Have you ever wondered what is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, otherwise known as hosting your own WordPress site on your own server space? It can be a bit to wrap your brain around.

WordPress.com: They host it for you

WordPress.com is a website that offers a hosted version of the WordPress open source software. You simply create an account, choose your domain or site name, choose a template, and start designing your site – all with very little technical knowledge necessary (though it helps shorten the learning curve). There are some customization and feature limitations, but Automattic, the company that owns WordPress, manages all the platform updates and maintenance on the backend, so you don’t have to, which can be a fair trade-off.

WordPress.org: Install and maintain it yourself on your server space

WordPress.org, however, is the organization that provides the WordPress open source software for you to install (usually via a control/cPanel) on your own server space. They maintain user forums for people to ask questions, a plugin library to help customize your site, mailing lists, WordCamps, and more. They do not install the software for you, or install any of the backend updates, or backup your site. A little technical savvy comes in handy with this option.

That’s the quick overview of the difference. For a deeper dive, let’s turn it over to our very own WordPress KC organizer Josepha Haden, who also happens to be a Community Wrangler at Automattic. She spoke at WordCamp Kansas City 2015 about the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Just click below to learn more.

This is just another example of the breadth of knowledge available from WordCamp speakers. Want to see our speaker lineup for WordCamp Kansas City 2017? Be our guest! (No, really, buy your ticket today!)