Are you looking to start a blog? There are quite a few choices when it comes to choosing a platform. One of the most popular platforms is WordPress. This website-building tool has made it easy for many bloggers to get started without breaking the bank.
There are two versions of WordPress that you can use to set up your blog – WordPress.com and self hosted WordPress (WordPress.org). But with so many available features and tools, it can be tough to decide which is the better option when you are just beginning. Both have pros and cons, so today, this post will compare WordPress.com and WordPress.org so you can decide which one is best for you.
Self hosted WordPress.org and WordPress.com what’s the difference?
To answer the question directly, WordPress.com is a fully hosted service (like Blogger or Tumblr) owned by Automattic, a company started by Matt Mullenweg, the original creator of WordPress. They provide hosting to anyone who wants to use their platform. In simple terms, what this means is that you don’t have to buy a domain through Go Daddy or any other company to use WordPress.com. As soon as you create an account, you can start publishing your content right away.
It’s that easy to start but with that comes less freedom.
WordPress.org, on the other hand, is the self-hosted version of WordPress that you need to install on a web host. That means you need a THIRD PARTY here. So, You first have to find a web host service like Bluehost or HostArmada to host your site before you can go ahead and install the WordPress Software. It’s slightly more technical and requires more time to get up and run, but you can completely do it on your own no need to hire anyone to do this for you.
Let’s break down the differences even further.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the perfect choice for a beginner blogger since it offers a free platform. Free is always an excellent option because it allows you to grow into your site. Too many people drop hundreds of dollars for website design, hosting, and more. WordPress.com alleviates this initial investment and allows you just to get started right away. There are six plans to choose from, and the free plan comes with 3GB of storage space; you will have to upgrade to a paid plan if you need more space. Here’s a breakdown of all their plans and what they offer:
Free ($0/Month): The free plan offers features that will allow you to get started right away! However, your site will not be very personalized. WordPress will place its logo and ads on your page. You get close to zero email support and forget about payment collection on your site.
Personal (Slightly over $3/Month): With this plan, you get hosting, a FREE domain for your first year, the ability to collect payments, and get unlimited email support. You also won’t see the WordPress.com ads all over your page, making you feel like you own the domain. You will however not earn any ad revenue with this plan.
Premium ( Slightly over $8/Month): With the premium plan you get everything personal has to offer and more. Added features include earning ad revenue, access to premium themes, and the ability to upload videos on your page. You will also be allowed to integrate Google Analytics with your site, which is essential for tracking your site performance.
Business (Slightly over $24/Month): The business plan gets a little more exciting. It offers everything the previous plans do, plus SEO (Search Engine Optimization) features. It has automated site backups which is essential for those who need to ensure their content is secured. The best part, in our opinion, is access to over 50,000 WordPress plugins. Plugins let you do much more with your site. That gives you for example the flexibility to create forms, connect your page to sales or marketing platforms, and just integrate more web and data tools.
E-Commerce (Slightly above $42/Month): This plan is for someone who also wants to sell products on their blog. You can accept payments from over sixty countries, integrate with shipping companies worldwide, and access premium design options for your online store.
VIP plans (Starting at $2,000/Month): This is a highly tailored, highly functional option. They state that it is used by companies like Airbnb, Spotify, Disney, and other large enterprise companies. If you’re considering this plan, it’s because you have the budget and people to use it to its full potential.
Jump ahead to:
WordPress.com Pros
- It’s FREE to get started. If you’re only looking to have a simple site or blog without any advanced features, then WordPress.com is perfect for your needs.
- It includes some basic templates, so even if you’re not a designer, you can still create a beautiful website cheaply.
- WordPress.com is great for casual bloggers who don’t want to worry about installing and maintaining a website.
- You don’t need to worry about buying a domain name or setting up hosting – WordPress takes care of that for you.
- WordPress.com takes care of site security for you.
- Has no limitations on how many blogs you can create.
