#WordPress.com Features

[wjmdigitaldesign]

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: What’s the Difference and Which One Should You Choose?

If you’re thinking about launching a website or starting a blog, chances are you’ve come across WordPress. But there’s a common point of confusion: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org. At first glance, they sound like the same thing — but they’re actually quite different platforms with distinct features, pros, and cons.

In this blog post, we’ll break down the differences between the two, help you understand which one suits your needs, and guide you toward the best choice for your website goals.

What is WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is the self-hosted version of WordPress. It’s the open-source software that anyone can download for free and install on their own web hosting server. With WordPress.org, you have full control over your website.

Key Features:

Complete Customization: Install any theme or plugin, modify the code, and design your site exactly the way you want.

Ownership: You fully own your website and all its content.

Monetization Freedom: Use any ad network, sell products, offer memberships, or add affiliate links with no restrictions.

Advanced Functionality: Great for eCommerce (using plugins like WooCommerce), custom development, SEO tools, and more.

Pros:

Total control and flexibility

Thousands of free and premium plugins/themes

Full access to your site's backend and data

Ideal for business, large blogs, and complex websites

Cons:

Requires web hosting (usually $5–$15/month)

You handle security, backups, and updates (though plugins can automate much of this)

Slightly steeper learning curve for beginners

What is WordPress.com?

WordPress.com is a hosted platform created by Automattic (the company behind WordPress). It offers a simplified, all-in-one solution for building a website without worrying about hosting, maintenance, or technical tasks.

Key Features:

No Hosting Needed: Hosting is included. No need to buy a separate plan or domain (though custom domains are available on paid plans).

Easy to Start: Perfect for beginners who want a fast and simple setup.

Maintenance-Free: WordPress.com handles updates, security, and backups.

Pros:

Free basic plan available

No setup or maintenance required

User-friendly dashboard

Great for hobby blogs, personal websites, or simple portfolios

Cons:

Limited customization (especially on the free plan)

Cannot upload custom themes or plugins unless on Business or higher plan

Limited monetization options on lower-tier plans

WordPress.com branding unless you upgrade

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Quick Comparison Table

Feature

WordPress.com

WordPress.org

Hosting

Included

You provide (self-hosted)

Cost

Free with paid upgrades

Free software, hosting cost

Custom Themes & Plugins

Limited (paid plans only)

Unlimited

Monetization Freedom

Limited

Full control

eCommerce

Only on paid plans

Full eCommerce support

Maintenance

Handled for you

You manage it

Suitable For

Beginners, personal blogs

Businesses, pros, devs

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose WordPress.com if:

You want a hassle-free experience and don’t want to manage hosting or security.

You’re a beginner with no technical background.

You just need a simple blog or portfolio site.

You’re okay with limited flexibility or willing to pay for premium features.

Choose WordPress.org if:

You want full control and the ability to customize everything.

You’re building a business website, store, or scalable project.

You need to monetize your content freely.

You're comfortable (or willing to learn) about managing your own hosting.

Final Thoughts

Both WordPress.com and WordPress.org offer powerful tools for creating websites, but the right choice depends on your goals. If you’re starting out or want something easy and low-maintenance, WordPress.com is a solid option. If you're aiming for maximum control, customization, and scalability, WordPress.org is the way to go.

Still unsure? Start with WordPress.com to get your feet wet — and when you’re ready for more freedom, you can always migrate to WordPress.org.

Need help deciding or building your site? Contact WJM Digital Design for professional guidance, custom WordPress development, and support tailored to your goals. info@wjmdigitaldesign.com

[stonerskeletor]

i hate everything about web 3.0 and how few options we have for any form of social platform nowadays but i especially hate how awful the blogging scene is now.

wordpress is filled with robo-"art" and you can't do any sort of customization without paying money.

blogger is boring and also has like no customization.

bear and mataroa are great but have no comment systems.

medium and substack are filled with people who blog to make money. tbh, so is wordpress.

neocities/nekoweb have zonelets but tbh i don't want to fuck around w code every time i wanna make a blog post.

i love tumblr, of course, but it definitely feels like the microblogging site that it is. and that's okay!! but sometimes you just want longer form blogging and a site that isn't so demographically skewed to one country.

but. i dunno. maybe i'm just yapping into the void, but i miss the old blogging days and the old internet.

