{"id":3450,"date":"2020-01-15T15:00:16","date_gmt":"2020-01-15T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=3450"},"modified":"2020-09-03T10:15:16","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T08:15:16","slug":"wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org\/","title":{"rendered":"WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – What’s the Difference"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Being the world\u2019s most popular blogging platform and one that currently powers over a third of all websites in the world, WordPress has definitely become a familiar name. However, when people first start looking to create a website for personal or business purposes, they find themselves facing something of a puzzle: there is WordPress.com and there is WordPress.org. WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – which is the \u201creal\u201d WordPress?<\/strong> Which is official? Which one is better? Which one is free?[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]In this article, we\u2019re going to answer all these questions. But let\u2019s start from the beginning. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What is WordPress.org?<\/h2>\n

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\n \"WordPress.org\" <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]WordPress.org<\/a> is the<\/em> WordPress<\/strong>. When people talk about WordPress, in 99% of the cases they\u2019re referring to the .org version. Known as the self-hosted WordPress<\/strong>, WordPress.org is home to the most popular content management system (CMS) in the world \u2013 an open-source platform that was created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]First conceived as a basic and user-friendly blogging solution, WordPress quickly evolved into a powerful platform for all sorts of websites, including some pretty big ones<\/a>. One of the main reasons for the popularity of WordPress both among users and among developers is the fact it is an open-source platform. Everyone can build upon it, contribute to it, copy it, use it for whatever purposes. Thanks to this, the WordPress environment is today a collaborative ecosystem of plugin and theme developers, users, experts, designers and all sorts of other contributors.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]When it comes to \u201cregular users,\u201d the most important distinction between WordPress.org and the .com version is that if you want to build a website using the software from WordPress.org, then you will have to take care of web hosting yourself<\/strong>. With WordPress.com, that\u2019s not the case \u2013 they will host your blog and you won\u2019t have any expenses related to WordPress hosting. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

What is WordPress.com?<\/h2>\n

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\n \"WordPress.com\" <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]If WordPress.org is software, WordPress.com<\/a> is more of a blogging solution<\/strong>, a platform that you can use to set up a simple blog<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]On WordPress.com, the basic features are free. You don\u2019t even need hosting or a domain name<\/strong>, nor do you have to install WordPress, since your blog will be on a subdomain (eg. yoursite.wordpress.com<\/em>). WordPress.com uses the WordPress platform software at its core, but on the user end, there are a lot of limitations compared to self-hosting WordPress.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]While some paid WordPress.com plans include certain features and advantages that bring it close to the WordPress.org experience, the basic, free plan does not allow users to add plugins or use custom themes<\/strong>.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Another important distinction is that WordPress.com is a simple blog publishing platform and there is not much else you can do with it. As such, it is a good solution for users who are just starting<\/strong> and who want to see how it feels to have your content published out there.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Are They Related?<\/h2>\n

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\n \"WordPress.com <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”38px”][vc_column_text]This might be a good time to clear up another thing that puzzles many users when it comes to understanding the difference between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. What exactly is the relation between the two?[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]If we look at the ownership structure of both platforms, it\u2019s clear why things are a bit confusing. WordPress is a registered trademark, owned by the WordPress Foundation. The Foundation owns WordPress.org. As for WordPress.com, it is owned by the company called Automattic, which is helmed by Matt Mullenberg, one of the co-founders of WordPress. So, the two projects have the same origins, but their paths, as separate entities, have parted long time ago, and so did their purposes and scopes. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”68px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Which is Better?<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Now that we\u2019ve cleared the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, the question \u201cWhich is better?\u201d is no longer a legitimate one \u2013 it\u2019s like apples and oranges. The real question should be \u201cWhich one is better for my needs<\/em>?\u201d<\/strong> And that is a question we can actually address.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Considering that WordPress.com is a simple blogging platform for publishing content and WordPress.org is a powerful CMS for creating websites, you have to ask yourself what your goals are and what you want to achieve with your blog or website, before you make the choice. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Let\u2019s take a look now at some of the advantages and disadvantages of both WordPress versions that should help you make an informed decision.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”50px”]

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\n \"Which <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=”90px”][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#f0f0f0″][vc_empty_space height=”50px”][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=”top-picks-banner”][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_separator color=”custom” accent_color=”#f0f0f0″][vc_empty_space height=”80px”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Pros and Cons of WordPress.com<\/h2>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Like we said, WordPress.com is free, at least its basic version is. There are paid options that range from Personal to eCommerce, and each tier comes with more disk space, better features and advanced tools. But we\u2019re only going to talk about pros and cons in terms of the free version here, since that is the one that attracts most users \u2013 the ones who are willing to pay usually opt for the self-hosted solution (i.e. for WordPress.org).[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Pros<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”23px”]

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    \n It is free<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
      \n
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      \n Makes a good starting point for blogs and personal websites<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
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        \n Automatic updates and backups<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
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          \n Free themes<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]Cons<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”23px”]
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            \n The free version has highly limited resources<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
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              \n No monetization options (no selling ads, no e-commerce, no membership sites)<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
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              • \n\t
                \n WordPress puts their own ads and branding<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                  \n
                • \n\t
                  \n No custom domain <\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                    \n
                  • \n\t
                    \n Only WordPress stats are allowed (no Google Analytics)<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                      \n
                    • \n\t
                      \n No plugins or custom themes<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

                      Pros and Cons of WordPress.org<\/h2>\n

                      [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The main thing about the \u201creal\u201d WordPress is that it provides the means for building a website of your own. This means that with WordPress software you get a real website, not a blog on someone else\u2019s domain. Sure, you pay for the web hosting and there may be other expenses along the way, but we\u2019re talking about a real website here, one over which you have complete control. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Still, not everyone needs this much liberty and power of control. Check the pros and cons of WordPress.org to see if it is the right solution for you. [\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”28px”][vc_column_text]Pros<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text]

                        \n
                      • \n\t
                        \n The software is 100% free<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                          \n
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                          \n You are the sole owner of your site and all its data<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                            \n
                          • \n\t
                            \n You can sell ads and keep all the revenue<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                              \n
                            • \n\t
                              \n You can set up an e-commerce store or a membership site<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                                \n
                              • \n\t
                                \n You can install plugins and themes<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_column_text]Cons<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=”23px”]
                                  \n
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                                  \n There are some additional costs (hosting, domain name, premium themes and plugins)<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                                    \n
                                  • \n\t
                                    \n You\u2019re on your own \u2013 no one else is in charge of security and maintenance, updates and backups<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>
                                      \n
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                                      \n Takes a little know-how to successfully manage a WordPress site<\/span> <\/div>\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

                                      WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Which Should You Choose?<\/h2>\n

                                      [\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When it comes to choosing between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org, you should keep in mind that both are excellent solutions in their own right. It all depends on what you want to do and what your goals are. If you need a simple platform where you will be able to share your thoughts, images and other content, then the .com version might do the trick. If your ambitions are higher and if you need an actual website \u2013 a blog, magazine, portfolio site, shop, showcase, listing or anything else \u2013 then WordPress.org is the one to use.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                                      If you’re trying to decide between WordPress.org and WordPress.com, in this article we are covering all the differences and helping you figure it out. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":3500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[46,29,14,13],"class_list":["post-3450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-resources","tag-blogging","tag-business","tag-core","tag-wordpress"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3450","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3450"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3450\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3450"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3450"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3450"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}