WordPress.com vs WordPress.org (Which is Better for Your Blog?)

wordpress platform review for your blog

The difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is a question that’s asked a lot by new bloggers. When I first started my blog, I wanted to know this question too and found most of the articles to be confusing and unclear. So I’m going to go through the pros and cons of each then give you my opinion on which one you should go with!

 

WordPress.org

Pros
  • You’ll have full control of your website and can customize/design it however you like. Additionally, you can choose any free or paid WordPress theme that you want.
  • Your website and its content is 100% yours, which means your site cannot be removed due to anyone else’s terms of service etc. (unless you’re doing something illegal)
  • Earn money by adding ads, using Google ad-sense and affiliate links
  • You’ll have a custom domain (yourblogname.com) instead of (yourblogname.wordpress.com)
  • Sign up for Google Analytics and use their custom tracking tools
  • Sell digital or physical products and accept card payments all directly from your website
  • Create membership sites where you sell content, courses etc. used to build an online community all on your site
  • Plug-ins… this is the biggest perk with WordPress.org! You can download custom plug-ins that’ll make creating and growing your site super easy
Cons
  • WordPress.org requires self-hosting, which is going to cost around $3-$15 per month. Once your website grows and gains more traffic, it’s expected for the hosting costs to increase. No need to be alarmed though, as you’ll be making more than enough money to cover the costs.
  • Site maintenance, updates, backups etc. is YOUR responsibility! . . . unless you hire someone to handle it all for you

RELATED: Five Common Blogging Mistakes to Avoid (& How to Fix Them)

 

WordPress.com

Pros
  • Great for hobby bloggers
  • Free for up to 3GB of space, after that you’ll have to switch to a paid plan for additional space
  • No need to worry about updates or backups. . . WordPress.com handles that for you
Cons
  • Ads are placed on all free websites. . . so users will see ads on your website and you won’t be making any from it
  • You’re NOT allowed to sell ads on your website unless you sign up for their advertising program called WordAds (you’ll share revenue with them)
  • You cannot download plug-ins unless you upgrade to one of their plans (Business: $299 per year or VIP: $5,000 per month)
  • Custom themes/designs are not allowed for users who have the free plan therefore, you’d be limited to their collection of themes
  • Google Analytics or any other tracking platform is not allowed; you’re restricted to their tracking stats
  • Your site can be deleted at any time if WordPress.com feels you’re violating their terms
  • You DO NOT own the content on your site
  • The domain of your site will be (www.yourblogname.wordpress.com) unless you upgrade to the Business Plan
  • You cannot accept any payments or other forms of eCommerce features on your site
  • WordPress.com does not allow membership sites

 

Final Thoughts

I recommend using WordPress.org for both hobby and serious bloggers because you never know what the future holds. In my opinion, it’s better to have structure and security over the content you’re creating (whether it’s a hobby or not). You’ll have more freedom to create/design your site the way you want and explore all the options of plug-ins! However, if you truly feel as though you won’t be emotionally connected to your blog, then WordPress.com is the perfect choice for you! If you’re a beginner blogger and need some resources, head over to my Blogger Resource Vault where you can find checklists, hosting, automation, favorite plug-ins, email tips and more!

Until next time ASSASSINS. . . Stay Disciplined!

 

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