Here is the complete beginner’s guide to help you start your blog and see the bottom section to learn how to use WordPress.
All this information is free, feel free to take action and start building something new.
- Part 1: << You are here >>
- Part 2: How to Buy Hosting for Your WordPress Blog
- Part 3: How to Install WordPress on Bluehost
- Part 4: Basic Setup After Installing WordPress
- Part 5: How to Install WordPress Plugins
- Part 6: How to Choose a WordPress Theme
- Part 7: How to Install a WordPress Theme
- Part 8: 14 Tips to Secure Your WordPress Site
- Part 9: Pro Tips to Speed Up WordPress and Reduce Loading Times
When someone says "WordPress," it can mean two different things, which is naturally confusing. It could mean WordPress.com, which is a for-profit blogging/website builder . Or, it could mean WordPress.org, which is home to the free, open-source WordPress software that you can install on your own hosting .
So, what’s the difference between them and which one should you choose for your website?
I will answer both questions in this article!
NOTE - Throughout this article, I will use the terms “WordPress.org” and “self-hosted WordPress” interchangeably. If I say “self-hosted WordPress,” I mean “WordPress.org . ”
WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: An Introduction
I’ll discuss some of the more specific differences later , but let’s start with a general overview of the differences between these two popular blogging platforms.
WordPress.org is the home of the free and open source WordPress content management system, also known as self-hosted WordPress. It is a non-profit entity to which thousands of people from all over the world contribute. [](https://www.shoutmeloud.com/how-much-it-cost-to-start-a-self-hosted-wordpress-blog.html)
Anyone (including you) can visit WordPress.org, download the WordPress software , and install it on their web host. Alternatively, most web hosts will also make it easy to install the open source WordPress software in just a few clicks.
WordPress.com is a specific implementation of the open source WordPress software. It is a for-profit service that makes it easier for people to create WordPress websites. However, it also limits WordPress.com users' access to the underlying WordPress software.
Instead of purchasing hosting and installing the WordPress software yourself, you can simply sign up for a WordPress.com account and start creating content right away.
Typically, when people talk about "WordPress," they're referring to the open source WordPress software (WordPress.org).
This can lead to some confusion. For example, the WordPress.com landing page states that “37% of websites are built on WordPress.” While this is true, the majority of websites are using self-hosted WordPress, not WordPress.com!
Why do they use the same name? It's confusing
To understand why there is so much confusion between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, it helps to look back at the origins of WordPress.
In 2003, Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg launched the first version of the open source WordPress software. As we all know, WordPress is free and open source software - anyone can install and use it. This is WordPress.org .
Then, in 2005, Matt Mullenweg founded a company called Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com.
So this is why you're confused - the same person is a member of both WordPress.com and WordPress.org, but WordPress.org is home to the open source nonprofit, while WordPress.com is home to the for-profit service launched by Matt Mullenweg (under Automattic).
First came WordPress.org. Then, a few years after launching the open source WordPress project, Matt launched WordPress.com as a way to monetize the open source WordPress software.
High-Level Differences Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
At a high level, there are philosophical differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
WordPress.com focuses on simplicity - it gives you the easiest way to make a website. However, to achieve this, it sacrifices some flexibility, which means that the control you have over your website will be limited.
How much flexibility you sacrifice depends on the WordPress.com plan you use. On the free/cheap WordPress.com plans, you lose almost all of the flexibility of self-hosted WordPress. On the more expensive WordPress.com Business plans, though, you get access to some of the self-hosted WordPress features. However, even with the Business plan, you still don’t have the same flexibility as you would with self-hosted WordPress.
Key Takeaway – WordPress.com gives you an extremely simple experience, but at the expense of losing some of the flexibility that the open source WordPress software offers. However, on the Business plan and above, you gain some flexibility. More on this in the next section.
WordPress.org (self-hosted WordPress) is more about flexibility. It's not as simple as WordPress.com (although still simple enough for non-technical users). However, the upside is that you have more flexibility than with WordPress.com, especially if you're using the free or cheap version of WordPress.com.
Key Takeaway - Self-hosting WordPress unlocks the full power of WordPress and gives you access to all extensions and your site's underlying code. While it's not always easy, most web hosts make it easy for non-technical users to install the open source WordPress software.
Learn about WordPress.com Business Plans
In 2018, WordPress.com launched a new business plan, which makes it more difficult to compare WordPress.com and WordPress.org.
The Business plan gives you more flexibility than the free/cheap WordPress.com plans . The two main differences between the free/cheap WordPress.com plans and the Business plan are that you can:
- Install your own themes and plugins, just like you would with self-hosted WordPress.
- Access your server via FTP and your database via phpMyAdmin.
So, the WordPress.com Business plan is kind of like a simplified version of managed WordPress hosting . But while it gives you more flexibility than the free WordPress.com plan, it’s still not as flexible.
When I cover the differences below, I’ll make sure to note whether the difference applies to all WordPress.com users, or just to WordPress.com users who are not on a Business plan.
Practical Differences Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
Now, let’s look at some specific differences between these two products…
WordPress.com is the easiest way to create a website
In 2020, both WordPress.com and WordPress.org are easily usable by non-technical people.
Still, WordPress.com is a little simpler.
