{"id":15143,"date":"2024-08-12T01:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/?p=15143"},"modified":"2025-10-30T11:40:59","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T18:40:59","slug":"wordpress-differences-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wordpress-differences-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Difference Between WordPress.com &amp; WordPress.org Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>You&#8217;re probably <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-your-first-wordpress-plugin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">familiar with WordPress<\/a> already \u2014 at least the <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">WordPress.com<\/a> version, which allows you to create a basic blog with pre-loaded themes and features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But click over to<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> WordPress.org<\/a>, and you\u2019ll quickly realize there\u2019s another way. With a self-hosted WordPress.org site, you open up a whole raft of customization options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re trying to figure out which version of WordPress is right for your website, you&#8217;ve come to the right place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Stick with us for the next few minutes, and you will learn exactly what separates the .com from the .org.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org-same-software-different-offer\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: Same Software, Different Offer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress powers<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/about\/features\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> more than 43%<\/a> of websites online today. <em>The<\/em> <em>New York Times<\/em>, Usain Bolt, NASA, and The Walt Disney Company are just some of the well-known brands that use this website engine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What makes it so popular?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike many systems, <strong>WordPress is available both as a hosted platform and as free software<\/strong>. This means you can choose the version that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com puts the software on a hosted platform. It offers a limited free plan for bloggers on a budget, and paid upgrades for more demanding site owners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.org is free, but you need to purchase hosting to use it properly. It provides the whole range of features as standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Both platforms use<em> exactly<\/em> the same underlying code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The only difference? The delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-getting-to-know-wordpress-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting To Know WordPress.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>WordPress.com<\/h3>\n    <p>WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress. Since it provides a completely free plan option, WordPress.com is a popular platform for blogging and personal websites.<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/wordpress\/wordpress-com\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com is how most people first encounter the WordPress brand.&nbsp;This cloud-based commercial website builder is really popular with a lot of internet users, with over <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.com\/about\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">409 million unique visits<\/a> every month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com.webp\" alt=\"WordPress.com homepage featuring &quot;WordPress, Your Way&quot; slogan and showcasing various website designs and templates.\" class=\"wp-image-48631 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-1536x1152.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-1200x900.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-730x548.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-1460x1095.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-784x588.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-1568x1176.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/01_getting_to_know_wordpress_com-877x658.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The primary benefit of using WordPress.com is that you can build and host your own website on a <a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/215457827-Adding-a-subdomain\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subdomain<\/a> at no cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Who doesn&#8217;t like free, right? The <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.com\/activity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">70 million new posts<\/a> added to WordPress.com sites each month are proof.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com also supplies ever-so-pretty themes (basically, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/website-builder\/themes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">design templates<\/a>) that you can use to customize the look of your blog or website. Many of these templates are free, but you can purchase a premium theme if you fancy something different\u2026or <em>fancier.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All it takes is a few clicks without breaking the bank, and your website is up and running. Et voil\u00e0!<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tHow To Start a Blog (Strategy, Tips, &amp; Content Ideas)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-start-a-blog\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_the-hidden-costs-of-a-free-website\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Hidden Costs of a Free Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes, we said no cost\u2026upfront. Let us explain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To build a functional website, you need a few things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Your own<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/domains\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> domain name<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> web hosting<\/a> package.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/comprehensive-guide-to-content-management-systems\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">content management system<\/a> (CMS) like WordPress.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com provides all the essentials mentioned above, and you don&#8217;t need any technical knowledge to build your site. It almost feels as easy as setting up a social media profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, onto the fine print.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com is owned and operated by web company,<a href=\"https:\/\/automattic.