WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Which is Better? (Pros and Cons)

Many beginners struggle to choose between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. In fact, this is one of the most frequently asked questions by our readers.

Due to the similarity of the names, users are not sure what the difference is and which one is better for their needs.

WordPress.com offers a fully hosted WordPress platform for creating websites. Its free and low-tier plans are quite limited, but upgrading to the Business or Commerce plans removes many restrictions.

WordPress.org, on the other hand, is home to the open-source WordPress website builder. It is ideal for users who want full control and unlimited customization options for their website.

This guide will explain the differences, highlight each platform’s strengths, and help you decide which one is right for your needs.

Since choosing the right platform is crucial for your online success, we have created the most detailed comparison of WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (text comparison, table-based comparison, and a full infographic).

You can use the links below to jump to a specific section:

If you just want to start a blog or make a website the RIGHT way, then you can skip this article and head over to our guides here:

Having said that, let’s take a look at the differences between self-hosted WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org (Infographic)

Note: This infographic and article compare the powerful self-hosted WordPress.org with the free WordPress.com website hosting service. You can unlock additional functionality in WordPress.com by upgrading to their paid service. We have highlighted those features as well.

If you’d prefer a written comparison, please keep reading.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org Comparison

The best way to understand the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is to examine each platform individually.

Here’s a comparison of both versions of WordPress:

WordPress.org

WordPress.org, aka “self-hosted WordPress,” is the popular website platform you have heard all the great things about.

It is an open-source software, and it’s 100% free for anyone to use. All you need is a domain name and web hosting.

Below are the pros and cons of using the self-hosted WordPress.org to build your website or blog.

WordPress.org Benefits

WordPress.org gives you complete control over your website. You can customize every aspect and tailor it to your needs without restrictions.

Here are the main pros of WordPress.org:

• The WordPress software is free, open-source, and incredibly user-friendly. It powers over 43% of all websites on the internet, making it the most popular website builder in the world. (See: Why is WordPress free?)
• You have full ownership of your website and data. Unlike other platforms, your site won’t be taken down unless you violate the law. You’re in total control.
• You can use free, paid, or custom WordPress plugins to add powerful functionality to your website.
• Your website design is completely customizable. Choose from free or premium WordPress themes or create a custom design that suits your brand.
• You can monetize your website by running your own ads without sharing revenue, opening up many opportunities to make money online.
• You have access to powerful tools like Google Analytics for tracking and analyzing your website’s performance.
• It’s an excellent platform for eCommerce. With WordPress.org, you can create an online store to sell digital or physical products, accept payments, and handle shipping, all from your site.
• You can build a membership site to sell premium content, courses, or even access to a private community.

WordPress.org Cons

While WordPress.org is packed with benefits, it does come with a few responsibilities. Here’s what you need to consider before choosing WordPress.org:

• Hosting costs: Since WordPress.org requires self-hosting, you’ll need to pay for a hosting provider. Costs start around $3–$10 per month but may increase as your site grows. That said, a growing website should also generate enough income to cover these costs.
• Installing WordPress: You will need to install the WordPress software yourself. Luckily, most popular hosting providers offer one-click installation, making it super easy to get started. For more guidance, check out our tutorial on how to install WordPress.
• Updates: You’ll need to update your WordPress site manually. Thankfully, it’s just a single click from the dashboard.
• Backups: You’re responsible for keeping backups of your site. However, there are many backup plugins that let you automate this process, so it’s hassle-free.

The total cost of building a WordPress.org website depends on your project. For example, a simple blog costs less than an eCommerce store or a membership site. You can build a website for as little as $46 per year by using free themes and plugins. (See: How much does it really cost to build a WordPress website?)

Why We Recommend WordPress.org

For 99% of users, WordPress.org is the best choice because of its flexibility, ownership, and ability to scale. We have been building WordPress websites for the past 16+ years, and almost all our businesses have websites built using WordPress. You can read more about our experience in our full WordPress review.

If you’re ready to get started, then just check out our guide on how to start a website.

Bonus: Our friends at Bluehost are offering WPBeginner readers 75% off web hosting plus a free domain name. They’re one of the officially recommended WordPress hosting providers.

WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a hosting service created by Automattic, which is the company co-founded by WordPress creator Matt Mullenweg. Because of the same founder, many users confuse WordPress.com with the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.

WordPress.com offers several pricing plans to cater to different user needs:

• Free: Basic features with limitations.
• Personal: $48 per year.
• Premium: $96 per year.
• Business: $300 per year ($120 / yr with our WordPress.com coupon).
• Commerce: $540 per year ($270 / yr, 50% off with our WordPress.com coupon).
• Enterprise: Custom pricing for large-scale needs.

Let’s explore the pros and cons of using WordPress.com.

WordPress.com Benefits

WordPress.com is an excellent choice for users looking for a low-maintenance platform, especially hobby bloggers or individuals creating personal websites.

Here are the key benefits:

• Managed Maintenance: WordPress.com handles updates, backups, and security, letting you focus on your content.
• Cost-Effective Entry: The Free plan offers an easy way to start with no upfront costs. However, paid plans offer real value with more customization, storage, and features that you will need.
• Scalability: Upgrading to the Business or Commerce plans unlocks powerful features like custom plugins, premium themes, and advanced eCommerce tools.
• Built-In Features: Free plan users get pre-installed Jetpack features, offering basic performance and security tools.

