Difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org – WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
We receive many requests for support from people who are hosting their website on WordPress.com. We take the time to explain the difference between wordpress.com and wordpress.org
Unfortunately, we can’t help people who have their site on WordPress.com as they effectively host your site and it’s a fairly closed system.
So, we wrote this blog to provide a little detail and to compare WordPress.com and the self-hosted version of WordPress (WordPress.org). Which hopefully provides you with some quick and simple insight into the differences.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
The initial difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is who’s hosting your website.
With a self-hosted WordPress.org setup, You host your own blog or website. WordPress.org is where you’ll find the free WordPress software that you can download and install on your own website hosting account.
For example, people who host their own WordPress website may use providers like WP Support Specialists, GoDaddy, Bluehost, Heart Internet, 123 Reg and so on.
Conversely, WordPress.com takes care of all of the hosting for you. You don’t download software, pay for hosting, or manage a web server (unless you select one of their paid packages).
Depending on your needs, WordPress.com offer a variety of packages from free to £x’s per month.
Pros and Cons of WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com have pros and cons. We cover a few of those below.
If your requirements are fairly simple because you’re not interested in managing your own web server. You may prefer WordPress.com. It’s free and easy to set up, and you have various options for customising your website.
Some downsides of using WordPress.com include your domain will, by default, include “WordPress.com.” You can’t upload any custom themes, plugins or modify the code within your site. Therefore, if you wish to incorporate a landing page system, bespoke eCommerce, live-chat, and so on, you won’t be able to do that.
WordPress.com is free to set up in its most basic version. However, they do offer various upgrades, including domain name registration (if you don’t want WordPress.com in your domain name). The ability to upload videos, and use of their premium themes.
Using a self-hosted version of WordPress means you can use your own domain name. Upload and install themes and plugins. Edit the code behind your site, utilise a far greater number of themes. Design a bespoke theme, use live chat, landing page systems, SEO plugins….. you get the idea I’m sure! :)
Most of the WordPress demonstration sites you see are built on the self-hosted version.
If you have any further questions about a self-hosted WordPress site vs a WordPress.com site, feel free to contact us here with your query.
