WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: What You Actually Pay in 2026
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org cost comparison 2026. Hosted vs self-hosted pricing, customization limits, plugin access, and which is right for your site.
"WordPress" refers to two different things. The name confusion is one of the most common mistakes people make when budgeting for a website.
- WordPress.org — the free, open-source software you download and install on your own hosting. Run by the WordPress Foundation.
- WordPress.com — a hosted platform built on WordPress software, run by Automattic. They handle the hosting; you pay a subscription.
Same underlying software. Completely different cost structure and capability set.
WordPress.com Plans (2026)
| Plan | Monthly (annual billing) | Annual Total | Custom Domain | Plugins | eCommerce |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | $0 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Personal | ~$9/mo | ~$108 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Premium | ~$18/mo | ~$216 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Business | ~$40/mo | ~$480 | ✅ | ✅ Full | ❌ |
| Commerce | ~$70/mo | ~$840 | ✅ | ✅ Full | ✅ |
Verify current pricing at wordpress.com — prices and plan names update periodically. The Business plan is the first tier that unlocks the full plugin ecosystem.
WordPress.org (Self-Hosted) Annual Cost
| Component | Low End | High End | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting (shared) | $36/yr | $96/yr | Hostinger, Bluehost, etc. |
| Hosting (managed WP) | $240/yr | $1,200/yr | WP Engine, Kinsta, SiteGround |
| Domain (.com) | $12/yr | $18/yr | Namecheap, Cloudflare |
| Premium theme | $0/yr | $200/yr | One-time or annual |
| Essential plugins | $0/yr | $300/yr | SEO, security, caching, forms |
| Developer setup (one-time) | $0 | $5,000+ | DIY or hired |
| DIY total | ~$100/yr | ~$500/yr | |
| With managed hosting + plugins | ~$400/yr | ~$2,000/yr |
1-Year Cost Comparison by Use Case
| Use Case | WordPress.com | WordPress.org |
|---|---|---|
| Basic blog / personal site | Free–$108 | ~$60–$150 |
| Small business site | $480 (Business) | $300–$1,500 |
| eCommerce store | $840 (Commerce) | $500–$3,000+ |
| Agency / content-heavy site | $480–$840 | $300–$2,000+ |
At the Business plan level, WordPress.com ($480/year) is actually competitive with managed WordPress hosting + plugins. The main question is customization requirements.
Customization Limits by Tier
| Capability | .com Free | .com Personal | .com Premium | .com Business | .org (self-hosted) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Custom domain | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Custom CSS | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Install any plugin | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Install custom theme | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Full eCommerce (WooCommerce) | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Server access | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
| Multisite | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
Who Should Choose WordPress.com
- You want a simple blog or personal site and don't need plugins
- You want managed infrastructure with no server decisions
- You're comparing .com Business ($480/yr) vs. managed WordPress hosting — the difference is small enough that .com's simpler management may be worth it
- You're not a technical user and want the hosting-and-software bundle to "just work"
Who Should Choose WordPress.org
- You need specific plugins (.com Personal/Premium don't allow them)
- You need full design flexibility (custom theme files, child themes)
- You're building WooCommerce and want to control your hosting environment
- You want the lowest long-term cost (shared hosting + DIY can be very cheap)
- You need server-level access for staging, SSH, or custom server configurations
Migration Cost Warning
Starting on WordPress.com and later migrating to self-hosted WordPress is common — and more work than expected.
Budget for migration:
- DIY: 10–30 hours of work for a mid-sized site
- Professional: $500–$2,000 depending on site size and content volume
- SEO risk: URL structure changes require careful redirect management
If you know you will eventually need plugins or full customization, starting on self-hosted WordPress from day one avoids a future migration.
Use our Website Cost Calculator to estimate your WordPress project budget.
Related Articles
- WordPress Website Cost in 2026 — full self-hosted WordPress cost breakdown
- WordPress vs Wix — total cost of ownership compared
- Webflow vs WordPress — design-forward alternative
- Web Hosting Cost Guide — hosting options for self-hosted WordPress
- What Is WordPress? — platform overview explained