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Automattic<\/a>. When you set up a site on the platform, you&#8217;re really just claiming a space on their servers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That shiny new website isn\u2019t <em>technically<\/em> yours, even if it has your brand name plastered across the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, it won\u2019t cost you a dime \u2013 but there\u2019s a price to pay in terms of control and flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_the-pros-and-cons-of-wordpress-com\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pros and Cons of WordPress.com<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Ownership is one of the many pros and cons that define WordPress.com. If you&#8217;re thinking about setting up a site, it&#8217;s definitely worth exploring the potential benefits and pitfalls:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-free-but-limited-storage-space\">1. Free (but Limited) Storage Space<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There is no cost to set up or house your website on WordPress.com. However, the platform does restrict storage space to 1GB for free accounts. So, if you want to include <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/optimize-images-for-web\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">high-quality videos or photos<\/a> on your site, you\u2019ll need to upgrade to a paid plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Living on a Subdomain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2400\" height=\"1065\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain.webp\" alt=\"Business contact details for &quot;Bread Zeppelin&quot; bakery, showing website and email contact information.\" class=\"wp-image-48633 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain.webp 2400w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-300x133.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1024x454.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-768x341.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1536x682.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-2048x909.webp 2048w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-600x266.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1200x533.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-730x324.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1460x648.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-784x348.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1568x696.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-877x389.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/02_living_on_a_subdomain-1754x778.webp 1754w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2400px) 100vw, 2400px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2400px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2400\/1065;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>How many well-known brands have <strong>.wordpress.com<\/strong> at the end of their website address?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Basically, none.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to move away from hosting your site on a subdomain of WordPress, you&#8217;ll need to upgrade. You will also need to make alternative arrangements if you want a branded <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/products\/email\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">business email address<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tHow To Choose the Perfect Domain Name (Key Tests, AI Prompts, and More)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-choose-the-right-domain-name\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Built-In Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>To gauge whether your new site is proving popular, we recommend tracking a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/website-metrics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">important metrics<\/a>, such as bounce rate and conversion rate. Ideally, you would collect this data on your own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"613\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics.webp\" alt=\"Graph showing total revenue of $108K and purchase data, with line charts displaying trends over time.\" class=\"wp-image-48635 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-300x115.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-1024x392.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-768x294.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-1536x588.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-600x230.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-1200x460.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-730x280.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-1460x559.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-784x300.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-1568x601.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/03_built_in_metrics-877x336.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/613;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com offers a small set of analytics tools, although they\u2019re really quite limited. On the free plan, you can&#8217;t install your own plugins, so you won&#8217;t have access to third-party tools such as Google Analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To access this feature, you\u2019ll need WordPress.com&#8217;s Creator plan, which is $17.50 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. WordPress Ads (Ugh)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you build your site using the free plan, <strong>WordPress.com may place ads on your site without your permission<\/strong>. You have no control over their content or placement, and none of the advertising revenue goes to you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Removing the ads or earning income from them involves \u2014 you guessed it \u2014 upgrading to a paid plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Design Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The free plan on WordPress.com comes with just the basics in terms of design customization. With a limited selection of themes to choose from, some free sites can end up looking quite similar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1134\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options.webp\" alt=\"WordPress theme showcase displaying various website templates. &quot;Upgrade&quot; buttons visible beneath Hevor and Spiel themes.\" class=\"wp-image-48637 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-300x213.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-1024x726.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-768x544.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-1536x1089.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-600x425.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-1200x851.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-730x517.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-1460x1035.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-784x556.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-1568x1111.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/04_design_options-877x622.