Key takeaways:
- WordPress.org and WordPress.com work differently. WordPress.org is self-hosted, giving you full control of your website. On the other hand, WordPress.com is a fully hosted platform, where WordPress manages all hosting, security, and maintenance for you.
- WordPress.org is free to use, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain, and potential premium features.
- WordPress.com offers a free plan, but advanced features like a custom domain, additional storage, and monetization options are only available through paid plans.
Whether launching your first blog, setting up an online store, or building a personal website, deciding between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is an important decision. Choosing the right platform can shape your online experience, helping you build a strong presence and grow your business smoothly.
Let’s break down the differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com so you can choose the platform that best suits your specific needs.
Overview of the differences
While the two platforms share the same name, they serve different needs. Recognizing these differences can assist you in choosing the right platform for your business.
Let’s break down the main differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com:
- WordPress.org is the self-hosted version of WordPress. This means you get complete control over your site and handle the hosting, security, and updates. It’s perfect for business owners who want full flexibility and customization.
- WordPress.com, on the other hand, is the hosted version. WordPress handles all the technical aspects, like hosting and maintenance so that you can focus on content and growth. While it’s an excellent option for beginners, it has some limitations regarding customization.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
When choosing between WordPress.org and WordPress.com, it’s important to consider several factors. We’ve put together this table to help you break down the important features, like cost, customization, and security, so you can quickly see which platform will work best for you.
Note: The prices mentioned in this article are accurate at the time of writing but may change over time.
| Feature | WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
| Cost | Free software, but you pay for hosting, domain, and potential premium features | Free plan available; paid plans required for advanced features |
| Ownership | Complete ownership of your site and content | Limited ownership; WordPress.com owns the platform |
| Expertise needed | Some technical knowledge required for installation, hosting, and maintenance | Minimal expertise required; handled by WordPress.com |
| Plugins | Unlimited access to plugins | Limited access unless on Business plan or higher |
| Theme customization | Full control to customize themes, including custom code | Limited theme customization; higher plans needed for more options |
| eCommerce | Full flexibility to add powerful eCommerce tools like WooCommerce | eCommerce available only on paid plans |
| Monetization | Unlimited monetization options | Limited monetization unless on a paid plan |
| Branding | Full control over branding, including custom domain and design | Custom domain and branding only available on paid plans |
| Membership site | Easy to create a membership site using plugins like MemberPress | Membership functionality only available with Business or higher plans |
| Performance | Varies based on your hosting provider and the package you choose | Managed by WordPress.com, but performance varies by plan |
| Security | Depends on your hosting provider, but you’re partially responsible for backups, manual updates, and monitoring. | Security handled by WordPress.com, including updates and backups |
A closer look at WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a fully managed hosting platform that allows users to create, manage, and maintain websites without worrying about the technical side. As a hosted service, it takes care of all the server-related tasks, such as hosting, security, backups, and updates, so you can focus on building your content and growing your business.
Setting up a WordPress.com site is quick and straightforward. You begin by selecting a plan. You can test out the platform’s features using the free version.
However, premium plans start at $48 annually and offer additional features like:
- Premium themes
- Monetized ads
- Video hosting
- Social media integration
- Increased storage
- 24/7 support
From there, you can choose from various pre-designed themes to customize the look and feel of your site.
The advantages of WordPress.com
- Easy setup. The setup process is as easy as creating an account and picking a plan. Within minutes, you can launch a sleek, professional website without any technical skills.
- Peace of mind. Since WordPress.com manages all the technical aspects, you don’t need to worry about website security, software updates, and regular backups to keep your site running smoothly. This means you can focus on growing your business without stressing over potential threats that can ruin your website.
- Seamless performance. WordPress.com’s servers are optimized to handle traffic spikes, so your website performs well during busy periods.
- Content focused. WordPress.com offers a simple, intuitive editor that lets you focus on your writing. With less time spent tinkering, you can invest your energy where it counts.
- Support when you need it. Its customer support is available 24/7 to help you with any concerns.
Things to look out for on WordPress.com
- Limited customization. The free and lower-tier plans limit your ability to modify your theme and add custom code. If you want full control over your site’s design and functionality, upgrade to one of the higher-tier plans.
- Costly advanced features. If you want to add custom themes, plugins, or even use your domain, you’ll need to purchase one of the paid plans.
- Limited monetization options. If you’re planning to monetize your website with ads, affiliate links, or subscription models, WordPress.com offers limited options unless you opt for a paid plan. The free version doesn’t allow ad networks like Google AdSense, and the monetization tools become available only as you move up to higher plans.
- Limited eCommerce features. eCommerce capabilities, such as adding custom payment gateways or integrating third-party plugins, require an upgrade to the Business or eCommerce plans.
- Branding restrictions. Unless you upgrade, the free plan features “Powered by WordPress.com” branding. Displaying external ads can negatively impact the professionalism of your website.
- No full ownership. While you own your content, WordPress.com owns the platform and the hosting. This means you have less control over the site’s infrastructure and functionality than self-hosted WordPress.org sites.
