WordPress.com and wordpress.org are very similar each other and often confuse many people. If you asked anyone – especially beginners – what WordPress types they use, they won’t know what you mean. Both terms are synonymous with website creation for millions of users. However, there are key differences that cut a clear line between the two.
As A WordPress.org user you have many options for customization and imcome. For instace, your site will be self-hosted, you will own your own data. It is highly customizable when it comes to design and function, as well as being able to monitize as you see fit. WordPress.com on the other hand, is hosted and requires a, depending on the level, costly monthly plan. You cannot view your stats through a third party like Google Analytics. It have very limited design options unless you pay for higher tiers. You are not able to monitize without paying a higher monthly cost.
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Why were they created, and by who?
As it serves its purpose today, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little created WordPress, initially called b2/cafelog, for bloggers in 2003. During that time, the word ‘blog’ hadn’t been invented, and people referred to it as ‘weblog.’
Over time, the name significantly evolved, and internet users fused the two words, forming ‘blog,’ a single word widely used today. On May 27, 2003, the founder, Matt Mullenweg, announced the first WordPress version that has evolved.
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is a 100% fee for all users and doesn’t require subscriptions.
Self Hosted
This type of WordPress is customizable and easy to use for beginners because it only requires web hosting and domain name. This attribute is the main reason why people refer to it as the “self-hosted WordPress.”
Our #1 recommended host is Bluehost. Is is a great company and the best overall for beginners.
Total Control
WordPress.org gives complete control of this site to its user once they create an account. Its services are free of charge giving you time to learn and allowing your site to grow with your skills.
The significant reason for it being free is that it’s an open-source community project, created without worrying about who makes copies or money off of it.
Own Your Data
Users own all the data on the website. WordPress Webhosting admins don’t have strict guidelines against violation of privacy policies like other platforms. Giving the users the freedom to create the site they invision. So users don’t have to worry about their sites getting shut down.
You can use google analytics for custom tracking or any other third party analytics software that is compatable with wordpress.org. It means that you can get all kinds of data about your traffic to grow your site.
Open Source
The site is an open-source community project that’s 100% free, and new users can set up new blogs or websites without paying any amount of money. Open source is a growing movement and the way ofthe future. WordPress.org developers are a community of people who are looking to make the web as free as possible. For us this is another great reason to support the platform.
Customizable
With this WordPress type, you can choose the website design of your choice and customize it as you please. Besides, it provides a wide range of premium and free WordPress themes that you can choose from and install. Once you have some experiance under yoru belt you can code your own website or hire someone to to is for you . There are no real customization limitizations on wordpress.org.
Monitize
Making money in wordpress.org an be easy and is tangible by running your ads through the like of Adsense or any other advertisers. The money you make is all yours and goes directly into your pocket.
Creating e-commerce sites is practicable in wordpress.Org. You can create online stores to sell different products or services through your site and deliver them yourself or though a third party. There are many ways to monitize your site.
Manual Updates
With wordpress.org, you update the site yourself because the process isn’t automatic but there are ways around it.. However, if you are updating manually it’s simple, and it only requires you to click the update button.
There are plugins that you can set up to make the updates automatic and if you get a great web hosting company like Bluehost they will also auto updates the plugins for you.
WordPress.com
Most users who only want to create family blogs or personal diaries and don’t need to monetize their sites usually go for wordpress.com.
Also, the domain “dot com” is a very common term among internet users, and new users onten look here to start there online journey.
The most significant disadvantage with this Web Hosting site is that most of its features are marked premium and require that you pay a price to unlock them.
WordPress.com Costs
This hosting site has six pricing plans that include free plans, which usually have limited features. The pricing usually rises as it changes from personal, premium, business, e-commerce, and VIP.
Payments for premium accounts usually start at $48 per year and rises to $96, $300, $540, and $5000 per month for VIP.
The hosting service is free until it reaches 3GB of space use. Afterward, you activate premium plans, and WordPress bills you annually for more space.
Automatic Updates
Once you set up a wordpress.com account, you don’t have to worry about logging in and updating it because it occurs automatically. As Time goes on this is less and less of a factor.
WordPress.com Limitations
When it comes to limitations, worpress.com has it all. These include:
- As a user, you’re not allowed to sell ads on your website, and instead, you have to upgrade to premium plans to monetize your site.
- It’s impossible to upload plugins as a free user. Instead, you’ll get a built-in jetpack. Plugins are only available for business and VIP users, who are billed annually.
- It’s impossible to upload your custom themes, and as a free user, you’re limited to a free collection of themes.
- You can’t use Google Analytics on WordPress, and you’re only limited to their stats.
Conclusion
Both wordpress.com and wordpress.org serve a similar purpose – wesbite creation. The difference between the two, however, is structural, and a winner is clear. For what it’s worth, wordpress.org is better, and anyone who wishes to monetize a WordPress site has the upper hand with it. For beginners and bloggers who don’t wish to monetize their sites, wordpress.com will work but in our opinion is inferior.
Many people are intimidated by setting up a website and don’t know where to begin. We have set up a guide to get you started and the rest of this site is dedicate to help you create the site and freedo your looking for.