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1134;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need to upgrade if you want to experiment with third-party themes and plugins. Paid plans also give you access to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/learn-css\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">custom CSS<\/a>, allowing for more control over the look of your site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. Monetization Rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Have an eye for business? If<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/lucrative-side-hustle-ideas\/\"> <\/a>you\u2019re planning to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/lucrative-side-hustle-ideas\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">make money online<\/a>, be aware that the <strong>WordPress.com basic plans come with some heavy restrictions<\/strong>. You can&#8217;t add your own Google AdSense placements, and there are some very specific<a href=\"https:\/\/en.support.wordpress.com\/monetize-your-site\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> guidelines for affiliate linking<\/a> and sponsored posting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In terms of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/woocommerce-hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">e-commerce<\/a>, WordPress.com does allow you to sell online. However, there\u2019s a caveat \u2014 the platform charges transaction fees until you hit the $31.50 per month Entrepreneur plan.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tHow To Create A WordPress Plugin (Beginner\u2019s Guide)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-your-first-wordpress-plugin\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-wordpress-com-renting-online-real-estate\">WordPress.com: Renting Online Real Estate<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>If you only care about building a no-frills online presence, WordPress.com is a great option. <\/strong>From start to finish, you could get a whole website up and running in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com is also a good choice if you\u2019re a little apprehensive about the technical aspects involved in<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/complete-website-maintenance-checklist\/\"> <\/a>creating and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/complete-website-maintenance-checklist\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maintaining a website<\/a>. Or, if you want to dip your toes in with<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/blogging-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> blogging<\/a> before really committing to a full-fledged site. You can always extend the experiment and <a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/214693178-How-to-manually-migrate-WordPress-to-DreamHost\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">migrate your content to your own self-hosted site<\/a> later down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, if you\u2019re trying to build an authoritative brand right off the bat, think twice before setting up a WordPress.com website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While this platform does allow you to customize and monetize your site to some extent, you&#8217;re limited in how much you can do. And these add-on features come at a higher price than you\u2019d normally pay for web hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Think about it this way:<\/strong> <strong>WordPress.com is like renting an apartment versus owning a home.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On the upside, you don&#8217;t have to worry about site maintenance or security. As a tenant, though? You have little control over the decor and you can&#8217;t build a worthwhile extension to your digital space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_getting-to-know-wordpress-org\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Getting To Know WordPress.org<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While WordPress.com is an all-in-one platform, WordPress.org lets you download the source software. It&#8217;s often called self-hosted WordPress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, the WordPress.org software is based on<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/open-source-ai\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> open-source<\/a> code and is distributed under the<a href=\"https:\/\/en-gb.wordpress.org\/about\/license\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> GNU General Public License<\/a>. That means it\u2019s free to use, fairly easy to modify, and allows you to build upon your own projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"glossary-term\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"glossary-term__above-title\"\n\t\thref=\"\"\n\t\ttarget=\"_blank\"\n\t\trel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n\t>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 640 512\"><path d=\"M320 32c-8.1 0-16.1 1.4-23.7 4.1L15.8 137.4C6.3 140.9 0 149.9 0 160s6.3 19.1 15.8 22.6l57.9 20.9C57.3 229.3 48 259.8 48 291.9v28.1c0 28.4-10.8 57.7-22.3 80.8c-6.5 13-13.9 25.8-22.5 37.6C0 442.7-.9 448.3 .9 453.4s6 8.9 11.2 10.2l64 16c4.2 1.1 8.7 .3 12.4-2s6.3-6.1 7.1-10.4c8.6-42.8 4.3-81.2-2.1-108.7C90.3 344.3 86 329.8 80 316.5V291.9c0-30.2 10.2-58.7 27.9-81.5c12.9-15.5 29.6-28 49.2-35.7l157-61.7c8.2-3.2 17.5 .8 20.7 9s-.8 17.5-9 20.7l-157 61.7c-12.4 4.9-23.3 12.4-32.2 21.6l159.6 57.6c7.6 2.7 15.6 4.1 23.7 4.1s16.1-1.4 23.7-4.1L624.2 182.6c9.5-3.4 15.8-12.5 15.8-22.6s-6.3-19.1-15.8-22.6L343.7 36.1C336.1 33.4 328.1 32 320 32zM128 408c0 35.3 86 72 192 72s192-36.7 192-72L496.7 262.6 354.5 314c-11.1 4-22.8 6-34.5 6s-23.5-2-34.5-6L143.3 262.6 128 408z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t<span><\/span>\n\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 384 512\"><path d=\"M342.6 233.4c12.5 12.5 12.5 32.8 0 45.3l-192 192c-12.5 12.5-32.8 12.5-45.3 0s-12.5-32.8 0-45.3L274.7 256 105.4 86.6c-12.5-12.5-12.5-32.8 0-45.3s32.8-12.5 45.3 0l192 192z\"\/><\/svg>\n\t<\/a>\n    <h3>Open Source<\/h3>\n    <p>In software development, open source projects are free for anyone to download, use, modify, and distribute. WordPress is an example of open source software, although it\u2019s far from the only one.<\/p>\n            <a\n            href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/glossary\/web-design\/open-source\/\"\n                        class=\"btn btn--white-outline btn--sm btn--round\"\n                                    target=\"_blank\"\n            rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\n            >\n                            Read More                    <\/a>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>You can download the code directly from the<a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> WordPress.org<\/a> homepage. At this moment, WordPress 6.6 has been downloaded <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/download\/counter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">46,480,546 times<\/a> and counting!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org.webp\" alt=\"WordPress.org homepage with headline &quot;Meet WordPress&quot; and options to get started designing and building a site.\" class=\"wp-image-48639 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-300x225.