Did you know there are two WordPress versions? Maybe you’ve seen references to WordPress.org and WordPress.com and wondered why there are two entirely separate websites? Maybe you didn’t even realise that there were options?
Either way, it is important for any business owner or anyone who is about to have a website designed, to understand the different options and the pros and cons associated with each.
What is WordPress?
WordPress was first created back in 2003 by Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg.
WordPress is a web based content management system, referred to as a CMS. WordPress is sometimes mistaken as just a blogging tool, and although WordPress definitely has that functionality, it also allows you to create a static website with no blog content. It provides an all-in-one solution for businesses who want to create a customisable web presence.
"44% of the internet uses WordPress."
WordPress is a free open source platform with a huge community of people contributing to the project.
The core WordPress functionality is simple yet effective so that users can get started easily. It also allows for powerful additional features to allow for the growth and success of a website.
I personally started using WordPress back in early 2014 with the idea to create my own blog website. It has steered me back into website design for clients which has been a fun and creative pathway.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the first version I would like to discuss. This .com version allows users to create a free account, where your website is hosted on the WordPress.com servers. This is a FREE service and you are even provided with a free website address which ends in wordpress.com. For example, I have a demo account with WordPress.com and my website address is thetrainingladyblog.wordpress.com.
This is a GREAT option if you are looking to create a website to use for a hobby or anything which may not create an income for you.
As an example, a few years ago I was teaching a Microsoft Publisher course (yes people still use Publisher), and one of the participants had said that she had always created a yearly newsletter in Publisher which she emailed out to her family and friends to fill them in on her yearly adventures and travels. The Publisher file was getting too big to be able to email and she asked me for suggestions. As much as I love Microsoft programs, I pointed her straight towards creating a free WordPress.com account. She can create a free account, choose a basic theme for her website, add posts for each event or holiday she goes on and share the URL with friends.
So let’s have a look at some of the pros and cons of using a WordPress.com FREE account.
Pros
- Free hosting account
- Free website address
- All maintenance and security is managed for you
- Minimal setup required
- Basic analytics included
Cons
- Cannot use your own domain name
- Can only use a basic version of WordPress
- Ads may be displayed on your website
- Very limited selection of plugins
- Very limited selection of themes
- Number of user accounts is limited
- Some content restrictions
From the list above you can see there are quite a few limitations or negatives. I have had many people say “WordPress isn’t free, I had to pay for WordPress!”. Let me now explain the reasons you may pay for WordPress.
To be able to extend the functionality of any free WordPress.com account you must subscribe to a plan which provides additional features. In essence, you will have to pay depending on the level of extra functionality you want in your website when working with WordPress.com. Pricing ranges from AU$6.00 per month for a personal level subscription to AU$68 per month for an Commerce level subscription. This is where people start “paying for WordPress”.
This means you will be paying anywhere from AU$72 per year to AU$816 per year for your website.
OR, you can look into WordPress.org so keep on reading…
WordPress.org
WordPress.org is referred to as the “self-hosted” version of WordPress. There is where you can go and download a full copy of WordPress with no limitations and install the software onto your own website. You don’t even have to enter your details or email address to be able to download the file. 100% free and no restrictions.
In order to use this version of WordPress you will need a few things organised.
- A domain name registered
- Your own website hosting account
Most website hosting providers don’t even need you to install WordPress, they usually have an automated software installer where you choose the platform you want to use on your website and they do the installation and setup for you – quick and easy and usually ready to go in under 5 minutes.
In most instances I’ve encountered, it is more economical to register your own domain name, and get your own hosting account, than pay for a subscription via WordPress.com.
Let’s do some calculations:
- You can register a domain name (.com.au) and get a basic Australian based web hosting for around AU$188.00 per year.
- Compare this to a Business level subscription plan via WordPress.com which costs AU$456 per year.
You’re AU$268.05 better off per year using WordPress.org with your own website hosting and no restrictions on the functionality of your website.
Pros
- Pick your own hosting provider
- Use your own domain name
- Install any theme or plugin
- No limitation on editing
- No limits on the number of users
- No limits of the type of content
Cons
- Manage security and backups
- Must keep WordPress, plugins and themes up to date
How to choose?
For me, the answer to this question is pretty simple. Go with WordPress.org.
Use the self-hosted version and maintain full control over your website functionality and what you can customise. There is nothing worse than a client asking me to add something to their website, and my answer is “your using WordPress.com and you cannot do that with your current subscription plan, you’d need to upgrade.”.
If however you still want to look at using the WordPress.com version then be sure you sufficiently research the functionality you will require on your website and identify if it will be possible to use the free version or if you will need to pay for a subscription plan.
Can I switch the WordPress version I'm using?
Yes absolutely!
In 99.9% of instances, businesses may want to move their website from a subscription-based WordPress.com account to use the self-hosted version with their own website hosting account.
This is absolutely a great way to go and any good website designer can facilitate this move for you. Some website hosting companies may even offer you a “migration” service where they can move your old website content into a new hosting account with them.
I generally don’t recommend trying to move a website across if you are not familiar with the process or understand website hosting and DNS settings.
Conclusion
In the simplest of terms:
- Hobby business not bringing in income = WordPress.com
- Income-generating business = WordPress.org
If you still need assistance and aren’t sure which version would best suit your needs, contact us for an obligation-free chat.
Pricing correct as of October 2024.