WordPress is without doubt one of the finest website-building instruments out there, however it may be tough to determine tips on how to use it to your functions finest. One of the crucial complicated components of utilizing this device is deciding between WordPress.org vs WordPress.com. ![Sign up for HubSpot Academy's WordPress Course [Free Online Course]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/53/58ef551d-bbc6-4612-b809-3121db467ebc.png)
On this submit, we’ll reply the query, “What’s the distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?” By way of this examination of the variations between WordPress.org vs WordPress.com, you’ll achieve worthwhile perception into which is best for crafting your web site.
What’s the distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
The first distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is relating to your web site’s internet hosting. WordPress.org doesn’t provide internet hosting, so in the event you construct your web site with the expertise, you’ll need to supply your internet hosting supplier elsewhere. Quite the opposite, WordPress.com presents each internet hosting and a platform on which you’ll be able to assemble your web site.
As a result of WordPress.org vs WordPress.com have loads of overlap, deciphering the variations could be tough. Right here’s a complete breakdown of what differentiates WordPress.org from WordPress.com.
| Characteristic | WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
| Value | Free. | Free, Private ($9/month or $4/month if paid yearly), Premium ($18/month or $8/month if paid yearly), Enterprise ($40/month or $25/month if paid yearly), and Commerce ($70/month or $45/month if paid yearly). There’s additionally enterprise out there, which begins at $25,000 a 12 months. |
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Internet hosting Supplier and Extra Options |
Must buy internet hosting supplier, create a customized area identify, buy plugins, themes, and all different add-ons. Should handle your complete web site, code, and safety. | WordPress presents a internet hosting service, area identify, safety, and backups. You may improve your account and create a customized area identify and select a third-party internet hosting supplier as nicely. |
| Customization | Should buy and set up your individual themes to customise your web site. | Customise your web site with any WordPress-compatible theme of your selection. In case you improve your account, you may also use premium themes, third-party themes, or customized themes. |
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Integration with Social Networks |
Should set up plugins to allow all social media sharing in your web site. | Your web site can combine with social media networks. In case you improve your account, sharing performance with social media accounts is included. |
| Plugins | Discover and set up plugins to reinforce your web site’s performance. | Options corresponding to sharing, stats, feedback, and polls are included. You may also add plugins to your web site for different options. |
| Help | WordPress.org assist boards. | WordPress.com assist boards and private assist can be found. With an upgraded account, you’ve got entry to stay chat and e mail assist. |
| Hyperlink to Obtain | Get began right here. | Get began right here. |
Let’s dive into these options and evaluate the variations between WordPress.org and WordPress.com in additional depth.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: Value
One other consideration when deciding between WordPress.org vs WordPress.com is price. A very powerful factor to recollect is that WordPress can give you the results you want no matter your funds.
Value of WordPress.org
WordPress.org is all the time free. Nevertheless, as a result of it’s solely a publishing platform, you’ll need to buy each different aspect of your web site, together with your third-party internet hosting supplier, area identify, in addition to your themes and templates, plugins, and add-ons.
You’ll additionally need to discover a solution to handle your web site’s safety and preserve and edit your web site’s code. As you may need guessed, this will shortly add up. In case you’re interested in how a lot a WordPress web site prices, try our complete information.
Value of WordPress.com
WordPress.com has 4 completely different plans that vary in value.
WordPress.com presents a number of plans that modify in value: Private ($9/month or $4/month if paid yearly), Premium ($18/month or $8/month if paid yearly), Enterprise ($40/month or $25/month if paid yearly), and Commerce ($70/month or $45/month if paid yearly). There’s additionally enterprise out there, which begins at $25,000 a 12 months.
As you’re employed your means up by means of the costlier plans, the extra options and customization you may benefit from in your web site.
In case you select the free possibility, you’ll be provided WordPress internet hosting, a website identify, and minimal entry to WordPress assist. In case you select one of many paid choices, you may add a internet hosting supplier and a customized area identify. Additionally, you will be provided in depth assist and customization choices.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com Internet hosting Suppliers
A internet hosting supplier is essential as a result of it provides your web site a spot to “stay” on-line. By selecting the most effective internet hosting supplier to your WordPress web site, you may increase your web site’s performance, pace, reliability, safety — the record goes on and on.
Internet hosting for WordPress.org
As we talked about, in the event you resolve to work with WordPress.org, you will need to safe your individual internet hosting. Once you self-host, you’ll buy internet hosting companies from a third-party supplier (Suppose: WP Engine, Kinsta, or InMotion Internet hosting). As a result of there are such a lot of internet hosting suppliers out there, it may be difficult to select the “proper” one to your web site. That’s why we’ve created this helpful information to assist.
Internet hosting for WordPress.com
In case you’re utilizing WordPress.com, you may not must safe internet hosting individually. As a result of WordPress.com presents internet hosting companies (for a price), you may resolve whether or not you wish to use a third-party supplier or keep on with the unique.
Professionals and Cons of Self-Internet hosting
Many advantages come from self-hosting your WordPress web site, as you’ll with a WordPress.org web site. Nevertheless, there are additionally loads of challenges to pay attention to that usually make WordPress.com plans preferable.
The professionals of self-hosting embody having full management over every part that goes into creating your web site and the power to handle your web site’s safety and edit your web site’s code. You even have the chance to seek out, purchase, and set up a third-party internet hosting supplier of your selecting, create a customized area identify, and discover completely different themes, plugins, and add-ons that work to your web site and wishes. In case you select the self-hosting route, use the WordPress platform totally free.
