Many beginners struggle to choose between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. In fact, this is one of the most frequently asked questions by our readers.
Due to the similarity of the names, users are not sure what the difference is and which one is better for their needs.
WordPress.com offers a fully hosted WordPress platform for creating websites. Its free and low-tier plans are quite limited, but upgrading to the Business or Commerce plans removes many restrictions.
WordPress.org, on the other hand, is home to the open-source WordPress website builder. It is ideal for users who want full control and unlimited customization options for their website.
This guide will explain the differences, highlight each platform’s strengths, and help you decide which one is right for your needs.
Since choosing the right platform is crucial for your online success, we have created the most detailed comparison of WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (text comparison, table-based comparison, and a full infographic).
You can use the links below to jump to a specific section:
If you just want to start a blog or make a website the RIGHT way, then you can skip this article and head over to our guides here:
- How to Start a Blog with WordPress (step by step)
- How to Create a Website with WordPress (step by step)
- How to Start an Online Store with WordPress (step by step)
- How to Create and Sell Online Courses with WordPress (step by step)
Having said that, let’s take a look at the differences between self-hosted WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (Infographic)
Note: This infographic and article compare the powerful self-hosted WordPress.org with the free WordPress.com website hosting service. You can unlock additional functionality in WordPress.com by upgrading to their paid service. We have highlighted those features as well.
If you’d prefer a written comparison, please keep reading.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org Comparison
The best way to understand the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is to examine each platform individually.
Here’s a comparison of both versions of WordPress:
WordPress.org
WordPress.org, aka “self-hosted WordPress,” is the popular website platform you have heard all the great things about.
It is an open-source software, and it’s 100% free for anyone to use. All you need is a domain name and web hosting.
Below are the pros and cons of using the self-hosted WordPress.org to build your website or blog.
WordPress.org Benefits
WordPress.org gives you complete control over your website. You can customize every aspect and tailor it to your needs without restrictions.
Here are the main pros of WordPress.org:
- The WordPress software is free, open-source, and incredibly user-friendly. It powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular website builder in the world. (See: Why is WordPress free?)
- You have full ownership of your website and data. Unlike other platforms, your site won’t be taken down unless you violate the law. You’re in total control.
- You can use free, paid, or custom WordPress plugins to add powerful functionality to your website.
- Your website design is completely customizable. Choose from free or premium WordPress themes or create a custom design that suits your brand.
- You can monetize your website by running your own ads without sharing revenue, opening up many opportunities to make money online.
- You have access to powerful tools like Google Analytics for tracking and analyzing your website’s performance.
- It’s an excellent platform for eCommerce. With WordPress.org, you can create an online store to sell digital or physical products, accept payments, and handle shipping, all from your site.
- You can build a membership site to sell premium content, courses, or even access to a private community.
WordPress.org Cons
While WordPress.org is packed with benefits, it does come with a few responsibilities. Here’s what you need to consider before choosing WordPress.org:
- Hosting costs: Since WordPress.org requires self-hosting, you’ll need to pay for a hosting provider. Costs start around $3–$10 per month but may increase as your site grows. That said, a growing website should also generate enough income to cover these costs.
- Installing WordPress: You will need to install the WordPress software yourself. Luckily, most popular hosting providers offer one-click installation, making it super easy to get started. For more guidance, check out our tutorial on how to install WordPress.
- Updates: You’ll need to update your WordPress site manually. Thankfully, it’s just a single click from the dashboard.
- Backups: You’re responsible for keeping backups of your site. However, there are many backup plugins that let you automate this process, so it’s hassle-free.
The total cost of building a WordPress.org website depends on your project. For example, a simple blog costs less than an eCommerce store or a membership site. You can build a website for as little as $46 per year by using free themes and plugins. (See: How much does it really cost to build a WordPress website?)
