Michael Staake

WordPress.org vs WordPress.com – One Name, Two Very Different Things

September 6, 2025

WordPress.org and WordPress.com are two distinct platforms that often confuse due to their shared branding but different functionalities, hosting models, and use cases.

Why It’s Confusing

People often confuse WordPress.org and WordPress.com because both platforms:

  • Use the “WordPress” name and share a similar logo.
  • Are built around the same core WordPress software.
  • Are associated with Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, which also contributes significantly to WordPress.org.
  • Cater to website creation, making them seem interchangeable at a glance.

However, they serve different purposes, with WordPress.org offering a self-hosted, open-source solution and WordPress.com providing a hosted, managed service. This distinction leads to confusion when clients assume they’re getting the same features or flexibility from both, or research WordPress and find conflicting information as some articles or videos are discussing WordPress and others are talking about WordPress.com.

Key Differences Between WordPress.org and WordPress.com

1. Hosting Model

  • WordPress.org:
  • Self-hosted: You download the free WordPress software from WordPress.org and install it on your own web hosting server, or hire a web developer to do this for you.
  • Requires you to purchase a domain name and web hosting from a third-party provider (like Wag Websites).
  • Offers full control over your server environment, including server settings, performance optimization, and security configurations.
  • WordPress.com:
  • Fully hosted: WordPress.com manages hosting for you, so you don’t need to purchase separate hosting or manage servers.
  • Provides a subdomain (e.g., example.wordpress.com) for free plans, with custom domains available on paid plans.
  • Limited control over server settings, as everything is managed by WordPress.com.

Summary: WordPress.org requires separate hosting, while WordPress.com is an all-in-one solution.

2. Cost

  • WordPress.org:
  • The software is free and open-source, but you need to pay for hosting (typically $5-15/month for shared hosting), a domain name (around $10–$50/year), and optional premium themes or plugins.
  • You can hire someone like me to build your website for you, or you can do it yourself for free if you have the time and knowledge.
  • WordPress.com:
  • Offers a free plan with basic features and a WordPress.com subdomain, but with limitations (e.g., ads, limited storage, no custom plugins).
  • Paid plans range from $4/month (Personal) to $45/month (eCommerce) or more, depending on features like custom domains, ad removal, or advanced eCommerce tools.
  • Offers website creation services starting at $499 if you need help building your site, or you can do it yourself for free.
  • Costs are predictable but can add up for premium features.

Summary: While WordPress itself is free, costs range from a few bucks a month for a hosting account and no setup fees if you’re doing everything yourself, to a few thousand up front and recurring fees for website maintenance. WordPress.com offers various price points of hosted solutions, from free to enterprise grade, but you lose the ability to create whatever you want.

3. Customization and Flexibility

  • WordPress.org:
  • Full control over customization, as you can install any theme or plugin (free or premium) from any source.
  • Supports custom code (e.g., editing PHP, CSS, or JavaScript) and integration with third-party tools.
  • Ideal for complex websites like eCommerce stores, membership sites, or custom applications.
  • WordPress.com:
  • Limited customization, especially on free or lower-tier plans. Only Business plans ($25/month) and above allow custom plugins and themes.
  • Restricted to WordPress.com-approved themes and plugins on lower plans.
  • Custom code is limited or unavailable unless you’re on a high-tier plan.

Summary: WordPress is an extensible, flexible platform, but it can be intimidating to people new to websites. While having an expert web developer take care of your website resolves that, if you are doing it on your own, and just need something simple, you may be OK with the lack of customization available on WordPress.com.

4. Ease of Use

  • WordPress.org:
  • Requires technical knowledge to set up hosting, install WordPress, and manage updates, backups, and security.
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners, as you’re responsible for maintenance.
  • Offers greater flexibility but demands more hands-on management.
  • WordPress.com:
  • Beginner-friendly, with a streamlined setup process and no need to manage hosting or updates.
  • WordPress.com handles backups, security, and updates automatically.
  • Less flexible but easier for non-technical users who want a quick start.

Summary: If you are building and managing your website on your own, WordPress.com is far simpler, although you may be limited in features and customization. Setting up WordPress on your own hosting plan isn’t necessarily difficult, but you need to take security and updates seriously. If you are paying a web developer to make and maintain your website, both are going to be similar in ease to use.

5. Ownership and Control

  • WordPress.org:
  • You own your website and data fully, as it’s hosted on your chosen server.
  • You can move your site to another host or make significant changes without restrictions.
  • No platform-imposed ads or branding.
  • WordPress.com:
  • WordPress.com retains some control over your site, especially on free or lower-tier plans, which include WordPress.com ads and branding.
  • Data portability is possible but more restricted, and you’re tied to WordPress.com’s infrastructure.
  • Higher-tier plans reduce restrictions but still don’t offer full ownership like WordPress.org.

Summary: With WordPress, you own your website and data, and host it where you please. With WordPress.com, your website is hosted on the WordPress.com platform, and you trade flexibility for simplicity.

6. Use Cases

  • WordPress.org:
  • Best for users needing full control, such as developers, businesses, or those building complex sites (e.g., eCommerce, portfolios, or custom applications).
  • Ideal for those comfortable with technical setup or willing to hire developers.
  • WordPress.com:
  • Suited for beginners looking for a simple, managed solution, without paying a web developer to build or maintain the website.
  • Good for personal blogs, small portfolios, or basic websites with minimal customization needs.

Summary: WordPress is great for sites of all types, and when you partner with a great web developer, you can build pretty much anything. WordPress.com is great if you’re on a budget and don’t want to deal with complex setup or paying a web developer.

Conclusion

WordPress (from WordPress.org) is an open-source content management system that is great for bloggers, business websites, e-commerce sites, and pretty much any other type of website you can think of. You can build your own WordPress site or pay a web developer to make one for you. You or your web developer host your site on a server or hosting account of your choosing.

WordPress.com is basically a hosting service built around WordPress. Think of “WordPress in a box”. You lose customization and ownership over the code, but you don’t need to do any of the setup or maintenance.

For my clients, I use WordPress (from WordPress.org) on my own servers, and handle the configuration and maintenance. This means I can offer flexible solutions and make the perfect site for the client, without exposing clients to the complex side of WordPress sites. If you’re interested in a website, my company, Wag Websites, offers no-obligations free consultations.