Whether you’re launching a new business or simply want to create a website for your existing business, you have two main options when it comes to choosing a solution: WordPress.com or WordPress.org. Both WordPress platforms are excellent for creating a website, but they offer different features and benefits. So, how do you know which one is right for you?
In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of both platforms and help you decide which one is best for you and your business.
What is WordPress.com, and how does it work?
The Benefits of WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a website builder and hosting service. It is owned by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.org. It’s important to note that the .com version is a hosted platform, which means you don’t have to worry about hosting your website or purchasing a domain name. That’s the biggest advantage of this solution: WordPress.com takes care of all that for you. All you have to do is sign up and choose a theme for your WordPress site. You can then start adding content to your site.
One of the main advantages of using WordPress.com is that it’s very easy to use. You don’t need any technical expertise to create a website on the .com version. Even if you’ve never created a website before, you’ll be able to create a professional-looking site on this version.
Another advantage of .com is that it's very affordable. You can create a website on WordPress.com for free. If you want to remove the WordPress.com branding from your site, you can upgrade to a paid plan starting at 5 euros per month.
The Drawbacks of .com
However, there are a few drawbacks to using .com. One of the main drawbacks of WordPress.com is that you don’t have full control over your site. It’s a hosted platform, which means they control the features available on your site. For example, if you wanted to install a custom plugin or a theme that hasn’t been approved by WordPress.com, this could limit your website’s functionality.
In addition, WordPress displays ads on its free plans. These ads can be annoying to your visitors and make your site look less professional—or even harm your SEO—so if your site isn’t showing up on Google, you might want to look into this issue.
In addition, the .com domain imposes certain restrictions on the type of content you can publish on your site. For example, you cannot sell products or services on your website unless you upgrade to a Pro plan. You should also be aware that your content is not guaranteed to remain; it could disappear overnight, as WordPress reserves the right to delete your site without further explanation.
What is WordPress.org, and how does it work?
The Benefits of WordPress.org
Now that we've covered WordPress.com, let's take a look at WordPress.org. This solution is an open-source content management system (CMS). This means that anyone can download, install, and use WordPress for free.
On the other hand, WordPress.org is an open-source, self-hosted solution, which means you’ll need to find a web host and purchase a domain name before you can start building your website. Once you’ve done that, you can download WordPress and install it on your web server.
You now have full control over your website and can install any WordPress plugins or themes you want. One of the advantages of using .org is that you have complete control over your WordPress site and can customize it however you like. There are no limits on the type of content you can publish on your website, and you can even sell products or services. The .org service also does not place ads on your site.
The Drawbacks of .org
Although WordPress.org offers many advantages, using this platform does have some drawbacks. One of the biggest drawbacks is that it requires some technical expertise to set up and use WordPress.org. Given that, it stands to reason that the .org solution will be more costly in terms of both time and money than the .com solution.
The .org domain is more flexible and gives you more freedom; however, this also means that you are responsible for maintaining your WordPress site and ensuring that it is secure. This can be a bit daunting if you’re not familiar with managing websites.
How do you choose a platform?
Understand the monthly pricing for .com domains
In terms of pricing plans, WordPress.com offers several options:
The Free Plan: Using the .com domain is free, but you’ll see WordPress.com ads on your website, and you won’t be able to use a custom domain name (your website address will be YourBrand.wordpress.com).
The WordPress Starter Plan: For 5 euros a month, WordPress.com removes ads from your site and lets you use a custom domain name.
The WordPress Pro Plan: For 15 euros per month, WordPress.com gives you access to all of the business plan’s additional features, including the ability to sell products on your site through e-commerce, as well as more storage space for your content, Google Analytics integration, and email support.
Free WordPress
WordPress Basics Perfect for getting started without too many requirements
- A URL in the format votremarque.wordpress.com
- 1 GB of multimedia storage.
- About ten topics.
- 1 website administrator.
- Unlimited number of pages and articles.
WordPress Starter
More space, a domain name, and integrated payments
- Free domain name for 1 year.
- Accept payments.
- Google Analytics integration included.
WordPress Pro
Unlock the full range of WordPress features
- Starter Plan Features.
- About a thousand extensions available.
- Premium themes.
- E-commerce features.
- +++
Becoming Aware of Your Personal Needs
You should carefully weigh the pros and cons of WordPress.com versus WordPress.org before making a decision. If you need a simple, no-frills website, then WordPress .com might be the best option for you. However, if you want complete control over your WordPress site and don’t mind paying a little more, then WordPress.org is the better choice.
No matter which platform you choose, WordPress can help you create a professional, user-friendly website. So why not give it a try today?
