Free WordPress: create a site at no cost

Free WordPress? This is one of the most frequently asked questions.

For newcomers to the platform, the cost that can result from opening a site is a determining factor.

In this article, in fact, we will address the issue of costs related to WordPress and find out what are the ways to create a website at no cost.

This aspect of WordPress has always generated considerable confusion. However, we can say without hesitation that the software is free and always will be .

In order to understand this important theme, however, it is essential to understand what the two meanings of the word FREE are .

Let's get started right away!

WordPress is FREE

In English, the word free can have multiple meanings. For this reason it is necessary to make a first distinction between two main translations / meanings.

Free as in beer refers to the economic meaning. In this case it is understood that WordPress is free in a monetary sense. Free as beer , in the sense that beer may not cost a penny, but it is not free as the word.

Instead, a second meaning ( free as in speech ) refers to freedom of speech . In fact, the use of WordPress is free and without restrictions.

But let's analyze the two meanings in detail ...

Free as beer

WordPress , being owned by the WordPress Foundation, does not require any cost. In fact, the software was created to guarantee free, permanent access to the software projects that the foundation supports.

The mission is to provide a stable codebase for generations to come and to educate people on WordPress and related open source software. For this reason, the WordPress Foundation gets no profit from software development and distribution. It is, in fact, a job carried out by volunteers and enthusiasts.

But that is not all!

WordPress provides over 55,000 plugins, many of which are free and free. Therefore, it is possible to modify, adapt and sell the code as for the WordPress core, provided it is released under the GPL license which we will discuss below.

Free as the word

The WordPress core code is published under the GNU General Public License (or GPL). Thanks to this license it is free to download, modify, customize and use, being an open source software model.

The main characteristics of the license, in fact, are:

Ability to customize, add or remove items

Use without restrictions

Freedom to re-package, re-brand, distribute and sell software under the GPL license

The advice we want to give you to customize WordPress, however, is to package the changes in a new plugin or to use an already available one.

If you want to know which are the best plugins available, take a look at the WordPress numbers article .

WordPress is free in both meanings. It is, in fact, both free as beer, and free as the word.

However, one wonders: what are the costs to be faced? Let's analyze, therefore, what are the aspects that require a monetary cost and in which cases it is necessary to pay for the services offered by WordPress.

What do you pay for in WordPress?

Although WordPress is free , as we said above, some services need a cost.

First of all, if your goal is to have your own website, you will need a server space to host it . It will therefore be necessary to pay for the hosting service that rents space on its physical servers to host your website.

While paying for a hosting service, the website will remain your property. You can therefore modify it, customize it or move it at any time.

Also, to customize your site and make it respond to your needs, you may need to purchase plugins and themes present in the WordPress Directory .

Afterwards, we will give you many useful tips to buy plugins and themes on WordPress!

Free WordPress: open a site without costs

There is, however, a way to get WordPress for free. By signing up for a free WordPress.com plan, you can create a site at no cost.

WordPress.com is owned by the private company Automattic, so your site will be hosted on the physical servers of the same company.

Although very convenient, this road has limitations. It is, in fact, free as beer but it is not free as the word since it is not possible to change the core code, only a few themes that can be used and there is no access to plugins.

In addition, you will not be able to use your domain name and there will be advertisements on your site.

But, despite the above limitations, WordPress.com is an excellent choice for those who want to cultivate a simple hobby, or for those who are new to the world of blogging and websites.

If, on the other hand, your goal is to create a professional website, you will need to go another way.

An alternative is to sign up for a WordPress.com plan that will allow you to use your domain name and extra features. However, you will not have access to the core code. In this case, however, you will have a site that is not free and not free from changes.

The consequence could be to pay a monthly fee higher than what you could pay for hosting a self-hosted site .

To conclude this speech, we want to advise you to choose a sefl-hosted WordPress site and pay for hosting separately.

The convenience of paying for hosting

We have already spoken in previous articles about the fundamental differences between WordPress.Com and WordPress.Org . In terms of freedom, the main differences are that with WordPress.org:

You can decide which themes and plugins to install

You will have ownership of the site and the content

You can edit and move the content at any time

If you are perplexed about the cost of a self-hosted site, you have to take into account the commercial advantages that could derive from the freedom that is guaranteed to you.

