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WordPress.com at a Glance
| Our Rating | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|---|
| Best For | Bloggers and small sites wanting zero maintenance |
| Operator | Automattic |
| Free Plan | Yes |
| Starting Price | Free; paid plans billed annually |
What Is WordPress.com?
WordPress.com is distinct from the self-hosted WordPress.org software. Automattic hosts and maintains your site, so you do not manage servers, updates or security yourself.
Automattic also operates related products, including Pressable managed hosting, WooCommerce and Jetpack, which suit more advanced or store-focused sites.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Fully managed: hosting, security, updates and backups handled for you
- Free plan available to get started
- Run by the company behind WordPress itself
- Higher plans add plugin access and e-commerce
Cons
- Lower tiers restrict plugins and custom code
- Costs more than bare-bones shared hosting at comparable tiers
- Free plan carries a WordPress.com subdomain and ads
How WordPress.com Works
Create an account
Sign up and choose a free or paid plan.
Pick a theme
Select a design and customize it in the editor.
Publish and grow
Add content, connect a domain and upgrade for plugins or e-commerce as needed.
Safety & What to Know
Plugin installation and custom code are limited to the Business tier and above, so check feature access before choosing a plan.
Your content is portable: WordPress sites can be exported and moved to another WordPress host later.
WordPress.com Pricing
| Free | $0 with a wordpress.com address |
|---|---|
| Paid plans | Personal, Premium, Business, Commerce billed annually |
Plan names and prices change; verify on the current pricing page.
Who WordPress.com Is For
A good fit if you
- You want a hands-off, secure blog or site
- You may add e-commerce later via WooCommerce
Look elsewhere if you
- You want full plugin freedom on a low budget
- You prefer to self-manage hosting
How WordPress.com Compares
Bluehost and Hostinger give you the self-hosted WordPress.org route for less money but more responsibility. See the Best Web Hosting Providers for options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Verdict
★ 4.2 out of 5
WordPress.com is the low-maintenance way to run WordPress. Choose it for convenience and security, and a self-hosted plan if you need maximum flexibility per dollar.
See the full Best Web Hosting Providers ranking →Reviewed by
James OkaforSenior Technology Reviewer
James Okafor is a technology journalist and former CNET contributor with 9 years of experience reviewing consumer tech, cybersecurity software, and digital privacy tools. He has a computer science degree from MIT and has reviewed over 400 tech products. James runs his own home lab for testing VPNs, security software, and smart home devices under real-world conditions.