> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://helpdesk.gbnetwork.com/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

| WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

![](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/67938060e89a4400/901wordpress_1v98li7.png)
 ---

| The one major difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org is who’s actually hosting your website.

With **WordPress.org**, YOU host your own blog or website.
**WordPress.org** is where you’ll find the free WordPress software that you can download and install on your own web server.

**WordPress.com**, on the other hand, takes care of all the hostings for you.
You don’t have to download software, pay for hosting, or manage a web server.

| Pros and Cons of WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

Both **WordPress.org** and **WordPress.com** have pros and cons, depending on your needs.

If you’re not interested in paying for your own hosting, managing your own web server, or paying someone else to handle that for you, you’ll probably want to use **WordPress.com**. It’s free and easy to set up, and you have lots of options for customizing your site.

A few of the cons of using **WordPress.com** include that your domain will, by default, include **WordPress.com **You also can’t upload any custom themes, plugins or modify the PHP code behind your site.

While **WordPress.com** is free to set up, they do offer several premium upgrades, including domain name registration (if you don’t want **WordPress.com** in your domain name), the ability to upload videos, and if you want to use their premium themes.

Using the downloaded version of **WordPress** from **WordPress.org** opens up more control and flexibility for your **WordPress** site, but it also means more responsibility. Using a **self-hosted** version of **WordPress** means you can use your own domain name, upload and install themes and plugins, edit the code behind your site and have access to your site’s database (or files). Most of the showcase sites you see on the WordPress site showcase are the self-hosted version of **WordPress**, since many of them have unique functionality or a custom-made design.