WordPress.com Vs. WordPress.org
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The self-hosted WordPress.org wins because it gives users a free tool to build and expand a website the way they want. There's a bit of a learning curve, but you can't price the flexibility with which you can design, optimize, and monetize your website the way you want. With WordPress.com, you're sacrificing the same flexibility in exchange for a free website that takes care of itself. While building websites makes the guesswork easier, WordPress.com has limitations that are more appealing to beginners with limited technical knowledge.
WordPress.com or WordPress.org: Which is Better?
WordPress.com is a free platform that is perfect for beginners who want to play around with a simple website. The simplicity is second to none, so you can focus more on creating great content without having to worry about technical stuff. Create an account today and have your free website up and running in minutes.
WordPress.org is best for bloggers and businesses who want to take full control of their websites. You can incorporate it into custom themes, plug-ins, and tools so that your website looks, works, and makes money the way you want it to be. Download WordPress now and create a website on your terms.
A review of the best website builders
If you are looking for a website builder, this in-depth review of my picks should point you in the right direction.
A website builder should help you build a website in minutes without touching any codes. I've built countless websites over the years so I know firsthand what essential features to look for.
Spoiler alert: WordPress is one of the best, but you may find other alternatives that better suit your needs.
WordPress.com wins
Easy to use: WordPress.com is a free managed hosting platform. So starting your website is as easy as creating an account. The team behind WordPress.com takes care of everything, so you don't have to download software, pay for a hosting plan, or manage a server. This handy style of website building is ideal for those who want to be more content-focused and want to launch as many free websites as they want.
100% free for basic users: It's free to start a website with WordPress.com. Paid plans are also available if you want to remove ads, use a custom domain (e.g. neilpatel.com) instead of the default subdomain (neilpatel.wordpress.com), and get more storage. The cost of upgrading to paid plans can range from $ 48 per year for staff to $ 540 per year for an ecommerce plan.
Hands-off maintenance: Having a WordPress.com website is like renting an apartment minus the rental fee. You can enjoy the room while the landlord takes care of the maintenance. You don't have to worry about backups, updates, and other daunting technical stuff – all of these are taken care of by WordPress.com's developers and support engineers.
Multiple customer support channels: In support forums you can answer all technical questions, regardless of whether you are using a free or a premium plan. Depending on the paid plan you have subscribed to, you can also access more personal support 24/7 via live chat or email.
Basic customization options: Even though it's free, WordPress.com gives you enough leeway to personalize your website the way you want. There are hundreds of free themes to choose from, so you can choose something that reflects your style and personality. Free WordPress.com websites also have built-in features such as social media sharing buttons, polls, comments, image galleries, SEO and contact forms, so you don't have to install third-party plugins.
Built-in security functions: WordPress.com is a closed ecosystem that is already secured by default. There is no need to install security features or monitor your website 24/7 for possible malware attacks. Everything is done so you can focus your attention where more is needed – and create content.
Painless migration option: Should you decide it is time to turn your website into a self-hosted platform, WordPress.com isn't going to stop you from doing so. Free WordPress.com has a built-in export tool that allows you to pack your entire website into a single downloadable file. You can do the transfer yourself for free or have WordPress.com hold your hand for a small fee. Completing the transfer is as easy as clicking the import button on your new self-hosted WordPress dashboard to move your files to their new home.
WordPress.com losses
Unreliable traffic monitoring tool: All users can see on a statistics page how much traffic their websites are receiving at any given time and where their visitors are coming from. However, there are many restrictions such as: For example, new visitors don't think about the total number of views until two hours later. If the visitor views the home page while reading a post, the view counts towards total views, but not towards the individual post. Google Analytics presents more precise data. However, you can only integrate these with WordPress.com if you have premium or higher plans.
Limited monetization ability: The free WordPress.com is not allowed to earn money. You can try your luck with WordAds, WordPress.com's own advertising network, but you'll need a custom domain and thousands of hits per month to qualify. And even if you're accepted, you're only sharing your earnings with WordPress.com. Google Adsense and ecommerce features are only available when you upgrade to Business or higher plans.
Not good for branding: WordPress.com does everything for free at the expense of flexibility. While the free themes and built-in features are enough if you are blogging for fun only, they leave a lot to be desired for most users. Additionally, WordPress.com's default subdomain and ads won't help you build a solid brand in the long run. You have the option to customize your website with third-party themes and plug-ins. However, this is a luxury that only business plan users can enjoy.
Restricted Ownership: When you create a free website with WordPress.com, you have no say in most things that affect your website. Your platform, your rules. First, your website address uses a generic subdomain (i.e. Yoursite.wordpress.com) instead of a custom domain name that looks more professional. You also have no control over the number and types of ads your readers see unless you decide to upgrade your plan. Since your ownership is restricted, WordPress.com can delete your website if it finds it violates their terms and conditions.
