WordPress.com or WordPress.org: which do you have?
WordPress is software for running a website. WordPress.com sells a hosted service using that software. WordPress.org provides the software and project resources; a self-hosted site runs it with a hosting company you choose. Neither name alone tells you who currently maintains your particular website or pays its bills.
Useful context
- Find your website address and recent hosting invoices privately.
- List the account you use to edit pages and the company you contact about faults.
- Keep current subscriptions active while identifying them.
How it works
Look at the billing relationship
Check who charges for the website hosting. An invoice from WordPress.com suggests its hosted service; an invoice from a separate host suggests another arrangement. A developer may resell hosting, so ask them which service the charge actually covers.
Separate the accounts
Record the content-editor account, hosting account and domain account independently. A WordPress.com sign-in can connect to other WordPress services and does not prove every website you manage is hosted there. Confirm the specific site address with the supplier.
Ask who handles maintenance
Write down who updates software, checks backups and helps restore a broken site. Self-hosted does not necessarily mean you must do these jobs yourself: a managed host may provide them. Conversely, do not assume a design fee includes ongoing maintenance.
Compare responsibilities before switching
If considering a move, compare the actual features, renewal charges, email dependencies and support included. Keep a simple current-versus-proposed list. A hosting decision should solve a specific problem, not merely remove a provider whose name you did not recognise.
What to check
- You can name the supplier hosting this website.
- Maintenance and account ownership have clear responsible people.
- Domain and mailbox charges are not mistaken for duplicate website hosting.
Sources and further reading
Platform features can change. Check the provider’s current guidance before changing a live service.