Wordpress org vs com - What's Thе Dіffеrеnсе?

We go into detail about the differences between WordPress Org vs Com in this blog post.

As WordPress grows in popularity, many begin to realize that there are 2 main WordPress websites, WordPress.com and WordPress.org and want to know what is the difference between these 2 websites.

There is a difference but it may not be what you might think.

WordPress is an open source content management system or CMS for short.

That means it’s a piece of software that you can use to create and manage websites.

The platform is free because it is open source, meaning it’s maintained by volunteers around the globe and not owned by a company.

Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org give you access to it.

The difference in WordPress org vs com

WordPress.org is the website that hosts the free WordPress software that can be uploaded to your own web hosting server.

WordPress is also a repository for the thousands of free plug-in that are available on the website as well as hosting forums for others to ask questions and share ideas about the WordPress blog platform.

WordPress.org is really more of the official support and resource website for those that are hosting their own WordPress blog.

In this case, you would need your own domain name and your own hosting account.

WordPress.org

• Gives you full control of your website
• Lets you use a custom design
• Doesn’t limit the ways in which you can monetise the site (great for business websites)
• Is incredibly customizable
• Requires you to buy your own hosting and domain name
• Both the WordPress CMS and actually launching a website to the public is free, provided you have your hosting and domain (not technically free as it costs between £50 - £150 per year for the domain and hosting).

When to use WordPress.org

WordPress.org has to be set up with your hosting provider. In most cases, this is a simple one-click install and is really easy.

In fact, if you purchase your domain name from your hosting provider, you don’t even have to worry about changing DNSs. It will be done for you!

Plus, WordPress.org has much better customization options.

You’re able to install plugins, use custom website themes, and do just about anything you want with your site.

You can also monetize your website however you want, which is great if you’re planning to make it a business.

WordPress.com

• Lets you build a website quickly
• Offers a 100% free plan
• Doesn’t give you full control of the site
• Is extra easy to use if you don’t have much experience with websites
• Makes perfect sense for small personal projects/blogs
• Allows you to pick only from a limited number of themes (designs) and doesn’t let you create your own
• Has limited extension possibilities

WordPress.com is a website, much like Blogger or Typepad, where the blog software is hosted on the website and you, would sign up to have your own account on WordPress.com to have your blog.
When you are using WordPress.com, you don't need your own domain name, or hosting account, because you are using theirs.

If you are focusing on branding, you can, however, use your own domain name and point it to your own personal blog account on WordPress.com.

When to use WordPress.com

With regards to wordpress org vs com, with WordPress.com you don’t have to worry about purchasing hosting or maintaining your site.

It can also be free, though if you want premium then there are paid plans as well.

The free plan limits you to 3GB of data and a sub domain (like mywebsite.wordpress.com).

It also includes WordPress.com ads.

Furthermore, you won’t be able to install your own “plugins” or “themes” unless you pay for the expensive business plan.

Plugins and themes are one of the most helpful things about the WordPress software because they make it easy to customise your site, so that’s a pretty big loss.

Conclusion

In Conclusion, the primary difference between these two WordPress platforms (wordpress org vs com) lies in how much control you want of your site.

If you are a casual blogger that does not own a small business that needs a professional looking website to sell your services or products online, WordPress.com should be sufficient.

However, if you want full control of your site and have a professional looking website in addition to your blog, WordPress.org is your best way to go.

Speak to us today about how we can create a bespoke one of a kind WordPress site for you and your business.