Why We Recommend WordPress.org
For 99% of users, WordPress.org is the best choice because of its flexibility, ownership, and ability to scale. We have been building WordPress websites for the past 16+ years, and almost all our businesses have websites built using WordPress. You can read more about our experience in our full WordPress review.
If you’re ready to get started, then just check out our guide on how to start a website.
Bonus: Our friends at Bluehost are offering WPBeginner readers 75% off web hosting plus a free domain name. They’re one of the officially recommended WordPress hosting providers.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a hosting service created by Automattic, which is the company co-founded by WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg. Because of the same founder, many users confuse WordPress.com with the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.
WordPress.com offers several pricing plans to cater to different user needs:
- Free: Basic features with limitations.
- Personal: $48 per year.
- Premium: $96 per year.
- Business: $300 per year ($120 / yr with our WordPress.com coupon).
- Commerce: $540 per year ($270 / yr, 50% off with our WordPress.com coupon).
- Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale needs.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of using WordPress.com.
WordPress.com Benefits
WordPress.com is an excellent choice for users looking for a low-maintenance platform, especially hobby bloggers or individuals creating personal websites.
Here are the key benefits:
- Managed Maintenance: WordPress.com handles updates, backups, and security, letting you focus on your content.
- Cost-Effective Entry: The Free plan offers an easy way to start with no upfront costs. However, paid plans offer real value with more customization, storage, and features that you will need.
- Scalability: Upgrading to the Business or Commerce plans unlocks powerful features like custom plugins, premium themes, and advanced eCommerce tools.
- Built-In Features: Free plan users get pre-installed Jetpack features, offering basic performance and security tools.
WordPress.com Cons
While WordPress.com is user-friendly, there are some limitations, particularly on lower-tier plans:
- Advertising: Free plan sites display ads that you don’t earn revenue from. Paid plans remove these ads.
- Monetization Restrictions: Selling ads on your site is prohibited on Free and Starter plans. WordAds is available on higher plans but requires revenue sharing.
- Plugin Limitations: Custom plugins are restricted to the Business and Commerce plans, which are more expensive than WordPress.org hosting plans.
- Theme Customization: Free plan users have limited themes. Paid plans allow for premium themes and custom CSS.
- Analytics: Integration with Google Analytics is available only on Pro and higher plans.
- Domain Names: Free plan sites use a WordPress.com subdomain (e.g., yoursite.wordpress.com). Custom domains require a paid plan.
- Content Control: Sites must follow WordPress.com’s terms of service, with potential removal for violations.
- Branding: Free plan sites display “Powered by WordPress.com,” removable with paid plans.
- eCommerce Features: Available only on the Business and Commerce plans, designed for online stores using WooCommerce.
- Membership Sites: Building membership sites is not supported on low-tier plans.
Why We Recommend WordPress.com
We believe WordPress.com‘s Business and Commerce plans offer an ideal fully managed platform for users who don’t want to worry about technical overhead.
It does have some limitations, but the ease of scalability, security, and safety balance them out. For more details, see our full WordPress.com review.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org (FAQs)
Since this is a popular topic and WPBeginner is the largest free WordPress resource site for beginners, we get tons of questions about WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.
We have done our best to answer the most frequently asked questions below:
1. WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Which one is better?
If you are a personal blogger and you don’t care about making money from your website, then go with the free WordPress.com.
If you are a business or a blogger wanting to make money from your site, then we recommend using the self-hosted WordPress.org. It gives you the freedom and flexibility to grow your website how you want.
On the other hand, the WordPress.com Business plan ($120 / year for each website) offers a powerful platform with fully managed hosting. If you are willing to spend a little exta for a worry-free setup, then you may find it an excellent option.
In our expert opinion, WordPress.org is much better in terms of cost, flexibility, and control. It is the platform that almost every professional blogger, small business owner, and even big-name brands like Disney uses.
2. Can I monetize a free WordPress.com website?
WordPress.com does not allow you to run ads on free WordPress.com websites. If you are on the Premium plan or above, you can join their WordAds program and share your ad revenue with WordPress.com.
