In a previous article in which we compared Blogger and WordPress, we told you that, of this second, there were two types. But do you know what the differences are between wordpress.com and wordpress.org?
If you want a web page and you have come across this, you may not know how each one differs. What's more, you may not even be able to make a decision since both seem the same, but they are not. Shall we give you a hand?
What is WordPress.com?
By WordPress.com we mean an online service. In fact, when you enter the page you will see that the program that we have mentioned before is not here. But you have a website where you can register to have a website or a blog that uses the WordPress program.
In this case, you do not need to install it yourself, nor does it require hosting, not even a domain, but they already give you everything on this website.
What you can do is buy upgrades to use the program with more freedom. In the free version it can be very fair, especially for a website.
What is WordPress.org?
WordPress.org, or better known as WordPress, is actually a website where we find the software that gives it its name. That is, a file in which we find the compressed program.
On the page we can download it for free to install it on a hosting, a server that we have whose space is enough to host this program and use it.
Thanks to that we can customize the page, modify it, put a template, a theme, and plugins, that is, small programs that interact with the main one to do certain things.
Isn't wordpress.com and wordpress.org the same thing?
Although later we will deal with the differences between the two, the truth is that they do have very similar things to each other. And that is why the confusion comes many times.
For example, on both sites you will find WordPress. In one it will be with the program already installed and ready to work; while in the other you will have it to download and install wherever you want.
Another point in common is the name. The two pages are called Worpdress. But the functions are totally different from each other.
Differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org
As you can see, it has become clear that wordpress.com is not the same as wordpress.org. Yes, the two are the same thing, WordPress, but they actually perform different functions. And that is what we are going to discuss next, the differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org. You are ready?
WordPress Type
Let's start with the first, and something that is the main feature of each page.
WordPress.com is actually a brand. It is a company that is dedicated to providing you with hosting, domain and program so you can create a blog or a website. The free version is very limited, but it has monthly or annual plans with which you can improve the situation and easily customize it.
For its part, wordpress.org is actually a program. Here you can do nothing more than read the possible news that there is and download the program that will be free, it is free and it is open source (in case errors are detected so that you can notify us and together we can fix the problem).
Customization
Regarding customization, wordpress.org wins by a lot. Keep in mind that it is the complete program that you will be able to use without having to pay anything for it, and being able to customize even the smallest detail.
That means that you can put any theme or template, even create your own if you know how to do it; add plugins etc.
What about wordpress.com? Well, despite the plans, the truth is that you will not be able to install the ones you want, but you will only be able to choose between those that are offered to you. Also, you don't have access to the plugins, because they don't exist in this version.
In other words, you will be more tied with wordpress.com than with org.
show advertising
If you look at a blog made on wordpress.com, you should know that it inserts its own ads, so the profits are not for you, but for them. Only if you pay 30 dollars a year could you avoid them.
But you have to know that in wordpress.org there is no type of advertising. In fact, the program will be free, and you will be able to put the publicity that you want. In the former as well, but limited. Also, if you do not have more than 25000 monthly page views and other requirements, forget that they will not let you (and you will always go to 50% with the page).
Gratuity
Here it will depend a lot on what you want to do with WordPress. If you want it to set up your website, blog, eCommerce... then the best thing is to have the complete program because that way you can do everything with greater freedom. But it requires two things:
A domain, that is, the URL of your page, which will cost between 10 and 14 euros approximately (you may find it cheaper). The payment is annual and if you do not pay it you lose the domain.
A hosting, that is, a server where you can host all the files of your page. In general, with around 50 euros (sometimes even less) you will have enough. Payment can be made monthly or annually; We recommend this second option because it is cheaper.
Let's go now with the case of wordpress.com. Here creating a blog is free, you do not have to pay money for domain or hosting because they provide it. But you will be very limited when it comes to working. That is why in the end you have to buy a plan that, on an annual basis, can cost you almost the same as the other option.
Learning ability
This is where wordpress.com might take precedence because first, it's limited, and second, it's harder for you to load something that your page doesn't work for.
If you are new, you could start there and then go on to download the program and work with it on a test website so that, if something breaks, you can try to fix it or start from scratch. It's a way to let loose with the program, although we've already warned you that it's very easy to use and even intuitive (and yes, it's in Spanish).
Do you see the differences between wordpress.com and wordpress.org?