Quick Overview of WordPress Monthly Plans
Choosing the right WordPress plan for your website is crucial, whether it’s for personal blogging, a small business, content creation, or running a full online store. Here’s a simplified breakdown of your options between WordPress.com’s managed service and going self-hosted:
- WordPress.com offers simplicity and ease of use with four main plans: Starter, Explorer, Creator, and Entrepreneur, catering from basic blogging needs to full-fledged online stores.
- Self-Hosted WordPress provides complete control and customization, requiring you to handle web hosting, security, and updates.
Key Differences at a Glance
- Cost: WordPress.com plans range from $4 to $45 a month, while self-hosted costs depend on your hosting provider, roughly $3 to $15 a month.
- Customization & Control: Limited on WordPress.com without higher plans; unlimited with self-hosted.
- Ease of Use: WordPress.com is more hands-off; self-hosted requires more technical involvement.
- Scalability: WordPress.com has limits; self-hosted can grow indefinitely.
Quick Comparison
| Plan Type | Cost | Customization | Ease of Use | Scalability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter (WordPress.com) | $4-$5/month | Limited | High | Medium |
| Explorer (WordPress.com) | $6-$8/month | Moderate | High | Medium |
| Creator (WordPress.com) | $12-$14/month | High | High | High |
| Entrepreneur (WordPress.com) | $40-$45/month | Very High | High | Very High |
| Self-Hosted WordPress | Varies | Unlimited | Varies | Unlimited |
Whether you prioritize ease of use, cost, the ability to scale, or the need for customization will guide your choice between WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress. Each option has its benefits, so consider what matters most for your website’s success.
Cost
- WordPress.com starts free, but if you want more, plans go from $4 to $45 a month.
- Self-Hosted WordPress means you pay for hosting separately, which can be around $3 to $15 a month.
The free plan on WordPress.com is pretty basic, and the paid ones can add up. But with self-hosted, while you start paying for hosting right away, it can be cheaper over time.
Customization & Control
- WordPress.com lets you change some things, but you can’t tweak everything unless you pay more.
- Self-Hosted WordPress gives you all the control to change and add anything you want.
If you really want to make your site yours, going self-hosted gives you the freedom to do so, while WordPress.com has limits unless you’re on a higher plan.
Ease of Use
- WordPress.com is easier because they handle the technical stuff. You just focus on your site.
- Self-Hosted WordPress means you’re in charge of updates and security, which can be a bit more work.
WordPress.com is simpler to start with, but as you grow, you might want more control, which means self-hosting and possibly more effort.
Scalability
- WordPress.com lets you move up to bigger plans, but there’s a cap on what you can do.
- Self-Hosted WordPress can grow as much as you need, just change your hosting plan for more resources.
Both can grow with you, but self-hosted sites have a higher ceiling before you run into limits.
In short, WordPress.com is like the easy button for websites, taking care of the heavy lifting, while self-hosted WordPress is for those who want full control and are okay with a bit more work. Think about how much you want to customize, your tech comfort level, and how big you see your site getting when deciding which way to go.
Overview of WordPress.com Monthly Plans
WordPress.com has four different paid plans you can choose from, depending on what you need:
Starter This Starter plan is great for new bloggers who just want a simple site without ads. Here’s what it offers:
- 6GB of space for your files
- Access to special themes to make your site look good
- Fast and secure website connection
- Help via email when you need it
Explorer If you’re a freelancer or have a small business, the Explorer plan gives you more tools. It includes everything in the Starter plan, plus:
- 13GB of space
- You can upload videos and pictures
- You can make money from your site with ads
- More options to change how your site looks
- Tools to see how well your site is doing
Creator For those who need more, the Creator plan has everything you could want. It builds on the Starter and Explorer with:
- 50GB of space
- No limits on website traffic
- Lots of themes and plugins to choose from
- Even more ways to change your site’s design
- Tools to help people find your site
- You can take payments directly on your site
Entrepreneur For setting up an online store, the Entrepreneur plan has it all. It adds to the Creator plan with:
- Special hosting for online stores
- The best themes for your store
- Tools to manage your products
- Custom checkout options
- Tools to help with marketing
In short, WordPress.com offers plans from simple blogging to creating a full online store. Make sure to check all the features to find the right plan for what you need.