A free site on WordPress.com unfortunately does not give a good return of image on your brand, nor does it allow you to add extra features, necessary for a professional site.

There is, however, a positive aspect: the migration from WordPress.com to a self-hosted site is very simple.

Free WordPress: Wait at no cost

Let's see now what aspects of WordPress can be obtained for free, without compromising security:

1. Core software

2. Support

3. Themes

4. Plugins

5. Updates

It is advisable to always download the software from the official WordPress download page.

As for support , a quality hosting provider will provide support as part of their plan to help you with hosting, domain management and WordPress installation.

The themes that WordPress makes available for free are many and all go through rigorous tests before being made available. They are, in fact, certified, reliable and safe.

You can download the themes from the WordPress directory or via the Themes page in the administration panel of your site.

It is not safe to download themes from other sites, as they may contain spam codes or be harmful.

Finally, core updates are always free. We recommend that you initially download them in a trial version of your site. This way, if the update creates problems, you can choose not to update your production site until the problems are solved with a new update.

As for free plugins, the discussion is a bit more complex ...

Free WordPress: Plugins

The plugin free are of various types: both small and large and complex as WooCommerce , which adds a complete store to your website.

Free plugin developers generally belong to the following categories:

WordPress fans who want to share their code and return something to the community

Agencies that have built a plugin to use with customers and who want to distribute the benefit of the code to others for advertising

Professional plug-in vendors who offer a free version so that a percentage switches to the premium version or purchases extra components

The plugins in the directory are certified and tested. In addition, WordPress ensures that the plugins are compatible with the latest versions of the software.

Premium themes and plugins can be updated for free based on the type of charge. There are, in fact, some themes / plugins for which the payment of an annual subscription is required and can be updated only if this is active.

However, plugins are also available for which a single cost charge is required, which guarantees future updates at no cost.

Free WordPress: paid aspects

Unlike software like Adobe or Microsoft, the use of WordPress is always free. Despite this, there are costs related to the management and customization of the site.

The paid aspects of WordPress, in fact, are:

• Hosting

• Premium support

• Updates of plugins and premium themes

• Premium themes

• Premium plugins

A good hosting package includes:

WordPress installation via hosting dashboard

Access to DNS settings to configure with the domain name to point to the site itself

Support 24/7

Regular backups

Guarantee against hacking and downtime

Commitment to the speed of your site

In the event that free support is not enough, you may need to purchase premium support .

Typically, for themes and plugins you will have a year of free updates and support . Later, you may have to pay again, as in the case of a subscription, to receive new updates and for active support.

The danger of not paying and receiving updates can be the breaking of your site or some features. Definitely not a trivial risk!

If the plugins and themes offered on WordPress do not meet your needs (being more than 55 thousand is a bit difficult, but not impossible!), You may decide to program the site on your own.

Having the skills and time for such a job is not easy, so it may become necessary to turn to a developer . In this case, it is advisable to rely on competent and capable professionals who understand your needs.

Free WordPress: paid themes

As for the themes , the three main types are:

• Designed for ease of use, such as the Astra theme

• Stand-alone sold through marketplaces, such as the ThemeForest theme

• Designed for extensibility, like the Divi page builder theme

• Before downloading a paid theme, you need to check:

• The license, which is distributed with GPL

• Information from other users and from the developers themselves

• The reviews and articles that mention it

• The advice of experts and enthusiasts

• The presence of a free trial, a guarantee, a refund or a trial period

Free WordPress: paid plugins

Although WordPress is free, in some cases, in the development of a site it is necessary to buy paid plugins, to meet some needs.

• Some examples where you need to purchase the premium version of a plugin are:

• After using the free version, you realize that you need the extra features of the premium plan

• When free plugins don't have the functionality you need

• Add extra features by purchasing quality add-ons

When you need to install a number of plugins designed by the same developer who provides a subscription option for full access

• Again, to make a safe purchase you need to check:

• Reviews on the provider and on the plugin itself

• That it is distributed under the GPL license

• The support provided for the use of the plugin and for the resolution of any problems

• Any refund guarantees

Conclusion

As we have seen, the WordPress things software is free ( as in beer ) and free ( as in speech ), and always will be.

You can customize, modify, extend and distribute the software freely, as long as under the GPL license.

You can create a site for free, as we have seen, but it depends on your needs. If your desire is to create a professional website, you will need to make some investments.

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