When starting out with WordPress, a frequent confusion arises: what's the difference between wordpress.org and wordpress.com ? Here's the straight answer:
- wp.org = WordPress.org CMS (software) open-sourcefree, 100% customizable.
- wp.com = WordPress.com a platform commercial managed by Automattic, with limited functionality unless you pay for expensive subscriptions.
👉 In short: WordPress.com is a turnkey hosted application, while WordPress.org is the real WordPress engine that you install at the hosting provider of your choice.
And if you're looking for a high-level performance, advanced security, expert WordPress supporttake a look at our LRob web hosting offers.
WordPress.org vs WordPress.com: the essential differences
What is WordPress.org?
WordPress.org is the the heart of the WordPress project. It's a free software which you can download free of charge and install from any hosting provider. It provides a total control on your site: design, functionalities, extensions, performance... everything is possible.
💡 It's the choice used by the majority of professional websitese-commerce or not.
What is WordPress.com?
WordPress.com, not to be confused, is a sales department based on WordPress, managed by Automattic. It offers all-in-one hosting packages, with restricted access to features unless you subscribe to paid packages.
⚠️ Access to third-party extensions, FTP, the database or even certain custom themes is not possible. blocked or limited on WordPress.com, except with Business and higher packages.
The basic wordpress.com business package is sold for €25/month (billed annually) at the time of writing.
Comparison chart: WordPress.org vs WordPress.com (and why LRob makes the difference)
| Functionality / Criteria | WordPress.org (self-hosted) | WordPress.com (hosted) | LRob web hosting (based on wp.org) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Open-source CMS | Sales platform | Pro hosting for WordPress |
| Total control | ✅ Yes | ❌ No (limited according to plan) | ✅ Yes (FTP access, database, WP Toolkit included) |
| Extensions / custom plugins | ✅ All authorized | ❌ Restricted to paying plans | ✅ All authorized + enhanced safety WP |
| Custom themes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No premium plan | ✅ Yes, without restriction |
| Customized domain name | ✅ Yes | ❌ No free version | ✅ Included (free .fr domain name) |
| Mandatory advertising | ❌ Never | ✅ On the free version | ❌ Never |
| Maintenance / updates | To manage yourself | Managed by Automattic | ✅ Managed if option webmastering activated |
| Server performance | Depends on chosen hosting provider | Averages | ✅ Excellent (4 to 16 CPUs, Redis, optimized PHP) |
| Security | Dependent on host | Good on higher planes | ✅ Very high (fail2ban, WAF, active monitoring) |
| Automatic backups | Configure it yourself | Yes, according to plan | ✅ Included on all plans |
| Professional e-mails included | Dependent on host | ❌ Not included on free plan | ✅ Unlimited, with subdomains and full interface |
| WordPress technical support | Dependent on host | Basic (chat for paid plans) | ✅ WordPress specialist, human, responsive |
| Starting price | Accommodation | Free from 0€/month | From 150/year all-inclusive |
And what about personalized development?
If you're planning a custom development project - be it a custom theme, specific plugins, API integration or advanced optimizations - we can help. WordPress.com quickly shows its limitations. Even with paid Business or eCommerce plans, the environment remains locked The advantages: restricted access to the server, impossible to touch the heart of WordPress, no fine-tuned database management, no tools like WP-CLI or Git. Conversely, WordPress.org offers total freedom for developers, provided it's hosted on a suitable infrastructure.
This is where a free, independent host like LRob comes into its own FTP access, SSH, database, Redis, WP Toolkit, optimized environment for complex and customized projects. All this, with support that really understands WordPress.
Which WordPress should you choose for your website?
For a professional project, WordPress.org is indispensable
If you want to a professional, fast, well-referenced, scalable siteWordPress.org is clearly the right choice. It gives you total freedom, essential for an e-commerce site, a high-traffic blog or a branding project.
And for that, you need a reliable, fast, secure web hosting. This is where LRob enters the scene.
Why choose LRob to host your WordPress.org?
- ✅ Easy to install : in just a few clicks, or completely done for you
- ✅ Performance unrivalled: powerful CPUs, Redis, optimized PHP
- ✅ Concrete safety : WAF, fail2ban, anti-bots, WordPress hardening
- ✅ Simple management via Plesk + WordPress Toolkit
- ✅ .fr domain name included
- ✅ Expert WordPress support (and human!)
- ✅ Unlimited e-mail, unlimited subdomains
- ✅ Offers multi-domain web agencies from 380€/year
And if you don't want to manage updates, security or optimizations yourself, we also offer a custom WordPress maintenance service.
Conclusion: WordPress.org for freedom, LRob for tranquility
WordPress.com can get the job done for a small personal blog. But as soon as you want master your site, gain in SEO, speed up loading timesor customize as you wish, WordPress.org hosted by LRob is the most professional and secure solution.
👉 Discover our premium WordPress hosting packages and boost your online presence, safely and securely.
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