You can put some affiliate links on your website, but that’s about it.
Basically, you have very limited options to monetize content on your WordPress.com website.
With WordPress.org, you have full control over your new website’s content management system and unlimited monetization options.
3. WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Which one is better for eCommerce?
WordPress.org offers the easiest way to build an eCommerce website. You can use WooCommerce to build your store or choose from many other WordPress eCommerce, membership, and LMS plugins.
WordPress.com also offers a Commerce plan starting at $270 per year, which is a hefty amount if you are just starting. However, it is still limited in features, and you’ll have to follow WordPress.com’s terms of service for your eCommerce store.
See our guide on how to start an online store without a high budget. It includes how to get your domain for free and all the powerful features you need to grow online.
4. How do I start a WordPress.org Website?
To start a self-hosted WordPress website, you need a domain name and WordPress hosting.
A domain name is the address of your website on the Internet, such as google.com or wpbeginner.com. Web hosting is where your website files are stored on the Internet.
We recommend using Bluehost to host your website because it is one of the largest web hosting companies in the world. It is also an official WordPress.org recommended web host. Last but not least, it offers our users a free domain, free SSL, and 75% off hosting.
For step-by-step instructions, you can check out our free guide on how to make a website.
If you need help, the WPBeginner team can even install WordPress and build your website for free. Learn more about how our free WordPress blog setup works.
5. Can I Move From WordPress.com to WordPress.org?
Often, new users who don’t know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org start with the free WordPress.com service. Once they see the platform’s limitations, they want to switch to self-hosted WordPress.org.
Luckily, you can definitely switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org and fairly easily move all of your content.
We have created a step-by-step guide on how to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org, or you can take advantage of our free blog setup service, and we will transfer your blog for free.
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Summary
The best way to consider the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is to compare them to renting versus owning a house.
WordPress.com is similar to renting a house. You have limited power and control over what you can and cannot do.
WordPress.org is like owning a house. Where you have full control, no one can kick you out, and you can do anything that you want.
Below is the summary of everything we discussed above in our self-hosted WordPress.org vs WordPress.com comparison:
| Feature | WordPress.org (Self-Hosted) | WordPress.com (Free Plan) | WordPress.com (Business Plan) | WordPress.com (Commerce Plan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $46 – $100/year | Free | $120/year | $270/year |
| Custom Domain | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Hosting Storage | Unlimited | 1 GB | 50 GB | 50 GB |
| Monetization Freedom | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Branding Freedom | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| SEO Features | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Analytics | Yes (Google Analytics, etc.) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Theme Support | Yes | Limited | Yes | Yes |
| Plugin Support | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| eCommerce | Fully customizable | No | Yes | Yes |
| Membership Site | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Migration Options | Flexible | Limited | Flexible | Flexible |
| Developer Resources | Extensive | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Control and Ownership | Full ownership | Limited | Improved | Improved |
| Maintenance | User-managed | Fully managed | Fully managed | Fully managed |
| Community Support | Extensive (forums, docs, etc.) | Limited | Limited | Limited |
Video Tutorial
Final Thoughts
The confusion created by similar domains, WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, is quite unfortunate for beginners. There is a lot of history behind the decisions, and you can read more about that in our article about how WordPress.com and WordPress.org are related.
We hope that you found this article helpful in understanding the main differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.
We wish you all the best with your website and hope that you choose the right platform.
If you have chosen WordPress.org, then you may want to follow these useful guides:
- How to learn WordPress in 7 days or less
- Best WordPress plugins for your website (expert pick)
- Ultimate WordPress security guide to improve your website security
- Ultimate Guide on how to speed up WordPress (including power user tips)
- Ultimate WordPress SEO optimization guide to help improve your own website ranking (without hiring an expert)
- Proven tips to increase your blog traffic
We hope this article helped you understand the difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. You may also want to see our guide on the history of WordPress and proven ways to make money online with WordPress.