[wip]

Tumblr now disables custom pages by default and no longer allows users to turn off promotional banners from displaying on them. From a user perspective, it feels like the use of custom pages is being discouraged. It also feels like Tumblr prioritizes the social media aspects of the platform over the blogging aspects. Interest in the web revival is growing, and with that in mind, it would be awesome to see Tumblr embrace it with a renewed focus on custom pages and improvements for bloggers. :-)

Answer: Hi there, @unicornwishes!

We also love the blogging side of Tumblr, but unfortunately we haven’t had as much time to focus on it with our recent work on Communities. But blogging on Tumblr isn't going anywhere! We’re just not sure yet when we'll work on features like custom pages.

If you're interested in custom pages or other blogging features, we also have a wonderful sister platform called WordPress.com specifically for blogging, so feel free to check that out too!

Thanks for your question. Keep ’em coming, folks.

This post has been edited for clarity.

[mudwerks]

(via Tumblr will move all of its blogs to WordPress — and you won’t even notice a difference - The Verge)

Soon, all of the blogs on Tumblr will be hosted on WordPress. Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com and Tumblr, announced on Wednesday that it will start to move the site’s half a billion blogs to the new WordPress-based backend.

This update shouldn’t affect the way Tumblr works for users, whom Automattic promises won’t notice any difference after the migration. Automattic says the change will make it easier to ship new features across both platforms and let Tumblr run on the stable infrastructure of WordPress.com. (WordPress.com is a private hosting service built on the open-source WordPress content management software.)

“We can build something once and bring it to both WordPress and Tumblr,” the post reads. “Tumblr will benefit from the collective effort that goes into the open source WordPress project.” However, Automattic acknowledges that the move “won’t be easy.” It also doesn’t say when the migration will be complete.

[scott17899]

Meooowwww, I've moved my Daily Cats project over to Wordpress dot com due to it having built in comments, subscriptions and other useful features. Still a few things to do, but the new URL is:

https://dailycats9.wordpress.com/

[y2kbeautyandother2000sstuff]

American Girl Doll Spa Set featuring Coconut the Dog

early 2000s (thank you to @artsy-dreamer for letting me know)

found on Jackylina2013.wordpress.com

[marslowart]

Being seen in an AI social world

This post came to my attention today.

It’s difficult to put my feelings (and thoughts) into words right now. I know consent has been a difficult topic in the technology world for a while, and it’s no surprise the whole AI thing became so pervasive so quickly given the absurd investment these companies made in making it the trending topic of the decade and a toy accessible to anyone.

I have many questions, regarding the computational power dedicated to a tool that’s geared towards destroying creative work, a tool that fails so fundamentally in understanding the process of creating art yet claims to surpass it. I have questions regarding the energy and water costs of keeping the massive servers they certainly need, when scarcity is an ever present threat in a world that heats up more every year. I question all the dedication and investment when we have far more pressing issues of illness, hunger, inequality, and the list could go on.

I question why are we living in a world that’s incapable to control the greed and maliciousness of companies who exploit their users at every new development.

I don’t usually talk about myself a lot here, but I’m also a UX/UI designer, so I’m familiar with the process of Design Thinking, of creating a product based on the user needs…and features that hide themselves subtly to make the users fall into a trap is just hostile design. This is the world of hostile design. I don’t get respect as a user, as a creator, as a worker, as a citizen. If I did, my representatives would have the balls to stop all these policies and decisions from companies that want to leech me.

They want to chew my art, spit me out of the market and confine me to this horrible online experience.

I’m not sure what I should do at the moment. Maybe I’ll take all my art posts down from tumblr, maybe I’ll create a telegram channel later to post my art and talk to people. I have no idea which is the best route at the moment. I felt pressure to “put me out there and be seen” my whole life.

