WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Are these two different platforms? Absolutely YES! Too often new bloggers get confused when they have to make the decision of choosing a right platform. The most common question I’m often asked by my users which is the best platform to choose: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. There’s nothing to get complicated. To help answer the query, I have created this simple guide to show a comparison of WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.

There is also an infographic at the end.

What’s the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

It’s simple.

WordPress.com – It’s free to use. You don’t need to buy a domain or hosting to use wordpress.com. But, it comes with several disadvantages which is not best for bloggers who want to take blogging seriously and make money from it. You don’t get any control over it.

WordPress.org – It’s also free to download and use. All you need is a web hosting and a domain. You can simply download the WordPress for free and start working on it. This the reason it is referred to self-hosted WordPress. You get full control over your site.

WORDPRESS.COM VS WORDPRESS.ORG – WHAT’S BETTER?

It’s important for you to understand the difference between WordPress.com vs wordpress.org so that you make the right decision for your blog or website.

I have also created a cute infographic too. Make sure you save it or pin it 😉 

Let’s take a closer look below at each platform individually.

WORDPRESS.ORG

WordPress.org is the self-hosted version of the popular publishing platform. It’s totally free to download. As I said, the only requirement is a domain and a web hosting.  You need to spend at least $3 per month to start a self-hosted WordPress blog.

But, trust me, as your website grows and you start making some money, then it would be a lot easier to bear the cost.

BENEFITS OF WORDPRESS.ORG

WordPress.org is definitely the go-to-choice for bloggers and website owners. You get full access to your website. There are no limitations. You are free to customize your website as you want.

•  You are in full control of the site
• It’s free and easy to use.
• You own the content, not the WordPress.
• You can install and activate WordPress plugins to your website. It can be free, paid or even custom.
• You can integrate free SEO tools like Google analytics to track the visitors and the site overall performance.
• You can design your website as you desire. Either install free or paid WordPress themes. You can even do a custom design for your website.
• On WordPress org, you can easily make money online by running ads on your site.
• Creating an online store with self-hosted WordPress is totally possible. You can set up an eCommerce store and sell products directly from your site.
• You are free to sell your website/blog in future.
• On WordPress.org, you can easily monetize your blog and earn a revenue online.

DISADVANTAGES OF WORDPRESS.ORG

• Web hosting is a must.
• You will need to have the basic knowledge of backend work.
• You are responsible for backups and updates. It’s just one-click job.

In brief, you don’t have to invest $100 to start a blog on WordPress.org. The total costs depend on the website you’re trying to build. Initially, the web hosting plan starts with $3/month and a domain.

I have always recommended my authentic readers to go for WordPress.org because it’s the best choice for everyone.

Do check out the infographic below.

Related: What’s a self-hosted blog? 5 things you must know!

WORDPRESS.COM

WordPress.com is different. You don’t have to buy the domain, hosting or download any software. The WordPress, itself, handles all the things that make you limited.

The free WordPress.com is only a good place for people who want to start blogging as a hobby.

WORDPRESS.COM BENEFITS

• The wordpress.com is absolutely free up to 3GB. Then, you’ll have to go for a paid plan.
• WordPress handles all the updates and backups for you.

DISADVANTAGES OF WORDPRESS.COM

The wordpress.com comes with several disadvantages.

• You always see a wordpress.com with your subdomain. Like if your blog domain is ‘fangirl’ then your complete website URL is ‘fangirl.wordpress.com’. Whereas, in the wordpress.org, you can simply use ‘fangirl.com’
• You cannot upload plugins to the free plan. The business plan that allows plugins are hell expensive. It starts with $299/year.
• On free plan, you are not allowed to place ads.
• The WordPress, itself, place ads on the free websites. You cannot see the ads but your users will see it. But, you cannot make money from it. That means the revenue goes to WordPress. But, if you use business or premium plan, your users cannot see the ads.
• On free plan, you can install any custom theme like Elegant themes. You have to choose from a very limited collection of free themes.
• Your site can be deleted at any time if you violate any rules.
• You’re restricted to only use the built-in jetpack plugin. You cannot install Google analytics or any other tracking platform.
• It does not offer any membership site or e-commerce site feature on free plans.

So, the WordPress.com makes you very limited?

You cannot be the sole owner of the blog. You can only unlock all the additional features, you’ve to choose a business plan ($299/year) or premium plan ($5000/month).

Now, let’s come back to the common concern new bloggers have.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – What to choose?

Now, if you just want to write about your personal stories or maybe, little experiences about your life then you can start with wordpress.com. Basically, if you don’t want to make money from your blog and expand it in the future, then the free version is good to go with.

If you are a blogger that wants to make money from blogging then you should go with the self-hosted wordpress.org. Or, you want to create an e-commerce store, set up a small business or a membership site, or even sell digital products in future – wordpress.org go-to choice.

I have seen several bloggers asking about the best blogging platform. Undoubtedly, WordPress.org is the platform that is the best to go for. I personally use wordpress.org for this blog and I’m loving it.

People also ask what hosting service is best to go for.

I recommend my users to go for either Bluehost or Siteground.

If you want to use Bluehost, then use this tutorial. It shows the exact steps you’ve to take.

If you want to use Siteground, then follow this quick tutorial. It helps to create a blog in three steps.

There are some other premium WordPress hosting providers as well. Hosts like WPX Hosting provides incredible WordPress support.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I have tried my best to clear the differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org. I hope the confusion is all cleared. Now, you probably know which is the best platform for your website.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – choose the one that fits your need. It should give you enough flexibility to create an online visibility that you always desired.

I really hope you choose the best platform (WordPress.org) for your blog.

If you found this post helpful, then please give it some love. Share it with your other friends and followers so they can also make the right decision.