If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.
Falak
Is there any Number where I can contact Wordpress support? I have few queries on upgrading my blog.
Mac
Thanks so much for the response. I have refunded 73$ now and I still retain my domain name.
There is a problem now. I goto BLUEHOST and insert my domain name to register and it requires a password to verify I am the owner
I typed my password and it cannot login. And I am sure of my password.
Please help … Thanks in anticipation
Macc
I will use your coupon code for bluehost. If I want a refund of my 99$.can I take all full refund or I still leave my domain name with them. Tho its just 36hours now that I registered. Which do you recommend? Take all 99 and goto bluehost for all or take 73 and pay them for domain?
Editorial Staff
Hey Macc,
You can’t get a refund on a domain name. So probably best to get a refund and move to Bluehost. You can point your domain to Bluehost.
Admin
Mac
I just purcahsed a domain and hosting from wordpress.com at 99$. Now I started seeing the diffs btw wordpress.com and .org
My question is
Can I go take a refund of my 99$, and then goto bluehost for hosting and get to wordpress.org
Or
I just export my files as youve said and leave the 99$. And I am still going to pay for bluehost again?
Please I am confused. In a nutshell. Since I already purchased a premium plan from wordpress.com. Will I still pay to bluehost for another host again cos I want to migrate to wordpress.org? Cos I am a begginer and no money.
Carrie
my question. I am not a blogger. I just need a website for my business with:
1. about page with my pictures
2. pages (maybe two additoinal) services (not selling just telling what my business has and contact me)
3. three emails with business domain (i have domanin)
4. maybe a contact form
5. maybe a newsletter (maybe in the future but not now)
6. no sponsors – but links to certifications, etc.
7. job postings
It seems as though the wordpress.com premium would benefit me.
Can you please direct me if this .com would be the best option? Thanks!
WPBeginner Support
You can do all these things using the self hosted WordPress.org as well. This will give you much more flexibility to grow your business in the future. See our guide on the limitations of WordPress.com
Admin
vaibhav arora
i suggest it too wordpress.org is really good for professional blogger as it allow customization as per our need
Larissa
What about the paid WordPress.com plans (personal, premium, business)? How do they compare to WordPress.org? I don’t have a lot of disposable income, especially for a blog that’s not currently generating any money, but I’d like to add some scripts for Google Analytics and a couple of affiliate programs. The personal plan is reasonably priced but WordPress does not make it at all clear what kind of benefits are included in comparison to the free plan. And what is the difference between the premium plan and WordPress.org? The features seem to be almost identical.
muhammadmubashar
hello sir,my concern is security and wordpress.org.how muc difficult is that and also how different is worpress.org vs wordpress.com for a novice user.and how different is to optimize wordpress.org vs wordpress.com
if we have features like ddos and spam control and other ones.will our site be safe from hackers or is it vulnerable.can a novice do this easily.
Do You Offer Training For Wordpress.org i dont mind if i have to pay.
Thanks
Muhammad Tabish
Wow, This is Great Article Thank for the WordPress,org Difference, and WordPress Dot Com, Thank You So Much,
François
I have a premium account with WordPress since 10 month,. A Domaine name and I will use your service to move to WordPress.org my blog.
I have Basic simple questions:
1) can you confirm me that after the moving process , I will not have to continue to pay the WordPress.com premium ( Maybe just the small year fee to keep the redirect)?
2) my WordPress.org will be host by Bluehost. can I do the important setting with an IMac ?
3) can,I had post with an iPad ?
Thanks for your answer, Icall start the process with you in few days.
WPBeginner Support
Hi François,
1. You will not have to pay for WordPress.com Premium. However, you will have to pay for your domain when its registration expires.
2. You can use any computer PC or Mac to update and manage your site.
3. You can add posts with an iPad.
Admin
Sue warren
You’ve convinced me. Now can I use Wordpress.org and integrate it with my existing website which is powered by weebly and they own my domain and email? Thanks.
