WordPress .com vs WordPress.org

The difference between the two WordPress platforms may be confusing, so let’s unpack the differences.

WordPress.com is like renting a fully furnished apartment. You get everything you need to live comfortably without worrying about maintenance or repairs. It’s great if you want something simple and hassle-free, but your options for personalizing the space are way too limited.

On the other hand, WordPress.org is like owning a house. You can customize and renovate however you like, but you’re also responsible for maintenance, security, and paying the bills (hosting fees). It is all fairly easily manageable compared to the flexibility and control you get over your website.

Why I would not recommend using WordPress.com

Ad Displays

WordPress.com displays ads on all websites. Your site visitors see these ads, but you don’t make any money. To get rid of the ads displaying on your site you must upgrade to a premium plan.

No Site Identity

You are not allowed to have a custom domain name. You can set up a free subdomain, but the URL is often long and hard for site visitors to remember.

Your free WordPress.com URL will look like this: http://yoursite.wordpress.com/

This tells everyone you’re using the free WordPress platform and can appear unprofessional. It also limits your ability to represent your brand and establish an identity.

File ownership

You do not own your website like you do when you use WordPress.org. If at any time wordpress.com feels you’ve violated the Terms of Service, they can delete your entire site.

No Monetization

You can not sell direct ads on your website or use ad networks like Google AdSense. You can apply for the WordAds program, but any revenue you generate will be shared with WordPress.

Affiliate programs are not available

In addition, you cannot participate in or make money from affiliate links when you use the free plan.

Limited Customization

With WordPress.com, you cannot install any custom themes on your site. Instead, you are limited to the few free and paid premium themes available.

No Plugins

Just as you can’t use themes on your free WordPress site, you can’t install plugins. If you need custom design or add any functionality to your website, again, you need to upgrade to the Business plan.

No 3rd Party Scripts

You can’t install 3rd party scripts on your site such as Google Analytics. Instead.

No eCommerce or Membership Capability

There is no way to build an eCommerce shop or membership site with WordPress.com. You can’t accept payment either unless you are on the business plan.

As you can see, there are many limitations to using the WordPress.com platform, even if you choose to use one of their premium plans. As a small business owner, this platform just doesn’t have the features or flexibility needed to build an online business.

Why WordPress.org is the better choice

WordPress.org is the most popular website builder. It powers over 40% of all websites on the internet

It’s 100% open source and free for anyone to use. All you need is a domain name and web hosting.

  • Domain Name: A domain name is the web address or URL of your website on the internet. (yourbusiness.com) This is what people type into their browsers when they want to visit your site.
  • Web Hosting: Web hosting is where your site’s files are stored. The hosting provider you use stores your website’s data on web servers (computer, that is online all the time)

Once you purchase a custom domain name for your website and invest in a paid plan from your web host, you can install WordPress software onto your host’s server. From there, you can begin customizing your site on top of WordPress.

Complete Control

With WordPress.org, you maintain full control over your website because you own your website and all of its data. You can customize your website any way you want and you do not have to follow the Terms of Services of WordPress.com. 

Flexibility and Customization

You can install and use any number of free or premium WordPress themes and plugins to change the visual design and functionality of your website.

Being able to create custom designs gives you the freedom to build a unique website that helps grow your following, generate leads, and establish brand recognition among your target audience.

Monetization

With WordPress.org you can run ads on your site without sharing revenue with your hosting platform. This is a great way to passively make money online.

Scripts

You are allowed to add tracking scripts like Google Analytics on your hosted WordPress site with no restrictions. This gives you a chance to track important metrics and make better data-driven decisions for your small business.

eCommerce 

You can use self-hosted WordPress to create an online store, accept credit card payments, and deliver orders to customers all from your website.

Membership Site

Sell memberships to access your best content, online courses… the list goes on.  WordPress.org gives you limitless ways to build a blog or website and generate money online. 

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

You sure can and you should.

Oftentimes new website owners start out using WordPress.com since it’s free and doesn’t require you to invest in a domain name or web hosting. Or people just don’t realize the difference between these two platforms when they are starting. Later, as their site grows, they realize WordPress.com has too many limitations. That’s when they realize what WordPress.org is and why is it the only way forward.

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