Verdict
The hosted, managed version of WordPress. Below the Business plan it is a walled garden: no plugins, no custom themes. Above it, it is a solid managed WordPress host. If you want full control, self-host WordPress.org software instead — see our comparison guide.
Best for: Bloggers and small sites that want WordPress with zero maintenance and no server to think about.
Strengths
- Genuinely free tier to start, nothing to maintain
- Automatic updates, backups, security and scaling
- Built by Automattic — no host/software mismatch
- Business plan unlocks plugins, themes and SFTP/SSH access
Weaknesses
- Cannot install plugins or custom themes below the Business plan (~£25/mo)
- Free and cheap tiers show WordPress.com branding/ads
- Less control than self-hosted WordPress; some commerce features gated
What you get
| Entry price | Free tier — Free tier with ads; Personal ~£4/mo; Business ~£25/mo (needed for plugins) |
|---|---|
| Billing | Annual, GBP available |
| Trial / refund | Free plan + 14-day refund on paid plans |
| Data centres | Global Automattic infrastructure with edge caching |
| Control panel | WordPress.com dashboard |
| Support | 24/7 chat and email on paid plans |
| SSL | Free SSL automatic |
| Backups | Automatic; real-time on Business |
| Email hosting | Forwarding free; mailboxes extra |
| Uptime commitment | 99.99% |
| Staging environment | Yes |
| Migration help | Free migration on Business+ |
| Environmental | Automattic carbon-neutral |
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