WordPress.com Review
Learn about WordPress.com's website builder for small businesses. Includes comparisons to Wix and Weebly, pricing, customer reviews, and FAQs.
Updated on August 30th, 2020
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WordPress.com is an affordable website builder that offers a range of plans for individuals and businesses alike. Businesses can use WordPress.com to manage their content, create online stores, and more.
Pros and Cons:
Pros
- There is a Free plan.
- Many existing domains can be transferred to WordPress.com.
- Wide selection of copyright-free photos.
- The desktop and mobile apps are compatible with all major operating systems.
Cons
- Custom domain names are only available on the paid plans.
- Limited built-in photo editing capabilities.
- Google Analytics is only available on selected paid plans.
- No phone support.
Review:
WordPress.com is a robust solution that enjoys widespread use in many settings. Individuals and businesses alike can choose to create new websites or to transfer existing domains to WordPress.com. While the software is packed with useful features, some clients may find the lack of free phone support to be constraining.
Highlights:
- Suitable for an extensive range of business uses.
- Desktop and mobile apps.
- A library containing over 40,000 copyright-free images.
- A Free plan that features a pre-installed SSL certificate, Jetpack's essential capabilities, dozens of free themes, and 3 GB of storage.
- Paid plans include, at minimum, 24/5 email and basic live chat support.
- Designs are easy to customize.
Shortcomings:
- Premium domains, as well as those ending in ".ca," ".fr," ".uk," and ".mx" cannot be transferred to WordPress.com.
- Top-level domains (TDLs) not listed on their website cannot be registered or transferred to WordPress.com, either.
- Users must subscribe to one of the paid plans to remove WordPress.com ads and to be eligible for a custom domain name.
- The Google Analytics integration is only available on the Premium, Business, and eCommerce plans.
- Limited built-in photo editing features.
- No regular phone support.
Reputation:
Thus far, WordPress.com has received mixed reviews. On one end of the spectrum, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has given the platform a D- rating. The BBB cites WordPress.com's reported failure to respond to nine complaints as grounds for this low grade.
Worth noting, however, is that there are many positive customer reviews on platforms such as Reddit, MacRumors' forums, and the MilesWeb Hosting Forum. Prospective clients should account for this variation when deciding whether to opt for one of WordPress.com's plans.
Pricing:
Plan | Annual Pricing |
---|---|
Free | $0.00 |
Personal | $48.00 |
Premium | $96.00 |
Business | $300.00 |
eCommerce | $540.00 |
WordPress Enterprise | From $20,400.00 |
Quick Start Support Session (Add-on) | $49.00 each* |
Good to Know:
The Business and eCommerce plans include two 30-minute Quick Start sessions. Clients who are not subscribed to the abovementioned plans, or those who have used their free sessions, are able to purchase 45-minute Quick Start meetings at this rate.
Price comparison:
We compared WordPress.com to leading providers Wix and Weebly to help businesses gauge the competitiveness of their solutions overall.

WordPress.com vs. Wix:
Wix offers a wider variety of solutions, a greater selection of subscription options, as well as their revolutionary Artificial Design Intelligence (ADI), which simplifies the process of creating websites. Wix also offers phone support, which WordPress.com does not. However, WordPress.com's paid plans feature live chat support, which Wix lacks.
WordPress.com vs. Wix Comparison:
Offer | WordPress.com | Wix |
---|---|---|
Subscription options | Annual | Month-to-month, annual, 2-year, 3-year |
Annual price range | $0.00–$20,400.00+ | $0.00–$6,000.00 excl. applicable taxes |
Number of plans | 6 (including WordPress Enterprise) | 8 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Phone support | No | Yes |
Live chat support | Yes (paid plans only) | No |

WordPress.com vs. Weebly:
WordPress and Weebly offer an equal number of hosted plans. Weebly is more user-friendly in that it offers traditional drag and drop features. Paying subscribers also have access to phone support, which WordPress.com does not offer. However, all of WordPress.com's paid plans include 24/7 live chat support, which Weebly lacks.
WordPress.com vs. Weebly Comparison:
Offer | WordPress.com | Weebly |
---|---|---|
Subscription options | Annual | Month-to-month and annual |
Annual price range | $0.00–$20,400.00+ | $0.00–$864.00+ |
Number of plans | 6 (including WordPress Enterprise) | 6 |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Phone support | No | Yes (paid plans only) |
Live chat support | Yes (paid plans only) | Yes (on all plans) |
WordPress.com Packages:
Head-to-head comparisons between the plans offered by WordPress.com, Wix, and Weebly help to determine the best solutions for businesses of various sizes.
WordPress.com Premium vs. Wix Unlimited:
WordPress.com's Premium plan is geared towards freelancers, while Wix Unlimited is designed for freelancers and entrepreneurs. Both offer a free domain for one year, allow users to upload video footage, and integrate with Google Analytics. Users can also connect their custom domains and remove branded ads by the respective providers.