Rajendra Zore
Self-host your WordPress Blog & later Migrate Weebly to WordPress.
Laura Campbell
Hi,
I have used the free Wordpress website for about two years to blog pictures and memories
and have used up the 3 GB. I just would like the least amount money spent on something for a blog to post pictures and videos for my kids to read one day. At this light, I posted a lot of pics which is why I’ve used up the 3GB. Is there one you’d recommend? I thought there is one that is about $100 a year for 15 GB. What happens, though, after you use up 15 GB? Do you have to pay the higher membership or just it restart every year? Also, I thought I read something here differently that says you can pay just $20 a year for more GB but perhaps less than 15 GB. Is that correct? Any thoughts would be helpful as I’m not computer savvy. Just want to write online with pics one day for my kids to possibly read one day. Thank you for any help!
WPBeginner Support
You can buy additional storage from WordPress.com. Alternately, you can switch to self-hosted WordPress.org blog and get freedom to upload as many images as you want. See our guide on the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
Admin
Amarjit Singh
With premium plan of 99$ per year. Is it includes hosting, domain name, Google email free for one year?
Lucy Barret
With free wordpress.com blog, you can’t do much as they have limited features but with wordpress.org, you can add as many features as you want through WordPress plugins. There are so many plugins available online in both free as well as paid options. So my choice would be wordpress.org.
rebecca
How do I know which version of wordpress I am currently using? (.com or .org?) I am unable to add my own plugins….but I do have my own site name.com (theminiapartment.com). Is there a way to tell which version of wordpress I’m using? And how would I upgrade to wordpress.org? Thanks!
Syaz Amirin
Hi Rebecca!
Your website is wordpress.com
You can check at the footer of your site.
Kassi Chapman
So confused right now! I’ll break my questions down into list form to make it easier:
1) Can I use my .com site for affiliate marketing and sponsored posts? Or do I need a .org?
2) Do I need a .org site to use my own plug-ins?
3) Is having a self-hosted WP difficult? Does it require extensive training on codes and such. I have none.
Thanks so much for your awesome site!
WPBeginner Support
1. No, you can’t.
2. Yes you need a self hosted .org site to use your own plugins.
3. No it is not. There is a learning curve, but you will find plenty of help every step of the way.
Admin
Ram Sai Nag
1)Offer freebies like free pdfs of 3 to 4 pages
2) Share links on fb groups
3) Always remember content is king
Akanksha Bhardwaj
Hi,
I have recently started blogging and even though I am just doing it out of interest, at some point I would want to pursue it full time. I am on the free – basic wordpress plan. (abc.wordpress.com)
I have two questions:
1. What can I do to drive more traffic to my blog?
2. If, at a later stage, I want to move to an org/ Premium wordpress plan, what happens to my existing subscribers.
Daksh Pokar
Well Self-Hosted is the best!
Abdus Samad Azad
Great article for every newbie. I think you should add topics like SEO, website traffic etc.
Petia
Hi there, I am just starting with blogging and I feel kind a overwhelmed. .
I paid for my domain and then to be able to use my domain.com not domain.wordpress.com I upgraded to premium on wordpress.com
Now I feel like I wasted my money since I wanted to do my blog and use it also for affiliate marketing.
Would you recommend just to start with wordpress.com since I just paid $99 for a year to have it premium?
Please let me know your thoughts.
Thank you!
Petia
WPBeginner Support
WordPress.com premium plans can be canceled and refunded with in 30 days of purchase. Please contact WordPress.com support for more details on that. Your domain registration price will probably be deducted from total cost of premium plan. But you will be able to keep the domain and use it with self hosted WordPress.org website.
Admin
Dani Kemeny
Hi, thanks for all this helpful information.
I’ve been researching and Just to clarify… so what I need to use wordpress.org is to download wordpress.org, download MAMP and download bluehost?
