{"id":46308,"date":"2023-06-27T09:39:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T09:39:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/colorlib.com\/wp\/?p=46308"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:07:36","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T11:07:36","slug":"self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/colorlib.com\/wp\/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com\/","title":{"rendered":"Self Hosted WordPress.org vs. Free WordPress.com – What’s The Difference in 2023?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One of the best features of WordPress is that it’s super easy to get started with. But which do you go with: WordPress.org or WordPress.com? What’s the difference anyway?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I still remember taking my first web design and development class back in the 10th grade and, though I was eager, it took me almost a month to create a small security services website that consisted of 3 pages in total – and I was quite pleased about it too. HTML\/CSS was fun, PHP could get a bit frustrating sometimes, but I never thought I could do the same thing in 15 minutes or less using WordPress! After all, I was the only class member who had added a handmade custom animation to the site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many people head over to WordPress because of its convenience and flexibility. However, there are still a few confusions that one can run into, and one such confusion is choosing between free WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress. In this post, I will address this confusion by breaking it down into the variables that will be most important to the users: cost, development options, restrictions, upgrades, and maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But before we jump into the comparisons, let’s go over a brief overview of our two options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free WordPress.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"WordPress.com
WordPress.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

WordPress.com<\/a> is the solution for setting up a free website without worrying about anything else that comes with creating a website, such as security and anti-spam filters, finding a hosting provider, or maintaining your website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WordPress.com guides the user with a simple installation and setup process by signing up, choosing the blog name they want, and then jumping straight into designing their website. No hassle and no headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This convenience comes at a cost (albeit not one you pay from your bank). The trade-off between flexibility, server space, and resources comes to center stage, which we’ll cover in more detail in the following sections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Hosted WordPress<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"WordPress.org
WordPress.org<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Self-hosting your WordPress site means downloading your copy of the WordPress content management system (CMS), finding a domain provider, and signing up for a hosting service to host your site online. Users can get their copy of the WordPress CMS from WordPress.org<\/a> for free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although it might sound a tad overbearing, at first, there is another way to look at it: you have full control over every single detail of your website from its structure to the level you’d like to operate it on. With this option, all you get is the software that will power your website and you’re responsible for everything else – domain, hosting, maintenance – everything. The only limitations your site will be subject to depend on the hosting plan you sign up for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s hardly a surprise that WordPress currently holds over 70% of the current CMS market share<\/a>. WordPress.org’s support forum<\/a> is worth mentioning here as it is one of the greatest online knowledge resources within the WordPress community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Hosted WordPress vs. Free WordPress.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Now that you understand what each of the two options are, let’s navigate the major points of both to familiarize ourselves with their ins and outs to decide which one is best for your online business’s requirements. This section will draw out a detailed comparison of self-hosted WordPress vs. free WordPress.com, contrasting some of the most important factors webmasters consider before reaching a knowledge-backed decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cost<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From building a house to getting a website, the cost is universal to anything you want and, therefore, must be analyzed in-depth to make the optimal decision based on your budget and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When comparing the costs associated with self-hosted WordPress and WordPress.com, there are for major factors that are associated with a cost:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Domain name.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Hosting service\/plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Storage space.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Advertisement removal.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    The cheapest option is to sign up with WordPress.com, not be picky about domain names and activate the default themes and plugins you get with the website. This basic, stripped-down alternative won’t cost you a dime and your WordPress.com site will be live online. If you want a domain name of your choice, the option to purchase premium themes, remove advertisements, and get more storage space on the server, the otherwise free WordPress.com becomes costly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    On the other hand, WordPress.org is a far more cost-efficient option with which you can get the domain name from a registrar and unlimited server storage space (depending upon your hosting plan). You won’t even have to pay extra to remove advertisements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    With that brief overview, let’s dig into the four major factors of both options and evaluate their costs in detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Self-Hosted WP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The costs associated with self-hosted WordPress.org are easy to understand and depend mostly on the hosting provider. Before continuing, let’s quickly recap what being on a self-hosted WordPress installation means. Self-hosted WordPress means downloading a copy of the WordPress CMS and purchasing a hosting plan for your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n