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-1024x768.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-768x576.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-1536x1152.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-600x450.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-1200x900.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-730x548.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-1460x1095.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-784x588.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-1568x1176.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/05_getting_to_know_wordpress_org-877x658.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1200;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This source code is a framework that provides the structure to build and customize your self-hosted WordPress site. All the remaining parts of your site are open for customization. That includes the design, the features, and the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To return to our earlier analogy, <strong>using WordPress.org is like owning your home<\/strong>. You have total control over your real estate, and you can make alterations as you please. This means you have additional responsibilities too, of course \u2014 but for most people, the trade-off will be worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make your website accessible to visitors online, you will need to set up your site with a reliable web host. The hosting service you choose will dictate how many visitors you can receive each month, how much storage space you get, and what kind of technical support you can expect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Good hosting doesn&#8217;t have to be expensive. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamHost\u2019s Shared Starter hosting plan<\/a> starts at just $2.59 per month, and it covers everything you need to build a strong online brand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Aside from the support provided by your web host, WordPress.org offers extensive documentation to help you shape your site. You can also find answers to common issues in the WordPress <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/support\/forums\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">community forums<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<h2>Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_the-pros-and-cons-of-wordpress-org\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Pros and Cons of WordPress.org<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This all sounds very promising. Now, let\u2019s back to WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s a quick like-for-like comparison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Choose Your Own Hosting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.org doesn&#8217;t come with any hosting, but that means you can choose the plan that suits your project. Need more space or <a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/215560437-What-types-of-hosting-plans-are-available\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bandwidth<\/a>? You can just switch to a different hosting provider or plan. (Like us!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Register Your Own Domain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You don&#8217;t automatically get a domain with WordPress.org. However, most good web hosts (again, like us) include at least one <a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/215249528-How-do-I-use-a-free-domain-registration\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">free domain<\/a> in some of their hosting packages. This means you can host your site on a unique domain from day one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Your Own Metrics<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You can choose any metrics solution you want with WordPress.org. The only downside is that you\u2019ll need to configure these systems yourself. But, with plugins like <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/google-site-kit\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Site Kit by Google<\/a>, this configuration is as easy as connecting to your Google account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Unlimited Design Options<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As with WordPress.com, you have access to free themes with WordPress.org. Just as importantly, you can customize these designs however you want. If you want to purchase a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-pick-wordpress-theme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">premium theme<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-create-wordpress-child-theme\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">build your own<\/a>, that&#8217;s also an option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1181\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options.webp\" alt=\"WordPress theme directory page with a grid of themes including &quot;Hello&quot; theme and others like blogs and an art museum site.\" class=\"wp-image-48641 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options.webp 1600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-300x221.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-1024x756.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-768x567.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-1536x1134.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-600x443.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-1200x886.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-730x539.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-1460x1078.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-784x579.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-1568x1157.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/06_unlimited_design_options-877x647.webp 877w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1600px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1600\/1181;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Custom Monetization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>With a self-hosted WordPress.org website, you won&#8217;t see any unwanted ads popping up on your site. What if you want to insert your own ads? You have total freedom. The same goes for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-accept-payments-through-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accepting payments for your e-commerce<\/a> business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_how-to-create-a-self-hosted-wordpress-website\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Create a Self-Hosted WordPress Website<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s look at the pros and cons stacked up together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><\/td><td><strong>WordPress.com<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>WordPress.org<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Pros<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Free to set up and host with 1GB storage<br>&#8211; Easy to start with a subdomain<br>&#8211; No