WordPress.com is a website builders tool for Creators and Small businesses, offered as freemium ($9/mo). Based in United States, founded in 2005. Popular alternatives include Ghost, Jimdo, Floot.
About WordPress.com
WordPress.com is the hosted, fully managed version of WordPress operated by Automattic, the San Francisco company founded by WordPress co-creator Matt Mullenweg. It is distinct from WordPress.org, the free open-source software you install on your own hosting: on WordPress.com, Automattic handles servers, updates, security, backups and performance, and you choose a plan that unlocks features.
Entry plans give you a hosted blog or website with the block editor, themes, a custom domain and no ads, plus built-in tools for newsletters, subscriptions and paid content. Higher tiers unlock what most people think of as real WordPress: installing any plugin and custom theme, SFTP, SSH and database access, staging sites, essentially managed WordPress hosting. The ecommerce tier bundles WooCommerce with premium extensions for online stores. Jetpack features such as backups, security scanning, spam protection and stats are integrated, and a free plan on a wordpress.com subdomain with ads lets anyone start. Automattic renames and restructures plans from time to time, so it is worth checking which tier includes plugins before buying.
WordPress.com suits bloggers, writers, small businesses and creators who want WordPress without managing hosting. Developers who want full control and the cheapest hosting per site often prefer self-hosted WordPress on providers such as Kinsta, WP Engine or SiteGround. Squarespace and Wix are simpler all-in-one builders with less flexibility, and Ghost is a focused alternative for paid newsletters and publications.
Key features of WordPress.com
- Managed WordPress hosting
- Themes and block editor
- Plugins and SFTP on Business
- Jetpack security and backups
- WooCommerce on Commerce plan
- Newsletter and monetization tools
Pros and cons
Pros
- Full WordPress power on Business
- Managed security and updates
- Affordable entry plans
- Huge ecosystem
Cons
- Confusing plan structure
- Plugins only on higher tiers
- Performance varies
- Less control than self-hosting
WordPress.com pricing
WordPress.com uses a freemium model.
| Plan | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | wordpress.com subdomain |
| Personal | $9 / mo | $4/mo billed yearly; custom domain |
| Premium | $18 / mo | $8/mo billed yearly |
| Business | $40 / mo | $25/mo billed yearly; plugins |
| Commerce | $70 / mo | $45/mo billed yearly; WooCommerce |
Source: wordpress.com · checked on Oct 20, 2026
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How WordPress.com compares in Website builders
- Rank by votes
- #1 / 21
- Starting price
- $9
- Free alternatives
- 1
0 votes from members
54% below the category median ($20/mo)
Free or open-source tools in Website builders
WordPress.com ranks #1 of 21 website builders tools by community votes and is priced below most tools in the category.
Common use cases
- 1Blog or publication on managed WordPress
- 2Small business site with plugins
- 3WooCommerce store without hosting hassles
- 4Portfolio with custom domain
Best for
Users who want WordPress without managing servers.
Not ideal for
Developers who prefer full control (self-hosted WordPress).
Integrations
- WooCommerce
- Jetpack
- Akismet
- Google Analytics
- Mailchimp
- 50,000+ plugins on Business
Our take
WordPress.com Business is a solid managed WordPress; lower plans are simple blogs.
FAQ
- What is WordPress.com?
- WordPress.com is a Website builders tool: Hosted WordPress by Automattic.
- How much does WordPress.com cost?
- WordPress.com uses a Freemium model; paid plans start at $9 per month.
- What are the best alternatives to WordPress.com?
- Community-listed alternatives to WordPress.com include Ghost, Jimdo, Floot, Greta.sh.
- What does WordPress.com integrate with?
- WordPress.com integrates with WooCommerce, Jetpack, Akismet, Google Analytics, Mailchimp, 50,000+ plugins on Business and more.
- Which platforms does WordPress.com support?
- WordPress.com is available on web.
- Who is WordPress.com for?
- Users who want WordPress without managing servers.
Alternatives to WordPress.com
See all 10Ghost
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Jimdo
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Floot
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Greta.sh
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Strikingly
▲ 0Simple builder for one-page websites and small online stores
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Leadpages
▲ 0Landing pages, pop-ups and sites for small businesses
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