Software profile

WordPress.com

Automattic's hosted WordPress service, with a free plan and paid plans from $4 a month (Personal, annual) up to Commerce at $45.

  • Free plan
  • Flat monthly
  • Hosted
  • WordPress
  • Independent sources

by AutomatticCMS & Website BuildersHosted WordPress website builder

  • Verified 10 Nov 2026Sources are dated on this profile
  • 2 sourcesLinked, typed and dated
  • Independent third-party sourcesHow this profile was compiled
  • Not an endorsementStack18 has not tested this product
Quick answer

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is a hosted website and blogging platform built on WordPress, run by Automattic, with Free, Personal, Premium, Business, Commerce and Enterprise (WordPress VIP) plans.

  • Best forBloggers and businesses wanting hosted WordPress without server work
  • Team size fitSmall teams, Mid-size teams, Large enterprises
  • PricingFree; Personal $4, Premium $8, Business $25, Commerce $45 a month (annual); monthly billing costs more.
  • Main limitationFree plan shows ads and blocks plugins.
  • AlternativesWebflow, Ghost, Framer, Duda · compare all
Overview

WordPress.com overview: who it is for and what it does.

WordPress.com runs WordPress for you: hosting, security and updates are managed, and higher plans unlock plugins, developer tools and WooCommerce.

An October 2026 guide lists Personal at $4 a month annually ($9 monthly), Premium $8 ($18), Business $25 ($40) and Commerce $45 ($70), with cheaper 2- and 3-year terms and custom Enterprise (WordPress VIP).

The free plan uses a subdomain, has 1 GB storage, shows ads and does not allow plugins. Payment-block fees fall from 10% on Free to 0% on Commerce.

Main problem it solves

Gives people a WordPress site without managing hosting.

Typical customer segment

Individuals through enterprises.

Target users

  • Bloggers and writers
  • Small businesses
  • Online stores (Commerce)

Primary use cases

  • Blogs
  • Business websites
  • Online stores
  • Portfolios

What makes it distinct

  • Managed WordPress.
  • Multi-year discounts.
  • Payment fees drop on higher plans.
Key features

WordPress.com features explained.

Plans (annual / monthly per month)

Personal
$4 / $9; 6 GB.
Premium
$8 / $18; 13 GB; premium themes.
Business
$25 / $40; 50 GB; SFTP, staging.

Commerce and Enterprise

Commerce
$45 / $70; 0% payment-block fee.
Enterprise
WordPress VIP, custom.
Store themes
On Commerce.

Free plan

Domain
Subdomain only.
Storage
1 GB.
Ads
Shown to visitors.
Pricing

WordPress.com pricing and plans.

Figures reported by independent sources; vendor page not reviewed directly. Checked 10 Nov 2026 against eSEOspace.

Pricing model

Flat monthly plans; annual and multi-year cheaper.

Free plan

Yes (subdomain, ads)

Free trial

Not documented

WordPress.com plans and prices (USD)

  • Free

    $0

    Free

    Subdomain, ads.

  • Personal

    $4 per month

    Annual ($9 monthly)

    Custom domain.

  • Premium

    $8 per month

    Annual ($18 monthly)

    Premium themes.

  • Business

    $25 per month

    Annual ($40 monthly)

    Plugins, staging.

  • Commerce

    $45 per month

    Annual ($70 monthly)

    WooCommerce.

eSEOspace (1 October 2026); prices exclude taxes.

Prices change. Confirm current plans and terms on the vendor's site before you decide.

Visit official website (external) ↗See alternatives
Integrations and compatibility

WordPress.com integrations, API and platforms.

Important integrations

  • WooCommerce
  • Jetpack
  • Google Analytics

Supported platforms

  • Web

API

Not reviewed for this profile.

Data import and export

Not reviewed for this profile.

Integration coverage was not assessed in full. Check WordPress.com's integrations directory and documentation for your tools.

Strengths, limitations and best fit

WordPress.com pros and cons.

Strengths, limitations and best fit. Each point cites a source; editorial summaries are not customer reviews.

