The App #
WordPress is a free, open-source CMS publishing platform
- It is coded in PHP (hypertext language), and uses MySQL database to store configurations and content.
- WordPress is used to power around 50% of the world’s websites.
- Design is provided by themes.
- Site owners can customize theme colors, typography, and layout via the Customizer.
- Extensibility is provided by plugins, that add features and functionality not provided by the app.
- Most themes and plugins are free of charge, but may offer premium tiers.
WordPress.com #
Websites on this platform are hosted by WordPress.com
- Web hosting, security, stats, comments, social sharing, and polls are included.
- Less plugin and theme choices than the WordPress.org version.
- No access to server files or database. Customization to functionality, design, and content is limited to the control panel.
- account — required to use platform
- cost — Initially free of charge, offers a premium paid tier, which include backup, custom themes, plugins, and custom domains.
- support — provided by WordPress.com forums for the free version; live chat and emails for the paid version.
- themes — https://wordpress.com/themes
- plugins — https://wordpress.com/plugins
- documentation — https://wordpress.com/support/
WordPress.org #
Websites on this platform are self-hosted by the site owner
- Web hosting is not included; a 3rd-party web hosting service account must be used by the site owner.
- Any domain owned by the site owner can be used.
- All installations, including the core WordPress app, themes, and plugins must be done by the site owner, or a developer hired by the site owner.
- Since all installations must be done by the site owner, there is access to all server files and database, which makes extended customization of functionality, design, and content beyond the control panel, plugins and themes possible.
- More plugin and theme choices than the WordPress.com version.
- Offers a Multisite option, where multiple sites of the same domain can be configured to use one WordPress installation, sharing the same core files, database, and control panel.
- For example, a Multisite installation can be used by companies with subdivisions that have the same branding and theme, or a parent company with mutliple brands, a news publication with many large columns, or a service that offers its users their own blog.
- account — not required to use platform
- cost — Core app is free of charge; costs come from 3rd-party services, like domain registration, web hosting, integrated web apps, premium plugins and themes.
- support — provided by WordPress.org support forums.
- themes — https://wordpress.org/themes/
- plugins — https://wordpress.org/plugins/
- documentation — https://wordpress.org/documentation/
