Start your own website and establish an online presence using either WordPress.org or WordPress.com.

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: A Guide to Choosing the Right Platform for Your Website

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Trying to figure out whether to use WordPress.com or WordPress.org for your website? You’re not alone! As someone who builds WordPress (.org) websites for entrepreneurs, I run into people asking this question all the time. You might be surprised at how different these two platforms are—and even more surprised at how choosing the wrong one could cost you more in the long run!

Understanding WordPress

Why WordPress is the Most Popular Website Platform

WordPress powers over 43% of all websites on the internet (WP Beginner)—and for good reason! Whether you’re brand new to websites or you’ve been building them for years, WordPress has tools and features for every skill level. Plus, it’s incredibly flexible.

Want to start a blog? Sell products? Create an online course? WordPress can handle it all.

The Key Differences Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org

Here’s something that trips up a lot of people: there are actually two different versions of WordPress! And while they might sound similar, they’re pretty different in what they can do for you.

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 offers a streamlined approach to getting your site online. It’s kind of like getting the keys to a move-in ready apartment—everything’s set up and ready to go.

Features and Limitations

Features:

  • Easier to get started
  • Basic hosting is included
  • Security and updates are handled for you
  • Technical support is available

Limitations:

  • Limited customization options
  • Restrictions on monetization (on basic plans)
  • Can’t install custom themes or plugins (unless you’re on higher-tier plans)
  • WordPress.com branding on free plans

Say you want to add a simple payment button or membership area—with WordPress.com’s basic plan, you’re out of luck unless you upgrade to their pricier business plan. And trust me, those costs add up fast!

Laptop displaying WordPress logo, a popular website builder, in a busy cafe setting.

What is WordPress.org?

Here’s where things get exciting! WordPress.org (also called self-hosted WordPress) gives you complete control over your website. 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:

  • Complete control over your site’s design and features
  • Freedom to monetize however you want (ads, affiliate links, online courses)
  • Access to thousands of themes and plugins
  • No restrictions on what you can build
  • Own your content 100%

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 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.

A woman with glasses and long hair works on a laptop at an outdoor table with palm trees in the background. A red notebook rests on the table beside her, hinting at her dedication to her online business.

Real-World Use Cases

Let’s look at some actual scenarios 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 one of my care plans? 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!
A young black woman providing services at a desk in an office.

Support and Resources

WordPress.com Support Options

WordPress.org Community and Learning Resources

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

Here’s something cool: 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. 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!)

Person giving thumbs up while wearing a "Geek Pack" shirt. Text below reads: "CASE STUDY: Liz used Square Templates and made her investment back in 6 months!

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 breaks down the entire process into manageable daily tasks. You’ll learn how to:

  • Choose and set up hosting
  • Install WordPress and Kadence
  • Determine and create your essential pages
  • Set up proper security
  • Make your site 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
A young Asian woman providing services at a desk in front of a computer.

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!

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