With WordPress.com, the setup process is as follows:
- Sign up for a WordPress.com account
- Start building your website
With WordPress.org, there’s an extra step (although it’s still not very technical):
- Buy web hosting
- Install WordPress software using your host’s one-click installer
- Start building your website
You can’t install themes and plugins on WordPress.com unless you upgrade
WordPress themes and plugins are a big part of what makes WordPress so flexible:
- Themes – These allow you to change the look and feel of your website.
- Plugins – These allow you to add new features to your website. Plugins can be small changes, like adding a contact form, or big changes, like turning your website into a working eCommerce store.
In the past, one of the biggest differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org was that you couldn’t install your own themes and plugins on WordPress.com.
Since 2018, things have changed for some WordPress.com users.
If you are using a free WordPress.com account, or if you purchase one of the cheaper plans, you still cannot install your own themes and plugins on WordPress.com. This is a huge disadvantage since there are thousands of free themes and plugins to choose from. Again, themes and plugins are a big part of what makes WordPress so flexible.
However, if you pay for a WordPress.com Business ($300 per year) or eCommerce ($540 per year) plan, you can now install your own themes and plugins, which brings you closer to the flexibility offered by WordPress.org.
Note: There seems to be a price difference between WordPress.com in two countries. In one place (Western countries), they charge around $25/month for their business plan, while in countries like India, they charge less than $10/month.
Below are screenshots of the WordPress.com pricing page taken from two different geographical locations:
WordPerss.com Pricing in the United States
WordPress.com Pricing in India
This price difference makes comparing WordPress.com vs WordPress.org a little more challenging.
Self-hosted WordPress is usually cheaper for serious websites (but not always)
For a basic hobby blog, WordPress.com is the cheapest way to get started. If you agree to use a WordPress.com subdomain (e.g. yourblog.wordpress.com ), you can create a blog 100% free . However, there are some restrictions, such as you can't use your own domain name, and your blog will have WordPress.com ads.
However, if you are launching a serious blog, business website, or any type of website and plan to make money in some way, self-hosted WordPress will probably be cheaper.
To run a self-hosted WordPress website , the minimum cost is approximately:
- One year hosting fee is $50
- Domain name fee: $10 per year
So for around $60 a year, you can have your own self-hosted WordPress installation where you can install all the plugins and themes you want. You can also create multiple WordPress websites.
To get the same flexibility with WordPress, you’d need to pay at least $300 per year for a website.
Basically - if you want to be able to install your own themes and plugins ( which you should, unless you're just creating a very simple blog ), then self-hosted WordPress is probably going to be a lot cheaper.
WordPress.com will not grant you server access unless you upgrade
If you are a technical user, it is important to understand that WordPress.com does not grant you any server access unless you pay for the Business plan or higher.
On the Business plan and above, you will be able to connect to your website via SFTP and also access your database via phpMyAdmin.
However, even with the Business plan, you still don’t get full access. For example, you can’t create your own databases or edit server configuration settings.
With self-hosted WordPress, you can edit every file and configuration option ( although some web hosts may limit what you can do ). For example, you can create a staging environment, create a separate database if needed, etc.
Self-hosted WordPress gives you 100% control over your profits (WordPress.com has rules)
If you plan on making money from your website , then you will almost certainly want to choose self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) because WordPress.com places some restrictions on how you can make money from your website.
For example, WordPress.com doesn't allow you to use AdSense or other display ad networks unless you're on the Business plan or higher.
WordPress.com does allow affiliate links and sponsored content… but there are some restrictions. For example, WordPress.com states that “You may add affiliate links to your WordPress.com content as long as the primary purpose of your blog is to create original content.”
Likewise, you can write sponsored posts… but there are restrictions – “We do not allow sites where the vast majority of content is sponsored content”.
If you use WordPress.com, you’ll have to take these rules into account when planning your monetization strategy. However, with self-hosted WordPress, you’re free to monetize your site however you want — and you never have to worry about complying with third-party rules ( except government laws, of course! ).
Should You Use WordPress.com or WordPress.org?
Most people should use WordPress.org (aka self-hosted WordPress) because:
- You have maximum flexibility, including the ability to install themes and plugins immediately and access your server.
- It’s affordable – you can run multiple WordPress sites for only about $60 per year, while WordPress.com costs $300 for a single site if you want to install your own themes and plugins.
- You can monetize your site any way you want - you don't have to worry about following WordPress.com's rules.
- It’s still easy enough for non-technical users — most web hosts provide you with a one-click installer that lets you get up and running with self-hosted WordPress in just a few minutes.
For most sites, these benefits are worth the slightly increased complexity.
However, there are some exceptions where WordPress.com might make a better choice:
- You're starting a "just for fun" hobby blog and want a simple, free blogging platform. As long as you don't have plans to turn your blog into a business, WordPress.com is a good choice.
- You are willing to pay for a WordPress.com Business plan (install themes/plugins) and want the easiest, hassle-free way to create a WordPress website. You will pay more than self-hosted WordPress, but WordPress.com will take care of all the maintenance for you, taking the burden off your shoulders.
But in general, I recommend that most people choose self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org).
To get started with self-hosted WordPress on a host I recommend, you can follow my guide on how to install WordPress on Bluehost .
Still have questions about WordPress.com vs WordPress.org ? Ask away in the comments section!
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