What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
WordPress.com – A new user has two options for starting a WordPress site: WordPress.com and WordPress.org. While both of these offer the popular WordPress site-building and content management system. There is a difference knowing those differences can help you make the right choice for your website and WordPress hosting.
What Are WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
You may be wondering, “What is WordPress?” WordPress is one of the world’s most widely used site-building software. It’s free and open-source so that it can modify and shared by any user in the WordPress community. The core WordPress software package can download by anyone from WordPress.org. It can install as part of a hosting package from a web hosting provider.
WordPress.com also supports WordPress. It’s run by a commercial company called Automattic. which was created by one of the founders of WordPress for hosting WordPress-driven sites. Users don’t have to download or install WordPress—it’s part of the hosting services that WordPress.com provides.
The differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org arise from the differences between hosted and self-hosted websites. So choosing between them largely depends on the level of control. The user wants over the design and management of their site.
WordPress.com: A Hosted Alternative for Easy Use
It provides all the tools for a hosted WordPress site. It offers users a WordPress platform for getting a site up and running with no coding expertise needed. WordPress.com takes care of all the ongoing management of the site. All users need to do is sign up for a free account, pick a theme, and start publishing. This makes WordPress.com a popular choice for students, bloggers, and creatives. Who doesn’t have a need—or have an interest in—the full range of customization options offered by WordPress.org.
WordPress.com offers multiple plans starting with the basic free account. For more services and options such as adding a custom theme, users can move up to paid plans. That includes Personal, Premium, and Business. Each of these paid plans allows for greater customization and control over the site’s operations. So that it more closely resembles a self-hosted WordPress site.
But the convenience and ease of use that makes a WordPress.com site so appealing also have their drawbacks. Unless a user upgrades to a paid plan that includes a custom domain name. A WordPress.com site will always have the extension “WordPress.com,” in the site name. A sure sign that you’re using a hosted site. A domain name that includes the hosting provider in that way can signal a personal site or blog. Not a professional site dedicated to doing business or offering a service.
WordPress.org: Hands-On and Versatile
WordPress.org is the home of WordPress software files. A collection of templates in the PHP programming language that can modify by any user. With its vast collection of customizable templates, plugins for added functionality, and a visual text editor. WordPress can use by both beginners and experienced site designers. Who can work directly with its files and stylesheet for precise customization? But, with this self-hosted version of WordPress, it’s up to the user to maintain the site aside from features. By the hosting provider and to install the plugins and other elements for customizing the site.