What’s the Difference Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

Trying to figure out whether to use WordPress.com or WordPress.org for your website? You’re not alone!

It’s one of the most common questions I hear—especially from DIY website builders who are excited to launch their first site but unsure which path to take.

You might be surprised at how different these two platforms are—and even more surprised at how choosing the wrong one can limit your growth (and increase your costs) down the road.

Let’s break down the differences so you can move forward with clarity and confidence.

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see my full affiliate disclosure for further information.

Understanding WordPress

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet (WP Beginner)—and for good reason! Whether you’re blogging, building a business site, or selling digital products, WordPress has tools for every stage of growth.

The tricky part? WordPress comes in two versions: WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

If you’ve read my blog post “Managed WordPress Hosting vs. Shared Hosting: Which is Right for You?”, you might remember my apartment and property manager analogies. Let’s keep going with that. Think of the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org in the same way you would think of renting vs. buying a house:

• WordPress.com is like renting an apartment. The landlord (WordPress.com) handles maintenance and sets the rules, but you have less freedom to customize.
• WordPress.org is like owning your home. You’re responsible for everything, but you have complete control over what you do with the space.

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is an all-in-one service where your site is hosted for you. It’s designed to be beginner-friendly and low-maintenance.

Features and Limitations

Features:

• Quick to launch with minimal setup
• Hosting, updates, and security are included
• Free plan available (with branding)

Limitations:

• You can’t install most themes or plugins unless you upgrade
• Monetization options are restricted on lower plans
• Custom design is limited unless you pay for advanced tiers

Let’s say you want to add a course platform, email opt-ins, or even just change your fonts and layout. Unless you’re on their higher-tier plans, you’ll hit a wall pretty fast.

What is WordPress.org?

Here’s where things get exciting!

WordPress.org, often called “self-hosted WordPress,” gives you full control over every part of your site.

That includes where it’s hosted, what features it has, and how it looks. You’ll need to handle a few things yourself, like getting a domain name (I use and recommend Namecheap) and choosing a hosting provider.

Benefits of Self-Hosted WordPress

Why do I love WordPress.org? Let me count the ways:

• You own everything—your domain, content, and design
• You can install any plugin or theme you like
• It’s highly customizable and works for blogs, shops, memberships, and more

Setting Up Your WordPress.org Site

“But Liz, this sounds complicated! How do I even get started?”

I hear you! While WordPress.org does require a bit more setup than WordPress.com, it’s not as tough as you might think. The basic steps are:

1. Choose a hosting provider (I recommend Pressable for managed hosting or BigScoots if you’re just starting out)
2. Register your domain name
3. Install WordPress (most hosts do this for you with one click)
4. Pick your theme and start building!

Getting Started with the Kadence Theme

Speaking of themes… let me share one of my favorite free bundle of tools for building WordPress websites. The Kadence Theme + Kadence Blocks give you everything you need to create a professional-looking website without spending a dime on premium themes or page builders.

What makes Kadence awesome:

• You can build your site totally for free
• Easy to customize
• Loads lightning-fast
• Works great with the WordPress block editor
• Includes pre-built page layouts you can customize (or if you want to get fancy, Restored 316 Designs has beautiful WordPress themes that are built with Kadence)

Are you getting excited about building that free website on WordPress.org yet? You’ve got to check out my free 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge!

Instead of trying to build your site in a weekend (and getting frustrated), I’ll guide you through the process step by step, including how to use Kadence to create a site you love. ❤️

Real-Life Scenarios

Let’s look at some actual use cases to help you figure out which platform is right for you!

When to Choose WordPress.com

WordPress.com might be your best bet if:

• You’re starting a hobby blog or personal website
• You want the simplest possible setup
• Tech maintenance makes you nervous
• You’re okay with basic customization options
• Your site isn’t crucial for your business income

Perfect example: You want to start a travel blog to share your adventures with family and friends. You aren’t planning to monetize it and don’t need special features, so WordPress.com’s free plan would work beautifully.

When to Choose WordPress.org

WordPress.org is probably your path if:

• You’re building a business website
• You plan to sell products or services online
• You want to monetize with ads or affiliate links
• You need specific features or integrations
• You want complete control over your site’s design
• You’re building sites for clients

Real talk: Every WordPress website I build for my clients uses WordPress.org.

Why? Because I know they’ll need the flexibility as their business grows—whether that’s adding an online store, membership area, or some custom features I haven’t even thought of yet!

Cost Comparison

WordPress.com Pricing Plans

Visit wordpress.com/pricing for the most up-to-date plans and pricing straight from the source. You can always get started with a free plan.

WordPress.org Setup and Running Costs

With WordPress.org, your main costs are:

• Domain name: About $12-15/year (I use Namecheap)
• Hosting*: Starts around $7/month for shared hosting (BigScoots) or $15-20/month for managed WordPress hosting (Pressable)
• Premium themes/plugins**: Optional, but typically $0-200/year depending on your needs

*Did you know that I can host your WordPress.org website for you with my WordPress Care Plan?

**One of the benefits to a care plan with E. Houston Studio is you get free access to all of my agency-level premium themes and plugins for your site!

With WordPress.org, you can:

• Run your own ads (not just WordPress.com’s)
• Add unlimited affiliate links (just like I’ve done in this post!)
• Create membership sites
• Sell online courses
• Build an ecommerce store—all without paying extra platform fees to WordPress.com!

Support and Learning Resources

WordPress.com Support Options

• Email support on all paid plans
• Live chat support on higher-tier plans
• Official WordPress.com forums
• Basic documentation and tutorials

WordPress.org Community and Learning Resources

WordPress.org has a massive community ready to help! You’ve got access to:

• Official WordPress.org forums
• Countless tutorials and blogs
• Local WordPress meetups
• YouTube channels and courses
• Professional developers and designers

Building your own WordPress.org site might spark an interest in creating websites for others! That’s exactly what happened to me…

After teaching computer science for 15 years, I discovered I loved building WordPress websites way more than grading papers!

If you’re curious about turning WordPress skills into a business, there are some great communities out there. (You can learn more about them over on my Favorites page.) I got started learning about WordPress and building client sites through WP Rockstar, a training program that teaches both the tech skills and business side of WordPress development. (You can check out my journey from teacher to web designer here!)

Building Your Own WordPress.org Website

Join the Free 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge

Ready to build your WordPress.org website but not sure where to start?

I’ve got you covered! My free 30-Day WordPress Website Challenge is perfect for beginners who want to take things step by step.

You’ll learn how to:

• Choose and set up hosting
• Install WordPress and Kadence
• Build pages that make sense for your business
• Secure your site and make it legally compliant

The best part? No rushing! Unlike those “build a website in a weekend” programs, you’ll have time to really understand what you’re doing—and end up with a site you’re proud of.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Starting with WordPress.com for a business site (“But it’s cheaper!” Spoiler: not in the long run)
• Choosing the wrong hosting provider
• Not considering future growth needs
• Waiting too long to make the switch

Making Your Choice

Let’s recap…

✓ Choose WordPress.com if:

• You want the simplest possible setup
• You’re creating a basic blog or personal site
• You don’t need special features or customization
• Budget is your top priority

✓ Choose WordPress.org if:

• You’re building a business website
• You want complete control over your site
• You plan to monetize your site
• You need specific features or integrations
• You might want to expand your site later

So, Which Version of WordPress Will It Be?

Remember, there’s no wrong choice—it’s all about what works best for your needs right now. Want to chat about which option might be right for you? Reach out through my contact page, and I’ll be happy to talk through your options with you!

Frequently Asked Questions