Comparison of WordPress.com Monthly Plans
1. Starter Plan
Pricing
The Starter plan is $4 a month if you pay for the whole year at once, or $5 a month if you decide to pay every month. It’s a budget-friendly option for getting into paid WordPress plans.
Features
Here’s what you get with the Starter plan:
- 6GB of storage for your stuff
- No more ads from WordPress.com on your site
- Access to special themes to make your site look nice
- You can start making money with ads on your site
- Good enough speed and safety for your site
- Help through email when you need it
Best Suited For
This plan is great for:
- People just starting with blogging
- Personal blogs
- Hobby or small project websites
- Anyone who doesn’t want ads on their WordPress site
It’s a solid starting point for simple websites.
Storage
With 6GB, you have enough space for:
- A bunch of pictures and some videos
- Plenty of blog posts
It’s enough room for a start.
Performance
Your site will load quickly and safely with features like:
- CDN (helps your site load faster everywhere)
- HTTP/2 (makes connections better)
- Free SSL certificate (keeps your site secure)
Good for a site that doesn’t have a lot of visitors yet.
Security
You’ll be protected with:
- Automatic backups (keeps a copy of your site safe)
- Protection against too many login tries
- Tools to keep spam away
Plus, WordPress.com takes care of the platform’s overall security.
Design Capabilities
You can pick from hundreds of themes, both free and ones you have to pay for, to change how your site looks.
There are some limits to how much you can change things compared to more expensive plans, but you still have lots of options.
Commerce Solutions
The Starter plan doesn’t let you add a store directly. If you want to sell things, you’ll need to move up to a plan that’s made for businesses or online stores.
2. Explorer Plan
Pricing
The Explorer plan is $8 a month if you choose to pay every month, or it drops to $6 a month if you pay for the whole year at once. It’s a step up from the Starter plan, offering more for a bit more money, which is great for small businesses and people working for themselves.
Features
With the Explorer plan, you get everything from the Starter plus:
- 13GB of space for your stuff
- You can upload your own videos and pictures
- You can make money with ads on your site
- Better tools for changing your site’s look
- You can see how your site is doing with Google Analytics
Best Suited For
This plan is good for:
- People working on their own or freelancers
- Small business websites
- Bloggers who want to change more things on their site
- Websites that are starting to grow
It’s designed for websites that are starting to make some money.
Storage
With 13GB, you can store:
- Lots of photos and several videos
- A blog with many posts that you can keep adding to
- Extra space for more stuff later on
Performance
This plan includes all the performance features of the Starter, plus it can handle more visitors with:
- Support for up to 400,000 visits a month
- Faster page loading with special tools
Security
For keeping your site safe, you get:
- An extra layer of security with two-factor authentication
- Backups of your site saved for 30 days
- A free SSL certificate to keep your site secure
Design Capabilities
You can change fonts, colors, and even add your own CSS. There are more themes to choose from, both free and paid, and you get access to premium designs.
Commerce Solutions
You can start making money with ads on your site with WordAds. You’re also free to use affiliate links or other ways to make money. But, if you want to sell products directly from your site, you’ll need to move up to a plan that’s built for online stores.
3. Creator Plan
Pricing
The Creator plan is $14 a month if you pay each month, or $12 a month if you pay for the whole year at once. This plan is great for bloggers, content creators, and small businesses because it offers more features.
Features
With the Creator plan, you get:
- A lot of space (50GB) for your website content
- No limit on how many people can visit your site each month
- Access to lots of special designs and tools to add more functions to your site
- More ways to make your site look exactly how you want
- Tools to help more people find your site online
- The option to take payments right on your site
Best Suited For
This plan is a good fit for:
- People who write blogs or create content professionally
- Small business sites
- Websites that are growing and expect a lot of visitors
- Anyone who wants to make their site look and work in a very specific way
It’s pretty much what most small websites might need.
Storage
With 50GB, you have space for:
- A blog with lots of posts
- The ability to grow your site a lot
- Plenty of high-quality photos and videos
This is more than enough for most small websites.
Performance
This plan includes:
- Support for as many visitors as you get
- Faster loading times for your pages
- A CDN that helps your site handle more visitors smoothly
It’s perfect for sites that are getting popular and plan to keep growing.
