WordPress self hosted versus wordpress.com

We haven’t used any AI for any of the writing in this blog. I mean writing is fun so why take short cuts.

For a question as important as this though I imagine people will search for themselves. So instead of trying to convince anybody with our own biased thoughts here are some hopefully less biased thoughts from Claude:

Complete Control & Ownership

• Full ownership of your website, content, and data
• No risk of platform shutdowns or policy changes affecting your site
• Complete control over your domain and hosting environment
• Can’t be suspended or banned by a third-party platform

Unlimited Customization

• Install any theme or plugin – no restrictions on what you can use
• Full access to edit PHP, CSS, HTML, and all code
• Create custom functionality and modifications
• No limitations on design or feature implementation

Better Performance & SEO

• Choose optimized hosting tailored to your needs
• Implement advanced caching and CDN solutions
• Full control over site speed optimization
• Better SEO capabilities with unrestricted plugin access
• No forced branding or ads from hosting platforms

Monetization Freedom

• No revenue sharing – keep 100% of your earnings
• Run any type of ads or affiliate programs
• Sell products/services without platform fees
• No restrictions on e-commerce functionality

Professional Features

• Advanced backup and security solutions
• Multiple staging environments for testing
• Integration with any third-party services or APIs

Cost Effectiveness (Long-term)

• Often cheaper than premium hosted solutions as you scale
• No per-user fees or transaction costs
• Choose hosting that fits your budget and needs
• Bulk pricing advantages for multiple sites

Developer-Friendly

• Full database access for migrations and development
• Git integration and version control
• Custom development environments
• No restrictions on server-side functionality

Privacy & Security

• No forced data sharing with platform providers

Complete data control

• Implement your own security measures
• GDPR/privacy compliance on your terms