ads on paid plans<br>&#8211; Basic design customization<br>&#8211; Minimal technical maintenance required<br>&#8211; Good for simple, no-frills online presence<\/td><td>&#8211; Flexible storage with chosen hosting plans<br>&#8211; Can use unique domain from the start<br>&#8211; Full control to use any metrics solution<br>&#8211; No unwanted ads<br>&#8211; Unlimited design options with full theme customization<br>&#8211; Complete freedom to monetize as desired<br>&#8211; Highly flexible, allowing full customization and control<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Cons<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Limited storage on free accounts; requires paid plans for more space<br>&#8211; Uses a subdomain unless upgraded to a paid plan<br>&#8211; Ads may be placed on free sites without user control<br>&#8211; Limitations on design and customization options<br>&#8211; Restricted monetization options; higher-tier plans needed for full control<br>&#8211; Limited by WordPress.com\u2019s constraints and rules<\/td><td>&#8211; Requires purchasing hosting separately<br>&#8211; Requires purchasing and registering your own domain<br>&#8211; Requires setup and configuration<br>&#8211; Requires managing your own ad placements<br>&#8211; Requires more technical know-how and site maintenance<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>As the list above indicates, WordPress.org is generally the more flexible option. The primary reason some people opt for WordPress.com is because they&#8217;re concerned about setting up self-hosting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What exactly is involved? Here are the main steps:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Find a web host.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Install WordPress.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Customize your site.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s dig a little deeper into each of these.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 1: Find a Web Host<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A web host is a company that provides space on a server where your website is stored and made accessible on the internet. There are loads of hosting options out there, each providing something a little different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>DreamHost offers additional perks through our service plans, like free domain names and unlimited hosting. <strong>The best part? We also come <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>endorsed by WordPress.org<\/strong><\/a><strong>!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"single__related-article\">\n\t<span>Related Article<\/span>\n\t<div class=\"single__related-article__wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single__related-article__title\">\n\t\t\tThe Ultimate Guide To Web Hosting (What You Need To Know)\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/web-hosting-guide\/\" class=\"btn btn--sm btn--brand\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\n\t\t\tRead More\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After you decide on a hosting provider, there\u2019s still the matter of choosing the right hosting plan for your website.&nbsp;Here\u2019s a quick reference guide to the <a href=\"https:\/\/help.dreamhost.com\/hc\/en-us\/articles\/215560437-What-types-of-hosting-plans-are-available\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most common types of hosting<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2460\" height=\"1988\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting.webp\" alt=\"Infographic: shared hosting, virtual private server, and dedicated hosting with performance, security, and pricing ratings.\" class=\"wp-image-48643 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting.webp 2460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-300x242.webp 300w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1024x828.webp 1024w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-768x621.webp 768w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1536x1241.webp 1536w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-2048x1655.webp 2048w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-600x485.webp 600w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1200x970.webp 1200w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-730x590.webp 730w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1460x1180.webp 1460w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-784x634.webp 784w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1568x1267.webp 1568w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-877x709.webp 877w, https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/07_shared_hosting_vs_vps_vs_dedicated_hosting-1754x1417.webp 1754w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2460px) 100vw, 2460px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2460px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2460\/1988;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Shared Hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Your website or blog is placed on a server with other sites, so the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/shared-hosting-quick-start-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> cost for the hosting is shared<\/a> amongst the clients. The catch: heavy traffic to other sites on your server may affect your website\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Virtual Private Server<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A VPS acts as multiple virtual servers, even though users share one physical server and resources; a step between shared hosting and a dedicated server. To learn more, check out our<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/beginners-guide-vps\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> beginner\u2019s guide to VPS<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Dedicated Servers<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Hosting your WordPress.org site on a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/dedicated\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> dedicated server<\/a> gives you maximum control and resources at a higher cost. You don\u2019t have to worry about sharing resources with other sites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Managed WordPress Hosting<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Want the convenience of WordPress.com with the control of WordPress.org? That&#8217;s what you get with managed WordPress hosting plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The idea here is that your web host handles all the technical aspects of WordPress hosting \u2014 such as updates,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/secure-your-wordpress-website\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> security<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/how-to-back-up-wordpress-tutorial\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">backups<\/a> \u2014 leaving you free to experiment with themes, plugins, code, and content. It&#8217;s a great option for beginners and busy site owners alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Pro tip<\/strong>: With our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamPress managed hosting<\/a>, your service can be up to five times faster than regular shared hosting. (Seriously.