Security
For keeping your site safe, you get:
- Backups of your site every day
- An extra security step when logging in
- Protection against online attacks
- A free certificate that keeps your site secure
Plus, WordPress.com takes care of updating security for you.
Design Capabilities
With this plan, you can:
- Change everything about how your site looks
- Use lots of special designs
- Add tools that make building your site easier
- Change the design codes if you know how
You’re in full control of your site’s design.
Commerce Solutions
With the Creator plan, you can:
- Take payments on your site
- Use PayPal, Stripe, or credit cards for payments
- Sell digital items
- Add affiliate links to make money
But, if you want to sell physical items, you’ll need a bigger plan.
4. Entrepreneur Plan
Pricing
The Entrepreneur plan is $45 a month if you choose to pay month by month, or it’s a bit cheaper at $40 a month if you pay for the whole year upfront. This plan is the top option offered by WordPress.com, designed with online stores in mind.
Features
This plan includes:
- Everything the other paid plans offer
- Hosting that’s made for online stores
- Access to the best themes for selling online
- Tools to help you manage your products easily
- Different ways to check out
- Tools to help you market your stuff
Best Suited For
This plan is great for:
- People selling physical items online
- Bigger online shops
- Stores that want to offer customers special checkout options
- Businesses looking for ways to market directly from their site
It’s packed with everything an online store might need.
Storage
You’ll have:
- The same 50GB of storage as the Creator plan
- Options to add more storage if needed
This is plenty of space for all your product photos and videos.
Performance
This plan comes with:
- Support for lots of website visitors
- Fast loading times with CDN
- Tools to help your site handle more visitors as it grows
It’s built to keep up with busy online stores.
Security
- Daily automatic backups
- Extra security with two-factor authentication
- Protection against online threats
- Free SSL certificate to keep customer data safe
Strong security to keep your sales and customer info secure.
Design Capabilities
You can:
- Completely make your site look the way you want
- Use special themes for online stores
- Add your own CSS/JavaScript for more customization
You get full control over how your site looks.
Commerce Solutions
This plan gives you everything you need to sell online:
- A secure platform for your online store
- Sell both physical and digital items
- Choose from different payment methods
- Use coupons and run promotions
- Ship your products with integrated shipping options
- Tools for marketing and checking how well your store is doing
A complete setup for running an online store.
5. Self-Hosted WordPress
Pricing
With self-hosted WordPress, you basically pay for your own web hosting. This means you can pick and choose what you need, with prices usually between $3 to $15 a month.
Features
Here’s what you get with self-hosted WordPress:
- You can make your website look and work exactly how you want.
- Use any theme or plugin available.
- You’re in charge of keeping your site updated and running smoothly.
- Your website can grow as big as you need without any restrictions.
Best Suited For
Self-hosted WordPress is great for:
- People who know their way around WordPress and want more control.
- Developers or companies creating unique websites.
- Websites that get a lot of visitors and need to handle that traffic.
- Anyone who needs specific features or designs for their business.
Storage
How much storage you get depends on the hosting plan you choose. Basic plans usually start with about 10GB, good for a small site, but you can get more if you need it.
Performance
You pick a web hosting company that fits how many visitors you get and how fast you want your site to be. Some hosts specialize in making WordPress sites work really well.
Security
Keeping your site safe is up to you. Some web hosts help with this, especially if they specialize in WordPress. You can also use security plugins for extra protection.
Design Capabilities
You have total freedom to change your site’s look with self-hosted WordPress. There are thousands of themes and plugins to choose from, so you can really make it your own.
Commerce Solutions
If you want to sell things on your site, you can set up a full online store with plugins like WooCommerce. You handle the payments and all the shop details yourself.