Interact with viewers.

create a fan base.

But it feels like no platform respects me enough right now, and I’m not willing to give up all of me. Opt-out is not enough.

Sorry for the long post.

[blogosmcom]

How to Start a Blog in 2025 (Step-by-Step for Beginners)

Great! I’ll write a full Web 2.0 blog post for you. But first, I need to know what your website blogosm.com is about so I can tailor the blog content properly.

Since you haven’t given details yet, I’ll assume it’s a blogging, SEO, or tech-related site. Here's a sample blog post based on that theme.

How to Start a Successful Blog in 2025 – A Beginner’s Guide

Published on: WordPress / Blogger / Medium 🔗 Visit us at: BlogOSM.com

Blogging Is Still Alive – and More Powerful Than Ever

In the ever-changing world of digital marketing, some might think blogging is dead. But in reality, blogging has evolved into a powerful Web 2.0 tool—a channel that still drives traffic, builds brands, and makes money.

If you’re planning to launch your blog in 2025, now is the perfect time. And guess what? You don’t need to be a tech genius or a professional writer.

Why Start a Blog?

💼 Build authority in your niche

💰 Monetize through affiliate marketing, ads, or services

📈 Improve your site’s SEO with high-quality content

🌐 Reach a global audience with your voice or brand

Step-by-Step: How to Start a Blog

1. Pick a Profitable Niche

Start by choosing a topic you're passionate about—tech, travel, fitness, finance, fashion, or anything in between.

2. Choose the Right Platform

Free Web 2.0 blog platforms like WordPress.com, Blogger, and Medium are great starting points.

3. Get a Domain and Hosting (Optional but Ideal)

If you want full control and branding, having your own domain like blogosm.com is highly recommended.

4. Write High-Quality Content

Content is king—but helpful content is emperor. Make sure every post adds value, solves a problem, or answers a question.

5. Promote Your Blog

Use social media, forums, and SEO strategies to get your content in front of the right audience.

Pro Tip: Learn from the Best

If you're just starting out, check out BlogOSM.com – a go-to resource for bloggers, SEO professionals, and content marketers. From actionable tips to expert guides, it’s packed with value to help you grow fast.

Final Thoughts

Starting a blog today is easier than ever—but succeeding takes consistency, strategy, and smart promotion. Focus on helping your audience and improving one post at a time.

🚀 Ready to start your journey? 👉 Visit BlogOSM.com and take your first step today.

✅ What’s Next?

Let me know which platform you’re going to post this on (WordPress, Blogger, etc.), and I can:

Help you format it for that platform

Add SEO title, tags, and meta description

Suggest a featured image

[empath-demon]

Hey did y’all see that tumblr is migrating us all to Wordpress on the back end

They promise user experience isn’t going to change? But idk if I trust it

From the Ars Technica article:

The plan is to move to the WordPress back end so that Automattic can develop features that will deploy to Tumblr and WordPress blogs simultaneously. This will let Tumblr tap into the robust existing WordPress.com infrastructure and allow the open-source work happening on WordPress to more easily be tapped to improve Tumblr.

[dunne-ias]

Part 2 of Chapter 17 of thirty. is now live on WordPress.com

It features the preparations for a party that sadly, I never got around to filming, but it was film it or maintain my mental health. All the prep is what matters anyway.

Enjoy! Part 3 comes out tomorrow!

[llbbl]

How to Pick the Best Blog or Newsletter Platform in 2025

In 2025, blogging and newsletters remain essential tools for creators, businesses, and professionals. However, choosing the right one can be challenging with many available platforms. Whether you’re a beginner, a tech-savvy developer, or an established creator looking to monetize your content, this guide will help you navigate the options.

Key Factors to Consider

When evaluating platforms, consider the following:

• Ease of Use: Does the platform fit your technical skills?

• Customization: How much control do you want over design and functionality?

• Community and Discoverability: Does the platform help you grow your audience?

• Monetization Options: Can you earn money directly through the platform?

• Content Ownership: Do you retain control over your content?