Strengths

  • Managed hosting, security and updates. [1]
  • Low entry price. [1]
  • 0% payment-block fee on Commerce. [1]

Limitations

  • Free plan shows ads and blocks plugins. [1]
  • Developer tools need Business. [1]
  • Monthly billing costs far more. [1]

Best for

  • Bloggers and businesses wanting hosted WordPress without server work
  • Writers and publishers
  • Small stores on Commerce

May be less suited to

  • Teams wanting headless APIs
  • Designers wanting visual control
How it compares

WordPress.com compared with similar CMS and website builders.

Summaries come from each profile. This is a side-by-side aid, not a ranking.

ProductPricing modelStarting priceFree planCMS typeBest for
WordPress.comFlat monthly$4/mo (annual)Yes (ads)Hosted builderBlogs and SMB sites
ContentfulFlat monthly$300/mo (Lite)Yes (10 users)HeadlessEnterprise content ops
DudaFlat monthly$19/moNot listedBuilder (agency)Agencies
FramerSite plan + seats$10/mo (annual)Yes (non-commercial)Visual builderDesigners, startups
GhostFlat monthly$18/mo (annual)Self-hostedPublishingNewsletters, memberships
HubSpot Content HubTiered monthly$25/mo (Starter)Yes (branding)CRM-connected builderHubSpot users

Browse all CMS & Website Builders →

Comparisons

WordPress.com vs competitors: head-to-head comparisons.

Each comparison has a feature table, pricing side by side, strengths and limits, and best-fit scenarios.

Compare WordPress.com with all its alternatives in one table →

Discussions

WordPress.com discussions and buying questions.

No published discussions mention this product yet.

FAQ

WordPress.com questions and answers

What is WordPress.com used for?

WordPress.com is a hosted website and blogging platform built on WordPress, run by Automattic, with Free, Personal, Premium, Business, Commerce and Enterprise (WordPress VIP) plans. Typical uses include blogs, business websites, online stores, portfolios.

How much does WordPress.com cost?

Personal is $4, Premium $8, Business $25 and Commerce $45 a month billed annually; monthly billing costs more.

Can I install plugins on WordPress.com?

Plugins are available on paid plans; the free plan does not allow them.

Is WordPress.com the same as WordPress.org?

WordPress.com is Automattic's hosted service; WordPress.org software is self-hosted.

How does WordPress.com compare with its competitors?

Stack18 publishes head-to-head comparisons of Ghost vs WordPress.com and Webflow vs WordPress.com, each with a feature table, pricing and best-fit scenarios.

What are the main alternatives to WordPress.com?

The main alternatives to WordPress.com covered on Stack18 are Webflow, Ghost, Framer and Duda. Webflow may suit design-led teams building custom marketing sites. Ghost may suit publishers running newsletters and paid memberships. Framer may suit designers and startups shipping polished sites fast. See the WordPress.com alternatives guide for a side-by-side table.

What are the pros and cons of WordPress.com?

Strengths: Managed hosting, security and updates. Low entry price. Limitations: Free plan shows ads and blocks plugins. Developer tools need Business.

Who is WordPress.com best for?

WordPress.com may suit bloggers and businesses wanting hosted WordPress without server work; writers and publishers; small stores on Commerce. It may be less suited to teams wanting headless APIs; designers wanting visual control.

What integrations does WordPress.com support?

Documented integrations and ecosystem items include WooCommerce, Jetpack, Google Analytics. API: Not reviewed for this profile.

When was the WordPress.com profile last verified?

Sources for this profile were last reviewed on 10 Nov 2026. 2 sources are listed under Sources, and prices and plans can change, so confirm with the vendor.

Sources and freshness

Where this information comes from.

  1. WordPress.com plans and pricing explained (October 2026) eSEOspace Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026
  2. Best Webflow Alternatives (updated 23 February 2026) Rework Third-party Accessed 10 Nov 2026

Secondary-source profile. Vendor pages were not reviewed directly for this profile. Facts and prices are taken from independent third-party sources and may differ from the vendor's current pages. Confirm with the vendor before buying.

Facts come from eSEOspace (October 2026). Capabilities were not tested.

Stack18 has not tested this product or received anything from the vendor for this profile. Editorial summaries of vendor information are not endorsements. Confirm details with the vendor before buying.

Next step

Evaluating WordPress.com?

Check the vendor's current pricing and terms, compare it with similar products, or read how others approach the decision. If off-the-shelf is not the answer, Stack18 builds around how your business works.

Logos provided by Logo.dev. Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and appear for identification only; they do not imply endorsement.