How to Get a WordPress.com Account Without a Blog (2026)
Need a WordPress.com login but don’t want another blog? In 2006 WordPress.com started letting people sign up for a WordPress.com account without a blog, and we were glad: it meant we could comment on WordPress blogs and get an Akismet API key without creating a site we’d never use. You can still do this in 2026, and the account is useful for far more than comments.
Quick answer: Go to the WordPress.com sign-up page (wordpress.com/start/account), create an account with your email or Google/Apple login, confirm your email, and simply skip or leave the site setup step. The account works for Jetpack, Akismet, Gravatar, the WordPress.com Reader and commenting on WordPress sites, with no blog required.
Table of Contents
Why get a WordPress.com account without a blog
- Jetpack: connecting Jetpack to a self-hosted WordPress site needs a WordPress.com account.
- Akismet: get an API key for the Akismet anti-spam plugin.
- Gravatar: your profile picture across WordPress sites and many other services is managed with the same login.
- Commenting: sign in to comment on WordPress.com blogs and sites that use Jetpack comments.
- Reader: follow your favourite blogs in the WordPress.com Reader or app.
- Writing for others: be added as an author or editor on someone else’s WordPress.com site.
How to create a WordPress.com account only
- Open WordPress.com sign-up (external site).
- Enter your email (or continue with Google, Apple or GitHub) and choose a password if asked.
- Confirm your email address from the message WordPress.com sends.
- When WordPress.com suggests creating a site or choosing a domain, close it or go straight to your profile. Your account is ready without a site.
You can create a site later from the same account if you change your mind.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org accounts
They’re separate. A WordPress.com account covers Jetpack, Akismet, Gravatar and WordPress.com sites. A WordPress.org account is for the support forums, plugin and theme reviews and contributing to WordPress itself. Self-hosted WordPress sites have their own separate admin logins.
Our story
When we activated the Akismet anti-spam plugin on this site, it needed an API key that was only available with a WordPress.com account. We didn’t want a second blog just for a key, so the account-only option was very welcome. Akismet keys today come from akismet.com, where personal sites can name their own price and commercial sites pay for a plan.
FAQ
Is a WordPress.com account free?
Yes. Creating an account is free; you only pay if you buy a plan, domain or paid service.
Do I need a WordPress.com account for self-hosted WordPress?
No. You only need one for services like Jetpack, Akismet or Gravatar.
Can I delete a WordPress.com account?
Yes, from Account Settings, but it also affects Gravatar and connected services, so check first.
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