What is Self-Hosted WordPress.org?
If you're thinking about starting a website, you've almost certainly heard of WordPress. But knowing exactly what it is (and which version to use) can be a little confusing if you're new to the world of WordPress. We're here to clear up the myths and break it all down in plain English so you can get started with confidence. 🤍
What is WordPress?
WordPress is the easiest and most popular way to create your own website or blog, currently powering over 40% of the entire web.
Think of it as a digital canvas that requires no painting skills. Whether you want to share your hobbies, build a professional portfolio, or open an online store, WordPress handles the heavy lifting.
Here are just some of the things you can do with WordPress:
- Design without code: You can change the look of your site instantly using WordPress Themes (like ours!)
- Add features easily: Need a contact form, a photo gallery, or a shopping cart? You can install Plugins, which are like apps for your website.
- Create content: Adding a new article or page is as simple as using a standard word processor like Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
On a more technical level, WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) licensed under GPLv2. This means that anyone can use or modify the WordPress software for free. A CMS makes it simple to manage important aspects of your website — like content, users, and media — without any code knowledge.
WordPress.org vs. WordPress.com
Did you know there are actually two very different "versions" of WordPress? There is WordPress.org and WordPress.com. It is easy to get them mixed up because they share a name, but they function quite differently (we have a
When people, developers, or tutorials talk about "WordPress," they are almost always referring to WordPress.org. This is the version often called "self-hosted WordPress."
The biggest benefits to using self-hosted WordPress are ownership and freedom:
- You are in control: You aren't just renting space on someone else's platform where the rules might change.
- You own your assets: You have complete control over your data, your files, and how you choose to monetize your site.
- You can customize without limits: Unlike WordPress.com, you're free to install any themes or plugins you want, giving you the flexibility to build exactly what you need without restrictions or expensive plan upgrades.
What does Self-Hosted mean?
Self-hosted means that your WordPress website is hosted with a third-party hosting provider. Think of a hosting provider as your website's "garage" — it's where all of your website's files are stored. We recommend SiteGround for WordPress hosting. Super easy to set up, fast servers, and top tier support.
Myths & Misconceptions
Some common misconceptions we hear are:
- Your domain does not need to end in ".org" to use WordPress.org. Your domain can end in any available domain extension: .com, .net, .co, .uk, etc.
- Unless you are a developer, you do not need to download WordPress.org on your computer. WordPress.org is installed on your website through your hosting provider.
- You do not need to sign up for an account on the WordPress.org website (in fact, you don't need to visit WordPress.org at all). The only account you'll need is an account with a hosting provider, like SiteGround.
Get Started
Ready to get started with WordPress.org? Visit our in-depth Getting Started Guide, which will walk you through every step of purchasing your domain, selecting a hosting plan, and installing WordPress software on your site. You can have your WordPress website up and running in less than 10 minutes!