Many people are confused about the differences between WordPress and WordPress.com when they are initially starting their blogging journey.
WordPress has around 60% market share in the CMS market and nearly 15% of the world’s top websites are powered by WordPress. If you are starting your blogging journey, you might have heard about WordPress.
There are two variants of WordPress and as a beginner, you might get confused and end up choosing the wrong one that does not fulfill your requirements.
In this guide lets us understand the fundamental differences between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org and which one should you pick for your personal or business blog.
What is WordPress ?
WordPress is a free and open-source content management system or web publishing software project that helps you create your own blog/website and publish your content online.
WordPress (sometimes called “WordPress.org” or “self-hosted WordPress”) is a free software that you can download and install on any web host.
But, on the other hand WordPress.com is a hosted blogging service run by a company called Automattic.
With WordPress.com free plan, you also get to enjoy a free WordPress subdomain for a lifetime. WordPress.com is easier for beginners, and no technical skills are required to get it working quickly.
This is the very basic difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com ?
Before we get into details about WordPress.com and WordPress.org, lets take a look at a quick comparision table.
| WordPress.org | WordPress.com | |
|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Buy hosting from 3rd party providers | Free/Premium plans available |
| Domain | No free domain available | Free WordPress.com subdomain for lifetime |
| Themes & Plugins | Install any theme or plugin you like | Limited options |
| Storage | Depends on your 3rd party hosting plan | Limited options |
| Pricing | Free & Open source | Paid - select a free/premium plan |
| Technical Help | Required | Not Required |
| Monetization | Full freedom | Limited |
| Support | Limited | Professional Support available |
Advantages & Disadvantages of Wordpress.com (Free Plan)
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Easy to Use | Limited Storage space |
| Professional technical support available | Limited option for plugins & Themes |
| Perfect for beginners and small business | Limited monetization options |
Advantages & Disadvantages of Wordpress.org
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Highly Customizable | Technical knowledge required |
| Install any theme or plugin you like | No free hosting or domain option |
| Perfect for ecommerce websites | You have to manage Security & Backup |
Which one should I use ?
Most of the bloggers on the Internet will recommend the self-hosted version (WordPress.org).
You get complete freedom and control over your site with WordPress.org on a 3rd party hosting. Still, it doesn’t mean it’s the best one for everybody.
Please review all the points we have covered in this article and it’s only up to you to decide which version suits you and your blog better.
I hope you found this article helpful and informative.