earn that money matters as much as how much you make.
Misleading assumptions that trip up new (and experienced) creators
When people compare blogging and vlogging, they often see only the surface: flashy YouTube channels with millions of views, or sleek blog posts that quietly rake in affiliate income.
But the reality beneath those success stories is messier—and full of traps that new creators walk into again and again.
It’s not just about choosing the “wrong” path. It’s about misunderstanding what each path actually requires. Let’s clear up a few myths and spotlight the blind spots that can sabotage your content strategy—before they drain your time, money, or motivation.
1. “Video is where all the money is now.”
Yes, video is booming. But the belief that blogging is “dead” or irrelevant is simply false. According to HubSpot, blogging remains one of the top driving forces of ROI for marketers.
The catch? Blogging rewards consistency, patience, and structure. It’s not flashy, but it’s durable.
2. “Blogging is passive income.”
Blogging can create passive-style income—but only after significant upfront work. SEO isn’t a one-time task, and affiliate links need ongoing testing and updating. Many new bloggers quit too early, expecting money to flow with minimal effort.
Blogging is a business—not a shortcut. Treat it like one.
3. “Vlogging is easy money if you’re good on camera.”
Being good on camera is just one part of the game. You’ll also need strong editing skills, SEO-savvy for YouTube, engagement strategy, thumbnail design, and a tolerance for rapid feedback (and often criticism) from strangers.
Vlogging requires emotional stamina—and creators who ignore that often flame out, even if they’ve gone viral once or twice.
4. “Pick the one with higher income potential.”
That’s like asking whether it’s better to be a surgeon or a software engineer—both can be lucrative, but your personality, skills, and desired lifestyle matter far more.
Instead of asking which is objectively better, ask:
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Do I prefer written or visual storytelling?
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Do I want to be visible or behind the scenes?
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Am I building something scalable, or something personal?
Your answers will steer your success more than any income projection ever could.
Closing insights: Build the model that fits you
If you’re still stuck between blogging and vlogging, here’s the truth most people won’t say:
They both work—but not for everyone.
Success in content isn’t about copying the most profitable format. It’s about finding a method of creation that aligns with your energy, skills, and values—and then building a business model around it.
If you want to write in solitude and optimize systems, blogging is likely your home.
If you thrive on performance, interaction, and storytelling through presence, vlogging could be your lane.
But don’t choose based on a single stat or trend. Choose based on the kind of life you want to build—and then structure your content around that.
Because the most sustainable content business isn’t the one that just makes the most money.
It’s the one you don’t want to quit.