• Cost: Does the platform align with your budget?

Use Cases and Recommendations

1. Beginners or General Use

For those new to blogging or looking for simple, user-friendly platforms, these options stand out:

• Medium: Ideal for casual bloggers who want to focus on writing and gain access to a built-in community.

• Micro.blog: Supports short-form and long-form blogging with cross-posting to Mastodon, Threads, and BlueSky. Great for personal sites with minimal monetization needs.

• Squarespace: Excellent for visually appealing blogs with drag-and-drop design and robust hosting.

• WordPress.com: Offers beginner-friendly features, extensive plugins, and SEO tools. It’s a solid choice if you want a customizable blog and don’t mind some maintenance.

2. Creators Focused on Newsletters or Monetization

For creators prioritizing audience growth and revenue, these platforms excel:

• Ghost: Combines blogging and newsletters with built-in subscription and membership tools. Ideal for creators seeking an all-in-one platform.

• Beehiiv: Designed for scaling newsletters with robust analytics and monetization options.

• Buttondown: Simple and lightweight, perfect for indie creators starting out with email subscriptions.

• Mailcoach: Self-hosted, providing full control over your newsletters without ongoing fees.

3. Tech-Savvy Developers

For developers who want complete control over their blogging setup:

• Hugo, Astro, or NextJS: Static site generators for blazing-fast performance and maximum customization. Requires technical expertise.

• WriteFreely: Open-source blogging software with minimalist, distraction-free writing.

• Hashnode: A tech-focused platform with GitHub integration and a developer-friendly audience.

4. Professionals and Thought Leaders

For business professionals aiming to grow their brand or network:

• LinkedIn Articles: A natural choice for thought leadership with built-in networking opportunities.

• Medium: Provides discoverability and a broad audience for professional writing.

Why You Might Want to Switch Off WordPress in 2025

WordPress has been a dominant blogging platform for years, but it’s no longer the best fit for every use case. Many users find its maintenance and performance issues burdensome. Here’s why you might consider switching:

• High Maintenance: Regular updates and plugin management can be time-consuming. • Performance Issues: Without careful optimization, WordPress sites can become slow.

Better Alternatives for Specific Use Cases:

• Micro.blog: Great for personal blogs or creators who value simplicity.

• Ghost: Modern, fast, and equipped with monetization tools.

• Medium: Excellent for writing-focused creators seeking discoverability.

• Squarespace: A better fit for e-commerce or visually polished websites.

The Importance of Choosing Platforms with Good Content Policies

The content policies of a platform shape the kind of community it fosters and, by extension, the broader digital landscape. When choosing a blog framework or newsletter platform, it’s essential to consider how they address hate speech, harassment, and harmful behavior.

Platforms with clear and well-enforced content policies create spaces where diverse voices can thrive, and users feel safe. By supporting these platforms, we help build an internet that promotes constructive dialogue and meaningful engagement.

As creators, the platforms we choose reflect our values. Prioritizing platforms with strong content policies isn’t censorship; it’s about ensuring safe, inclusive spaces where everyone can participate respectfully. Together, we can contribute to a better, more responsible internet.

To help you choose the best platform for your blog or newsletter, I’ve compiled a comprehensive spreadsheet comparing 20 different services.

This resource covers key details like pricing, ease of use, audience suitability, and—importantly—their policies on hate speech, including links to their content policies.

I created this spreadsheet by thoroughly researching each platform’s features and policies to provide you with the essential information needed to make an informed choice…

👉 Here’s a link to the spreadsheet 👈

I hope that it saves you time and helps you find a platform that aligns with your values and goals.

Substack: A Troubling Example

Substack is popular for newsletters but criticized for its approach to hate speech. The company has stated it won’t remove Nazi content or other white supremacist ideologies unless it incites direct violence. This permissive stance has made it a hub for harmful ideologies.

Ask Yourself:

• Do you want to support a platform that tolerates Nazi content?

• Are you comfortable associating your brand with Substack’s content policy?

