What's the difference between WordPress.com and .org? #WPStuff
TLDR;
One is software, the other is a company that sells services using that software.
Question: Is there a difference between the two and why should you care?
Answer: Yes, there's a significant difference between the two. Each one would have different benefits and pitfalls for different types of website builders.
Structurally, both things are very different. Their main similarity is that they both focus on the WordPress software as a tool for building websites.
Most times, when people talk about WordPress, they are talking about the open-source software that is available for free via - you guessed it - WordPress.org! It's been used to create websites since May of 2003. There is a WordPress Foundation which exists to support the project. It's a non-profit organization that owns and manages WordPress, WordCamps and related trademarks.
On the .org site you can download the software for your own use but you can also learn about the WordPress community, access resources that help you learn how to use WordPress, track development updates, and more.
So... what's WordPress.com? This website is owned by Automattic, the company owned by Matt Mullenweg, one of the creators of the original WordPress source code. This site provides packages of services that result in you having your very own WordPress website. You don't have to download the software but instead you use their services to off load some of the work of creating your own site.
Functionally, each site is good for different people with different needs.
You may want to access WordPress through WordPress.org if:
The source code you get is complete and open. You can do pretty much anything with it!
You may want to access WordPress through WordPress.com if:
Things like posting pages or posts or uploading media remain the same across both options. But keep in mind that when you're looking up tutorials or courses, most times it's important to determine the difference. For example, I teach a course on LinkedIn Learning about how to use WordPress.org's software to build a site. And my friend Carrie Dils teaches one all about WordPress.com.
Like most choices, there are pros and cons to each.
The long and short of it is the WordPress.org is more work and requires you to take some extra steps. However, in the short term you probably save some money and you have much more control over your website. That last part is always the clincher for me. Building a site with WordPress.org is freedom to choose. You choose where to host, where to get your domain from. You can download whatever plugins and themes you want. You can migrate or clone your site as much as you want. You can access and edit the code of the site if you want. It's all in your hands to create whatever it is you can dedicate the time to doing.
WordPress.com offers it's own set of benefits and pitfalls. You release a lot of the control. Your site is mostly out of your hands and there are limitations to plugins you can add, code you can view, etc. If you want to make large changes or migrate your site, you won't be able to do so as readily. However, to some people, that's actually a benefit! A more rigid structure that's mostly in the company's hands means less on your plate. You don't have to worry about updates or security since the company does that for you. If your goals for the site are not particularly complicated or ambitious in terms of it's function or design, WordPress.com can still provide you with a beautiful and efficient website.
There you have it! What do you think? How much does your experience with WordPress change from .org to .com? Have you used both or do you stick with one? Are there details and arguements for one that I'm missing? Share it with me!