WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Differences, Pros & Cons

Are you confused about the differences between WordPress.Org and WordPress.com, and which one is better for your website or blog?

Are you thinking of creating your own website or blog, but you are not sure which platform to use?
If so, you have probably heard of WordPress, the most popular software for creating and managing websites and blogs.

What is WordPress.Org?

WordPress.Org is the official website where you can download the free, open-source version of WordPress (the software that powers 43.2% of all websites on the Internet and powers our website WordPress Made Easy as well!) for free and install it on your own web server (or web host) to create your WordPress-powered website/blog.

However, in the context of this guide, when we say “WordPress.org” we mean the free, self-hosted version of WordPress itself, not the website in order to differentiate it from the hosted WordPress.com service.

WordPress.Org is ideal for users who want to have complete freedom and flexibility over their website.

You can create any type of website you want, from a personal blog to a professional portfolio, from a news site to an online store. It is also easy to integrate your website with other platforms and tools, such as social media, email marketing, or analytics.

This means that you have full control over your website, and you can customize it as much as you want. You can choose from thousands of WordPress themes and plugins, which are additional features that enhance the functionality and appearance of your website.

WordPress (or WordPress.org) is a Content Management System (CMS) for the web and a blogging tool that is written in PHP and uses a MySQL database.

When you self-host WordPress, you can monetize your website in any way you want, such as selling products or services, displaying ads, or accepting donations.

You can also access the WordPress community, which is a large and active network of WordPress users, developers, and experts who can help you with any questions or issues you may have.

However, the self-hosted WordPress.Org also comes with some responsibilities and costs. You have to pay for your own web hosting and domain name, which can vary depending on the quality and features of the service.

You also have to install and update WordPress, the themes, and plugins you use on your website yourself, which can be challenging if you are not tech-savvy or you use a plugin or theme from outside the official repository of WordPress.org.

Although there are free and paid WordPress security plugins that can help you secure your website, you have to take care of the security and maintenance of your website, which means that you have to back up your data regularly and protect your site from hackers and malware.

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is a Website Builder and web hosting service that exclusively hosts WordPress sites and blogs and is powered by the WordPress software. This means that you don’t have to worry about installing or updating the software, or managing the web hosting.

You can create a free website or blog with a WordPress.com subdomain, such as example.wordpress.com, or upgrade to a paid plan if you want to use a custom domain name, such as wp-me.com for your blog.

WordPress.com offers a range of plans, that provide different features and benefits, such as the ability to use a custom domain name (not available with the free plan), more storage space for your site’s files, advanced customization, e-commerce options, and the ability to use external analytics services.

FYI: WordPress’s founder Matt Mullenweg is also the founder of WordPress.com and its parent company Automattic

WordPress.com is ideal for users who want to have a simple and hassle-free website or blog. You can create your website or blog in minutes, without any technical skills or knowledge.

You can also enjoy some features and benefits that are exclusive to WordPress.com, such as the WordPress.com community, the Jetpack plugin, and the WordAds network. You can also access the WordPress support team, which can help you with any questions or issues you may have.

However, WordPress.com also comes with some limitations and fees. You have limited control and customization over your website, especially with the free plan. You have to follow WordPress.com’s terms of service, which can limit your monetization options and content types.

Moreover, you have to use WordPress.com analytics which is powered by Jetpack.com, which is less comprehensive and flexible than other tools i.e. Google Analytics.

You also have to pay for some features and services that are free of charge if you created your website using the self-hosted WordPress.Org version, such as using your own domain name, removing WordPress.com ads, or uploading custom WordPress themes and plugins to your website.

WordPress.com & WordPress.org: Compared

Here’s a comparison between creating and hosting WordPress yourself and creating a blog on WordPress.com (both the free & paid plans).