WordPress.com Cons
- You can use WordPress.com to write your blog posts, but you can’t edit the templates or create your themes. You are mostly limited to their default themes. That means you don’t have COMPLETE control over your site’s design.
- This version also limits your ability to use plugins and widgets on your site, making customization difficult. A plugin lets you add helpful features like event calendars or contact forms, while widgets allow you to customize sidebar elements like social media feeds and search boxes. The cost can snowball when upgrading your plans to access these features, and if you don’t take advantage of the features, it can become counterproductive.
- You can only MONETIZE your site if you are on the paid plans.
- You also will have WordPress branding on your site; you have to pay if you want to get rid of it. It then becomes unnecessarily costly to run a site.
Now that we understand WordPress.com, let’s explore WordPress.org!
WordPress.org
If you want to CONTROL your website and content, choose self-hosted WordPress.org. The most significant feature is that it is an open-source platform. Open source means that anyone can view or edit the software code, which means you have TOTAL control over your website and its contents.
Your website is not owned by anyone other than yourself. There are no limits to what you can do on your website or blog with WordPress.org. You can integrate your website with thousands of tools!
That sounds great! Let’s look at more pros and also some cons of WordPress.org.
WordPress.org Pros
- WordPress.org is FREE. If you own a domain and hosting from any web host company, such as HostArmada or Bluehost, there is no additional cost; you are practically ready to start!
- You have access to thousands of plugins that you can use to customize your website.
- You also have the freedom to buy and install any theme that you like. Some popular websites that bloggers go to find beautiful website themes include Envato Envatomarket and Etsy.
- You can also change the themes whenever you please!
- You can monetize your website WHICHEVER WAY you want without incurring extra costs.
Note: You can use WordPress.org even if you do not have any technical knowledge. Yes, there is a learning curve! But there are thousands of tutorials on YouTube that will walk you through the entire process of getting started with a WordPress.org blog.
Summary of how the process looks like:
- Pick a domain name
- Pick a web host
- Install WordPress.org
WordPress.org Cons
The biggest downside to this platform is that it’s not easy to set up when you are a beginner. You need to be somewhat familiar with basic web design or coding language when setting it up.
It’s lovely that the platform is open source, and there are MANY plugins and themes at your disposal. However, there won’t be as much support when you want to use these exciting tools on your blog. For example, if you have identified a plugin that will add you value, you may spend lots of time on the phone figuring things out from someone else who knows about it or on YouTube learning how to install it.
But that should NOT be a problem if you are keen on cutting costs, or are generally a curious person, and love to be hands-on with your projects.
Which one should you use?
It depends on what you want from your website, but in general, if you are looking for independence and flexibility with the design and functionality of your website, then WordPress.org is the way to go. As I mentioned earlier, there are many helpful online guides to help you start your blog with WordPress.org.
Also, if you know you’re growing your e-commerce company or need lots of marketing tools, you may want to consider WordPress.org.
As you go forward, the best way to decide which will be better for your website is to VISUALIZE what you want to accomplish with the site and then carefully go over each version’s features. For example, take a look at the complimentary themes and plugins on WordPress.com, create a realistic budget for your project, and then compare that to similar features offered on WordPress.Org and the cost.
If you need free hosting and privacy protection, it might make sense to go with WordPress.com. But if your budget allows, self-hosting with WordPress.org is a great way to get started on a website where you are not limited by the features available.
In the end, it’s up to you which platform you choose. WordPress.Com is easier to use, but WordPress.Org gives you more flexibility.
Bonus Tip
I would choose WordPress.org. If setting up is scary, start with a web host company like Bluehost that will let you do everything, including installing in just a few clicks. This service is also CHEAP, and you get a free domain name when you start. If you have a little more cash, you can start right away with HostArmada. HostArmada offers good site speeds and 24/7 live chat support, which OMG comes in handy when something on your site goes wrong, and you need it fixed immediately without spending an extra dime. So many options the choice is yours!
Do you have any more questions or have additional remarks. Drop your comments down below; we would love to hear what you have to say!
