Are you going to start a website? And confused between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
This confusion is common as the names are almost the same. In this WordPress.org vs WordPress.com comparison article, you will know which one will be the best choice for you to create a website in 2024.
WordPress.org is a self-hosted WordPress and is an open-source WordPress software that can be downloaded by anyone who wants to use it. You are required to have a domain name and Web hosting and then you will have full power over everything.
On the other hand, WordPress.com is one particular website as service executions develop on WordPress.org software. It helps in site hosting and controls everything but needs some flexibility.
If you want to know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, then it is better to have a close look at each of the platforms independently.
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is one of the highly popular website platforms that are available 100% for anyone. You only require a domain name and WordPress hosting. This is the reason why it is called self-hosted WordPress.
Advantages of WordPress.org
- You can do anything with your website and customize it according to yourself.
- Customize websites using free and paid plugins.
- One can easily personalize the website as required using the best WordPress themes.
- You can make money from WordPress sites by posting your ads.
- For personalized analytics and tracking you can utilize a tool like Google Analytics.
- By using Self-hosted WordPress you can create an online store for selling digital products, payments, and shipments from our own website.
- You can also design membership websites and design a community on your website.
But it also comes with its own disadvantages.
Disadvantages of WordPress.org
- Like every website, you will require web hosting. This is the place where your files are stored. When your website will grow then your web hosting will also expand.
- You are held responsible for your updates and website backup.
If you want to create a website with WordPress.org then I have written a step-by-step guide for you in this article – How to Create a WordPress Website
Wordress.com
Wordress.com is another hosting service formed by the WordPress co-founder. If you are thinking about its benefits it is one of the best choices for hobby bloggers and those initiating a blog for their own families.
How to Create a Free Website on WordPress.com (Step-by-Step Guide)
Advantages of WordPress.com
- It is free up to 3GB of space. After that, you have to change to a paid plan to get more space.
- With this, you will not have to worry about backups and updates.
It has also limitations that distinguish it from WordPress.org.
Disadvantages of WordPress.com
- The ads are placed on all free websites, therefore, your user will get to see ads and you will not be making money from it. Unlike WordPress.Org, you have no permission to sell ads on your website.
- You don’t have permission to upload plugins or themes If you are using a free version then there are very fewer options for customization.
- You cannot add any tracking platform and it doesn’t provide any features of e-commerce.
Thus, now we will summarize the difference between WordPress.Org and WordPress.com.
There are large numbers of differences but they are vital.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
- On WordPress.org you will receive the complete domain but in the case of WordPress.com, you will get a subdomain.
- The number of limitations in WordPress.com is more than WordPress.org.
- You are the owner of the content present on WordPress.org but not WordPress.com.
Expenses on both Platforms
In a debate about WordPress.com and WordPress.org, confusion arises as it is said there that designing a website is free. Cost depends on various aspects you choose.
With WordPress.org you can make as many websites as you want. But there are few expenses like domain name and web hosting. But with WordPress.com you cannot create as many websites as you want. After a certain amount, you are required to pay.
Website set up management in both Platforms
There is a huge difference between the two platforms regarding website setup and its management including its maintenance.
For making a website on WordPress.com the only thing you have to do is set up an account. All other things are done for you. You can create content by customizing your site. The technical part is also taken care of.
But on the other hand, creating a website with WordPress.org is a little difficult. It involves downloading software, forming a database, upload of WordPress to your server, and running the installation script.
Here is a complete guide with screenshots on How to Install WordPress Manually using cPanel
Which is better – WordPress.com or WordPress.org
Well! it depends on your own requirements. If you are a blogger and have no intention of making money from your own website then you must go with WordPress.com and if you are a blogger and keep the intention of making money from your own site, then you must select WordPress.org. It offers the freedom to develop your website according to your needs.
According to the opinions of some experts, WordPress.org is the best CMS platform that is used by most bloggers, big-name business owners, and also small business owners.
It all depends on where your website is hosted and the amount of power you have on it. Based on this the difference between both arises. We can say that with WordPress.com you will remain in limit unless you pay money for using advanced features. Hosting is easy to start and many things are taken care of on things related to maintenance and site security.
On the other hand WordPress.org you have full power over each and every aspect. This way the potential of your website also increases. It’s up to you how to run and maintain the website.
Final Words
We can see that there is no specific answer to the query about which is better among WordPress.com and WordPress.org and based on particular requirements we can decide which is better in that situation.
I recommend you to choose WordPress.org even if you don’t want to make money from your website. Because if you want to make money from your blog or want to customize your website at an advanced level then you need the WordPress.org platform. So choose only the WordPress.org platform to make your website.
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Thanks for sharing the difference between these two platforms.
I have used both and WordPress.org and WordPress.com. Always choose the paid platform to get all the features.
Thanks for sharing the difference between WordPress .com and .org.
Nice post and keep posting articles like this.
This blog is very useful and helpful for us.
Thanks for sharing the difference between WordPress.
I appreciate your work and very good information its really helpful.
You have very well described the difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. I have been working in technical marketing for past 11 years, I don’t consider myself an expert because there is still so much to learn in marketing. Marketing ideas are born every day and it makes for an exciting career, I am known for my skills in SEO, Paid advertising, and PR.
The key difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is who’s actually hosting your website. With WordPress.org, you host your own site (we recommend this). With WordPress.com, on the other hand, it’s WordPress.com that takes care of all of this for you (easier to start, less freedom).
It is an amazing post and you explained it in a detailed way. Nice to see this here. I will bookmark your blog for more details. Keep sharing new things like this.