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 2: Install WordPress<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most good web hosts make it pretty easy to set up WordPress.org. At DreamHost, we offer one-click installers on all our hosting plans. If you choose a managed plan, we\u2019ll set up WordPress for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you don&#8217;t have this option with your host, you will need to download and install the WordPress software online. To help guide you through the process, we created a<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/guide-to-manual-wp-install\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> handy tutorial on WordPress installation<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Step 3: Customize Your Site<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The final step is to configure and customize your site. With a self-hosted site, you can go wild with themes, add the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/best-wordpress-plugins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">perfect plugins<\/a>, and use custom code to make it truly your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember, with extra control comes greater responsibility. So, we recommend making regular backups and taking security precautions to protect against <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/akismet-block-spam-wordpress\/\">s<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/akismet-block-spam-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">p<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/akismet-block-spam-wordpress\/\">am<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/blog\/common-wordpress-errors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> errors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In general, we strongly recommend that you read the <a href=\"https:\/\/learn.wordpress.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">extensive documentation<\/a> provided by WordPress.org. These guides and courses will help you to achieve your goals without running the risk of running into problems again and again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h2_wordpress-com-vs-wordpress-org-the-choice-is-yours\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: The Choice Is Yours<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Your choice of WordPress.org or WordPress.com truly depends on what you want to achieve, and how much you&#8217;re willing to spend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>WordPress.com is the rental option, where convenience comes at a cost. WordPress.org requires a little more effort, but you can expect lower costs over time and more control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you decide to go down the WordPress.org route, it&#8217;s important to choose the right hosting. Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/hosting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Shared Starter hosting plan<\/a> if you\u2019re looking to get a site online for less than $3 per month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alternatively, you can make life easy with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dreamhost.com\/wordpress\/managed\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">DreamPress managed hosting<\/a> and get a speed boost while you&#8217;re at it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"article-newsletter article-newsletter--gradient\">\n\n\n<h2>Get Content Delivered Straight to Your Inbox<\/h2><p>Subscribe now to receive all the latest updates, delivered directly to your inbox.<\/p><form class=\"nwsl-form\" id=\"newsletter_block_\" novalidate><div class=\"messages\"><\/div><div class=\"form-group\"><label for=\"input_newsletter_block_\"><input type=\"email\"name=\"email\"id=\"input_newsletter_block_\"placeholder=\"Enter your email address\"novalidatedisabled=\"disabled\"\/><\/label><button type=\"submit\"class=\"btn btn--brand\"disabled=\"disabled\"><span>Sign Me Up!<\/span><svg width=\"21\" height=\"14\" viewBox=\"0 0 21 14\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<path d=\"M13.8523 0.42524L12.9323 1.34521C12.7095 1.56801 12.7132 1.9304 12.9404 2.14865L16.7241 5.7823H0.5625C0.251859 5.7823 0 6.03416 0 6.3448V7.6573C0 7.96794 0.251859 8.2198 0.5625 8.2198H16.7241L12.9405 11.8535C12.7132 12.0717 12.7095 12.4341 12.9323 12.6569L13.8523 13.5769C14.072 13.7965 14.4281 13.7965 14.6478 13.5769L20.8259 7.39879C21.0456 7.17913 21.0456 6.82298 20.8259 6.60327L14.6477 0.42524C14.4281 0.205584 14.0719 0.205584 13.8523 0.42524Z\" fill=\"white\"\/>\n<\/svg>\n<\/button><\/div><\/form><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Unsure which WordPress is best for your site? Our guide compares WordPress.com and WordPress.org, highlighting key differences to help you make an informed decision.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1077,"featured_media":48623,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Unsure which WordPress is best for your site? Our guide compares WordPress.com and WordPress.org, highlighting key differences to help you make an informed decision.","toc_headlines":"[[\"h-wordpress-com-the-basics\",\"<strong>WordPress.com: The Basics<\/strong>\"],[\"h-the-hidden-costs-of-a-free-website\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">The Hidden Costs of a Free Website<\/span>\"],[\"h-wordpress-com-apartment-complex-of-internet-real-estate\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">WordPress.com: Apartment Complex of Internet Real Estate<\/span>\"],[\"h-wordpress-org-the-basics\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">WordPress.org: The Basics<\/span>\"],[\"h-how-to-create-a-self-hosted-wordpress-website\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">How to Create a Self-Hosted WordPress Website<\/span>\"],[\"h-wordpress-org-craftsman-bungalow-of-internet-real-estate\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">WordPress.org: Craftsman Bungalow of Internet Real Estate<\/span>\"],[\"h-the-choice-is-yours\",\"<span style=\\\"font-weight: bold;\\\">The Choice Is Yours<\/span>\"]]","hide_toc":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[696],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15143","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wordpress"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Difference Between WordPress.com &amp; WordPress.org - DreamHost<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Unsure which WordPress is best for your site? Our guide compares WordPress.com and WordPress.org, highlighting key differences to help you make an informed decision.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www-dev.dreamhost.com\/blog\/wordpress-differences-beginners-guide\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org: What\u2019s the Difference?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Which WordPress option is right for your site? 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