You will need to decide which software you want to use to build your new website. WordPress.com is a good choice, but which WordPress.org option is better? It is possible that you aren’t sure how these two options compare. Get to know more about WordPress.com vs WordPress.org.

It’s easy to tell the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. You can choose which platform is best suited to your website by evaluating factors like potential monetization and customization options.

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com, a managed hosting platform, is built on WordPress.org’s software.

Automattic, which is behind many other popular platforms like WooCommerce or the Jetpack plugin, owns it. It can also be used as a hosting and management company for various aspects of your site.

A WordPress.com account gives you access to a website builder and hosting account. You can also have a domain name. You can manage all aspects of your website from the software’s dashboard. Depending on which plan you choose, you can also add themes or plugins to your site.

Pros:

It is user-friendly and easy to learn
Includes automatic site maintenance
Includes built-in hosting

Cons:

Limited monetization options
There are fewer customization options and scalability
Limited Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and analytics tools, especially on the free plan
Here’s a quick overview of WordPress.com’s advantages and drawbacks. We’ll dive into the pros and cons for each feature later in this article.

Read More: SEO for blogs and web pages: What’s the difference?

What is WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is an open source Content Management System (CMS). WordPress.com was built upon it.
You can use, modify, and contribute to the open-source software on this free platform. The dashboard is similar to WordPress.com and offers access to a variety of themes and plugins for customizing the look and functionality of your site.
WordPress.org is completely free, but you will need to pay hosting and a domain to make your site live. Your site will be easier to manage, and you can make changes to any aspect of it if necessary.

Pros:

Multiple monetization options available
Flexible and customizable
Allows you to set up membership and ecommerce shops

Cons:

A steeper learning curve
Most cases require more manual maintenance
It doesn’t include hosting or a domain name
In the next section, we’ll examine the pros and cons of WordPress.org vs WordPress.com.

Must Read: Facebook Algorithm 2022

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – Which is Better for Your Site?

After giving an overview of each platform let’s dive deeper into WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. When choosing the right platform for your site, there are many important considerations.

1. It’s easy to use

When you are building a website, user-friendliness should be a top priority. WordPress.com might be the best choice if you are looking for the easiest platform, every WordPress Designer in Kolkata prefer this platform.

Sign up for an account to create a WordPress.com website. Follow the steps to complete. Next, you will need to select the type of website, choose a theme and adjust a few details.

WordPress.org requires you to buy hosting and a domain. After that, you will need to install WordPress on your hosting provider’s dashboard. Some hosts will handle the installation for you. WordPress.org is more complex.

Once you get started with the platforms, they look very similar. WordPress.com offers fewer features, so it’s less likely that you will feel overwhelmed. WordPres.org, however, is still designed with usability and is relatively beginner-friendly.

2. Technical Support

Even if WordPress is your favorite CMS, there will be times when you run into technical problems. To ensure your website runs smoothly, you need to have access to technical support.
WordPress.com offers a variety of levels of technical support, depending on which plan you have. All plans include email support, but premium plans or higher will allow you to access live chat assistance. Priority chat access is also available for ecommerce and business accounts.

You have limited technical support access if you have a WordPress.com free account. There is however a knowledge center with useful articles.

WordPress.org does not offer technical support. Instead, you can either read the documentation or visit the support forums. These forums are run by volunteers, and can provide valuable information.

You can get more personal assistance by using a third-party company. Kinsta customers have access to 24/7 support for any questions or problems.

3. Learning Web Development

WordPress.org is a better choice if you are aspiring to be a developer. WordPress.org’s open-source software allows you to create plugins and themes, and also develop applications via the REST API.

WordPress.org offers many resources that can be used to assist both novice and expert developers. You can, for example, read the coding standards and access code references. Additionally, you can learn how to run commands using detailed documentation.

In contrast, WordPress.com provides limited opportunities for developers. There is a developer console and a REST API. It also has some resources for developers. There are fewer resources than WordPress.org. Some features, such as design resources, are still being developed.

4. There are many customization options

WordPress.org offers thousands of theme and plugin options. You can customize your website with a mix of paid and free software.

You can also edit the HTML of your WordPress.org website or add CSS classes to modify its appearance and functionality. You can also easily modify small details to make your website more tailored to your needs.

WordPress.com plugins are not allowed to be used unless you have a Business Plan or higher. Without a Premium package, you cannot access advanced design customization features. Sites that are cheaper have very limited customization and scalability.

Read Also: Designers Must Follow These Web Design Blogs

5. SEO

It is possible to make a big difference in SEO when choosing WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. It is essential to use a strong SEO strategy to increase your site’s visibility in search engine results. You might not be able to attract new visitors and grow your site if you don’t have high SEO rankings.

WordPress.org gives you almost total control over your SEO strategies. To optimize your pages and posts for selected keywords, plugins like Yoast SEO can be used. As a best SEO Expert in Kolkata, I also use Yoast SEO.

Google Analytics can also be used to see data about your website such as traffic sources and conversions. You can then adjust your strategies to attract more readers by using that data.

WordPress.com, however, has limited SEO options. Google Analytics integration will require at least a Premium plan. Advanced SEO tools won’t be available to you unless your Business plan is at least a Premium plan. You won’t be able to optimize websites using cheaper packages.

Summary

Before you can start building a site and creating content, you need to decide which platform you will use. WordPress.org and WordPress.com are the most well-known options. However, they are not suitable for all types of websites.

Here’s a recap: When WordPress.com vs WordPress.org is a good choice.

WordPress.com: This managed website hosting platform and builder provides a user-friendly design and automatic backups. They also offer technical support. To access plugins and other customizable features, you will need to upgrade to a premium plan.

WordPress.org: This free and popular CMS is more difficult to use and requires more maintenance. It offers unlimited monetization options, endless customization options and many resources for developers.