Comparing Key Features Across Plans
Let’s break down what each WordPress plan offers in simple terms. Think of this as a quick guide to help you decide which one might be right for you.
| Plan | Storage | How Fast Your Site Will Be | Keeping Your Site Safe | Making Your Site Look Good | Selling Stuff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | 6GB | Fine for smaller websites | Basic safety features from WordPress.com | A good selection of themes, some ways to change the look | Can’t sell things directly |
| Explorer | 13GB | Can handle more visitors | Safety backups and extra login security | More theme choices and you can tweak designs more | You can make money with ads |
| Creator | 50GB | Great for lots of visitors | Daily safety backups and extra login security | Total freedom to change your site’s design, access to special tools | You can take payments and sell digital items |
| Entrepreneur | 50GB+ | Perfect for busy online stores | Top-notch safety tools | Special designs for online stores, tweak as much as you like | Has everything for selling both physical and digital items |
Starting with storage, the Starter and Explorer plans are pretty basic but enough for personal use or new businesses. But, if you’re planning to grow big, Creator and Entrepreneur plans offer a lot more space.
When we talk about how fast your site will be, the Starter plan is okay for small, less busy sites. Explorer is a step up, better for sites that are starting to get more visitors. Creator and Entrepreneur are the best choices if your site gets a lot of traffic, especially if you’re running a business through it.
Keeping your site safe is important. WordPress.com takes care of this for all plans, but Creator and Entrepreneur give you extra features like daily backups and extra login security. This is really important for online stores that handle customer information.
If you want your site to look a certain way, the higher you go in plans, the more options you get. Starter and Explorer let you change some things, but Creator gives you the freedom to do almost anything. Entrepreneur is best if you’re setting up a shop because it has designs just for selling things.
Finally, selling stuff on your site varies by plan. Explorer lets you start making money with ads, Creator lets you sell digital items and take payments, and Entrepreneur gives you a full setup for an online store, making it easy to sell anything.
Choosing the right plan depends on what you need – whether it’s just a personal blog, a growing business, or a full-on online store. Think about how much space you need, how busy your site will be, how much you want to customize it, and if you plan to sell things.
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Self-Hosted WordPress: Monthly Costs Breakdown
Choosing self-hosted WordPress means you’re in charge of your website’s hosting and any extra features you want, like special designs (themes) or tools (plugins). This option lets you customize a lot, but you’ll have some monthly costs to think about.
Web Hosting
Basic hosting starts at about $3 to $10 a month. The price can change based on:
- The amount of storage and bandwidth you’re allowed
- How fast and reliable the hosting is
- Support and extra perks
Managed WordPress hosting, which is hosting specifically for WordPress sites, might cost more but it makes your site run better and comes with useful tools.
Domain Name
Your website’s address, or domain name, usually costs about $12 a year. Some hosting plans might give you one for free.
Themes
You can find lots of free themes for your site, or you can buy premium themes for $40 to $60. Free themes are okay to start with, but paid ones often offer more help and ways to make your site look just how you want.
Plugins
Plugins let you add new features to your site. There are many great free options, but paid plugins, which can cost from $39 to hundreds of dollars, offer more features.
Maintenance and Security
If you go self-hosted, you’ll need to take care of updates and keeping your site safe, or you can pay a bit more for a managed hosting plan that does some of this for you. Managed plans usually cost about $5 extra a month.
Hiring a developer for special website needs can cost $50 to $150 an hour.
Total Costs
For a simple site with not much traffic, your monthly cost might be:
- Hosting: $7/month
- Domain (spread out over 12 months): $1/month
- Managed hosting add-on: $5/month
Total per month = about $13
If your site is busier, has custom stuff, or you choose premium themes/plugins, you’ll pay more. But the good thing about self-hosted WordPress is you can pick what to spend on based on what you really need.
WordPress.com vs Self-Hosted WordPress: Which is More Cost-Effective?
When you’re trying to decide if you should go with WordPress.com or manage your own WordPress site (self-hosted), the biggest thing you’re probably thinking about is how much it’s going to cost you. Here’s a simple breakdown to help you understand the differences:
Initial Costs
- WordPress.com – You can start for free, but if you want more features, it’ll cost you from $4 to $45 every month. You can save some cash by paying for a whole year at once.
- Self-Hosted – You’ll need to pay for your own web hosting, which can start really cheap, around $3 a month. The WordPress software itself doesn’t cost anything.
With WordPress.com, you’re up and running without upfront costs, but you’ll have monthly fees. With self-hosted, you have a small start-up cost for hosting, but the software is free.
Ongoing Costs
- WordPress.com – You’re stuck with the monthly plan prices.
- Self-Hosted – You only pay for the hosting you use each month. You’ve got more control over costs.
