Do You Know The Difference Between WordPress.com VS WordPress.org?

WordPress is a tremendous content management system that makes it super easy for people to create and customize a full-fledged website in minutes. It is popular among business leaders who don’t have in-depth knowledge about coding. That is why the platform is powering over 24.7 percent of websites across the globe. And the best part is that WordPress comes in two different versions – WordPress.com and WordPress. org.

However, most beginners get confused between these two forms. Both are different in terms of flexibility, maintenance, and functionality. But the basic difference is that WordPress.com is the commercially hosted version while WordPress.org is the core of CMS.

In this blog post, we will try to find out the significant difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org.

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is an open-source content management system developed by automatic. It is a commercial/official website that allows you to create a website or web app for free. However, there are some restrictions that could create a messy situation for you.

You don’t need to install the software or pay for the hosting. You can directly set up and configure your site and start up creating and posting your content while WordPress.com handles the other aspects by their own.

If you want to host your site for free of cost, choose WordPres.com. However, it lets you upgrade to a premium option that can help you fulfill your specific needs with ease. With the installation of premium plans, you will get additional customization options that will empower the overall look and feel of your site in minutes. There are also some certified plugins for automatic backups, security, automatic updates, Search engine optimization, and spam protection to boost the performance and functionality of your website.

All you need to do is to register with the commercial site, choose your site name, and get started with WordPress.com.

What is WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is the core CMS software, developed by hundreds and thousands of community volunteers. You can get your own setup of WP CMS for free of cost. Plus, there are tons of beautiful and powerful free themes and plugins that let you create anything from scratch in seconds.

The core version of WordPress offers installation and configuration and a support forum from where you can ask your queries related to WordPress while developing your site. Furthermore, you will get complete control over the design and functionality of your site. The only disadvantage related to WordPress.org is that you can only use the resources that are included in the hosting package.

Although it is free to use the WordPress version, you need to buy your own domain name, and also select the hosting provider to set up a unique website.

Now, let’s get down and find out the difference between these two WordPress version.

The Major Difference Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org:

1. Comparison of Cost

There are 4 factors that you should keep in mind while comparing the cost involved in using WordPress.com and WordPress.org. These are:

• Domain name
• Hosting
• Storage space, and
• Ad Removal

If you are looking for a cheaper and more convenient version, you should go for the .com plan.  Here, you don’t need to buy your own domain name and hosting services.

But if you want your domain name with limitless storage space and zero advertising, then .org is an ideal option for you. It will be great to download the core software for building and customizing a site, along with your own domain name, and hosting provider.

2. Plugins and Themes

When it comes to adding extra functionality, then WordPress.org is the perfect option for you. It offers over 15000+ in-house plugins and 1500+ themes that you can download and install free of cost. This means you can create and customize your site without spending extra bucks on it.

On the other side, WordPress.com offers limited themes (around 200) and plugins (20-30) that won’t let you create a unique identity with ease. If you want to create a fresh site, you need to buy premium themes and plugins or hire a developer who can develop, customize and maintain the site on your behalf.

3. Customization Options

Hosting a site on WordPress.com won’t give you FTP access. In fact, it doesn’t empower the basic site to edit the code. If you want to modify the code of your site you need to pay $30/ year.

While the .org plan offers complete control over your files and enables you to make modifications while coding your site.

4. Update and Maintenance

When it comes to the maintenance of the site, WordPress.com users can take a sense of relief. It is because .com software is completely responsible for your updates and backups. While on the other hand, you need to regularly update and back up your site if you are using WordPress.org.

Conclusion

Both WordPress versions are great and offer distinctive features. But if you want to choose the affordable, flexible, and competitive platform, you can use the core software to build your site. With WordPress.org, you can generate your custom domain, and host at a reasonable price. But if you want a user-friendly and simple platform, WordPress.com is an ideal solution for you.