28 Feb WordPress .org vs .com – Comparison You Keen to Know!
Matt Mullenweg coded a script and released it back in 2003. Since then this script have powered over 60 million websites, delivering a quality platform. WordPress is available in two different forms, .org and .com (these are their common names not as per their functionalities). I’m here with a comparison of WordPress .org vs .com and it exists to help you out with differences between these two forms and which one is better to go with.
Before starting with the comparison, I need you to go through each definition and functionalities of both these platforms. Ideally, going through this first part over here will clear a lot of doubts.
Read the series:
WordPress.org Compared to WordPress.og- Wix vs WordPress: Choosing the Right Platform
- Weebly vs WordPress
- Squarespace vs WordPress
Table of Contents
# .ORG (Self Hosted)
This is a way to develop a custom WordPress driven website. You don’t have any restrictions at all, but you need to manage all the server requirements. You need to install the theme, plugins and worry about host server. You also need to have a domain to start with.
You can run a test website using free host providers and see how it works. WordPress.org is a platform from where you can find the script package (remember WordPress is an open-source platform so you don’t need to worry about money at all) and then install it.
Most popular hosts offer tools that can help you install the script including the database configuration automatically, but you need to buy their server package. Once the website is setup, you can install and activate any theme delivering any kind of look and functionality you wish.
You can add any unique functionalities by installing and activating different plugins. You are even allowed to create your own custom theme and plugin and install them to give yourself a unique feel. There are thousands of developers available over the web who can do the same at a cost.
To buy and manage domains, hosts and set up WordPress, you need to have a lot of technical knowledge and to become an expert you need to practice a lot. This is the toughest part of using this WordPress by this way.
So I hope .org part is clear, but the confusions I can feel in your mind are only going to get over once you read next part.
# .COM (Free Hosted)
It’s a Web 2.0 platform offered by the owner of WordPress script. It can help you create a blog easily with few clicks, but the domain will have ‘.wordpress.com’ suffix. You need not pay for the domain or any other configurations done automatically. But, of course, there are certain features which are premium and comes handy at a specific time.
The whole package of WordPress script is installed automatically, the database is configured automatically and even a theme and basic functionalities are installed on the go. You just need to pick domain name (that will be a prefix to common ‘wordpress.com’ suffix) and add certain details and there you go.
You’ll be offered a Dashboard area from where you can create a new post and share with readers of your new blog. You got social profile integrations to help you and readers share information to social platforms from your blog.
There is no coding or heavy technical knowledge required in this case and that’s how you’re free to just focus on the information you’re keen to share with the world.
WordPress .org vs .com – Comparison
If there are still any confusions left (I am hoping you’ve read above mentioned information thoroughly) then let me break down the comparison in simple points for you.
| WordPress.org | WordPress.com |
| Technical knowledge is required. | No technical knowledge is required. |
| You need to buy Domain. | Domain is free (but not TLD). |
| You need to buy hosting. | Hosting is available for free (initially). |
| You can’t opt this at FREE. It requires regular expenses. | You can opt it for free and at a cost as well. |
| You can install plugins to add functionalities. | You can’t install any plugin. |
| It can be customized to deliver a custom solution. | It can’t offer you a custom solution at all. |
| Complete theme support. | Limited theme support. |
| Monetization is allowed without any limitations. | Monetization is allowed but very limited. |
| It can be useful for professional, business owners or even beginners. | It can be useful only for beginners. |
| You need to setup almost everything (apart from basic installation). | You don’t need to worry about the setup as it’s done automatically. |
| You need to take care of maintenance. | No maintenance is required at all. |
As I’m good at technical things and aware of gimmicks required to run and maintain a WordPress website so I’ll always go and recommend for .org (self-hosted) out of two options we all got.
If you wish to start a new blog just to share the information you follow and care about the world then Free Hosted (.com) is the best way out for you. But don’t expect to bring custom solutions, unique functionalities, and proper monetization. It’s just a hassle-free platform to help you share information, just like Blogger platform by Google.
On the other hand, you can opt for Self-Hosted option as it can help you create a blog to not only share whatever information you care of follow about but also monetize and earn a living. Apart from this basic setup, you can even drive a business website, professional portfolio, e-commerce portal and almost any other kind of website possible on the web.
In short, one offers freedom but at a cost while other offers a simple platform without any cost or hassle.
It’s totally to you which way you wish to use this awesome script. So I recommend now to write your requirements on a paper and think upon it. Since you’re aware of pros and cons of both options you got, you’ll definitely take a better decision.
No Comments