Most times I wonder why WordPress had to create wordpress.com and at the same time wordpress.org.

However, the .com and .org differences makes it hard knowing which option is really good.

Well to be straight forward here, the difference between the two is freedom and control. Yea I said it “freedom and control”. That is, you enjoy some privileges at wordpress.com and you get restricted to options you sorely would need.

While at wordpress.com you don’t get the privilege but get full control that definitely get access to options that would give you better privileges.

— WHAT IS THIS FREEDOM AND CONTROL —

This freedom and control has a lot of role to play when using the two WordPress services. This setup involves hosting services, website security and maintenance. That is for wordpress.com, you get free hosting services with website security and maintenance which you can’t get with wordpress.org except you pay for it.

You can find out about hosting services here

Like we all know, nothing is totally free. Because this free hosting with website security and maintenance for wordpress.com denies you so many access and control you need. Which we just have to look into.

— WORDPRESS.COM – WHAT YOU GET TO GAIN —

Like we said earlier at wordpress.com you enjoy the following for free

• Subdomain with “wordpress.com” at the end of it
• Hosting service by Automattic
• Website security
• Website maintenance services

are there more? Maybe yes. But it comes as an upsell which makes it much more expensive that the self-hosted wordpress.org.

This upsells includes using higher WordPress plan starting off with $8.25 to $24.92. this WordPress plans give you access to

• Custom Domain Name
• Jetpack Essential Features
• Email & Live Chat Support
• Unlimited Premium Themes not more than 300
• Advanced Design Customization
• Unlimited Storage Space
• Remove WordPress.com Ads
• Monetize your site
• Video Press support
• Attend live courses
• Advanced SEO
• Google Analytics Integration

This up sells is way more expensive than a normal self-hosting service

this is what the pricing looks like at wordpress.com

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what it looks like for self hosting services

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view of wordpress.com dashboard

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— WORDPRESS.COM – WHAT YOU GET TO LOSE —

Unfortunately, what you get to lose at wordpress.com is far much, it is based on full control over your site. This includes

• Extensions at the end of your domain as a free user except you go for higher upsell plan which is higher than normal hosting services
• You must choose your theme from the official site. That is, you can’t create yours, other than what the site gives you
• You can’t install plugins that may perform functions like image slides, page building, social media auto publish and so on
• Can’t place advertisement at basic upsells plan not even your own ads. And at advance user plan, if you place advertisement the revenue you generate for the advertisement is shared 50/50 with your hosting service
• Cant own a e-store under this platform
• Controlled by terms and services

— WORDPRESS.ORG – WHAT YOU GET TO LOSE —

At wordpress.org what you get to lose is just

• hosting service by Automattic for free
  
• website security also for free
  
• and free website maintenance services

So let’s look at what you get to gain at wordpress.org

— WORDPRESS.ORG – WHAT YOU GET TO GAIN —

There is so much benefit with the wordpress.org and they include

• You can buy your domain name as low as $10 per year
• Unlimited theme for your website design
• You get to develop your own theme as well and even market them
• So many plugins available at your disposal and are free. You can decide to monetize your own if you so wish
• Security and site maintenance is done by the user, either with a plugin or you pay for it.
• You can place ads, as many as you want
• The monetization platform is far huge and bigger as you can own an e-store
• Not control by any term and services. You create your own terms

view of wordpress.org dashboard

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— WHAT’S YOUR PICK? THIS IS MT RECOMMENDATION —

I strongly recommend the wordpress.org package because of its big and wide features. And if you have any questions or contributions, feel free to leave a comment below.