Feature	WordPress.org (Self-hosted WordPress)	WordPress.com (Free Plan)	WordPress.com (Paid Plans)
Logo
Cost	Free. You need to purchase WordPress Hosting & a domain name.	Free. (WP.com displays ads on your website).	$9 to $70 per month (Ad-free).
Domain Name	Custom domain name (often free for the first year from the hosting company).	WordPress.com subdomain (e.g. myblog.wordpress.com).	Custom domain name (free for the first year if paid annually).
Monetization	Unlimited. (e.g. displaying paid ads, selling products or services, affiliate marketing, donations, sponsored posts, etc.).	Limited. (e.g. WordAds, donations, etc.).	Expanded. (e.g. e-commerce, third-party ads, etc.).
WordPress Plugins	Unlimited (You have access to thousands of free and premium plugins).	None. You can’t install plugins or themes.	Limited. (only with Creator or Entrepreneur plan).
WordPress Themes	Unlimited (You have access to thousands of free and premium themes).	Limited. (only free WP.com themes).	Expanded. (You have access to premium themes and advanced customization).
Analytics & Stats	Unlimited. (can use any analytics tool, such as Google Analytics).	Limited. (You can only use WordPress.com’s Jetpack stats).	Expanded. (can use Google Analytics with Explorer plan & above).
Security	It depends on how you keep your website secure and the security of your host.	High. WordPress.com takes care of the security of the platform and the sites hosted on it.	High. Same as the free plan.
Backup & Storage	No limits. Varies by your hosting plan or the service you use.	1 GB.	6 to 50 GB. (Creator & Entrepreneur plans come with real-time backups).
Technical Skills	Required. (If you don’t use a Managed WordPress Hosting service, you’ll need to take care of installing and updating WordPress, themes, and plugins, managing your web hosting, securing and backing up the website, etc.).	Not required. (WordPress.com takes care of everything).	Not required. (WordPress.com takes care of everything).
Support	Community-based. (You can get help from WordPress.org forums, WordPress Made Easy (Yes, it’s us!), blogs, tutorials, plugin & theme developers, paid WP support services, etc.).	Basic. (You can get help from WordPress.com support guides, their forums, etc.).	Priority. (You get faster and more personalized help from WordPress.com support via email).
Access & Control	Unlimited. Your access and control of the web hosting environment are only limited by your web hosting provider.	Very Limited. No FTP, Database, SSH, etc.. access.	Limited. Only expensive plans include SFTP, SSH, and database access.

If you are interested in a more detailed comparison between the two, keep reading the next section that includes the Pros & Cons of using WordPress.com to host your website as well as those of creating it yourself using the self-hosted WordPress.org alternative.

WordPress.Org vs WordPress.com
(Pros & Cons)

Just like any other service/solution, both WordPress.Org and WordPress.com have their advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs and preferences.

Here are some of the main pros and cons of each option from our point of view at WP-ME.com. These lists of the Pros & Cons of the two different versions of WordPress will give you an idea of the difference between them and will help you decide which option to choose.

WordPress.Org Pros & Cons

WordPress.Org Pros

Since WordPress.Org is not a platform but a self-hosted software, you have the freedom to do what you want with your website, thanks to its open-source nature.

Here is a list of what we think are the most notable advantages of using WordPress.Org rather than WordPress.com:

• You have full control and ownership over your website and content.
• You can customize your website as much as you want, with thousands of WordPress themes and plugins available for free or for purchase. Here at WordPress Made Easy, we have many collections of them for different needs.
• You have the freedom to choose your WordPress hosting provider and migrate between different hosts as you like.
• You have access to your website files and the database that holds its data.
• You can monetize your website in any way you want, without any restrictions or fees.
• You can use any analytics tool you want, such as Google Analytics, to track and optimize your website performance.

Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.Org) is the best option for users who want to have the ultimate unrestricted WordPress experience. You can create a unique and professional website that reflects your brand and vision.

You can also leverage the power and flexibility of WordPress to grow your audience and revenue. You can also benefit from the WordPress community and free resource sites like WP-ME.com, which is a rich source of knowledge and support for all things WordPress.