WordPress.com Cons

While WordPress.com is user-friendly, there are some limitations, particularly on lower-tier plans:

• Advertising: Free plan sites display ads that you don’t earn revenue from. Paid plans remove these ads.
• Monetization Restrictions: Selling ads on your site is prohibited on Free and Starter plans. WordAds is available on higher plans but requires revenue sharing.
• Plugin Limitations: Custom plugins are restricted to the Business and Commerce plans, which are more expensive than WordPress.org hosting plans.
• Theme Customization: Free plan users have limited themes. Paid plans allow for premium themes and custom CSS.
• Analytics: Integration with Google Analytics is available only on Pro and higher plans.
• Domain Names: Free plan sites use a WordPress.com subdomain (e.g., yoursite.wordpress.com). Custom domains require a paid plan.
• Content Control: Sites must follow WordPress.com’s terms of service, with potential removal for violations.
• Branding: Free plan sites display “Powered by WordPress.com,” removable with paid plans.
• eCommerce Features: Available only on the Business and Commerce plans, designed for online stores using WooCommerce.
• Membership Sites: Building membership sites is not supported on low-tier plans.

Why We Recommend WordPress.com

We believe WordPress.com‘s Business and Commerce plans offer an ideal fully managed platform for users who don’t want to worry about technical overhead.

It does have some limitations, but the ease of scalability, security, and safety balance them out. For more details, see our full WordPress.com review.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org (FAQs)

Since this is a popular topic and WPBeginner is the largest free WordPress resource site for beginners, we get tons of questions about WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org.

We have done our best to answer the most frequently asked questions below:

1. WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Which one is better?

If you are a personal blogger and you don’t care about making money from your website, then go with the free WordPress.com.

If you are a business or a blogger wanting to make money from your site, then we recommend using the self-hosted WordPress.org. It gives you the freedom and flexibility to grow your website how you want.

On the other hand, the WordPress.com Business plan ($120 / year for each website) offers a powerful platform with fully managed hosting. If you are willing to spend a little exta for a worry-free setup, then you may find it an excellent option.

In our expert opinion, WordPress.org is much better in terms of cost, flexibility, and control. It is the platform that almost every professional blogger, small business owner, and even big-name brands like Disney uses.

2. Can I monetize a free WordPress.com website?

WordPress.com does not allow you to run ads on free WordPress.com websites. If you are on the Premium plan or above, you can join their WordAds program and share your ad revenue with WordPress.com.

You can put some affiliate links on your website, but that’s about it.

Basically, you have very limited options to monetize content on your WordPress.com website.

With WordPress.org, you have full control over your new website’s content management system and unlimited monetization options.

3. WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Which one is better for eCommerce?

WordPress.org offers the easiest way to build an eCommerce website. You can use WooCommerce to build your store or choose from many other WordPress eCommerce, membership, and LMS plugins.

WordPress.com also offers a Commerce plan starting at $270 per year, which is a hefty amount if you are just starting. However, it is still limited in features, and you’ll have to follow WordPress.com’s terms of service for your eCommerce store.

See our guide on how to start an online store without a high budget. It includes how to get your domain for free and all the powerful features you need to grow online.

4. How do I start a WordPress.org Website?

To start a self-hosted WordPress website, you need a domain name and WordPress hosting.

A domain name is the address of your website on the Internet, such as google.com or wpbeginner.com. Web hosting is where your website files are stored on the Internet.

We recommend using Bluehost to host your website because it is one of the largest web hosting companies in the world. It is also an official WordPress.org recommended web host. Last but not least, it offers our users a free domain, free SSL, and 75% off hosting.

For step-by-step instructions, you can check out our free guide on how to make a website.

If you need help, the WPBeginner team can even install WordPress and build your website for free. Learn more about how our free WordPress blog setup works.

5. Can I Move From WordPress.com to WordPress.org?

Often, new users who don’t know the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org start with the free WordPress.com service. Once they see the platform’s limitations, they want to switch to self-hosted WordPress.org.

Luckily, you can definitely switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org and fairly easily move all of your content.

We have created a step-by-step guide on how to move your blog from WordPress.com to WordPress.org, or you can take advantage of our free blog setup service, and we will transfer your blog for free.

WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org – Summary

The best way to consider the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is to compare them to renting versus owning a house.

WordPress.com is similar to renting a house. You have limited power and control over what you can and cannot do.

WordPress.org is like owning a house. Where you have full control, no one can kick you out, and you can do anything that you want.

Below is the summary of everything we discussed above in our self-hosted WordPress.org vs WordPress.com comparison:

Feature	WordPress.org (Self-Hosted)	WordPress.com (Free Plan)	WordPress.com (Business Plan)	WordPress.com (Commerce Plan)
Cost	$46 – $100/year	Free	$120/year	$270/year
Custom Domain	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Hosting Storage	Unlimited	1 GB	50 GB	50 GB
Monetization Freedom	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Branding Freedom	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
SEO Features	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Analytics	Yes (Google Analytics, etc.)	No	Yes	Yes
Theme Support	Yes	Limited	Yes	Yes
Plugin Support	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
eCommerce	Fully customizable	No	Yes	Yes
Membership Site	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Migration Options	Flexible	Limited	Flexible	Flexible
Developer Resources	Extensive	Limited	Limited	Limited
Control and Ownership	Full ownership	Limited	Improved	Improved
Maintenance	User-managed	Fully managed	Fully managed	Fully managed
Community Support	Extensive (forums, docs, etc.)	Limited	Limited	Limited

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Final Thoughts

The confusion created by similar domains, WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org, is quite unfortunate for beginners. There is a lot of history behind the decisions, and you can read more about that in our article about how WordPress.com and WordPress.org are related.

We hope that you found this article helpful in understanding the main differences between WordPress.org and WordPress.com.

We wish you all the best with your website and hope that you choose the right platform.

If you have chosen WordPress.org, then you may want to follow these useful guides:

We hope this article helped you understand the difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. You may also want to see our guide on the history of WordPress and proven ways to make money online with WordPress.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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