WordPress.com is the hosted version of WordPress, the software that powers a huge share of the web. It handles hosting, security and updates for you, so you can focus on writing and building. It’s especially strong for blogs, publications and content-heavy sites.
Key features include:
- Thousands of themes and the WordPress block editor
- Plugin installation from the Business plan up
- Built-in hosting, SSL, backups and security
- A free domain for the first year on annual paid plans
- Newsletters, subscriptions and SEO tools
- E-commerce with WooCommerce on the Commerce plan
There’s a free plan with 1GB storage and a WordPress.com subdomain, which shows ads and doesn’t allow plugins. Paid plans billed annually cost about $4 per month for Personal, $8 for Premium, $25 for Business and $45 for Commerce, with higher monthly-billing prices. Enterprise plans are custom, and WordPress.com offers a refund policy on purchases.
WordPress has more of a learning curve than Wix or Squarespace, and full plugin freedom requires the pricier Business plan. For blogs and content sites that may grow over time, though, it’s a flexible, proven platform.
