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Web Hosting review
WordPress.com logo

WordPress.com review

Best hands-off WordPress

Fully managed WordPress from Automattic, from a free plan to managed hosting with plugins and SSH. Bloggers, creators and small businesses who want a WordPress site without managing a server. We rank it #6 of 10 in our web hosting comparison, with an editorial score of 8.2 out of 10.

Updated By the ChoosyOwl editorial teamHow we rank
8.2/10
Our editorial score

WordPress.com scores highest on Ease of use and Security & backups for a site you do not want to manage: hosting, updates, malware scanning and DDoS protection are handled for you. It scores well on Pricing transparency because its pricing page shows the renewal rate for each term. It scores lowest on Scalability because it is WordPress-only hosting with no VPS or dedicated servers, and some developer tools are reserved for higher plans.

How we score web hosting

Visit site (WordPress.com, opens in a new tab)

Quick facts

Our rank#6 of 10
Best forBest hands-off WordPress
Hosting typesManaged WordPress only
Control panelWordPress.com dashboard
Facts checkedNovember 14, 2026

Details are general and can change. Check current plans, prices and terms on the WordPress.com site. See the WordPress.com company profile in our brand directory.

Overview

WordPress.com is the hosted WordPress service run by Automattic, the company behind WooCommerce and Jetpack. Instead of renting server space and installing WordPress yourself, you pick a plan and WordPress.com runs the hosting, updates and security for you. There is a free plan for basic sites, and paid plans add a custom domain, more storage, premium themes and the ability to install plugins.

Its managed hosting pages describe malware scanning, DDoS protection, automatic updates, SSH, WP-CLI and GitHub tools, and support from WordPress experts around the clock. It only hosts WordPress sites, so it is not the place for other apps or a VPS. Check which features each plan includes, and the renewal price, on its pricing page.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Nothing to install or patch yourself
  • Renewal rate shown on the pricing page
  • Run by the company behind WooCommerce and Jetpack
  • Free plan to try the editor before you pay

Cons

  • Hosts WordPress only, with no VPS or dedicated servers
  • Free sites show WordPress.com ads to visitors
  • Some developer tools are limited to higher plans

Key features

  • Fully managed WordPress hosting, from a free plan to business tiers
  • Install plugins and themes on supported plans (check plan details)
  • Malware scanning, DDoS protection and automatic updates
  • SSH, WP-CLI and GitHub tools for developers (check plan details)
  • Monthly or multi-year billing options

Who WordPress.com is for

A good fit if

Bloggers, creators and small businesses who want a WordPress site without managing a server.

Look elsewhere if

Anyone who needs to host non-WordPress apps or wants root access to a server.

How we scored WordPress.com

WordPress.com scores highest on Ease of use and Security & backups for a site you do not want to manage: hosting, updates, malware scanning and DDoS protection are handled for you. It scores well on Pricing transparency because its pricing page shows the renewal rate for each term. It scores lowest on Scalability because it is WordPress-only hosting with no VPS or dedicated servers, and some developer tools are reserved for higher plans.

Our web hosting score weighs performance & reliability features (25%), pricing transparency (20%), ease of use (15%), support (15%), security & backups (15%), scalability (10%). See the methodology.

WordPress.com alternatives

  1. #1
    Hostinger logo

    Hostinger

    Best overall

    Easy custom dashboard, solid performance features and a clear path from shared to VPS.

    • Shared, WordPress, cloud and VPS hosting
    • Custom hPanel control panel
    • LiteSpeed servers and NVMe storage
    • Free SSL, plus weekly or daily backups depending on plan (check plan details)
    9.3/10
    Editorial score
    Visit site (Hostinger, opens in a new tab) Read review
  2. #2
    SiteGround logo

    SiteGround

    Best for managed WordPress

    Premium WordPress-focused host with strong built-in tools and support.

    • WordPress, WooCommerce, cloud and reseller hosting
    • Custom Site Tools control panel
    • Built-in caching, CDN and speed optimization tools
    • Free daily backups and staging (staging on higher tiers; check plan details)
    9.1/10
    Editorial score
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  3. #3
    hosting.com logo

    hosting.com

    Best for developers

    The former A2 Hosting, with LiteSpeed servers, SSH and a path from shared hosting to your own server.

    • Shared, WordPress, WooCommerce, reseller, cloud server (VPS) and dedicated hosting
    • Own control panel, with cPanel and Plesk options available
    • LiteSpeed web server and LiteSpeed Cache for WordPress
    • SSH access, two-factor sign-in and daily backups (check plan details)
    8.8/10
    Editorial score
    Visit site (hosting.com, opens in a new tab) Read review

See all 10 web hosts compared

WordPress.com FAQ

Is WordPress.com the same as WordPress.org?

No. WordPress.org offers the free WordPress software you install on any web host. WordPress.com is a hosted service from Automattic that runs WordPress for you, with free and paid plans.

Can I install plugins on WordPress.com?

Yes, on supported paid plans. Its pricing page describes installing plugins from the WordPress.com marketplace or uploading your own. Check which plan you need on its site.

Does WordPress.com have a free plan?

Yes. There is a free plan, but free sites display WordPress.com ads to visitors and have fewer features. Paid plans remove the ads and add a custom domain and more storage.

Sources and fact check

We checked the facts on this page against WordPress.com's own website on .