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WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: A Tale of Siblings That Are Different Despite Being Similar

WordPress needs no introduction!

Almost everyone having eyes on digital space knows about it.

Well, they must.

It is a renowned and most-used CMS (Content Management System). Can’t believe it? We have numbers to highlight its worth. WordPress alone rules around 40% of the entire web (TechRadar). And it empowers 64.9% of websites based on CMS (W3Techs).

But do you know that WordPress is available in two forms? You must have noticed that when you search WordPress, you get two results – WordPress.com and WordPress.org!

But why so? Why this classification? Are they different? Or are they the same with two different identities?

Well, they are two wings of WordPress. And, of course, they differ.

Okay, what is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

And how to decide which of these is appropriate for you?

Hold on!

Are you unable to make your mind?

We know the questions are critical. Answering them is a matter of analysis.

But no worries.

We are here to solve this problem for you. Let’s compare WordPress.com and WordPress.org based on numerous factors to find out which sibling you can befriend.

WordPress.com VS WordPress.org

Price

WordPress.com is free but not entirely. What? Yes, you heard it right! It has several options, which are designed, keeping in view the requirements of different users. You have a choice to start with a free plan, as well. But before that, you must know it in detail as it has certain limitations. Well, we must talk the other way round. Being free, it offers restricted functionalities. All you get with it are jetpack essential features, an SSL certificate (pre-installed), and lots of free themes. Plus, you will have to bear WordPress ads on your website without any revenue from them. Anyway, that’s not the only option. You have more options – Personal, Premium, Business, and E-commerce. With plans vary the pricing and, of course, the features.

On the other hand, WordPress.org, being open-source, is available to you free of cost. That means you need not pay a single penny to get WordPress.org. But you will have to shell out money to get started fully. It’s a different matter; we will see as we move ahead. Moreover, WordPress.org is a feature-packed service. So, you get enough, including flexibility, plugins, and ease of use. There’s a lot more.

Hosting

When it comes to hosting, WordPress.com offers you two options. First, you can go for a fully hosted website. Another is an advanced plan that is more appropriate for business use. In this, the hosting that you get has features like a self-hosted facility. Here, you get customized plugins and themes.

However, you don’t get hosting with WordPress.org. It’s a self-hosted option by WordPress, wherein you are the one responsible for arranging the hosting and installing the website on it. It is advantageous and disadvantageous both. It’s beneficial because you are free to choose the hosting service provider and plan. But then you are the one who is supposed to analyze all the hosting-related aspects – the hosting type, company and plan.

Management & Control

With WordPress.com, you need not worry about anything. Just choose the appropriate plan, and accordingly, they manage everything for you. You need not involve in things at all because your website will be their responsibility. They will even take care of updates. Besides, WordPress.com doesn’t allow you to have complete control over your website functionalities. So, if you belong to the technical field, possessing knowledge and skills, like coding, etc., and want your website to control the way you desire, WordPress.com won’t be a great choice for you. Although, you get a little flexibility here if you go with their high-level (costly) plan.

On the contrary, WordPress.org gives you total freedom, be it’s about management or control. It’s perfect for you if you want to take care of the functionalities of your website. It allows you to be on your own with things. Right from downloading, installing and hosting to creating a top-notch website from scratch, you can do everything with WordPress.org. Unlike WordPress.com, here, you don’t have any limitation regarding website customization. Pick your favourite from thousands of plugins and themes to enhance your website’s appearance. But ensure you have the essential skills or budget to get the things done from an adept person as it requires PHP & MySQL knowledge.

Setup

In the case of WordPress.com, setting up a website is super quick and easy. Just select the plan, create an account (sign up), and you are done. They will guide you through every step, helping you configure the things and let you begin with your website. They take care of the rest of the things, so you need not worry. Now, what you are left with is the content part – focus on that.

With WordPress.org also, the website setup process is smooth. But it demands both knowledge and efforts. Basically, you begin with downloading WordPress.org. And for further processes, you can follow the instructions, which you can find on their official website. But if you are a non-techie and don’t like getting into technical aspects much, the entire process can be uncomfortable for you. You might require the help of a professional.

Assistance

When it comes to customer support, WordPress.com wins as it provides excellent assistance through email and live chat (except in a free plan).

But with WordPress.org, you have to depend mostly on their guides and forums for support. Dedicated customer support is a feature that it lacks.

Security

Security need not be a point of concern in either WordPress.com or WordPress.org. Both are secure. However, with WordPress.com, you have to depend on their system. While in the case of WordPress.org, you can make your website more secure using advanced security plugins.

We believe we have done our bit of work! Now, it’s your turn.

What would you prefer or love using – WordPress.com or WordPress.org? Who is the winner, according to you, and why?

Tell us in the comments.

And if you need any guidance or help about choosing between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, reach out to us. Together we can conclude.

Your needs + Technical knowledge = Best Outcome

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