Dull SEO: WordPress.com has built-in SEO features, but they are barely enough to ensure a good user experience and maximum search visibility. Free accounts only have access to a limited number of free topics. Therefore, you cannot upload a custom theme that will provide better site navigation. You also can't install popular SEO plug-ins like Yoast SEO or All-in-One SEO. As such, it is impossible to add unique titles and meta descriptions to your articles unless you upgrade to a premium plan. Finally, users with the free plan cannot use a redirect plug-in, so pages that should have been redirected to another page just stay and clutter the site.
WordPress.org wins
A wealth of troubleshooting resources for the DIY enthusiast: WordPress.org is open source software so there are a multitude of volunteers and experts ready to lend a helping hand. When you need to troubleshoot a technical issue affecting WordPress, assistance on the WordPress.org support forums is just a few searches away.
Freel traffic reporting and tracking: Get real-time traffic reports through Google Analytics, a free tool that you can install in WordPress by adding a few codes to the back end of your website or by activating a plug-in that can do it with little effort. Regardless of your hosting plan, you can use Google Analytics to get valuable, detailed insights into your visitors and use the data to make important business decisions.
Unlimited money making: When you have a self-hosted website using WordPress.org software, the sky's the limit when it comes to making money. You can run ads yourself without sharing the income with anyone. You can also try other monetization methods such as affiliate marketing, posting sponsored content, or creating membership pages that sell premium content or courses. If you want to build an online store, a WordPress.org website has the most robust ecommerce features.
Impressive flexibility: Thanks to WordPress.org, you can have a self-hosted website and have the freedom to do whatever you want with it. Would you like to change your subject? You can install one of many custom themes online or create one from scratch using PHP and CSS. There is also an endless list of third-party plug-ins that you can install to improve the look and functionality of your website. From SEO tools to ecommerce extensions, there is no limit to how powerful you want your website to be.
Straightforward security setup: Keeping your website secure is as simple as installing a few plug-ins and letting your hosting provider do the rest. It's not that easy, but making sure your website is secure doesn't require a steep learning curve either. Finally, if you have trouble implementing security measures yourself, you can easily contact your web host or one of the WordPress.org support forums.
Full ownership and control: When you build a website with WordPress.org, you have full ownership of your web property. There is no higher force on the back of your neck that could banish your website at the first chance. As long as you're not playing gimmicks, you can have a good rest at night thinking you are in full control of the fate of your website.
Freedom to use SEO: With full control you can also directly influence how your content is ranked in search engines. A self-hosted website gives you the freedom to tinker with various SEO tools to optimize your images, titles, meta descriptions, sitemaps, and internal links. Google Analytics is also easy to set up to quantify how effective your SEO strategies are and identify areas for improvement. If the user experience is a priority, you can also install and tweak your favorite custom theme to improve your readers' navigation around your website.
WordPress.org losses
Lack of simplicity for non-tech-savvy users: WordPress.org is an open source content management system, not a full website. To get your website started, you first need to buy a domain name and pay for a hosting plan. After you've downloaded the WordPress.org software, you'll need to install it on your web host. Some hosting providers have also made this step easier by offering a one-click WordPress installation. Although you don't have to touch any codes, beginners may find the entire process intimidating at first.
Building and maintaining a website isn't entirely free: WordPress.org itself is free. However, it can only stand on its own if you have a domain name and web host. A domain name is your website address (e.g. neilpatel.com) and costs at least $ 10 a year for a standard .com domain. On the other hand, using a web host is where you'll store your website files – including WordPress.org – and should cost at least $ 3 to $ 10 per month. And don't forget about the cost of premium themes and plug-ins, which will further weigh on your pocket unless you already have a website that pays off.
Routine maintenance: Managing a self-hosted site is like having your own home. You are free to do something with it, but you will have to fix it yourself if something breaks. As the website owner, you are responsible for updating the WordPress software and any plug-ins you have installed. Even when web hosts offer backups, they are rarely comprehensive and guaranteed, so you have to back up the files yourself.
Comparison of the top website builders
Whether you're an unsuspecting beginner or a tech-savvy webpreneur, my in-depth review of the Best Website Builders will help you choose the platform that will best achieve your goals.
- Wix – Best for general use
- Weebly – Best for beginners
- Shopify – Best for ecommerce
- WordPress – Best for Content Management
Wix is the "jack of all trades" that allows you to build any website that doesn't need any frills. If you're looking for fewer features and a more beginner-friendly platform, Weebly won't disappoint with its drag-and-drop interface. Are you building an online shop? Look no further than Shopify, which is made specifically for this purpose.
However, if you want your content to be the center of attention, nothing compares to the functionality of WordPress. As a content management system, it powers 39% of the top 10 million websites on the Internet. And for a convincing reason: It offers everything you need to scale, optimize and use your content optimally.
See How my agency can drive Firmly Traffic volumes on your website
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- Content Marketing – Our team creates epic content that is shared, links accessed and visitors drawn.
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