The most confusing question in WordPress
WordPress.com and WordPress.org share a name but are completely different products:
- WordPress.org is the open-source WordPress software you install on your own hosting. You own everything — themes, plugins, code, data.
- WordPress.com is a hosted platform run by Automattic (the company behind WordPress). You rent a managed blog; WordPress.com handles hosting, security, and updates.
This guide is about that choice, and how it interacts with WordPress hosting.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org side by side
| | WordPress.org (self-hosted) | WordPress.com (hosted) | | --- | --- | --- | | Cost | Hosting $2–35/mo | Free to $45/mo plans | | Plugins | All of them | Limited by plan | | Themes | All of them | Limited by plan | | Code access | Full (FTP/SSH) | None | | Ads | No forced ads | On free plan | | Domain | Your own | Subdomain on free | | Ownership | Yours, exportable | Yours, exportable |
WordPress.org: what you get with real hosting
Self-hosted WordPress + a WordPress host gives you:
- Every plugin and theme — WooCommerce, page builders, SEO tools, anything
- Full control — code, database, cron jobs, custom stacks
- No forced ads — your site, your monetization
- Portable — move hosts anytime with a migration (see our migration guide)
- Cost control — $2.99/mo hosting beats WordPress.com's plugin-enabled tiers
The catch: you're responsible for updates, security, and backups. That's the maintenance work covered in WordPress hosting and maintenance.
WordPress.com: what the hosted plan buys
WordPress.com's appeal is zero maintenance:
- Free plan — blog on a subdomain with ads and 1GB storage
- Personal ($4/mo) — custom domain, no ads, 6GB
- Premium ($8/mo) — some design customization
- Business ($25/mo) — plugins and custom themes (the plan that finally matches self-hosted capability)
- Commerce ($45/mo) — WooCommerce-ready
Note the pricing trap: WordPress.com only unlocks plugins at the $25/mo Business tier — where self-hosted WordPress already costs $3–14/mo with the same capabilities.
Which should you choose?
Choose WordPress.org (self-hosted):
- You want plugins like WooCommerce, SEO tools, or page builders
- You want to control and own your site long-term
- You're willing to spend an hour a month on updates (or pay for managed hosting)
- You want cheap, flexible hosting — see best WordPress hosting
Choose WordPress.com:
- You want zero maintenance, period
- You're writing a simple blog and don't need plugins
- You're happy within their platform limits
- You want to test WordPress before committing
The verdict
For almost every real website — business, store, blog with growth plans — self-hosted WordPress on your own hosting wins. It's cheaper at equivalent capability, fully portable, and unconstrained. WordPress.com makes sense only for casual blogging or people who refuse to touch anything technical.
If you go self-hosted, start with the WordPress hosting for beginners guide — it takes about 15 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is WordPress.com free? Yes, with limits — subdomain, forced ads, 1GB storage, no plugins or custom themes. Paid plans from $4/mo remove limits progressively.
Can I use plugins on WordPress.com? Only on the Business ($25/mo) and Commerce ($45/mo) plans. On self-hosted WordPress.org, every plugin is available for the cost of hosting.
Is WordPress.com the same as WordPress hosting? No. WordPress.com is a closed hosted platform. WordPress hosting (this site's topic) runs the open-source WordPress.org software with full control.
Can I move from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress? Yes — WordPress.com has a one-click export, and your new host or a plugin imports it. Our migration guide covers the process.
Which is better for a small business? Self-hosted WordPress on a reliable host — more features, full ownership, and lower cost at equivalent capability. See best WordPress hosting.