WPBeginner Support
MAMP is a package that you can install on your Mac computer and test drive WordPress on your own computer. Only you will be able to see and work on your WordPress site with MAMP on your computer.
Self hosted WordPress.org sites need hosting. BlueHost is a WordPress hosting provider. You signup for their service and then install WordPress on their servers. This way your website will be available on the web for everyone.
Admin
nayan
plz help me I’m using Mail Chimp for mailing lists and I want to add a subscribe form to a couple of my pages. The code mail chimp gives for embedding subscribe form onto my site doesn’t work on WordPress.com.
Palash
What is meaning of “space” exactly.If i get 3gb space does that means my blog/website can retain 3gb of content and then I will not be able to publish more?
Jesse
I agree with WANDERINGJULIA. Another take on it is this. I am fully able to handle a self-hosted site. Heck, I even wrote my own theme (PHP), associated CSS, coincident HTML, and added web art (SVG and various and sundry other images). I have four sites on that provider, all registered elsewhere. One is my wife’s. It occurred to me, what if I get run over by a semi? I don’t necessarily care that my blog will whither and waste away, but it might indeed be nice were my wife to have one easy place to logon and get to her stuff (without going to at least two places to pay bills and at least two others to fiddle with somewhat complex control panels). For such a niche case, Wordpress.com might be the answer.
[Off topic: a cost you didn’t mention for self-hosted blogs, versus Wordpress.com: HTTPS encryption. Wordpress.com provides it free and automatically; on a self-hosted blog one must buy a certificate, and garner the skill to install it.]
WPBeginner Support
Actually, self hosted WordPress sites can also use the same free Let’s Encrypt SSL that WordPress.com is now using for all blogs.
Admin
Anuradha Chawla
A thorough elucidation of the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org platforms. In my opinion, WordPress.com is suitable for blogs with which are not meant for any commercial gain. But, if you are a pro-blogger, you should definitely look for WordPress.org as it offers a lot of customization.
Madan
Having self hosting service gives more services, full control on server and have our fresh domain with proper keyword. While free hosting services have some restrictions and we do not get access to all other plugins, features which we want in our site. If any one planning blog, website for their business then self web hosting is the best option for them.
Ian M
Using BlueHost, while selecting their entry level domain they offer .org .com etc. Between their domain options .com and .org is there a difference or limiting factor to .com? After reading this post I feel like the startup at wordpress.com is the limiting factor because it isn’t self hosted unlike a domain through BlueHost. A dot com with my domain through BH isn’t a deciding factor on what kind of options and plugins I would want to use compared to what I started with through wordpress.com, right?
WPBeginner Support
Yes.
Admin
Max Basnet
Awesome report. Totally informative. I already have a registered domain of my own. I transferred from blogspot to WordPress. While blogger asks zero dollar to setup a custom domain which is already registered, WordPress costs certain amount of money. Which means, I have already registered a domain from another company/registrar and I have to pay double ( domain tax + WordPress tax ) . That’s a loss in my mind. The domain which I registered was a national domain from a country and that domain is not available to register anywhere else. In the same way, I don’t want to pay extra money to WordPress. So please I need your help and suggestion on this. I might be switching back to blogspot if needed.
Editorial Staff
You need to use self-hosted WordPress where you pay for hosting, but don’t have to pay the additional “Domain Tax”.
Admin
Lauren
Thank you so much for this brilliant post. I bought both my website domain names through Wordpress.com and was therefore never given the option to choose a host. I was mentally running around in circles confused as to why I never chose a host. Thank you for explaining. Wordpress.com works perfectly for my personal goals as of now. As I become more of a professional in my field that may change and I will adapt my websites accordingly.
Tracey Sharp
This is a brilliant post and just what I’ve been looking for. I’ve had a blog for several weeks now and realise that wordpress is a bit limiting and also very expensive if you want to upgrade. Reading this and your other posts on transferring to wordpress.org has been invaluable in showing me step by step how to do it. I’ve had a test run and now just need to take the plunge to transfer everything over.
