At WPSaviour, some of the generally requested query by our customers is whether or not they need to use self hosted WordPress or get a Free WordPress.com weblog. We’ve got lined this subject intimately and have mentioned execs and cons of each choices. Nevertheless plainly we normally get a comply with up query alongside the road of how are WordPress.com and WordPress.org associated? Which one is the official WordPress that everybody is speaking about? What is that this WordPress basis? In the event you ever had these questions, then you might be in the fitting place. On this article, we’ll clarify what’s the relationship between self-hosted WordPress (aka WordPress.org) and WordPress.com. Hopefully this can clear any confusion that customers take note of.
What’s Self-Hosted WordPress (WordPress.org)?
WordPress.org is house to the most well-liked Content material Administration System (CMS), WordPress. Based by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little in 2003, WordPress was initially a fork of one other running a blog software program known as b2 cafelog. WordPress was began as a running a blog platform nevertheless it has developed into a strong publishing platform that goes far past easy running a blog. WordPress is an open supply software program which suggests anyone can contribute to it, use it, copy it, construct upon it and redistribute it with none restrictions. Over time WordPress grew, grew to become widespread, and at this time it’s the mostly used publishing platform to construct web sites all through the world. Whenever you hear people speaking about WordPress at conferences, meetup teams, blogs, youtube movies, and different locations, then they’re almost definitely speaking in regards to the self-hosted WordPress. If you’re occupied with creating a web site or weblog to your firm, and also you need to use all of the cool plugins that you just hear about, then it’s essential to use the self-hosted WordPress. Plugins are NOT allowed on WordPress.com.
Self-hosted WordPress is free for everybody to make use of in any means they like. Learn: Why is WordPress free? What are the prices? What’s the catch?
What’s WordPress.com?
WordPress.com is a proprietary weblog internet hosting answer with limitations. Regardless of the identical title, WordPress.com and WordPress.org are NOT immediately associated. WordPress.com does use the open-source WordPress platform at its core to energy all of the blogs they host, however they’ve restrictions reminiscent of you can’t add plugins, customized themes, and so forth till you pay excessive premiums. Many customers use WordPress.com to get began, after which migrate over once they understand they need extra options, performance and management. Here’s a information on the best way to transfer your weblog from WordPress.com to self hosted WordPress.org.
WordPress.com is owned by an organization known as Automattic which was based by Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of WordPress).
How are WordPress.com and WordPress.org Associated?
They’re NOT associated. The rationale why folks confuse the 2 collectively is as a result of they each have the title WordPress, which is definitely a registered trademark owned by the WordPress Basis. Another excuse for the confusion is that Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of WordPress) is the founding father of Automattic which owns the weblog internet hosting service, WordPress.com. Lastly, quite a lot of the Automattic workers are common contributors of WordPress.org. Regardless of these frequent grounds, the 2 initiatives are completely completely different entities.
WordPress.org (aka self-hosted WordPress) is house to the extremely extensible and highly effective content material administration system. On the opposite, hand WordPress.com is a service constructed upon the open supply WordPress at its core. WordPress.com doesn’t give you the liberty to switch your supply code, or add your personal plugins, or prolong the options.
Replace March 26, 2013: In the event you use Jetpack plugin, or WordPress.com Stats plugin, then you might be required to attach your self-hosted WordPress website to WordPress.com with a purpose to use their companies. By doing this, you do find yourself giving WordPress.com entry to a few of your knowledge reminiscent of stats (in case you are utilizing the stats plugin).
What is that this WordPress Basis?
WordPress is a registered trademark owned by WordPress Foundation which is a non-profit group. The muse’s objective is to ensure that WordPress is freely out there, maintained, and developed. In their very own phrases:
The purpose of the inspiration is to make sure free entry, in perpetuity, to the software program initiatives we assist. Individuals and companies might come and go, so it is very important be certain that the supply code for these initiatives will survive past the present contributor base, that we might create a secure platform for net publishing for generations to return. As a part of this mission, the Basis can be chargeable for defending the WordPress, WordCamp, and associated emblems. A 501(c)three non-profit group, the WordPress Basis will even pursue a constitution to teach the general public about WordPress and associated open supply software program.
It will be significant that we point out that WordPress basis is registered by Matt Mullenweg (co-founder of WordPress). The present individual accountable for coping with WordCamps and different WordPress basis duties is an Automattic worker.
Why is there a lot confusion?
For one, folks usually affiliate .com websites to be official. Whereas on this case, WordPress.org is the official WordPress platform. Another excuse for confusion is whenever you attend conferences like Blogworld or SXSW, then you definately discover one WordPress sales space that has Automattic on one aspect, and WordPress basis on the opposite.
Having a sales space like that make customers suppose that Automattic, WordPress, and WordPress basis are all linked entities. This causes quite a lot of confusion for brand new customers.
So What’s Proper For You?
We all the time suggest our customers to make use of WordPress.org aka self-hosted WordPress. It is extremely straightforward to put in WordPress, and you’ve got full management over your website. You may add plugins, customized themes, monetize your website, create your personal membership website, and/or use one among our WordPress tutorials to increase the performance with none restrictions.
Since there are such a lot of different folks accustomed to WordPress, it is extremely straightforward to get WordPress assist granted that you just ask the fitting questions. Learn our information on the best way to correctly ask for WordPress assist.
We hope that this text helped you perceive the connection between WordPress.org and WordPress.com, and cleared all confusions.
