There are two WordPresses and they are not competitors in the way people assume.
WordPress.org — the software
WordPress.org is where you download the free, open-source WordPress software (GPL licensed). It costs nothing. You install it on hosting you rent from any of the providers in this directory. This is what people mean by self-hosted WordPress. You get every plugin, every theme, full database and file access, and you own the whole stack — including responsibility for updates, backups and security.
WordPress.com — a company's hosting service
WordPress.com is a commercial hosting service run by Automattic that runs that same software for you. You never see a server. Updates, backups, scaling and security are handled. In exchange, the cheaper plans are locked down.
The plan cliff that catches people out
| WordPress.com plan | Roughly | Install plugins? | Custom themes? | SFTP / database? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | £0 (with ads) | No | No | No |
| Personal | ~£4/mo | No | No | No |
| Premium | ~£8/mo | No | No | No |
| Business | ~£25/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Commerce | ~£45/mo | Yes | Yes | Yes |
That is the crux. If you want Yoast, WooCommerce, a custom theme, or any plugin at all, you need the Business plan at around £25/month. At that price you are well into managed WordPress territory — and £25/month buys a lot of self-hosted capability elsewhere.
Cost comparison for a real small business site
| Route | Year one | Ongoing | Maintenance burden |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com Business | ~£300 | ~£300/yr | Almost none |
| Self-hosted on UK shared hosting (Krystal, 34SP) | ~£75–£120 | ~£75–£120/yr | Low — host handles server, you handle updates |
| Self-hosted on a £4 VPS (Hetzner/DigitalOcean) | ~£50 | ~£50/yr | High — you are the sysadmin |
| Managed WordPress (Kinsta, WP Engine) | ~£250–£400 | ~£250–£400/yr | Very low |
Choose WordPress.com if…
- You are blogging or publishing and will never need a plugin.
- You want zero maintenance and are happy inside a walled garden.
- You want to start free today and decide later.
Choose self-hosted WordPress.org if…
- You need specific plugins — SEO, forms, membership, WooCommerce, bookings.
- You want to run custom code, or a developer will work on the site.
- You care about portability: a self-hosted site moves between hosts in an afternoon.
- You want a UK-hosted site for speed and data residency.
Migration path: WordPress.com can export to self-hosted WordPress at any time (Tools → Export), which is a genuine advantage over Wix and Squarespace, neither of which offers a real export. If you are undecided, starting on WordPress.com is a reversible decision. Starting on Wix is not.