Platforms With Stronger Content Policies

• Ghost: Enforces clear guidelines against hate speech and white supremacy.

• Medium: Takes a strong stance against hateful content, fostering a positive community.

• Buttondown: Ethical and straightforward, with a commitment to inclusive content.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This guide has been helpful as you consider the best platform for your blog or newsletter? Well, I hope anyway.

Remember to be thoughtful about your choice; not just for features but for the online environment you want to support.

If you’d like to stay updated with more posts like this, consider subscribing to my newsletter.

[macmanx]

A year after initial tests began, the web blogging site Tumblr, now owned by WordPress.com parent Automattic, is launching its Communities feature out of beta. Communities offer semi-private spaces on Tumblr where people can network around topics of interest, similar to Reddit’s forums known as subreddits or X’s Communities.

[thewramblingwebcomicreview]

Looks like those rumors about Tumblr and WordPress selling user training to AI companies were true. There's a registration wall for this article, but I'll include a few short screenshots from it.

So it seems like a bunch of data that shouldn't have been included for AI was queued up, including deactivated posts from blogs. According to the product manager at Tumblr, some of this this data will be removed.

It seems you can opt-out of having your posts scraped, but honestly this should be a opt-in feature. Ugh, it just feels like what we suffered through with DeviantArt all over again in terms of permission and consent.

I would encourage you to read the entire article for yourself (use a burner email, if the free registration wall bothers you.)

Personally, I'm glad I moved my WordPress.com blog to a self-hosted option just a few hours ago. It wasn't for this reason, but the timing couldn't be better. So yeah, I don't think I'll be recommending WordPress.com as a blogging option to anyone who asks. As for Tumblr, I guess we'll have to keep an eye on when we can opt out having our data fed to the gen AI machines. (And hope that these companies actually honor those requests, though I'm skeptical.)

[yourreddancer]

On August 12, 2019, Verizon Media announced that it would sell Tumblr to Automattic, the operator of blog service WordPress.com and corporate backer of the open source blog software of the same name. The sale was for an undisclosed amount, but Axios reported that the sale price was less than $3 million, less than 0.3% of Yahoo's original purchase price. Automattic CEO Matt Mullenweg stated that the site will operate as a complementary service to WordPress.com, and that there were no plans to reverse the content policy decisions made during Verizon ownership.[2]

In November 2022, Mullenweg stated that Tumblr will add support for the decentralized social networking protocol ActivityPub.[25] In November 2023, most of Tumblr's product development and marketing teams were transferred to other groups within Automattic. Mullenweg stated that focus would shift to core functionality and streamlining existing features.[26]

In February 2024, Automattic announced that it would begin selling user data from Tumblr and WordPress.com to Midjourney and OpenAI. Tumblr users are opted-in by default, with an option to opt out.[27][28]

In August 2024, Automattic announced that it would migrate Tumblr's backend to an architecture derived from WordPress, in order to ease development and code sharing between the platforms. The company stated that this migration would not impact the service's user experience and content, and that users "won't even notice a difference from the outside".[29]

[anim8yash]

5. Batman and his Transmedia success

Batman is one of the most icon superheroes to emerge in the history of media. He first appeared in the May Issue of Detective Comics in 1939. Although he didn't get a standalone comic until 1940 with the title "Batman". (Transmedia Case study E, 2014)

[figure 1] Batman's First appearance in DC comics, May, 1939 Issue cover page

From this point, Batman kept becoming more and more famous with every issue of his comic, quickly gaining popularity and rising to the top. With its success, we see that his universe was already starting to expand through Transmedia. Batman travelling across its country of origin ie USA. In the 1960s Batman made its first appearance in Finland and quickly gained fame amongst children. The Finnish Batman was slightly different from the Batman in the US. It showed some element of comedy and fun. Batman adapted few elements according to the Finnish audience while managing to keep the core essence intact. It was one of its earliest success through Transmedia. They also introduced a "batman" soft-drink in Finland.( Laura. A, 2024).

