WordPress.com

Managed WordPress hosting.

Best for: Bloggers and small sites who want WordPress without managing hosting.

Free plan

4.2/5Editorial score 80/100wordpress.com

Entry plan

Free (wordpress.com subdomain)

Get started free

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Editorial score80/100

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The editorial note

What to know about WordPress.com

WordPress.com is the managed hosting service by Automattic built on the WordPress.org open-source software — providing hosting, automatic updates, and security management for WordPress websites without self-hosting complexity. Unlike WordPress.org where the user manages their own server, WordPress.com handles everything from hosting to maintenance. Plans range from a free tier to enterprise-grade VIP hosting, with the Personal, Premium, and Business plans offering progressively more features. The Business plan unlocks access to self-hosted plugins while retaining managed hosting benefits.

Is it right for you?

Who WordPress.com suits

Choose it if

Bloggers and small sites who want WordPress without managing hosting.

Look elsewhere if

Developers wanting full server access and maximum flexibility — self-hosted WordPress.org on WP Engine, Kinsta, or SiteGround provides the full WordPress experience with complete technical control at comparable or lower cost for teams with development resources

What you get

Key features

Managed WordPress hosting
Automatic updates and security
Free subdomain or custom domain
Built-in CDN
Plugin access (Business tier)
Jetpack features included
WooCommerce (Commerce tier)
100+ built-in themes

Works with

Integrations8

WooCommerceJetpackGoogle AnalyticsSocial media sharingMailchimp PayPal Stripe Zapier

What it costs

Pricing

WordPress.com pricing plans
Plan	Price	What it includes
Free	Free (wordpress.com subdomain)Billed monthly	WordPress.com hosting on subdomain, 1GB storage, access to themes
Personal	$4 / monthBilled monthly	Custom domain, remove ads, 6GB storage, priority email support
Premium	$8 / monthBilled monthly	Advanced themes, video hosting, monetization, CSS customization, 13GB storage
Business	$25 / monthBilled monthly	Unlimited plugins, install themes, SEO tools, SFTP/database access, 50GB storage

Prices are recorded from the vendor's public pricing page and can change. Check before you buy.

The trade-off

Pros and cons

Pros

Fully managed hosting — no server setup, security patching, or WordPress update management needed
Free tier allows starting a WordPress blog without any upfront cost or technical setup
Business plan provides managed hosting with plugin access — best of both worlds approach
Automatic CDN, caching, and performance optimization applied without configuration
Built-in traffic analytics, anti-spam, and malware protection on all paid plans

Cons

More expensive than self-hosted WordPress for equivalent features — managed convenience has a cost
Plugin access only on Business plan ($25/month+) — lower plans are very restricted
Less flexibility than self-hosted WordPress.org even on highest plans — some server-level customization unavailable
Substandard plan limitations make transitioning to self-hosted WordPress necessary for serious sites

Quick read

At a glance

Category: Website & Hosting
Pricing model: Freemium
Entry plan: Free (wordpress.com subdomain)
Free plan: Available
Free trial: Not listed
Website: wordpress.com

The verdict

Our take on WordPress.com

WordPress.com is the right choice for bloggers and small sites who want WordPress without managing hosting. No hosting setup needed and a good free tier for simple sites, making it one of the stronger options in its category. The main caveat: less flexible than self-hosted WordPress; plugin limits on lower plans. It is free to start with paid upgrades, so factor that into your evaluation.

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