The cons to self-hosting embody having to spend time discovering, buying, and putting in an excellent third-party internet hosting supplier to your web site. Plus, there’s some handbook work related to studying tips on how to create a website identify, establish the themes, plugins, and improve your web site with add-ons. You additionally want some information in internet improvement, as you’ll be the one managing your web site’s code and updates.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com Customization
Subsequent up, let’s evaluate WordPress.org vs WordPress.com when it comes to customization. As you already know, WordPress is a completely customizable CMS. Because of tons of of WordPress themes and templates you may entry for little to no price, it’s doable to realize nearly any look possible. Right here’s how the 2 differ — and the way they’re the identical.
WordPress.org Customization
With WordPress.org, you will need to discover and set up your required third-party themes, corresponding to StudioPress, Elementor, Pixelgrade, and Stylemix Themes, by yourself. WordPress doesn’t enable entry to free themes the way in which WordPress.com does, so the customization degree you need will depend on your theme analysis and the choices you resolve to implement in your web site.
WordPress.com Customization
Whereas WordPress.org makes you analysis themes and customization, WordPress.com arms it on to you. Even in the event you’re working with the free model of WordPress.com, you’ll get entry to dozens of totally free themes to pick from and implement. The free plan doesn’t allow you to add any third-party or premium themes to your web site.
Nevertheless, with a paid plan, you can use premium, third-party themes as you’ll with a WordPress.org web site. In case you select this route, WordPress.com lets you simply set up your third-party or premium theme so you may get began customizing your web site in simply minutes.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com Social Media Integration
In case you’re questioning, “What is the distinction between WordPress.com and WordPress.org relating to social media integration?” We have you coated. Social media advertising isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a should, and ideally, your WordPress web site makes integrating seamless.
That means, you may handle your entire interactions in a single digestible place, broaden your impression, and even enhance your conversions. Plus, guaranteeing your social media is seen in your WordPress web site is a wonderful solution to display to guests that you’ve a social media presence — and that they need to interact with it!
WordPress.org Social Media Integration
As you doubtless guessed, WordPress.org has no innate social media integration. So as to add this performance, you’ll set up plugins o your web site. There are many choices to select from, however a few of the hottest ones you’ll spot within the WordPress plugin library embody Social Media Widget by Acurax and Jetpack. These user-friendly plugins simplify tedious duties like social media posting in your web site.
WordPress.com Social Media Integration
When you’ve got a free WordPress.com account, it’s doable to combine your web site with numerous social media accounts. Sure, it would require some work in your finish, however you are able to do so by publicizing your web site or connecting it to your a number of social accounts. The method is even simpler in the event you’re working with a paid WordPress.com account. When you’ve got a paid WordPress account, all social media integration comes included and ready-to-use.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com Plugins
One of many major causes WordPress is such a preferred platform is due to its seemingly infinite array of plugins. There are such a lot of causes we love plugins — they may help you add performance to your web site, (most) are cost-effective, and are simple to make use of.
Whether or not you’re trying to combine seamlessly together with your CRM software program or optimize your photos quicker, there’s a plugin to assist. (Psst: With over 60,000 plugin choices out there, it may be downright not possible to find out that are well worth the time — and cash. Right here’s our complete information to the 38 finest WordPress plugins.)
WordPress.org Plugins
When you’ve got a WordPress.org web site, you may add plugins to your web site — however you’ll must do the legwork to supply them your self. As a result of WordPress.org is only a platform and no options are included together with your plan, you’ll have to put in some plugins your self. In case you’re not sure the place to start, you may have a look at the WordPress plugin library to slim down the 1000’s of search outcomes and discover an possibility suited to your particular wants.
WordPress.com Plugins
Another excuse WordPress.com is fashionable is that with a few of the plans out there, you may get buyer interplay, social media, and analytics options mechanically included. These aren’t included with a standard WordPress.org plan, which is why it’s a sexy possibility. All you must do to get these default options in your WordPress.com web site is to set up WordPress-compatible plugins of your selecting. After all, you may also set up customized plugins, relying in your plan.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com Help
All through the method of constructing your web site, it’s comprehensible you probably have questions or considerations popping up. The excellent news is that relying on which plan you choose, WordPress has assist out there that can assist you by means of the rising pains and studying curves that accompany beginning an internet site.
WordPress.org Help
WordPress.org doesn’t provide a lot buyer assist, which is why it may not be the precise possibility for newbies who know they’re more likely to encounter roadblocks. Moreover, with WordPress.org, you don’t get any one-on-one help. After all, there are nonetheless sources out there — corresponding to accessing the WordPress.org assist web page. From there, you should use the out there boards to troubleshoot your downside.
WordPress.com Help
Relying on which plan you utilize, you’ll have extra assist by choosing WordPress.com. In case you keep on with a free account, you may harness the ability of WordPress’ strong group assist and boards. (Consider these because the WordPress.com equal to WordPress.org assist pages.) Most necessary to know is that in the event you stick with a free account, you’ll need to do most of your individual problem-solving.
That’s the place being a paid WordPress.com consumer is advantageous. In case you’re paying to make use of WordPress.com, you should have 24/7 entry to stay chat and e mail assist with WordPress consultants, along with group assist and boards. Contemplating that WordPress.com plans don’t need to be extraordinarily pricey, you may discover it a worthwhile funding to have an professional in your nook.
Again To You
Understanding the important thing variations between WordPress.org and the varied WordPress.com plans is essential to figuring out which kind of web site most closely fits your wants. WordPress.org is a superb possibility if you would like full management over each facet of your web site. WordPress.com is preferable in the event you want help constructing your web site and wish extra automation.
When you’ve reviewed and regarded the entire plan choices, you may get began by downloading your WordPress.org or WordPress.com account and using the number of options you’ve got entry to design an internet site good to your particular wants.
Editor’s observe: This submit was initially printed in November 2018 and has been up to date for comprehensiveness.