At this level, WordPress.com has a few advantages over Wix. Clients have access to more storage capacity (13 GB, versus the 10 GB offered by Wix), as well as live chat support. While WordPress.com requires a one-year commitment, their Premium plan is more affordable than Wix's comparable package.
Wix's clients, however, have the option to use their ADI, which generates websites that can be customized. This is especially useful for those who lack the time and/or inspiration needed to design their sites. WordPress.com does not offer a similar service.
Wix also offers users $300.00 in ad vouchers. These comprise $100.00 in Google Ads (when clients spend a minimum of $25.00), $100.00 in Bing Ads, and $100.00 in local listings, helping users to spread the word about their businesses.
Further, Wix provides phone support, which WordPress.com does not. The company also offers a greater variety of subscription options: month-to-month subscriptions are ideal for those who are hesitant about committing to long-term use, while two and three-year plans offer discounted rates compared to the monthly and one-year plans.
All things considered, Wix's Unlimited plan may be the better option despite its higher price point.
WordPress.com Premium vs. Wix Unlimited Comparison:
Offer | WordPress.com Premium | Wix Unlimited |
---|---|---|
Annual price | $96.00 | $204.00 excl. applicable taxes* |
Best for | Freelancers. | Freelancers and entrepreneurs. |
Free domain | Yes, for one year (premium domains excluded). | Yes, for one year (choice of 11 extensions). |
Upload videos | Yes; no limit specified. | Yes; 1 hour of footage. |
Storage capacity | 13 GB. | 10 GB. |
Free customer support | Email, live chat. | Phone, ticket system, online help center. |
*On the one-year plan. Other payment options (prices exclude applicable taxes):
- Month-to-month: $22.00 /mo.
- 2-year subscription: $324.00 (equates to $13.50 /mo.)
- 3-year subscription: $432.00 (equates to $12.00 /mo.)
WordPress.com Business vs. Wix Pro vs. Weebly Professional:
The abovementioned plans are great options for businesses that want to build professional, branded websites. Naturally, each plan allows users to remove providers' ads and branding. They also include a free domain for one year, the ability to connect to a custom domain, and SEO tools that improve marketability.
If given the option between WordPress.com Business and Wix Pro, we recommend the latter. Granted, WordPress.com offers ten times the storage capacity, as well as uncapped video uploads and 24/7 priority support, which its competitor does not.
Wix Pro, however, offers its ADI, as well as $300 in ad vouchers, a visitor analytics app, a professional logo with full commercial usage rights, and over 40 sizes of these logos for use on social media and other sites. Head-to-head, Wix Pro is also cheaper than WordPress.com Business and offers a greater variety of subscription options.
Between WordPress.com Business and Weebly Professional, we suggest Weebly which is significantly more affordable and includes uncapped storage (versus WordPress.com's 20 GB limit). Other stand-out features include the ability to create age confirmation pop-ups, password protection to hide specified areas of your site, and inventory management.
Finally, if deciding between Wix Pro and Weebly Professional, prospective clients should consider the nature of their business. While Wix offers a greater variety of payment options and ADI, Weebly is generally cheaper and offers far greater storage capacity. Weebly Professional is also suitable for online stores, while Wix Pro is not.
WordPress.com Business vs. Wix Pro vs. Weebly Professional Comparison:
Offer | WordPress.com Business | Wix Pro | Weebly Professional |
---|---|---|---|
Price | $300.00 /yr. | $27.00 month-to-month or $264.00 /yr.* (excl. applicable taxes) | $16.00 month-to-month or $144.00 /yr. |
Upload videos | Yes; no limit specified. | Yes; 2 hours of footage. | Yes; no limit specified. |
Storage capacity | 200 GB | 20 GB | Unlimited. |
Free domain | Yes, for one year (premium domains excluded). | Yes, for one year (choice of 11 extensions). | *Yes, for one year on annual plans (standard-priced domains only) |
Free customer support | Email, 24/7 priority live chat, two one-on-one support sessions. | Phone, ticket system, online help center. | Phone, email, live chat, community forum. |
*On the one-year plan. Other payment options (prices exclude applicable taxes):
- 2-year subscription: $432.00 (equates to $18.00 /mo.)
- 3-year subscription: $192.00 (equates to $16.00 /mo.)
WordPress.com eCommerce vs. Wix Business VIP vs. Weebly Premium:
The abovementioned plans are the most advanced SMB-level options offered by the providers. Key features include the ability to process payments, integrations with shipping carriers, and some form of priority support.
If choosing between WordPress eCommerce and Wix Business VIP, we recommend the latter. While Wix offers significantly less storage capacity than its competitor, clients receive $300.00 in ad vouchers, site booster and visitor analytics apps, a professional logo, use of their ADI, and more. Wix also offers a wider selection of subscription options.
Between WordPress.com eCommerce and Weebly Premium, we suggest Weebly, which offers unlimited storage and phone support – neither of which are offered by WordPress.com. Other stand-out features include abandoned cart notifications and a real-time shipping rate calculator. These and similar perks seem to justify Weebly Premium's higher price.
