WordPress.com vs WordPress.org (Which is Better 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
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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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Same here! I recommend wordpress.org too. But the maintenance is really a chore for those who doesn’t know html or coding. It will be a steep learning curve unless they pay someone to do it
That is very true! It took me about 5 – 8 months for me to learn how to do updates in regards to coding. The good thing is, there’s WordPress themes geared towards people who do not know how to code and they can easily set up/update their website. Thanks for your feedback!!
I’m on blogger, but I was thinking of transferring to wordpress.org
The only bad thing is that I will lose all of my views and comments which I don’t really like because I get money from it. So I’m not yet sure what I can do
I didn’t even know there was more than one wordpress!
That’s so funny! I’m glad I taught you something new! LOL!
Great information for new bloggers. I chose .org when I set mine up and am happy with my decision.
Thank you! I did the same starting with WordPress.org and I’m happy with my decision as well!
Totally agree with you. It’s WordPress .org all the way! It looks more serious too.
Fauzia
http://Glamourandglamorous.com
Yes, it most definitely does appear more professional!
Just switched from Squarespace to wordpress.org and I couldn’t be happier. Great points.
Glad to receive your comparison on the two! WordPress.org is definitely amazing!
I’ve been considering migrating my blog to wordpress, so thank you for this comparison! it is really helpful for me!
Definitely make the switch… you will love WordPress.org and its features!
Thanks for giving us the pros and cons of these two. It is really informative and it could be a big help in deciding.
You have done so well to outline the differences between the two. I must agree it’s better to have security and structure cos you never know what the future holds
I’ve gotten this question so many times. I will start referring those questions to this post. 🙂
Nailil
http://www.thirtyminusone.com
Thank you for that!
I always recommend WordPress.org to my clients and those who inquire about the two. I am so bias as I manage a website for a corporation where we use WordPress. I am an evangelists for them and love the platform. These are some great tips!
Thank you providing that feedback and reading! It goes to show that WordPress.org is awesome for those who take their brand/business serious!
Thanks for listing up the pro and cons for these two features. I have been using wordpress for a while and still not very clear the difference between these two. Now I am clear about it and know what action I needed to do monthly (my responsiblity).
Glad I could help! Hopefully you’ll love WordPress.org as much as I do!
This is a really informative post. I am inclined to agree with you, I think going straight into wordpress.org is the best bet really!
I chose to use WordPress.org when I started my blog earlier this year. I had always “heard” .org was better but never really knew why. Now I know the pros and cons after reading your post – very informative. And, of course I’m glad I chose wordpress.org!
You made the right decision even though you didn’t fully understand the pros and cons of the two LOL. You’ll never want to go to WordPress.com after utilizing the plugins! Thank you for reading!!
I was a blogger on wordpress.com and when I wanted my own website I shifted to wordpress.org. Yes you are right it is a self hosted thing. I knew some pros and cons but not all. These are definitely helpful for me.
Glad to hear your experience with the two and thank you for reading!