WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

A lot of people did not know that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two very different platforms. And those who do are too busy in WordPress.com Vs WordPress.Org debate to explain anything to others. Beginners often confuse the two, which led them to choose the wrong platform.

If you search for "WordPress" on Google, both platforms are ranked first and second. And if you’re new to WordPress, you might be wondering if the two are actually different from each other.

Our goal in this blog post is to highlight the main differences between them so that you can choose the platform that suits you.

Now that you know they're different, here's a look at how WordPress.com Vs WordPress.Org build up in terms of critical features.

1. Cost

The use of the WordPress.org software is free, but you have to pay for hosting, which results in costs. Fortunately, you do not have to spend a fortune. SiteGround has three shared hosting initial subscription options ranging from $3.95 to $11.95 per month depending on the type of plan and duration of contract.

Although WordPress.org is relatively simple, WordPress.com offers about six options in the various plans and updates available. The most popular plans are:

Basic Plan: This plan option is free, and the benefits you receive include free blogs, a WordPress.com web address, and extensive customization. However, you will not be able to take advantage of premium themes, e-commerce, video storage, and community support.
Blogger Plan: Priced at $3 per month, this package allows you to customize your blog with a blog domain. It offers 3GB of space. This is good for people who want to create a simple blog and share their ideas.
Premium Plan: If you want to expand your possibilities, this is the best option for you because it offers not only video storage and advanced customization, but also a custom domain and 13 GB of space.
Ecommerce Plan - This plan is the highest, at $45 per month. If you want to open your online store with a powerful and flexible platform, you should consider this option. It also includes dozens of free themes, unlimited premium themes and advanced designed customization.

2. Themes

Themes are a distinctive feature of WordPress sites. With a WordPress.com site, you can choose from a wide range of free WordPress themes ready to be added to your website. But, unless you pay the premium, you cannot add a theme from an external source.

WordPress.org users can install and edit themes from any source.

Premium themes and free themes can be customized using the dashboard tools of the site administrator. More experienced designers can also work directly with associated files to fully customize the site. In general, premium themes have more features and customization features than free themes.

3. Plugins

WordPress.com users do not have to worry about installing plugins because the functions of many plugins are preloaded with each sitemap. These include social media sharing plugins , Google analytics, and many more. Generally, other plugins cannot be installed on a WordPress.com site, limiting the range of options available to business users with specific needs.

WordPress.org on the hand is famous for its long list of free plugins and code plugins designed by the developers of the WordPress community to add specific features that are not available in the basic WordPress installation.

4. Control

The control you have on your site depends on the platform you choose. For starters, let's examine the freedoms of WordPress.org. When configuring on the server, you have many features, which are not limited to the following:

You can make use of any plugin, both free and premium
You have control on your final content without annoying advertisements
Improved performance with the ability to manipulate server settings and files.
Use several methods to add and edit files, including FTP and cPanel.

On the contrary, WordPress.com is much more limited in terms of control. Although you have the advantage of being ready to use and you do not have to worry about encryption or security, you will have to face the following limitations:

Storage caps
Additional costs for removing ads
Lack of custom plug-ins
No possibility to download your themes
Lack of FTP access to files

Why WordPress.com?

These are some of the reasons why Wordpress.com might be a good fit for your business

The dashboard is easy to use and offers a decent range of features.
It is easy to set up a website with the platform.
In terms of performance and security, you can leave it in the hands of WordPress.com.

WordPress.com remains an excellent platform if you want to create simple sites quickly. Its use also means that you can focus all your attention on growing your website and publishing great content since you will not have to worry about any technical aspects.

Why WordPress.org?

There is a reason why WordPress is so popular. There are several reasons, among them are

WordPress can be run on any web host or server of your choice.
You can use a simple dashboard with many options.
The open source nature of the platform gives you total control over all aspects of your website.
You have access to thousands of plugins and themes, allowing you to configure almost any type of site of your choice.

It's also worth noting that the WordPress community is incredibly active and helpful.

Regardless of your question, you will likely find a tutorial, a guide, or a developer ready to help you.

Can I switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org?

Often, new users who do not know the verdict of WordPress.com Vs WordPress.Org and end up with the free WordPress.com service. Once they see the limitations of the platform, they want to switch to WordPress.org.

Yes, you can certainly switch from WordPress.com to WordPress.org and quickly move all your content.

WordPress.com Vs WordPress.Org - Final thoughts

Starting with WordPress.org can result in a slightly steeper learning curve than WordPress.com. You will also need to determine how to protect your website and optimize its performance.

If you do not want to worry about hosting and you need a simple website, wordpress.com may be a good option for you. However, if you are the type of person who wants to be able to customize every aspect of your website, WordPress.org is the big winner.