WordPress.Org Cons

As you know “With Freedom Comes Responsibility“. That is very true for using WordPress.org to create your website. Given that WordPress.Org is the self-hosted option to create WordPress sites, you will be responsible for creating your website and maintaining it.

Those responsibilities are mainly the cons of the self-hosted WordPress.Org, and here’s a list of some of them:

• You have to pay for your own web hosting and domain name, which can cost from $5 to $50 per month, depending on the quality and features of the hosting service, hosting provider, domain extension, and domain registrar.
• You are responsible for the security and maintenance of your website, which means that you have to back up your data regularly and protect your site from hackers and malware.
• There are technical tasks that can be challenging if you are not tech-savvy. For example, you have to install and update the WordPress software, plugins, and themes.
• If you don’t use a managed web hosting service, you’ll be responsible for managing and maintaining the web hosting (webserver) too.

While WordPress.Org is the most challenging option for newbie WordPress users who are not familiar with web development and web hosting, you still can use a managed WordPress hosting service that takes care of most of the technical stuff. But that of course comes at an extra cost!

If you’re a DIY guy, you will have to deal with the technical aspects of running a website, such as choosing a reliable and affordable web host, installing and updating the WordPress software, themes, and plugins, and securing and backing up your website.

You also have to troubleshoot any problems or errors that may occur on your website. and if you are not capable of that, there will be a learning curve.

WordPress.com Pros & Cons

WordPress.com Pros

Starting a WordPress site on WordPress.com for free or on a paid package might be a good choice for many users who need the following features:

• Their free plan, allows you to create a website or blog for free in a few minutes.
• WordPress.com is a WordPress Hosting platform, which means you don’t have to purchase web hosting for your website.
• Your free WP.com website comes with a free subdomain of wordpress.com too, so you don’t have to register a domain name too, unless you want to use your own domain name.
• There’s room to grow. WordPress.com has paid plans with more features and fewer limits that you can upgrade to if you suit your budget and needs.
• They take care of the technical aspects. With WordPress.com, you don’t have to worry about the technical aspects of running a blog/website, such as web hosting, WordPress installation, software/hardware updates, website security, etc…

If you are looking for free WordPress hosting or you want to have a quick and easy WordPress website/blog, WordPress.com might be the best option for you.

They allow you to create your website or blog in minutes, without any technical skills or knowledge, just follow the steps of their signup process and you’ll have a working website.

You can also enjoy some features and benefits that are exclusive to WordPress.com, such as:

• Jetpack features for free — WordPress.com plans are bundled with Jetpack features which is a powerful and versatile service from Automattic – the company behind WordPress.com, that adds many WordPress security, backup, and growth features and helps you to speed your WordPress site up.
  Jetpack is also available as a stand-alone service/plugin for self-hosted WordPress sites.
• WordPress.com support — Paid WordPress.com users can get direct WordPress help from the WP.com support team.
• WordPress.com forums — a friendly and helpful network of WordPress.com users who can help you get started with WordPress.com and fix issues with the platform.
• The WordAds network — an advertising optimization platform for WordPress sites which is a simple and effective way to earn money from your website by displaying paid ads on it.

WordPress.com Cons

WordPress.com Free plan (and some paid plans) comes with some annoying limitations and you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan to remove them. Here’s a list of the most notable disadvantages of using WordPress.com service to create your blog/site (especially with the free plan):

• You have limited control and customization over your website.
• WP.com displays ads that you don’t control or make money from, on your free website.
• The free plan does not allow you to monetize your website’s traffic by displaying ads from ad networks like Google AdSense ads or selling ads directly.
• Your website with its content might get deleted by WordPress.com if you violate their terms of service.
• Unless you upgrade to a higher, paid WordPress.com plan, you can’t install WordPress plugins to add extra functionality to your website like you’d do with your self-hosted WordPress website.
• While WordPress.com free plans are bundled with some free WordPress themes, they are basic themes with limited style customization options. You can access premium themes, more customization options, and install custom WordPress themes from external sources by paying for a paid plan.
• The free plan and the cheaper plans are not suitable for online stores as they lack basic eCommerce features.
• All free WordPress.com sites have a “powered by WordPress.com” link on all pages.
• You have to use WordPress.com analytics, which is less comprehensive and flexible than other tools.