Who should choose WordPress.com?
WordPress.com is ideal for individuals or small businesses that want a straightforward, no-fuss website creation experience. It’s best suited for:
- Beginners: Those with little to no technical expertise who want to create a professional-looking site without having to learn the nitty-gritty of web hosting.
- Content creators. Bloggers, writers, and small businesses that focus on content creation rather than customization or technical management.
- Small business owners. Entrepreneurs looking for a simple solution to set up a business website or online store without having to worry about maintenance.
- Those seeking simplicity. If you don’t want to be overwhelmed by the complexities of managing a website and would rather focus on your products, WordPress.com is ideal.
A closer look at WordPress.org
WordPress.org is self-hosted. Self-hosted means you manage the site on the infrastructure you own or paid for, providing you with complete control.
Setting up a WordPress.org site involves a few more steps compared to WordPress.com:
- Choose a hosting provider and purchase a domain name. Network Solutions offers specialized WordPress hosting with easy setup and fast performance.
- Install WordPress manually or through the one-click installer.
- After installation, you’ll have full access to thousands of themes and plugins, and you can start building and customizing your website.
The advantages of WordPress.org
- Complete control. WordPress.org gives you full control over your website. You can customize every aspect—from the themes and plugins to the custom code you integrate.
- Limitless monetization. WordPress.org gives you the freedom to monetize your website however you like. You can run ads, implement affiliate marketing, sell products, or offer subscriptions without any restrictions.
- Flexible eCommerce. Plugins like WooCommerce allow you to create a fully customizable online store that meets your exact needs.
- Scalability. WordPress.org is highly scalable. As your business grows, you can add more features, upgrade your hosting, and improve your site’s performance.
Things to look out for on WordPress.org
- Complex technical setup and maintenance. Setting up a WordPress.org site requires more technical knowledge than WordPress.com. You must handle everything—installation, hosting, domain registration, security, backups, and updates. If you’re not familiar with these tasks, you may need to hire expert help or rely on managed WordPress hosting.
- Costs for hosting and premium features. While WordPress.org is free, you must pay for hosting and a domain name. Depending on the hosting provider and the features you need, the costs can add up to $280 per year.
- Security management. Although most hosting packages offer SSL certificates as an inclusion, websites require more security. Provide your website with thorough protection through firewalls and malware scanners. Plugins can help, but finding reliable ones requires additional research.
- Technical challenges with customization. Although WordPress.org offers unlimited customization, it can be difficult to navigate for users who aren’t familiar with website development. You require additional research if you want to implement custom features or integrate third-party tools.
Who should choose WordPress.org?
WordPress.org is the perfect choice for those who need complete control over their website and are ready to learn its technical ins and outs. It’s best suited for:
- Business owners with big plans. If you want to scale your online business, WordPress.org offers the flexibility and customization a growing business need.
- Technically savvy users. If you’re comfortable with coding, WordPress.org allows you to implement custom features to design your site exactly how you want.
- eCommerce entrepreneurs. WordPress.org offers a range of tools that enable you to build a powerful, fully tailored eCommerce experience.
- Content creators who want full control. Bloggers, authors, and creators who want to monetize their content or experiment with different features will benefit from the limitless customization options WordPress.org offers.
- Businesses that need advanced features. WordPress.org provides the flexibility to implement additional tools. Features such as membership, advanced analytics, multisite functionality, eCommerce, and custom software integrations are possible.
Choose the WordPress platform that works best for you
Choosing between WordPress.org and WordPress.com ultimately depends on your business needs, goals, and technical comfort level. If you’re looking for complete control, scalability, and flexibility, WordPress.org is the clear winner. If you value simplicity, ease of use, and a managed experience, WordPress.com provides a hassle-free solution.
Need help getting started? If you’re leaning toward WordPress.org but unsure where to begin, Network Solutions offers reliable WordPress hosting packages and domain services. We make it easy for you to get started with our one-click WordPress installation guide, 24/7 customer support, and high-performance servers. Get started with Network Solutions and see how easy it can be to make your business an online success.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, both allow using a custom domain, though WordPress.com requires a paid plan for this feature.
Yes, you can switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org. However, the process involves exporting your content from WordPress.com and importing it into your self-hosted WordPress.org site. While the transition is relatively straightforward, it’s a good idea to back up your content and consult tutorials or a professional to ensure a smooth migration.
No, WordPress.org requires you to have your hosting provider. Unlike WordPress.com, which includes hosting, WordPress.org is self-hosted, meaning you must purchase hosting from a third-party provider to store your website’s files and data.
Yes, you can move your WordPress site to another domain. The process involves changing the domain settings in your WordPress dashboard, updating the site’s URL, and ensuring you redirect all your content to the new domain. If you’re unfamiliar with the process, many hosting providers offer migration tools to help make this process easier.
Yes, you can monetize your WordPress website. With WordPress.org, there are no restrictions on how you monetize your site. On WordPress.com, monetization options are more limited unless you upgrade to a paid plan.
