WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org…….Wait! ……..THERE’S A DIFFERENCE?

• It’s free and much easier to setup (everything is taken care of: setup, upgrades, backups, security, etc.)
• Posts are backed up automatically
• Hosting is free
• Extra traffic from blogs of the day and tags

WordPress.com Cons

• Pay to use own domain name ($15/year)
• Pay for upgrades to enhance your blog
• Provides a limited amount of space and customization options (although enough for most beginner bloggers).
• Less than 100 themes
• Cannot customize themes directly
• Cannot install plug-ins to extend the functionality of your site
• Cannot use AdSense or affiliate links
• They may show Google ads on your site

* The VIP program on WordPress.com for high-traffic and high-profile sites, allows you to run custom themes, custom PHP code, ad code, and WordPress plugins.

• Ability to upload themes
• Ability to upload plugins to enhance the functionality of your blog (very powerful stuff folks)
• Complete control of the look / feel of your blog
• Complete control to change code if you’re technically minded

WordPress.org Cons

• You need a good web host (less than $10/month)
• Requires more technical knowledge to set up and run
• You’re responsible for stopping spam
• You have to handle backups (normally your hosting will take care of this for you)
• You must upgrade the software manually when a new version comes out (if your hosting is good there is not a manual configuration / install – that is why I prefer HostGator, one click and it’s done)