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.com vs WordPress.org: What You Actually Pay in 2026
"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
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- Webflow vs WordPress — design-forward alternative
- Web Hosting Cost Guide — hosting options for self-hosted WordPress
- What Is WordPress? — platform overview explained