As you can see, WordPress.com is a limiting option for users who want to have more freedom and flexibility over their WordPress-powered website, especially the free WP.com plan.

You have limited control and customization over your website. You have to follow WordPress.com’s terms of service, which can limit your monetization options and content types. For example, you cannot use third-party ads, affiliate links, or sponsored posts on your website, unless you upgrade to a higher plan.

You must also use WordPress.com analytics, which is less comprehensive and flexible than other visitor analytics tools, such as Google Analytics.

WordPress.Org or WordPress.com:
Which One Should You Choose?

The answer to this question depends on what are you building with WordPress. Do you have enough skills to build and maintain it. ..and your preferences as well.

Use WordPress.org if…

You want to have full control and flexibility over your website, and you are willing to invest some time and money into it, then using WordPress.Org and self-hosting your WordPress website yourself is the best option for you.

..or use WordPress.com if

You want to have a simple and hassle-free website or blog and don’t want to spend time taking care of the technical burden of running a website and you don’t mind the limitations and fees of the hosted version of WordPress, then WordPress.com is probably the best option for you.

Choosing between WordPress.com & Self-hosting WordPress

Here are some questions that can help you decide which option is right for you:

• What is the purpose of your website or blog?
  Do you want to share your personal thoughts and experiences, or do you want to promote your business or brand?
• How much do you want to customize your website or blog?
  Do you want to use a specific theme or plugin, or are you happy with the default options?
• How do you want to monetize your website or blog?
  Do you want to sell products or services, display ads, or accept donations or tips?
• How much do you know about web development and web hosting?
  Do you feel comfortable installing and updating software and plugins, or do you prefer to have someone else do it for you?
• How much are you willing to spend on your website or blog?
  Do you have a budget for web hosting and domain name, or do you want to keep it as low as possible?

To help you answer these questions, here are some examples of scenarios where WordPress.org or WordPress.com would be a better option:

• If you want to create a simple personal blog where you can share your hobbies and passions, and you don’t care much about monetization or customization, then WordPress.com would be a good option for you.
  — You can create a free website or blog with a WordPress.com subdomain, and enjoy the simplicity and convenience of WordPress.com.
• If you want to create a professional portfolio where you can showcase your work and skills, and you want to have a unique and impressive website, then WordPress.org is the option we at WP-ME.com would choose.
  — You can create a custom website with your own domain name, and choose from thousands of themes and plugins that suit your style and needs.
• If you want to create an online store where you can sell your products or services and have full control and flexibility over your website, then you should probably go with WordPress.org.
  — You can create a powerful and secure website with your own domain name, and use plugins such as WooCommerce or Easy Digital Downloads (EDD) to add e-commerce functionality to your website.
• If you want to create a news site where you can publish and share your articles, and you want to have a simple and effective website, then WordPress.com might be what you want.
  — You can create a news website (on a paid plan) with your own domain name, and access features and benefits such as the Jetpack plugin and the WordAds network, which can help you improve and monetize your website.

Conclusion

WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two different ways to use WordPress, the most popular software for creating and managing websites and blogs.

WordPress.Org gives you more control and customization over your website, but it also requires more technical skills and financial investment.

On the other hand, WordPress.com gives you more convenience and simplicity, but it also imposes more limitations and fees.

The best option for you depends on your goals, skills, and preferences.

We hope that this detailed WordPress guide has helped you understand the differences between the self-hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com, and make an informed decision for your website or blog.

If you still have any questions, feel free to use the comments below and the WordPress Made Easy team would be happy to help 🙂