K.J. Larson
Under “Wordpress.org Benefits” text, your first point is that “It’s free and super-easy to use.” Super-easy, yes. Free, no. Please edit ASAP, as it’s *very* confusing for folks just beginning to navigate the vast online publishing realm.
WPBeginner Support
It is free as in freedom, not as in free beer.
Admin
Tango
You shouldve written “freedom” then, not “free” like free like ..beer? Wut
Tyano Jason
Wordpress.org is 100% free.
FraNK UMEADI
Thank you so much for this good piece.
JAMES ONUWAJE
Good day admin, have been reading a whole lot about the wordpress thingy and i plan on opening a wordpress.org website for personal use, i do not have a proper foundation in web area, though i am currently undergoing a training in graphic design, kindly help me out with step by step on creating a wordpress.org website and how to host them.
Thanks
WPBeginner Support
Please see our WordPress Installation tutorial.
Admin
blankyd brotu
from my experience with FREE sites, all providers will delete your site at a certain time, regardless of any thing. they give you free space to see if you can get bigger or not, if not then there is no reason for them bother but if you get bigger they would want money for that or they will wipe you off
MELewis
For me one of the main issues with self-hosting is the lack of a platform to share the content. Sure, you can tweet your posts but that can be a lot of work for little return. Can anyone help me understand how some self-hosted blogs manage to get their content to mirror in the WordPress.com Reader? I have read that this is not allowed yet see it all the time – most recently with some major news outlets such as the New York Post (presumably they pay for a VIP service?)
Maria
What about the SEO? Is it any difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org in terms of ranking by google or bing?
Thanks
Kim Smyth
Hey, just read the article and my question is-if I have a www. Name. com, free on Wordpress, that’s not the same as a domain name right? And if I want my blog to be a business, I should switch to .org-I get that- but instead, maybe I should start all over because really all I have is a blog PAGE. I don’t have a real website with several pages. That’s the problem for one. Advice?
WPBeginner Support
You can move your domain name to a self hosted WordPress site. Please see our guide on the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. You can also avail our free setup service
Admin
Francheteau
Hi
I just opened an account on wordpress.com and bought the theme PROMENADE. I just realized I can t add any plugins on my website . I would like to switch from Wordpress.com to Wordpress.org, but will I have to pay for my theme again ? or can I switch and keep my Promenade theme ?
thank you for your help.
WPBeginner Support
Premium themes purchased on WordPress.com are only valid on WordPress.com. You can contact WordPress.com support for more help.
Admin
Ayietim
Hello, thanks for this post. The content and the commens are a great beginner’s guide. I have a blog running on wordpress.com, I started the blog about seven months ago and I am absolutely enjoying myself, do you know why? Yes, I want to make money with it, but not FROM it, I want to make money THROUGH it. This is how, I am a businessman who believes in a building first, a brand with a good and a growing GOODWILL, a goodwill which is trusted by many. Then, one could leverage on the goodwill to make money. You can use your blog to make a name for yourself and use that name to sell yourself to individual and corporate clients. So, whether wordpress.com or wordpress.org, one should on a process which begins with the building a BRAND.
Mubashir Ali
Wordpress.org is not only a blogging software. It is a great CMS to create every type of websites by using new themes and pluging. With Wordpess.com you cann’t do it. So, wordpress.org is too higher than wordpress.com.
Jerrod Anielle Lopez
For me, I do not care about that. I blog because I want to share something. Money isn’t always the thing! And what you are saying about WordPress.com is wrong.
It is very useful and social.
We blog because want to share. We blog because we want to help. We blog because we have a reason and we do not need to care about what to choose between WordPress.com or WordPress.org.
Lana Kane
You sound so childish, what the author has written is accurate and unbias information. Don’t get emotional about something that isn’t targeted at you. A lot of people blog to make money and share their art. Just because you don’t,doesn’t mean they are wrong.
