The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →WordPress is free because its core software is open source, released under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2 or later. You can run it, study and modify it, redistribute it, and use it for commercial work without paying WordPress a software-licensing fee. A working website can still cost money for hosting, a domain, premium themes or plugins, training, and professional assistance.
What “free WordPress” actually means
The WordPress project distributes its core code under the GPLv2 or later. That license gives users four practical freedoms:
- Run the software for any purpose, including commercial projects.
- Study how it works.
- Modify or extend the code.
- Redistribute the original or modified software under the applicable GPL terms.
WordPress.org describes this plainly: “You are also free to do whatever you like with the WordPress code, extend it or modify in any way or use it for commercial projects without any licensing fees.” The project began in 2003 as a fork of b2/cafelog and is developed by a global community. Its licensing model, rather than a single company giving away a proprietary product, is why the core remains free.
Why a free license does not make a website free
WordPress is software. A website also needs infrastructure, configuration and, sometimes, paid additions. Those are separate purchases made from hosts, developers or product vendors, not charges for a WordPress license.
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| Choice or need | Possible expense | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Install WordPress core | No WordPress licensing fee | The GPL permits personal and commercial use. |
| Run a self-hosted site | Web hosting and possibly a domain | You select and pay for the infrastructure, or choose a provider to manage parts of it. |
| Customize the site | Premium themes or plugins | Free extensions exist, but some products charge for licenses, updates or support. |
| Learn or maintain it | Training or professional services | You can learn independently or pay someone for setup, design, security or troubleshooting. |
| Use WordPress.com | Optional paid service upgrades | You are paying for a hosted service and its features, not for a WordPress.org software license. |
There is no honest universal “WordPress cost.” Your total depends on the host, domain name, region, renewal terms, optional tools and how much work you do yourself. Treat introductory offers separately from recurring renewal prices.
WordPress.org and WordPress.com are different
WordPress.org: the open-source software
WordPress.org is the project and distribution site for the software. With a self-hosted installation, you arrange hosting and usually a domain, then manage or delegate updates, backups, security, themes and plugins. This route offers broad control over the server and the software, but also gives you more operational responsibility.
WordPress.com: a hosted service
WordPress.com is a hosted service operated by Automattic that uses WordPress software. The service supplies hosting and packages features into plans; some capabilities require an upgrade. Its plan prices and limits are service details, not the price of WordPress core, and they can change. Compare the current plan features with the responsibilities and flexibility of self-hosting before choosing.
| Question | Self-hosted WordPress (WordPress.org) | WordPress.com |
|---|---|---|
| Who supplies hosting? | You choose a host or arrange infrastructure. | The service supplies hosting. |
| Who handles operations? | You or a hired provider handle setup, updates, backups and support to the extent your arrangement requires. | The service handles the platform layer, while your plan determines included tools and limits. |
| How are costs structured? | Hosting, domain and optional products are separate decisions. | You select a service plan; paid upgrades may add capabilities. |
| How much control is available? | Generally more choice of host, extensions and configuration, with more responsibility. | Convenience and included management, subject to the service’s plan rules. |
What self-hosting requires today
As of September 30, 2026, WordPress.org’s published recommendations are PHP 8.3 or newer, MariaDB 10.11 or newer or MySQL 8.0 or newer, and HTTPS support. A host may still run WordPress on older PHP 7.4 or MySQL 5.5.5, but those versions are end-of-life and can expose a site to security problems. Requirements change, so check the current recommendations and your host’s renewal or migration policy before purchasing.
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Questions to ask a host
- Does the plan support the current PHP and database recommendations?
- Is HTTPS included and automatically renewed?
- What backups, restoration tools and support are included?
- Which resource limits apply, and what happens when traffic grows?
- What is the renewal price after any introductory term?
Where paid themes and plugins fit
WordPress core is designed to be extended. You may build a site entirely with free themes and plugins, or pay for products that provide specialized design, ecommerce, performance, forms, security, support or automatic updates. A paid extension is a vendor’s product and service decision; it does not contradict the free GPL license for WordPress itself. Check whether a quoted fee is one-time, annual, per-site or tied to support and updates.
Can you build a WordPress site at zero cost?
Sometimes, but only under particular conditions. You could use free software, a free hosted service tier, free themes and plugins, and do all setup and maintenance yourself. That arrangement may include limits such as a service subdomain, storage or feature restrictions. A self-hosted site normally introduces a hosting charge and often a domain charge, even when every software component is free. “No license fee” is the reliable promise; “no expense at all” is not.
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Optional ways to learn
Documentation and community resources can teach you without a paid class. A print guide can be useful if you prefer structured instruction. For example, WordPress For Dummies, 9th Edition, by Lisa Sabin-Wilson, is a 480-page softcover released in February 2021 and covers setup, themes, posts, plugins, multimedia and publishing routines. It is optional, and its interface examples may not match the current WordPress dashboard, so check availability and edition details before buying.
Quick Recap
Best Value
How to think about the tradeoff
- Choose self-hosting when control, portability and broad extension choices matter and you are willing to manage infrastructure or pay someone who will.
- Choose a hosted service when convenience, bundled maintenance and a simpler starting point matter more than unrestricted configuration.
- Budget separately for recurring hosting and domain renewals, optional product subscriptions, and occasional professional help.
- Do not use “free” as a quality guarantee: evaluate updates, security, backups, support and provider limits for every component.
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