WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: What’s the Difference?

by mr_samarth
September 23, 2021
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Find the best for your website…

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org are synonyms. But there are considerable differences between the two with their pros and cons too. Well, what would be the best for you depends on your need, time and space. They both are equally good, but our choice makes them better and even the best. Beginners frequently mix up WordPress.com and WordPress.org, leading them to select the incorrect blogging platform for their needs. Even those who are aware that they are two distinct platforms are unaware of the distinctions between them. The users frequently ask which platform is superior: WordPress.com and WordPress.org To assist them in answering this question, I have created the most comprehensive comparison of free WordPress.com vs WordPress.org (self-hosted version).

The interesting highlights of the story.

The primary distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is who hosts your website.
WordPress.org allows you to host your website.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, handles all of the hostings for you.
Nowadays, hosting companies such as Bluehost or SiteGround are just as simple to get started with as WordPress.com, but they are less expensive and provide more flexibility.
WordPress.org is the best option if you want complete control over your site and the most votes.
However, if you want any flexibility, intend to monetize your site, or want your site to grow in the long run, WordPress.com can be extremely limiting.

There are many considerations on behalf of those we need to differentiate the two, and cost-saving is one of them and the most important consideration as far as I know. So let me evaluate the differences between the two to facilitate choosing the best according to your needs.

Cost-saving

Which one would be costlier for you and what would be the cheaper is known as the first place.

It is a well-known fact that wordpress.com is a free service provider, which may attract you to it, but it would not be a good idea without knowing its downside.

There are some important points to be known before you choose it.

You will have to place your side under a subdomain.
There will be constant ads from WordPress which you cannot resist.
Only 3 GB of disk space would be there, which is very little.
Monetization of blogs or websites is not possible. Yes, I know it broke your heart.
The plugins and theme can only be used, which are already part of word press by default.

If you want to use your site for commercial purposes, you will need to pay at least $8 per month on your WordPress.com plan plus the cost of a custom domain name, which is usually around $15 per year. In total, running a site on WordPress.com costs at least $111 per year.

On the other hand, WordPress.org allows you to launch a fully functional website for $35 the first year and $50 each year after that. To make that happen, firstly, you need to get a web host. I can suggest something for you here but go with Bluehost if you’re in a hurry. It is a good company with a lot of options for WordPress. Here’s what’s good about Bluehost’s offering:

You can start your website just approx at 2.75 % per month
For the first year, you would get a free domain name.
Word press would install automatically.

When to use what? wordpress.org and wordpress.com

WordPress.org

Must be configured with your hosting provider. In most cases, this is a simple one-click install that is extremely simple. If you purchase your domain name from your hosting provider, you won’t even need to change your DNS. complete for you! Furthermore, WordPress.org offers far more customization options. You can install plugins, use custom website themes, and do pretty much whatever you want with your site. You can also monetize your website in any way you want, which is great if you want to turn it into a business.

WordPress.com

You don’t have to worry about purchasing hosting or maintaining your site when you use WordPress.com. It can also free, though there are paid plans available. The free plan provides 3GB of data and a subdomain (like my website.wordpress.com). It also includes WordPress.com advertisements. Furthermore, unless you pay for the expensive business plan, you will be unable to install your own “plugins” or “themes.” Plugins and themes are one of the most useful aspects of the WordPress software because they allow you to easily customize your site, so this is a significant loss.

If the prospect of change appeals to you.

Pros and cons of wordpress.org and wordpress.com

WordPress.org

Pros :

WordPress is free, open-source software that is extremely simple to use. (See why WordPress is free?)
You own your website as well as all of its data. Your site will not be shut down because someone decides it violates their terms of service (as long as you are not doing something illegal).
You have complete command. WordPress plugins and apps, both free and paid, can be added to your website.
You can change the look of your website as needed. Use any free or paid WordPress theme you want. also, create unique designs or modify anything.
You can earn money from your WordPress site by running your advertisements and not sharing revenue with anyone.
Custom analytics and tracking can accomplished with powerful tools such as Google Analytics.

Cons:

You will need web hosting, just like any other website. This is the location of your website’s files on the internet. Initially, the cost is between $3 and $10 per month. However, as your website grows and receives more traffic, the cost of your web hosting plan will rise as expected, but you will be making enough money to cover the costs.
WordPress must install. Fortunately, the majority of popular WordPress hosting companies provide 1-click WordPress installation options. You can also read our in-depth guide on how to properly install WordPress.
You are in charge of updates. It is not difficult to update your WordPress site by simply clicking on the update button (one click), so it is not a lot of work.
Backups are your responsibility. Fortunately, numerous WordPress backup plugins allow you to set up automatic backups.

WordPress.com

Pros:

It is free for up to 3GB of storage space. After that, you’ll have to upgrade to a paid plan to get more storage space. (A Personal plan for $48/year provides 6GB of storage, a Premium plan for $96/year provides 13GB of storage, and a Business plan for $300/year provides 200 GB of storage.)
There will be no need for updates or backups. WordPress.com will handle it for you.

Cons:

They place ads on all free websites. Your users see those ads, and you don’t make money from them. If you don’t want your users to see their ads, then you can upgrade to a paid WordPress.com plan (starting from $48 per year).
You’re limited to their stats. You are unable to add Google Analytics or any other powerful tracking platform. Users with a Business plan can install Google Analytics.
Each WordPress.com site includes a WordPress.com-branded subdomain (for example, https://yourwebsite.wordpress.com). A paid plan is required to obtain a custom domain name (e.g., https://www.yourwebsite.com).
They can delete your site at any time if they think that it violates their terms of service.
A powered by WordPress.com link will appear on our site. It is possible to remove it by upgrading to the Business plan.
Unless you upgrade to the eCommerce plan, WordPress.com does not include any eCommerce features or integrated payment gateways.

To cut a long story, I would like to say that wordpress.org is more beneficial and popular, but again the pros and cons given here can be regarded as the ultimate consideration to choose anyone. This is a comprehensive study, and readers are responsible for their choices. Hope this written piece was of some use for you. It can facilitate your decision-making about the two. Both are less or more useful than each other.

It is up to you and your needs that what suits you the best.

WordPress.org caters to website owners who want to be self-sufficient. That is, you build everything yourself from the ground up. Most importantly, you are free to install any tools you want and control the overall functionality of the website. If you want to be completely independent, this is the best option.
If you don’t want to deal with hosting, third-party tools, or custom website functionality, WordPress.com is a good option. You simply sign up and get your own online space right away. The disadvantage is that unless you choose an expensive plan, you won’t be able to customize it much.

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