What's the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

WordPress.com is a hosted service; WordPress.org is self-hosted software you install on your own server — this review covers the hosted WordPress.com service.

Can I install plugins on WordPress.com?

Plugin access depends on your plan — only Business-tier and above unlock the full plugin library.

Is WordPress good for SEO?

Yes, it's one of the strongest platforms for SEO, especially with dedicated SEO plugins on eligible plans.

Can I sell products on WordPress.com?

Yes, through WooCommerce integration on eligible plans, or a simpler built-in payments block on lower tiers.

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WordPress.com

The world's most widely used publishing platform, now with a hosted builder

WordPress.com combines the world's largest content and plugin ecosystem with a hosted, no-maintenance setup — best for content-heavy sites that may grow complex.

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Overall score

8.7

out of 10

Price

Free · $4-45/mo depending on plan

Free plan

Yes

Templates

Thousands of themes (free and premium)

eCommerce

Yes

SEO tools

90%

Storage

1GB–200GB depending on plan

Templates & Design80%

Thousands of free and premium themes cover nearly any niche, though quality and modern design vary far more than a curated builder's smaller library.

Ease of Use72%

More capable than a typical builder but with a real learning curve — new users face more setup decisions (themes, plugins, settings) upfront.

SEO Tools90%

One of the strongest SEO foundations available, especially with dedicated SEO plugins offering granular control most builders don't expose.

Pros

✓Enormous plugin and theme ecosystem

✓Best-in-class content and blog structure tools

✓Strong SEO foundation with plugin-level control

✓Massive community and documentation

Cons

–More setup decisions than an all-in-one builder

–Plugin quality varies widely

–Higher-tier plans needed to unlock full plugin access

What’s included

Thousands of themes

Full plugin ecosystem (on eligible plans)

Jetpack AI Assistant

Built-in blogging tools

WooCommerce integration

Site migration tools

eCommerce Features

WooCommerce integration (on eligible plans) makes WordPress.com a genuinely capable eCommerce platform, close to dedicated store builders in flexibility.

Pricing

A free tier exists with WordPress.com branding; paid plans from about $4-45/mo unlock plugins, custom domains, and more storage.

Customer Support

Support quality varies by plan — free/low tiers get community forums, higher tiers add live chat and priority support.

How to create a site on WordPress.com in 5 steps

1
Create a WordPress.com account
Sign up at wordpress.com with an email address.
2
Choose a plan and theme
Pick a free or paid plan, then select a theme to start with.
3
Set up your site structure
Add pages, menus, and (if needed) install essential plugins for SEO or forms.
4
Add your content
Write posts and pages using the block editor, adding images and formatting as you go.
5
Launch and connect a domain
Connect a custom domain and publish your site to the web.

Reviewed by

Marco Teixeira · Web Development & SEO Editor

Frequently asked questions

Yes, a free tier exists with WordPress.com branding and limited features; paid plans start around $4/mo.