WordPress.org vs WordPress.com cost comparison

WordPress.org or WordPress.com? Dot ORG vs DOT COM? If you’re new to WordPress, it’s a common question and often one that needs a little explanation since the two get confused all of the time. Typically cost also gets asked and it always seems to come up in the beginning of the conversation as well. When visiting the dot org site a lot of people see this quote…

WordPress is web software you can use to create a beautiful website or blog. We like to say that WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time.

So which is it? Free? Paid? even priceless? First lets get into the weeds and talk about what each one is and isn’t.

What is WordPress.com?

The dot com is a commercial website where you can host a free site with some limitations or pay a yearly fee to remove the restrictions. The site runs on the WordPress software offered at WordPress.org Matt Mullenweg, who co-created the software, also founded Automattic, the company that operates WordPress.com. Since this is a hosted service, it means you don’t have to worry about finding a web host or downloading and installing the WordPress software. The service does all that for you. More info at here

What is WordPress.org?

The dot org is open source blogging/CMS software that powers 22 per cent of the web, including this one. The software is a community-driven project and this is where you can download the installation files, and search for and download free themes and plugins. The site also contains news, documentation and community support forums. It’s also the place to go if you want to get involved in the WordPress and contribute to the core code, mobile apps, translation and accessibility. More info at here Easily right? The dot com is hosted all-in-one solution and the dot org is hosted by YOU and is an unlimited solution.

WordPress.org vs WordPress.com cost comparison

Dot org is seen on the left in black and dot com is in blue [via WPMU] Of course there can be additional costs for added functionality to a dot org website but this is just the basics. Which version of WordPress do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below.