Home » WordPress » WordPress.com-Vs-WordPress.org

Self Hosted WordPress.org Vs WordPress.com

Abhinay Kumar
WordPress
October 14, 2022

WordPress is one of the largest blogging platforms. The platform is available through two branches. The two branches are WordPress.org and WordPress.com. Both of them offer a very reliable platform for blogging. But there are major differences in the way they operate. It is important to know the difference before starting the blogging journey on any of these platforms. The user gets to choose and select features in WordPress.org.Whereas in WordPress.com the user has limited control over the features it gets to choose. Although there are expensive paid plans which allow you to take care of these things.Lets us look into the details of the WordPress.com Vs WordPress.org features and functionalities.

What is WordPress.org and how does it operate?

WordPress.org is a self-hosted blogging platform.It powers over 40% of Blogs as of today in the blogging sphere.Self-hosted means you are responsible for the hosting.You have complete control over it.It allows you to select your web host. There are a large number of web hosting companies available.Nowadays the hosting companies have made it easy with one click installation of WordPress.You just have to select your domain name and the rest is automatically taken care of.After domain name selection when you click on install WordPress, it installs the WordPress.That includes the database as well. The hosting company provides you access to your WordPress site.It is done through a dashboard which is called cPanel.It has got all the applications required to manage your WordPress site and database. Also, Web hosting companies provide enhanced security options to protect your site. Bluehost is one such company that has the best functionalities they offer in hosting. The cost of hosting is fairly simple to bear once you monetize your site.It also provides free SSL for the first year.

The best hosting service- Bluehost Review- A detailed guide.

How to use a free SSL with Bluehost hosting .

you are free to build and customize your site as you want it to be.
These customizations can be done manually by editing the WordPress theme files or through a plugin.
You can use page builder plugins to build your site. There are many like Elementor is one of the best
page builder plugins to use.

How to use Elementor to build your Website.

In WordPress.org, there is a plugin available for almost all the features that you want to implement.
You can install the required plugin and use it to your advantage.

How to install plugin in WordPress Beginners Guide 2021

Backing up is available through your web host as well as plugins specifically for the backup.

WordPress.org itself as well as its participating app owners provide good support.
There is a wide array of support available online when you run into any kind of issue.
And the biggest advantage is monetization options are many and it is easy to do so.
You have more control over your earnings.

What is WordPress.com

WordPress.com is a blogging platform where you have to open an account with them and the rest is done for you.You do not have to worry about hosting, backup, or security. All of this is taken care of by them.It allows 3GB of data in the basic plan.It gives you a domain name like test.WordPress.com.You have limited control of your website. You cannot customize your site completely.Also in the basic plan that they offer you cannot install any plugins or themes. The personal and premium plans do not allow the installation of plugins and themes.The support is only through email. Live support is offered in higher plans.
Customization options are very limited. You have to opt for the business or eCommerce plan to have access to all of these.The monetization options are limited. If you are looking in the long run WordPress.com has fewer monetization options as compared to WordPress.org.The revenue that you earn through ads has to be shared with them. Also, there are restrictions on ads and affiliate links.WordPress.com puts restrictions
on affiliate links. As it does not allow the platform to be used for specific product promotion. It can take down any ads or promotion links without giving
any particular reason for the same. The advanced marketing platforms like Adsense or eCommerce platforms can be accessed only through higher plans like business
and higher.The SEO functionality is very limited in the basic plan and you have to opt for a business plan and higher to apply high-level SEO practices.

WordPress.org Vs WordPress.com Which one is better?

1.WordPress.org allows you to host on your own. This allows you to have access to the server. You can make changes and resolve issues on your own. It also allows database access. You can migrate your site to a different host without much hassle. Your new host will help you with this.WordPress.com takes care of the hosting and you do not have access to it.You have only access to your site dashboard. WordPress.com does not allow any of this in its basic plan. Migration is not allowed in basic plans and you need to opt for higher plans to get it done. WordPress.org gives you complete control of your site while that is not the case in WordPress.com.

2.WordPress.org allows you to install plugins and themes while WordPress.com does not allow this in basic plans. Installing Themes and plugins are key to website customizations. It greatly enhances your presence in the search engines and in front of users.

3.WordPress.org gives you several ways to monetize your site. The earnings are completely in your hand. WordPress.com does not have many monetization options. It puts restrictions on affiliate links and ads. So the earning from it is limited. As you grow it is not the best platform for seeking financial growth.

4.WordPress.org offers so many plugins and other ways to boost your SEO.SEO is much required to make your online presence felt. WordPress.com allows this in only higher-level plans.

5. WordPress.org support is more reliable. Be it your host or plugins the support system in place is prompt and technically suitable to solve issues. WordPress.com has limited support if you run into any issues.

Who are WordPress.org and WordPress.com for?

WordPress.org allows you to host and manage all aspects of your website.

1. It allows you to install themes and plugins. so it has easy ways of performing customizations. Besides, it has a very prompt and technical support system for all the plugins and other apps that you will be using on it. There is every chance that you will run into some issue. So good technical support is always desired. With WordPress.com this is a lacking part that you don’t have access to your server. So you have limited options to manage your site. Technical support is available over mails in basic plans. So someone with good technical and functional skills looking to manage all aspects of his website should opt for WordPress.org.

2.WordPress.org has better monetization systems in place as compared to WordPress.com.

WordPress.org allows affiliate links as well as ad systems such as Google AdSense.So if you are in for monetization and have long innings to play, WordPress.org is for you. However, if you have limited content then WordPress.com can be for you.

Price Comparison WordPress.org Vs WordPress.com

Both WordPress.org and WordPress.com start around 3$ a month.It is a bit less. However, there is a huge gap in the functionalities that the two have to offer. WordPress.org almost gives you all the controls of your website.WordPress.com gives you access to only the site dashboard. This Dashboard has very little to offer. You can post your content in addition to making minor changes. There is no ad revenue. The premium plan of WordPress.com is around 5$ and gives you access to live chat support. It also allows you to get ad revenue.The Business and eCommerce plan is quite expensive but it has more flexibility to offer.It allows you access to live chat support. You get ad revenue. You get access to install plugins and themes. It has a collection of around 50 thousand such plugins and themes.Also, it gives you access to Advanced SEO tools. It also adds various ad systems to this plan.You can avail migration. WordPress.org offers all these functionalities in its basic plan.So on the whole WordPress.org is more user-friendly and accessible than WordPress.com.It depends on what your requirement is. But anyway a WordPress.org is more suitable than WordPress.com.