Time and time again, I find that people are confused by WordPress.com, and WordPress.org. What is the the difference? They are both WordPress right? Which one is right for me? Keep reading, all of your questions will be answered.
What is WordPress?
The first question we will address is What is WordPress? In short, WordPress is a highly effective blogging platform that is extremely customizable, and very user friendly. For those of you who are not tech-savy it is kind of like a program for your computer, only online.
Even though WordPress has gotten it’s name for it’s blogging capabilities, it has grown into a full blown content management system, and can be used to run virtually any type of website with enough customization. WordPress is optimized extremely well for speed, and SEO and is very user-friendly.
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
Now that we know what WordPress is, it is time for use to learn the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Yes, they are both powered by WordPress, and they are both very similar, yet completely different.
In short, WordPress.com is for those of you who do not have your own web hosting or domain, but want to get started. If is 100% free, and boasts the same popular software. WordPress.org on the other hand, allows you to download, change, and install the same application, used on WordPress.com. WordPress.org is for users that want to use their own domain, hosting, plugins, and be able to customize everything with virtually no restrictions.
Benefits of using WordPress.com
- It is free
- It is installed for you
- Requires no domain or hosting
- Security is handled for you
- Spam protection is taken car of for you
- Automatic backups
- Possibility of free traffic from the Tag system
- Easy to find similar blogs and partners
- Secured login
Cons of using WordPress.com
- Can’t edit core files
- Can’t install plugins
- Can’t upload custom themes (however you can edit the 70 themes pre-installed)
Benefits of using WordPress.org
- Can upload custom themes
- Can install plugins
- Full control over the core files. If you don’t like something, change it!
- Very large support community
Cons of using WordPress.org
- You must provide your own host
- Must provide your own domain
- Responsible for your own security
- Responsible for spam control (there are some great plugins for this)
- Must handle your own backups
- Must handle your own upgrades
In closing, if you are just getting started, WordPress.com is a great way to go, and get your feet wet. However, if you are serious about creating your own website, and your own brand, there is no better solution than WordPress.org.
You may want to double check your sources as the “70 theme” quote is over a year out of date if not more.
Others cons of using wordpress.com is:
- Losing traffic due to the tagging system. While normally category links on a regular wordpress blog lead to your own categories, on wordpress.com they lead to the tagging system which confuses people. This pulls your visitors away from your blog.
- At the mercy of Automattic. For whatever reason they could ToS your blog and delete it. Just a simple affiliate link has been known to cause a blog to be shut down. Also they may label your blog as mature and remove you from the tagging system without notice.
- Backups aren’t accessible. You don’t have access to them. You have to get staff to intervene and usually they’ll only do so if the cause is something on their end.
- Stuck with Akismet. If you get fed up with it or have too many false positives, there’s nothing you can change. Other anti spam solutions exist that may work better but you don’t have that option.
- Feature limited. Again you’re at the mercy of Automattic unless you shell out $500+ a month for their VIP program. If you need support added for something, you can suggest it but usually that’s a black hole.
- At the mercy of your neighbors. Yes, they have warez and child porn and all the rest that may offend you.
Hope this helps,
-drmike