The first thing that confuses many WordPress students is that there are two types of WordPress. These are found on two separate websites.
If you visit WordPress.com, you can sign up to create a WordPress site for free. WordPress.com hosts your site on their servers, meaning you do not need to buy a domain, or hosting. The downside is that there are limitations. WordPress.com controls what you can and cannot do on your site. For example, you won’t be able to customize WordPress in the way you want, because you cannot just install any theme or plugin you want. You also won’t be using your own domain name. Your website address will be something like myhealthsite.WordPress.com
This type of domain is called a sub-domain and it is hosted on the WordPress.com website. Therefore, you do not own the domain and WordPress.com could theoretically close your site down if they think you are abusing their terms of service.
There are paid options on WordPress.com which allow you to use your own domain, but the price for doing so is greater than if you just use WordPress.org in the first place and unless you are on the most expensive plan, there will still be restrictions.
WordPress.org, on the other hand, is a site where you can download the WordPress software for yourself, to install on a server of your choice, and customize it however you wish. This allows you to create a website that you own, and you can do whatever you want on it. You also get to choose your own domain name, like myhealthsite.com
If you visit WordPress.com, you can sign up to create a WordPress site for free. WordPress.com hosts your site on their servers, meaning you do not need to buy a domain, or hosting. The downside is that there are limitations. WordPress.com controls what you can and cannot do on your site. For example, you won’t be able to customize WordPress in the way you want, because you cannot just install any theme or plugin you want. You also won’t be using your own domain name. Your website address will be something like myhealthsite.WordPress.com
This type of domain is called a sub-domain and it is hosted on the WordPress.com website. Therefore, you do not own the domain and WordPress.com could theoretically close your site down if they think you are abusing their terms of service.
There are paid options on WordPress.com which allow you to use your own domain, but the price for doing so is greater than if you just use WordPress.org in the first place and unless you are on the most expensive plan, there will still be restrictions.
WordPress.org, on the other hand, is a site where you can download the WordPress software for yourself, to install on a server of your choice, and customize it however you wish. This allows you to create a website that you own, and you can do whatever you want on it. You also get to choose your own domain name, like myhealthsite.com
Doesn’t that look better? Be aware that domain names are on a strictly first come, first served basis. You obviously cannot choose a domain name that someone else already owns.
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