WordPress is the most widely used platform for creating websites. Despite its widespread usage, there is one question that many new WordPress users are still unable to answer- what is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com versus WordPress.org: Which is better?
The most significant distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is who is responsible for hosting your website.
WordPress.org allows you to host your own website.
The good news is that WordPress.com takes care of all of this for you (easier to start, less freedom). And it is the most significant distinction.
Nowadays, hosting providers like as Bluehost or SiteGround are as simple to use as WordPress.com, but they are also less expensive and provide more flexibility.
Difference between utilizing WordPress.com and WordPress.org in terms of cost.
There are several disadvantages to using WordPress.com to create a website that is completely free:
- You are only able to host your website under a subdomain.
- You will not be able to remove WordPress.com’s own advertisements and branding from your website.
- You will be given a maximum of 3GB of disc space.
- You will not be able to monetize your blog or website.
- You will not be able to install any plugins or themes that are not already installed on the platform by default.
- To use your site for a commercial purpose, you will need to pay at least $8 / month for your WordPress.com plan in addition to the cost of a custom domain name, which is often in the region of $15 / year. In all, this equates to at least $111 per year for the operation of a WordPress.com website.
For $35 for the first year and $50 per year after that, you may create a fully functioning website using WordPress.org.
In order to do this, you must first choose a web hosting service. You may get started for as little as $2.75 a month. For the first year, you will get a free domain name, and WordPress will be installed for you immediately.
Apart from that, you’ll have full control over what you want to do with your site, something you won’t be able to obtain with a service like WordPress.com.
When should you make use of WordPress.com?
With WordPress.com, you won’t have to worry about buying hosting or keeping your site up to date on your own. It may also be obtained for free, but there are also paid subscription options.
The free plan restricts you to 3GB of bandwidth and a single subdomain on the internet (like mywebsite.wordpress.com). It also contains advertisements for WordPress.com.
Furthermore, unless you pay for the costly business plan, you will not be allowed to put your own “plugins” or “themes” on your website. In addition to being one of the most useful aspects of the WordPress platform, plugins and themes also make it simple to personalize your site, thus this is a significant loss.
If the idea of changing your domain name server (DNS) or backing up your website data makes you feel apprehensive, WordPress.com may be the best option for you to build a simple blog/website with little effort. When it comes to flexibility, monetization, and long-term growth, WordPress.com may be a major hindrance to your goals and dreams for your website.
When should you make use of WordPress.org?
WordPress.org must be installed and configured with your hosting provider. In the majority of instances, this is a straightforward one-click installation that is very simple.
To be honest, if you buy your domain name from your web hosting company, you won’t even have to bother about switching DNS servers.
Furthermore, WordPress.org offers much more customization possibilities. With WordPress, you have the ability to add plugins, utilize custom website themes, and very much do anything you want with your site.
You may also monetize your website in whatever way you see fit, which is excellent if you’re intending to turn it into a profit-making venture.
