WordPress.com vs WordPress.org
Two products share the "WordPress" name but work very differently — this guide explains which one you have and why it matters.
"WordPress" is one of the most confusing brand names on the internet. Two completely different products share the same name. If you've ever tried to look something up about your website and gotten confused by conflicting advice, this is probably why.
Quick summary
WordPress.org is the free, self-hosted software that most professional websites — including all sites built by Chykalophia — run on. WordPress.com is a separate paid service with its own rules and limitations. If Chykalophia built your site, you are almost certainly on WordPress.org. This guide explains the difference and why it matters.
The short version
| WordPress.org | WordPress.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Free software you install on your own hosting | A hosted service (like Squarespace) |
| Who hosts it | Your hosting company (e.g. WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel) | Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com) |
| Cost | Software is free; you pay for hosting separately | Monthly/annual subscription plans |
| Control | Full control over everything | Limited on lower-tier plans |
| Plugins | Any plugin from the WordPress ecosystem | Restricted on lower plans |
| Custom themes | Yes, unlimited | Restricted on lower plans |
| Who uses it | Professionals, businesses, agencies | Personal blogs, small projects |
| Used by Chykalophia? | Yes | No |
WordPress.org — the professional version
WordPress.org is the original WordPress. It's free, open-source software that you download and install on a web hosting server. "Self-hosted" means you (or your agency) chooses the server and has complete control over the website.
This is the version used by approximately 43% of all websites on the internet. It is what Chykalophia uses when building client websites.
What makes it powerful:
- You can install any plugin. There are over 59,000 free plugins and thousands more premium ones.
- You can use any theme — including custom-designed ones built specifically for your brand.
- You own your data completely. You can move it to a different host whenever you like.
- There are no platform fees beyond your hosting costs.
The trade-off:
Someone (usually your agency or hosting provider) is responsible for keeping the software updated and secure. That's why WordPress maintenance is important.
WordPress.com — the hosted service
WordPress.com is a separate company (though founded by the same person who created WordPress.org). It's a service where WordPress is hosted for you — similar in concept to Squarespace or Wix.
You don't need to set up hosting. But you get much less control, especially on the lower pricing tiers.
Lower-tier plans can restrict:
- Which plugins you're allowed to install
- Whether you can use a fully custom design
- Whether you can remove WordPress.com branding from your site
- The ability to run custom code
Easy to miss
If you search for help with WordPress and follow advice you find online, make sure the advice is for WordPress.org — it won't apply to WordPress.com, and vice versa. This is one of the most common sources of confusion.
How to tell which one you have
If your site was built by Chykalophia, you are on WordPress.org (self-hosted). You can confirm this a couple of ways:
Check your login URL. If your login page is at something like yoursite.com/wp-admin, you are on self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org).
Check who hosts your site. If you pay a company like WP Engine, Kinsta, Flywheel, or another hosting company separately from your website software, you are on WordPress.org.
Check your dashboard. If you're already logged in, look at the bottom of your dashboard. WordPress.org shows "WordPress" with a version number. WordPress.com shows "WordPress.com" branding.
If you're still not sure, just ask us.
Why this matters for your guides
All the guides in this help center — and all the support Chykalophia provides — assume you are using self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org). If you or a team member ever follows advice meant for WordPress.com, it may not work or may give confusing results.
Common questions
Related guides
- What is WordPress?
- What is web hosting?
- What is managed WordPress hosting?
- How to log in to WordPress
- Webflow vs WordPress
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