[figure 2] Batman in Finland 1960

In 1966 Batman also had his first feature film and a TV series (1966 - 1968). Batman had become one of the highest selling superhero for DC.

[figure 3 and 4] Batman 1966 Movie poster (left) Series poster (right)

Due to its immense popularity, the franchise kept expanding with time and technology. The animated series of Batman (1968) was a big success and was followed by Batman the animated series (1992) and a global hit. There were plenty more animated series which followed. Each exploring new mediums, adding and expanding the universe of Batman (including a lego version).

Batman: Evolution (Animated TV Shows and Movies) - 2019 (80th Anniversary) by Renash30

Interactive Media Platforms such as video games, Mobile games , playstation or Xbox, every single one of them has a Batman game designed for it. The detective storyline through most of its adaptations, keeps the audience hooked. (Jesse. S, 2022) In 2024, there was also a trailer released for a VR that lets you play as Batman called "Batman: Arkham Shadow"

[figure 6] Batman in Arkham game series

The New Batman VR Game , Batman : Arkham Shadow (2024)

Batman is also highly known for his merchandises and figurines. At Present, Batman is present everywhere and only growing. From Comic books to Cinemas to Games , animation and merchandises, Its all available! In the DCU Cinema, Batman has received success in multiple standalone films such as Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), The Dark Knight Rises (2012) as well as relevant appearance in films like Justice League (2017) etc. Recently there was another film, The Batman (2022) which goes to show that Batman remains active in every media platform that it touched throughout its evolution.

Different representations of Batman (Jordan King, 2023)

But what makes Batman stand out? Why did it succeed so much that even after 70 years of his first appearance, people still want to see more? The answer could be that, in a world of superhero comics, Batman does not have any mutation, superpower or any innate physical superiority. He is an ordinary man who takes his human abilities to the peak in all possible areas because of the pain he had to go through. In short he is an ordinary person who wants to turn his pain or trauma into something positive. (Jordan King, 2023)The storyline has a lot of unique villains , fairly dark storyline and amusing twists and turns as it being a detective series.

Even after seven decades, the relevance of this character and the acceptance it receives from the audience still remains fervent. In Short, the ability to adapt and connect with the audience and with time, makes Batman as a franchise truly special and a top example of a successful Transmedia franchise.(Jordan King, 2023)

Bibliography:

Transmedia Case study E. (2014) Transmedia. Available at: https://wbs99190.wordpress.com/transmedia-case-study-e/ (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

King, J. (2023) Why Batman is cinema’s greatest superhero, Empire. Available at: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/why-batman-is-cinemas-greatest-superhero/ (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

Antola, L. (2024) ‘Holy transmedia! - the many faces of Batman in 1960s Finland’, Continuum, 38(4), pp. 532–547. doi: 10.1080/10304312.2024.2340009.

Batman (1966) IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059968/ (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

Batman: The movie (1966) IMDb. Available at: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0060153/ (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

Renash30 (2019) Batman: Evolution (Animated TV Shows and Movies) - 2019 (80th Anniversary), YouTube. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFm6EuLjU7Q (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

Schedeen, J. (2022) The Long Road to perfecting Batman in video games, IGN. Available at: https://www.ign.com/articles/batman-video-games-history-arkham-asylum-telltale (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

Kennedy, L.S. (2014) :: Batman arkham asylum, city, origins & knight, Steam Community. Available at: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?l=german&id=267413550 (Accessed: 05 January 2025).

[kaiasky]

I feel like there needs to be more study or debate about the foss+enterprise thing. wordpress.org/wordpress.com, mediaWiki/Fandom, chromium/Chrome, countless others.

bc like undoubtedly having a builtin corporate user is super useful for a developing foss project. hey we don't have this feature? okay sure we have professional developers familiar with the codebase who can write it and push it to the foss side of things. it also sometimes definitely leads to capture or misuse of the foss side, or the foss never really being something that can be community run since crucial pieces are missing. at the same time--damn, mediawiki and wordpress are good ecosystems!

which is not the same as the foss+nonprofit foundation that has moneymaking ventures, though that's also not always straightforward