What You Need to Know to Choose the Right Platform for Your Business
Is there a difference between .com and .org in terms of SEO?
SEO on WordPress.com
From the perspective of the SEO, there are major differences between these two platforms that make it easier for one of them to rank on Google. Taking these factors into account is vital to the success of your project.
By default, the free version of WordPress.com won’t let you connect your own domain name. This means that, as far as Google is concerned, you’ll be on a subdomain, and it will always be WordPress.com —not your own domain name —that ranks on Google. Since you won’t have your own domain name, you won’t have access to Search Console to monitor the effects of your SEO efforts.
The WordPress themes available on WordPress .com are basic and lack competitiveness in terms of performance. Without a solid, fast, and responsive structure, your site has no chance of appealing to Google. Furthermore, the free version of WordPress.com will force ads to appear on your content, which can be problematic not only in Google’s eyes but also for your users’ experience.
Depending on the type of website (portfolio site, e-commerce site, business card site, etc.), you’ll need to add certain important SEO plugins (Yoast, SEOpress, Rank Math, etc.) to optimize your site’s structure and improve its search rankings. WordPress.com does not allow the installation of most of these plugins, which will undoubtedly put you at a disadvantage. Indeed, without proper SEO optimization, it’s impossible to compete with established websites. When we talk about SEO optimization here, we’re referring to basic concepts such as managing title tags, meta descriptions , the robots.txt file, and schema markup to display your structured data —for example, by showing the number of reviews you have in your Google search results.
SEO on WordPress.org
On WordPress.org, you can connect your own domain name and gain access to a dedicated Search Console for that domain to monitor your site’s search engine optimization. By having your own domain name, you’ll also be able to use all the plugins available in the WordPress directory, which will give you a better chance of ranking on Google.
Everything is customizable on the .org version; whether you want to refine structured product data by displaying the number of reviews in your Google search results, there are settings or plugins that can help you achieve your goals.
When it comes to themes designed for the .org version, a growing number of developers are offering WordPress themes that optimize page load times while ensuring a responsive design across all devices. And, of course, the .org version of WordPress is free of unwanted ads .
Ultimately, WordPress.org is the platform most likely to help your site rank well if SEO is one of your priorities. If your WordPress site isn't showing up on Google, maybe you should look into that!
Is it possible to migrate from WordPress.com to WordPress.org?
If you want to migrate from WordPress.com to WordPress.org, the first thing you need to do is purchase a domain name and host it on a web server. You can do this through companies such as Kinsta, Cloudways, or 02Switch. If you’re unsure which hosting provider will best meet your needs, check out our latest guide on the 5 Best WordPress Hosting Providers.
Once you have set up your domain and hosting, you can then proceed to install WordPress.org on your server. This can be done manually or automatically with the help of your hosting provider, who will provide you with a one-click installation tool.
Manual Installation of WordPress.org
If you choose to install WordPress manually, you must first download it from the official WordPress.org website. Then unzip the files on your local computer before uploading them to your server using an FTP client such as FileZilla.
Once WordPress is installed on your server, you’ll need to create a database. This can be done using the phpMyAdmin tool, which is often provided by your web host. Once the database is created, you’ll need to fill in the required fields , such as your database name, username, and password . WordPress will use this information to store your site’s content.
You'll then need to complete the installation by providing WordPress with the information it needs, such as your site's title, your username, and your password. You're ready to get started with your WordPress site!
Installing WordPress.org Using a One-Click Installer
If you choose an automatic installation, most web hosting providers offer a one-click installation tool. This is the case, for example, with the WordPress hosting company Kinsta, which offers its users the ability to install WordPress with a single click from their customer dashboard.
WordPress.com or WordPress.org? In a nutshell
The answer to this question depends on your needs and preferences.
The first decision you’ll need to make when choosing WordPress is whether to go with the .com version or the self-hosted version. This version is ideal for people who aren’t familiar with web hosting and don’t want to deal with the technical aspects of a website. It’s a good choice for small businesses that just want to create a site and focus on their content without having to worry about the technical aspects of owning and maintaining a website.
The second WordPress option to consider is the .org version. This is the version of WordPress you should choose if you’re looking for more freedom and control over your WordPress site. This version is perfect for businesses that want extensive customization options and wish to tailor every aspect of their site. If you plan to do online marketing or SEO, the .org version is the best choice.
If you're having trouble choosing the solution that's right for you, contact the Ingenius team, a WordPress agency that will be happy to advise you.
Have you tried either of these platforms? Tell us more in the comments! How was your experience? Which one did you like? Which one didn't you like?