On a side note, great article. I enjoyed it and found it informative.
JeffDeWitt
I’ve built a couple of websites and am maintaining one for my church. I don’t know what tool that site was built with but one of the great things about it is I was given a full, functioning copy of the website on a CD when I took over.
I wanted a tool that would let me build and tune a site before putting in on some server somewhere and would have complete control over it.
There is a version of WordPress we can get from Microsoft for free (along with Microsoft “WebMatrix”. It seems to be exactly what I was looking for.
I’d really be interested in any comments or suggestions about going this route.
wanderingjulia
I’m about to transfer my wordpress.com to a self-hosted site and truth is I’m starting to feel torn about it.
From my perspective, there’s no comparing wordpress.com and wordpress.org. Here is why. I see that most of the people who choose wordpress.org do it for the revenue. By the sound of it, they do it for the money they save, the versatility in appearance, and most especially the ads they profit from. Truthfully, this is what drew me to wordpress.org as well.
However, I’m realizing more and more that I blog not make money. I blog to share content. I blog to have my voice be heard. I don’t blog for bottomless plugins or endless themes. I blog first and foremost because I have something I want to share, and not to make money.
Wordpress.com gives me a great space for that. I get to be part of an active community that sees me easily and responds to me immediately. Wordpress.com lets people find me right off the bat and my content becomes relevant.
Wordpress.org on the other hand, despite all the freedom it can give you in terms of managing your blog, doesn’t give you that community. You’re a lone wolf, so to speak, in the super dense world of the interwebs, and you’ll have to work that much harder to get your voice across and be heard.
So if you’re a business or a company with a certain look, or if you sell stuff, or you want to make money, yes, wordpress.org is great. But if you want to share your voice and be part of a community that acknowledges, hears, and discusses your thoughts with you, wordpress.com is the place. Plugins and customization and all else are just fluff you may not even need.
Manos Johan Hanssen Seferidis
I have a blog at wordpress.com and there are some issues that are not been talked here. One huge annoyance is that whatever I might type in the text editor, it get’s re-parsed. Sometimes I want to keep my table’s rows as rows but wordpress.com has to split each little td in a separate line. Also I hate the fact that the editor is so small. I make coding tutorials that tend to be huge and with the current setup it makes it a nightmare to find the correct paragraph of my post.
bernice jooste
Thank you for the reply. Will I be able to keep my wordpress.com blog name when I change over to using wordpress.org? Also what would the cost be for using wordpress.org per month
WPBeginner Staff
Using a self hosted WordPress.org site means that you get full control on your website.
This will allow you to install any plugin you want including the plugins for recipes.
You will have to maintain your website. This means you will have to make sure your site is up to date using the latest version of WordPress and all plugins and themes. This might sound like a lot of work, but actually WordPress has a built in update system so all you will have to do is to click on the update button.
As for backups, there are several WordPress plugins which automatically create backup of your website and store it to your dropbox, google drive, or anyother desired location.
Hope this answered your question.
bernice jooste
I have a wordpress.com account and realize now I cant have any plugins for recipes ect, what do I do?
If i change to wordpress.org what does the following entail :
You are responsible for updates. You are responsible for backups,
You are responsible to prevent SPAM,
you are responsible for maintenance?
please advise
Saroj
Hello, their are 2 plugin in wordpress for recipes WP
1. Ultimate Recipe
2. EasyRecipe Just try this, they will defiantly work.
bernice jooste
I started a wordpress.com blog last week im totally a beginner I want to add recipes on my blog and have the print option, now I see that plugins are not available on wordpress.com. I read through the above can you please advise what the following entails :
responsible for updates, how is this done ?
responsible for backups how do I do this?
keeping your site updated and optimised?
Cameron Ward
I think it’s kind of dumb that wordpress.com can’t have stuff like google adsense or infolinks…I just find that utterly silly