People are often confused about the differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org because they sure sound similar. This workshop highlights the key differences between .Org and .Com. Watch this short video to answer any questions you have.
Learning outcomes
- Define what is WordPress.
- Identify the main differences between WordPress .Org and .Com.
- Choose a hosting company that suits your requirements.
Transcript
Welcome to Learn WordPress. One of the most commonly asked questions is what is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. People new and old to the WordPress community often confuse the two because they sure do sound the same. In this video, we’ll highlight the key differences. I think the crux lies in first understanding the word WordPress on its own.
WordPress is a content management system or CMS that allows you to build your blog, website, or online store. It is free open source software, which means anyone can download it, use it, and even volunteer to help improve it. WordPress.org is the official home for the open source WordPress software. On this site, you can browse thousands of themes and plugins to extend and customize your website, access documentation and community forums for learning and troubleshooting, and get involved in contributing to the WordPress project. For example, if you want to get involved, there are many ways to contribute, from translating WordPress into other languages to writing code, helping the training team, testing new releases, and even helping organize community events. And you can even stay informed about the latest WordPress news and project updates.
So WordPress.org is the online home of the WordPress open source software, but the software still needs to be hosted somewhere to power a live website. And this is where WordPress.com comes in.
WordPress.com is one of the managed WordPress hosts you could choose from. It takes care of hosting, security, performance, and updates so you can focus on building your site. WordPress.com caters to everyone, from bloggers and publishers to small businesses and large enterprises.
Now let’s look at some practical differences that will hopefully clarify things even more.
First, let’s touch on plans and pricing. Hosting providers offer a range of plans at different price points to suit different needs. While the WordPress software itself is free to download and use, as mentioned, you’ll need to pay for hosting to make your site available online. WordPress.com offers a free plan where your domain will end with wordpress.com, as well as paid plans that include features like a custom domain name, plugin installation, and full design control. If you have the technical knowledge and infrastructure, you can also download the software from WordPress.org and install it on your own server instead of using a hosting company.
Next, what about themes and plugins? WordPress.org also gives users access to thousands of free themes and plugins. Themes control the appearance of your site and plugins extend its functionality, from contact forms to online stores to SEO tools. WordPress.com and other hosting providers also give you access to themes and plugins. All WordPress.com plans include the ability to install plugins and themes. Also, many premium themes are included in the price of some WordPress.com plans. WordPress.com also includes many popular features built in, which can reduce the number of plugins you need to install.
Next, let’s talk about customization and code. When you host your site with a traditional hosting provider, you typically have direct access to your site’s files, including HTML, CSS, PHP, and more, giving you a high level of control and flexibility. WordPress.com offers increasing levels of customization depending on your plan. Higher-level plans provide SFTP and SSH access, database management, staging sites, and the ability to add custom code, giving developers the flexibility they need.
And what about support? WordPress.org offers active, community-driven support forums where users can ask questions and receive guidance from volunteers and experienced contributors. In addition to the main community forums, themes and plugins listed in the official WordPress.org directory include their own support sections. Hosting providers may also offer various forms of technical support. WordPress.com includes access to a dedicated support team across all paid plans. Their Happiness Engineers are available 24/7 to help solve issues.
Using WordPress.com or another managed host lets you rely on their expertise for the technical details so you can focus on your content. And remember, your WordPress site belongs to you. You own your content, and you can move between hosting providers if your needs change. Think of it like a mobile home. You own it, but you choose where to park it.
Here at Learn WordPress, you can learn how to use WordPress no matter where you host. Happy creating!