If you choose self-hosted, you pay only for what you need each month. WordPress.com has set prices for its plans.
Scalability
- WordPress.com – You can move to higher plans for more traffic but might hit a ceiling.
- Self-Hosted – Adjust your hosting as needed for unlimited traffic growth.
Self-hosted sites can grow with you as much as you need. WordPress.com might limit you eventually.
Customizations
- WordPress.com – Limited customization unless you pay more.
- Self-Hosted – Full control from the start with both free and paid options for themes and plugins.
If you want to fully customize your site without extra monthly fees, self-hosted is probably the better choice.
Ease of Use
- WordPress.com – Everything is managed for you, so you don’t have to worry about the technical stuff.
- Self-Hosted – You’re in charge of updates, security, and backups, but you can get managed hosting.
WordPress.com makes things easy by handling the tech side. With self-hosted, you’re responsible for the upkeep but can choose managed hosting.
Cost Over Time
For simple sites that won’t grow much, WordPress.com might cost less from month to month.
But for sites that need lots of custom features or expect a lot of visitors, managing your own WordPress site could save you money in the long run.
Think about what you really need from your site, like custom looks or being able to handle lots of visitors. This will help you figure out which option is more wallet-friendly for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions people have about WordPress monthly plans.
How do I switch to a different WordPress.com plan?
If you want to change your current WordPress.com plan, it’s pretty simple. Just sign in to your account, head over to the Plans & Pricing page, pick the new plan you like, and follow the instructions to make the switch. If you have any money left from your old plan, it will be taken off the price of the new one.
Can I transfer my site from WordPress.com to self-hosted WordPress?
Yes, moving your site from WordPress.com to a self-hosted WordPress setup is possible. First, you’ll need to get a web hosting service. Then, use the export tool on WordPress.com to download your site’s content. Lastly, upload this content to your new self-hosted WordPress site.
Is support included with WordPress.com plans?
All WordPress.com plans come with free email support. This means you can get help from the Happiness Engineers if you run into any trouble. For self-hosted WordPress sites, the kind of support you get depends on your web hosting company. Many offer help around the clock through live chat or phone.
What happens if I stop paying for my WordPress.com plan?
If you don’t pay for your plan, your site will go back to the free version. You’ll lose the extra features from the paid plan until you sort out your payment. If you’ve paid for part of the plan and haven’t used it, that money will be there for you if you decide to go back to a paid plan later.
Can I use WordPress plugins and themes on WordPress.com?
With the free plan on WordPress.com, you can’t use plugins or upload your own themes. But if you upgrade to the Creator or Business plans, you’ll get access to lots of plugins and themes. This lets you change how your site looks and works.
Is self-hosted WordPress secure?
Yes, self-hosted WordPress sites can be safe, but you need to regularly update your software and use security plugins to protect your site. If you choose managed WordPress hosting, they often help with security. WordPress.com takes care of all the security updates and protections for you, so you don’t have to worry about it.
I hope this makes things clearer about WordPress monthly plans! If you have more questions, feel free to ask.
Conclusion
Let’s sum up what we’ve talked about with WordPress monthly plans:
- WordPress.com plans are super easy to start with if you don’t want to deal with tech stuff. But, you might find them limiting as your site gets bigger.
- Self-hosted WordPress needs more work from you but lets you do pretty much anything you want with your site. Over time, it might even save you money because you only pay for what you really need.
- The Starter plan is good for basic sites. Explorer plan is better if you’re a small business looking to sell stuff. Creator plan is perfect for sites that need to change a lot. Entrepreneur plan is the best choice for full-blown online stores.
- When you go self-hosted, you’ll spend money on web hosting, domain names, themes/plugins, and keeping your site safe and up-to-date. How much you spend grows with your site.
- Think about what you want from your site, like how it looks, how many people visit, and if you want to make money from it, when choosing the best plan for you.
Choosing the right plan really comes down to what you need your website to do. Look at what you want in terms of making your site look a certain way, how much traffic you expect, how you plan to make money, and how comfortable you are with tech stuff. This will help you pick between WordPress.com and managing it yourself.
I hope this guide has made it easier for you to pick the right WordPress plan for your website! If you have any questions, just ask.