WordPress.org is not the same as WordPress.com. In fact, they are two very different worlds. Let’s see the main differences and the reason for the same name.
WordPress.org
When people talk about “WordPress” like that, they usually refer to WordPress.org. On that website we can find software called “WordPress” that we can download for free, install on a server (ie, in the space that we hire from our hosting company) and start using it.
This software has no limitations. We can modify and alter everything we want through themes and plugins, and we can even (although we shouldn’t) touch the code itself (what is called “core”).
So, we are the ones who cut the cod in our WordPress installation.
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is an online service (software as a service). A website where nothing is downloaded. You simply register and you can create a blog or website on their servers. There is no need to hire hosting from anyone, because the web is on their servers.
Opening a website in WordPress is also free, but there are certain “upgrades” or improvements that you must pay for if you want them. The most typical are an increase in disk space, or a custom domain, since in the free version of the service, the website is a subdomain, like http://your-web.wordpress.com
Common things
What do WordPress.com and WordPress.org have in common? Well, basically “WordPress”, the software itself. And it turns out that WordPress.com is powered by the same software as WordPress.org.
In short, what WordPress.com is a website on which WordPress.org software has been installed. to offer people the option of creating a website without having to contract domains or hosting.
Obviously there is something else in common. Name. It’s all called WordPress. Why? Well, this is so because the co-founder of WordPress.org (Matt Mullenweg) decided to create WordPress.com and put his software there for people to see (and by the way earn some money).
differences
1. Property
WordPress.org is open, free and freeand depends on The WordPress Foundation, a non-profit foundation, president of which is Matt Mullenweg.
WordPress.com is a brandand reports to Automattic, a for-profit company (and a lot of profit)CEO of which is Matt Mullenweg (if the same). That’s where the name comes from (Automattic).
2. Themes
The software you download on WordPress.org allows you to install the themes you wantwhoever they are, as well as create your own and use them.
The service you offer WordPress.com does not allow you to install the themes you want. You can only choose from what they offer you.
3. Plugins
The software you download on WordPress.org allows you to install pluginswhich are “small programs” that you add to the basic WordPress installation, to extend its functionality.
The service you offer WordPress.com does not allow you to install any plugins. In fact, that section doesn’t even appear in the control panel.
4. Monetization
The software you download on WordPress.org you can monetize it however you want, without more limits than those established by the law of your country. You can use it freely.
The service you offer WordPress.com allows limited monetization, because to put ads you must have more than 25,000 monthly page views and meet their requirements. In addition, you must share the income with WordPress.com 50%.
5. Advertising
The software you download on WordPress.org goes ad-freeunless you want to put it yourself.
The service you offer WordPress.com displays adsunless you pay $30 a year to get rid of ads.
6. Maintenance
The software you download on WordPress.org should be maintained by you. When there are new versions you must update them yourself, or through the automatic system, and if something fails you must fix it yourself.
The service you offer WordPress.com is maintenance freeWell, they do it themselves, as it is their software that they have installed on their server. So, you don’t have any headache in that sense and you always have the latest version.
7. Personalization
The software you download on WordPress.org you can you can customize it without limits, since you can touch the code, the themes, the plugins, the PHP and the CSS. You’re the boss.
The service you offer WordPress.com does not allow customization, unless you purchase the custom CSS service for $30 per year, which allows you to add CSS code. Nothing more.
8. Web network
The software you download on WordPress.org may not be part of a blog network unless you create it yourself, through the multisite options, which require touching code.
The service you offer WordPress.com is part of the blog network from WordPress.com, which itself is a multisite. In other words, your website will be one of those multisite sites.
9. Statistics
The software you download on WordPress.org can accept Google Analytics or any other statistics tool of your choice.
The service you offer WordPress.com does not accept Google Analyticsbut it has its own statistics system, quite (much) more limited.
10. Price
The software you download on WordPress.org is freebut you will need to buy a domain and hire a hosting if you want to use it.
The service you offer WordPress.com is freeunless you want upgrades, such as more than 3GB of space, custom domain or other extras.
What is better?
If you have come this far, I suppose that you yourself will already be able to answer this question. The answer is “it depends”.
If you want to make a website and control all aspects of it, install an eCommerce plugin, or a third-party theme, WordPress.org is your only option. And if you also want to know, do, or even how or among other things, I recommend that you take a look at the .
If, on the other hand, you just want to create an easy and simple website, select a theme from the “allowed” ones, do not customize anything or install any plugin, WordPress.com is for you.
But you must bear in mind that if you want to migrate from WordPress.com to WordPress.org tomorrow, you will have to pay $100 to have them do the process for you, and you can only migrate to hosting companies that have an agreement with them, a process essential, especially if you have the website in a subdomain, since 301 redirects will be essential. But that’s already material for another tutorial… 😉
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