Differences Between WordPress.com And WordPress.org Explained For Beginners
Differences Between WordPress.com And WordPress.org: One of the questions that I love to ask freshers coming for interviews for content writing job is whether or not they know how to use WordPress. And most of them say yes. Further enquiry reveals that they’re referring about the free WordPress.com blog and most of them haven’t even heard of WordPress.org. The ones who have heard do not know the difference between the two.
WordPress.com and WordPress.org are not same. And people who want to get into blogging, be it for themselves or for any organization, must know the differences. In this article, I will tell you the differences between WordPress.com and WordPres.org.
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Differences Between WordPress.com & WordPress.org
WordPress.com is basically a blogging platform that provides both free and paid services. WordPress.org is a software, a Content Management System (CMS) that you need to install in your server to manage the content on your website.
Doesn’t make sense, right?
Ok. So, let me try to elaborate it.
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Understanding Web Hosting
Have you ever wondered where do all these websites that you come across every day exist actually? I mean, we come across them on the Internet. But where do they reside actually?
For websites to exist on the Internet, someone should host them. That is, someone should provide a storage facility where all the content, software, etc. of a particular website is stored. And there should be the required technology to host and manage the website along with all its content on the Internet.
Now, this is an expensive as well as complex process. And that’s where web hosting companies come to the picture wherein you pay them for the services they provide for your website to exist on the Internet.
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What Is WordPress.com?
WordPress.com is a web hosting service that provides both free and paid plans to host your blog or website. That is it provides the necessary storage facility, technology, and services for your website. It provides all of these for free. The paid service of WordPress.com comes with some additional features. What is the problem then?
The problem is since WordPress does everything for you, you do not have complete freedom and control over your website hosted on WordPress.com. You have to follow their rules and regulations, their guidelines. Any deviation from that will lead to deletion of your website, even the paid one. Apart from that, there are various other disadvantages of WordPress.com websites.
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Disadvantages Of WordPress.com
The various limitations of WordPress.com website are as under:
1. Domain
The free website is basically a sub-domain of WordPress.com. That is, your website URL will look something like this: https://www.myblog.wordpress.
2. WordPress’s Ads
All free WordPress.com websites carry ads irrespective of you want it or not and you do not earn a penny from it. Upgrading to paid plans can remove the ads.
3. Selling Ads
You cannot carry ads of your own on the website. If you want to monetize your WordPress.com website, earn money through ads, you have to apply for WordAds, which is WordPress.com’s advertising program. But you need to generate very high traffic in order to get accepted. Paid plans come with WordAds though. But in any case, you have to share what you earn with them. Other programs like Google AdSense and the likes are not allowed.
4. Plugins
Even for a paid, Business plan, you cannot install any software ad-ons (called plugins) except the limited selection of plugins that WordPress.com. supports. There are innumerable plugins available that help in simplifying various activities related to blogging or maintaining a website. But with a WordPress.com website, you cannot use them. VIP plans support plugins but then again, VIP plans are highly expensive.
5. Tracking & Analytics
With WordPress.com, you cannot use any other tracking and analytics tools except the default one. Business plan supports Google Analytics though.
6. Customization – Themes
For free version, there is limited option to customize your website. Premium themes are available along with Premium and Business plans. Business plans also support custom CSS.
7. Online Payment Facility
Other features like integrated payment gateways and membership are not supported by WordPress.com.
8. SEO & Other Features
If you want all SEO and other features in WordPress.com site, you will have to upgrade to paid plans. The VIP plan, which supports all the features, starts at $5000 a month. All SEO features are available from Business plan.
Advantages Of WordPress.com
If you are a beginner and don’t have much experience in blogging, WordPress.com is a good place to start as you will get to learn a lot. Also, if you are looking for something free, WordPress.com is your best option. You don’t even have to worry at all about updates and backups as it will be taken care by WordPress.com. WordPress.com is also the best option if blogging is just a hobby for you and you are not planning to monetize your blog.
Now that gives a clear understanding of WordPress.com. What is WordPress.org then?
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What Is WordPress.org?
WordPress.org is a software that you install in your server to control and manage your website. The software is available for free. The website needs to be hosted with some hosting services. That is, you pay a hosting company for the servers and other associated technologies necessary for your website to exist on the Internet. Once that is done, you can install WordPress in your server. You do not need any technical knowledge to install WordPress. Most of the web hosting services provide one-click installation of WordPress.
Disadvantages Of WordPress.org
WordPress.org is basically a Content Management System (CMS). For your websites to exist, you need to pay for web hosting services. However, compared to WordPress.com sites, it is cheaper (you can launch a website with $35 to $50) and comes with a lot of advantages that are not there in WordPress.com. You will have full control over your website and its content. There is no one to decide what you can or cannot do with your website. Of course, you cannot use the website for any illegal activities.
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Another disadvantage of WordPress.org sites is that you are responsible for backups and updates. But then again, it is not rocket science. There are various plugins for backups and updates are just clicks away.
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Advantages Of WordPress.org
The advantages of Self-hosting website with WordPress.org are:
1. Domain
Most of the web hosting plans come with a free domain name (for 1st one year). This means, you can have custom domain name for your website. Your website URL will look something like: https://www.myblog.com which looks more professional.
2. WordPress’s Ads
No ads will be shown on your website unless you want it.
3. Selling Ads
You can monetize your website the way you want (as long as you are not doing illegal businesses) and you don’t even have to share the revenue with anyone else. You can apply for various advertising programs, like Google AdSense and run ads on your website.
4. Plugins
It supports thousands of plugins, free and paid, to help you manage your website, making things easier for you.
5. Tracking & Analytics
You can use various free and paid tracking tools, like Google Analytics, that you can customize as you wish.
6. Customization – Themes
You can customize the design of your website as you wish. Also, there are hundreds of free as well paid themes for every kind of website. You get all the branding freedom as you want.
7. Online Payment Facilities
You can setup payment options if you are selling any product or services through your website. From e-commerce to membership sites, you can set up any kind of website as you want.
8. SEO & Other Features
The plugins, again. There are free and paid plugins for SEO and other things that you need to do with your website.
So, that explains the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. I hope you understand the differences now.
Basically, for professional blogging, WordPress.org is recommended.
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If you have any query regarding differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, feel free to drop your comment below and I will get back to you at the earliest.