WordPress powers a huge share of the web, and the good news is you do not always have to pay a lot, or anything, to get a WordPress website online. But “free” can mean very different things depending on the route you take. This guide explains the realistic ways to get a free WordPress website, what each option really includes, and how to choose the one that fits your goals.
First, understand the two types of WordPress #
Before comparing free options, it helps to know that “WordPress” refers to two related but different things:
- WordPress.com: a hosted service that offers a limited free plan with its own branding and restrictions.
- WordPress.org (self-hosted): the free, open-source software you install on your own hosting, giving you full control.
The software itself is always free. What usually costs money is the hosting and domain that make your site live and yours.
Option 1: The WordPress.com free plan #
WordPress.com has a free tier that lets you publish a basic site quickly. It is genuinely free, but it comes with trade-offs: your address includes WordPress.com branding, you cannot use a custom domain for free, storage and features are limited, and adverts may appear. It suits hobby projects, but it is limiting for a business.
Option 2: Self-hosted WordPress with a free theme #
With self-hosted WordPress, the software and thousands of themes and plugins are free. Here the cost is hosting and a domain. You get complete control and no forced branding, which is why most serious websites use this route. If you are comfortable building it yourself, your only real outlay is affordable hosting.
Option 3: A free website included with hosting #
The most practical “free” option for many people is when a host builds the website for you as part of a hosting plan. Instead of paying separately for design, the professional build is included. This removes the biggest hidden cost of a WordPress site, which is the time or money it takes to design it well. You still need hosting, but the design work itself is free.
How to choose the right option #
- Just experimenting: the WordPress.com free plan is fine for a hobby.
- Confident building it yourself: self-hosted WordPress with affordable hosting and a free theme.
- Want a professional result without the work: a plan that includes a free, expert-built website.
The Disoh free website approach #
At Disoh, you can get a professional WordPress website built for you completely free when you take the Business WordPress hosting plan. Our experts design it in four business days, it is fully editable afterwards, and there is a money-back guarantee if you are not satisfied. It is the simplest way to get a genuinely professional free WordPress website without doing the design work yourself. See how our free website service works to get started.
