WordPress launched in 2003, it is now the world’s most popular blogging platform. It is used as a powerful website creation tool and a content management system (CMS). It is free and an open-source tool originally designed for bloggers. The blogging tool is based on PHP and MY SQL. This simple blogging tool has evolved into a powerful CMS and website creation tool for millions of users around the world. According to the latest statistics, almost 22% of the world’s top 10 million websites are using a WordPress platform. In total, the number of websites using WordPress is now over 60 million.
WordPress is still basically open-source blogging software that allows beginners to start their own blog in a few simple steps. As the free and open-source WordPress.com software allows upgrades, the simple blogging software is now much more than just a blogging platform. The software allows users and programmers to add and upgrade their accounts with personalized domain names, video storage, and custom CSS.
WordPress Account Types
There are two types of WordPress accounts, those hosted by WordPress.com and a self-hosted WordPress.org that will need to be installed on your own hosting account. Some basic highlights and differences between the two types are as follows:
WordPress.com
It is hosted by WordPress for FREE (though some optional upgrades are charged) and allows users a number of different upgrades and better content management options. WordPress handles the hosting service and the blogger only needs to concern themselves with providing the content. The hosting service includes security features and backups. It also allows you to upgrade to your own custom domain. WordPress.com allows users to choose from a wide range of themes or create your own custom theme for your website.
WordPress.com also allows users to integrate their website or blog with the top social media networks like tumble, Facebook, and Twitter. Some other features included are statistics, sharing, and polls. In case you require help, there is a large resource center available that can provide detailed guides to WordPress.com users for nearly any issue… major or minor.
WordPress.org
You can be signing up with WordPress.org which is free, here you will manage your own content, as well as hosting your website or blog on your own. This means that you will have to find a paid hosting company to host your website with regular backups and maintenance. Most security features are also provided by the hosting company with this option, instead of by WordPress. Just as with WordPress.com, WordPress.org allows you to build our own themes using scripting languages like PHP and CSS. Unlike many built-in functions provided by WordPress.com for sharing and other features, you will need to install plugins if you wish to add different functionalities to your website using WordPress.org.
There really is a huge difference between both accounts and understanding these differences is important when choosing the right option for you. Overall, WordPress.com is usually more suitable for beginners, bloggers and small business owners who are interested in free services, whereas WordPress.org may be a better solution for bigger companies that are interested in more customized websites, extended features, e-commerce functionality, and better security. Most businesses that want to have complete control of their website, due to security or monetary reasons, choose to go with the WordPress.org option.