Worth noting, though, is that WordPress eCommerce includes two free one-on-one meetings with a specialist. Clients may also purchase additional sessions. These are intended to optimize users' websites and related business activities, which could boost profitability. For some, this might outweigh the income-generating perks offered by Weebly.
Finally, if deciding between Wix Business VIP and Weebly Premium, businesses should consider their unique needs. On the one hand, Wix is more affordable, includes ADI, boasts a greater selection of templates, and offers a larger variety of subscription options. However, Wix caps users at 50 GB, whereas Weebly's clients have unlimited storage.
WordPress.com eCommerce vs. Wix Business VIP vs. Weebly Premium Comparison:
Offer | WordPress.com eCommerce | Wix Business VIP | Weebly Premium Comparison |
---|---|---|---|
Price | $540.00 /yr. | $56.00 month-to-month or $588.00 /yr.* (excl. applicable taxes) | $79.00 month-to-month or $864.00 /yr. |
Storage | 200 GB | 50 GB | Unlimited |
Free domain | Yes, for one year (premium domains excluded). | Yes, for one year (choice of 11 extensions). | *Yes, for one year on annual plans (standard-priced domains only) |
Free customer support | Email, 24/7 priority live chat, two one-on-one support sessions. | Exclusive phone support, ticket system, priority support in the online help center. | Phone, email, live chat, community forum. Priority support. |
*On the one-year plan. Other payment options (prices exclude applicable taxes):
- 2-year subscription: $1,008.00 (equates to $42.00 /mo.)
- 3-year subscription: $1,368.00 (equates to $38.50 /mo.)
WordPress Enterprise vs. Wix Enterprise vs. Weebly for Industries:
Companies that require greater functionality than that provided by standard plans could look to WordPress Enterprise, Wix Enterprise, or Weebly for Industries. All offer hosting, considerable implementation support, assistance with scaling, advanced security, site monitoring, and more.
Worth noting is the hefty price difference between WordPress.com and Wix: the former starts at $20,400.00 per year, while Wix Enterprise costs $6,000.00 per year excluding VAT. Weebly, by contrast, does not list pricing online.
All things considered, we suggest that interested parties contact WordPress VIP, Wix, and Weebly for more detailed pricing information, and to ascertain which provider could best meet their unique needs.
WordPress.com Plugins:
All of WordPress.com's plans include an assortment of built-in plugins. These span various domains including site-related statistics, essential SEO, security scanning, and many more.
Both the Business and eCommerce plans allow users to install additional plugins. There are thousands of options, the most popular of which include WooCommerce, Yoast, Polylang, and WP Booking System. Clients who are subscribed to these plans also have the ability to upload custom plugins.
Key Information:
Legal Name | Automattic Inc. |
Founder | |
Founding Date | Aug 01, 2005 |
Address | 60 29th Street #343, San Francisco, CA |
Number of Employees | 940 |
Number of Customers | 99 |
Website |
WordPress.com News & Activity:
Date | News or Activity |
---|---|
January 30, 2020 | |
January 20, 2020 | The Block Editor is Now Supported on the WordPress Native Apps |
November 28, 2019 | |
November 12, 2019 | |
September 4, 2019 | Digital River Announces New WordPress Integration to Enable Brands to Ignite Global Commerce |
FAQs:
What is the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
WordPress.org provides free, open-source software that clients can use to build their own websites. Clients need to secure their own domain name as well as web hosting. WordPress.com, in turn, is a website builder that offers a domain name and hosting. There are both free and paid plans.
How can I get WordPress for free?
Follow these steps to sign up for WordPress.com's Free plan:
- Navigate to wordpress.com.
- Click on "Start your website."
- Provide your email address, and then create a username and password.
- Click on "Create your account."
- To obtain a new subdomain, type your preferred option to determine its availability.
- Choose a free subdomain and click "Select."
- Finally, click on "Start with a free suite" towards the top of the page.
If you're looking to download WordPress.org instead, then navigate to their website and click the download button. There is a detailed installation guide to help you get set up.
Is WordPress.com still free?
WordPress.com offers free and paid plans. The Free plan includes Jetpack's essential features, a pre-installed SSL certificate, dozens of free themes, and 3 GB of storage.
What is the official WordPress site?
For the hosted option, it is wordpress.com. For the self-hosted version, visit wordpress.org.
What is WordPress.com's price range?
WordPress.com's standard plans range between $0.00 and $540.00 per year. WordPress VIP's Enterprise plan starts at $20,400.00 per year. Interested parties can contact the company to learn more.
Is there a free trial of WordPress.com?
WordPress.com makes no mention of a free trial on their website. However, interested parties can access the Free plan.
What are the alternatives to WordPress.com?
Is WordPress.com good for small businesses?
Yes, WordPress.com is one of the best affordable website builders for small businesses. Their Business plan includes custom themes and plugins, 200 GB storage, live support, and more. Small businesses that wish to use WordPress to power their online stores can opt for the eCommerce plan. It includes the aforementioned features, as well as the ability to accept payments in over sixty countries, and more.