WordPress.com can be a good start for bloggers. You won’t require external hosting or an external domain name. Start blogging or building your own website. Just go to WordPress.com and create your account on it.
Also, you won’t have to pay for hosting, manage your website, and download the software. It will take care of all these things.
But, it comes with certain limitations. You can’t install your own plugins and themes, and remove undesired ads. You are not permitted to add affiliate links to drive traffic and sell ads. There will be monetization restrictions on blogs and websites.
On the other hand, self-hosted WordPress.org is 100% free. Choose your hosting plan and domain name according to your requirements. Install as many plugins and themes as you want. No monetization restrictions. Run your desirable ads and fully control your website. Utilize powerful tools such as Google Analytics to track your website performance. Perform customization as much as you want. Hence, a huge difference lies between WordPress.com Vs WordPress.org.
1. Pricing Difference
Let’s see the pricing difference between WordPress.com Vs WordPress.org here.
WordPress.com
If you opt for free WordPress.com, then you will get 3GB of space. WordPress.com’s ads will appear on your website. Free WordPress.com runs ads on websites. In return, they do not provide any revenue share.
You will have to go for a premium plan if you don’t want to include subdomain branding in your URL.
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is 100% free. In order to make your website visible on internet, you need two things:
- Hosting plan
- Domain name
Web hosting plan cost may range from $2.95/month to $49.95/month. You need to download WordPress and install it. Many hosting providers offer one click installation. Some provide pre-install WordPress where you don’t even need to click a single button.
Website Builders provides SSL certificates as standard. If you utilize the CMS system, then you will require an SSL certificate. Bluehost provides free SSL certificates with some of its WordPress hosting plans.
Hostinger, WP Engine, DreamHost, HostGator, and SiteGround are some of the best hosting providers. Consider them while choosing your hosting plans.
Functionality Difference
WordPress.com
Source: WordPress.com
WordPress.com imposes a lot of restrictions. If you are utilizing WordPress.com, then you can only use pre-loaded WordPress themes. If you want to upload another theme, then you will have to go for upgrade plans.
Your website can be deleted anytime if they think you are violating their terms and policies. You won’t be able to run your eCommerce store, until you upgrade to their eCommerce plans.
You won’t be allowed to:
- Upload free or premium themes
- Install plugins
- Utilize the Google Analytics
- Run ads
- Upload limitless products on site
- Remove WordPress branding
- Access to integrated payment gateways
- Fully control your website
- Personalize your online store
You can be free from these restrictions, if you have opted for paid plans. However, WordPress.org provides all these functionalities in their free plans.
WordPress.org
Source: WordPress.org
WordPress.org provides full authority over website data and functionalities. Utilize WordPress.org for running your online store. Sell products and provide services. Accept payments from credit cards and integrate with top shipping carriers. Easily deliver your products from your website.
You can upload free and premium themes from different platforms such as- WordPress, Themeforest, and WooCommerce.
WordPress.com |
WordPress.org |
|---|---|
| Restricted data access. | Provides full control over data. |
| WordPress is an open eCommerce platform. You can’t customize your website. | Easily customize your website. |
| You can utilize only pre-loaded free WordPress themes. | Get a wide range of free and paid themes. |
| Restriction on the usage of tools such as Google Analytics and Yoast. | No restriction on the usage of tools such as Google Analytics and Yoast. |
| You cannot upload the plugins. | Install your desired plugins. |
| There is a monetization restriction. | There is no monetization restriction. |
| Cannot run your own ads. | Free to run ads on your store to earn more profit. |
| You can’t create your eCommerce website using the free version. | Using self-hosted WordPress.org, you can create your own eCommerce website. |
3. Storage Difference
WordPress.com
The WordPress.com free version provides 3GB of space. It can be insufficient for running the online store. If you need more storage space, then you will have to go for its paid plan.
WordPress.org
In case of WordPress.org, you won’t have to additionally spend money for having more storage space. As it depends upon the hosting plans. Your hosting providers will offer you sufficient space that you may require.
Pricing |
Free |
Personal |
Premium |
Business |
eCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | 3GB | 8GB | 13GB | 200GB | 200GB |
| Cost | $0 | $4 | $8 | $25 | $45 |
4. Maintenance And Security
WordPress.com
Source: WSI
WordPress.com provides site maintenance and security services. These are activated once you start running your website. Also, it handles all the updates.
Your site will be wholly relying on the internal security and backup mechanisms of WordPress.com that they have built for their service.
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is built with an aim to provide all modern standards and security maintenance services. A clean WordPress installation is secure enough in itself. Hackers cannot break their security easily.
For enhancing the security of your website- you can install security plugins. Select security plugin such as Sucuri, iThemes Security, WPScan, Google Authenticator, etc. Also, you need to perform backups on your own while using WordPress.org. Perform backups utilizing extensions such as BackupBuddy, Jetpack, UpdraftPlus, etc.
You are responsible for your updates too. Whenever updates are available, they will appear as notifications. Only, you need to do one click for installing the update.