WordPress.com: pricing, free plan and alternatives
Hosted WordPress: start a site or blog with no setup and upgrade for your own domain.
Prices checked on the official pricing pages on . Prices are in US dollars and can change at any time.
WordPress.com and its alternatives at a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Paid plans | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| WordPress.com | Yes | From $4/mo | Bloggers who want WordPress without managing hosting. |
| WordPress (self-hosted) | Self-hosted only | Free | Bloggers and businesses that want full control, any plugin and room to grow. |
| Wix | Yes | From $17.77/mo | Local service businesses that want a full site with bookings, without touching code. |
| Google Sites | Yes | Free | A quick free site, client portal or internal page, especially if you already use Google Drive. |
| Carrd | Yes | From $0.75/mo | Freelancers and creators who need a one-page site, cheaply. |
WordPress.com: what you get
Hosted WordPress: start a site or blog with no setup and upgrade for your own domain.
- Price
- Personal $4 a month billed yearly, or $9 billed monthly ($2.75 a month billed every 3 years).
- Free plan
- Free plan with a WordPress.com subdomain and 1 GB of storage. Visitors see WordPress.com ads, and you can't use a custom domain or install plugins.
- Best for
- Bloggers who want WordPress without managing hosting.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android
Pros
- Nothing to install or update
- Cheap first paid plan
Cons
- Free sites show ads and have no custom domain
- Plugins need a higher plan
Key features
- Hosting, security and updates handled for you
- Blog and pages
- Custom domain (paid plans)
- Plugins (higher plans)
The alternatives
1. WordPress (self-hosted)
The free, open-source software behind a large share of the web. You install it on hosting you pay for.
- Price
- Free software. Hosting and a domain are extra and depend on the provider you choose.
- Free plan
- The software is free and open source. You need web hosting and a domain, which you pay for separately.
- Best for
- Bloggers and businesses that want full control, any plugin and room to grow.
- Works on
- Web browser. Open source.
Pros
- No platform fee and no lock-in
- Can grow into almost any kind of site
Cons
- You're responsible for updates, backups and security
- Hosting costs money, even if the software doesn't
Key features
- Thousands of free themes and plugins
- Blog, pages and online shop (with WooCommerce)
- Full ownership of your content
- Moves between hosting companies
2. Wix
A drag-and-drop website builder with hosting, templates and add-ons for bookings and shops.
- Price
- Light from $17.77 a month, billed yearly (Wix says prices vary by location).
- Free plan
- Free plan on a username.wixsite.com address with Wix branding. Connecting your own domain and removing branding need a Premium plan.
- Best for
- Local service businesses that want a full site with bookings, without touching code.
- Works on
- Web browser, iPhone and iPad, Android
Pros
- Free plan lets you build and test the whole site
- Bookings and shop features without plugins
Cons
- Free sites carry Wix branding and a wixsite.com address
- Harder to move your site to another platform later
Key features
- Drag-and-drop editor and templates
- Hosting included
- Bookings and online store apps
- Custom domain (Premium)
3. Google Sites
Google's simple, free site builder that works like editing a Google Doc.
- Price
- Free. Buying a domain through Google requires a Google Workspace plan, priced separately.
- Free plan
- Free with a Google account. Sites live on a sites.google.com address, or you can connect a domain you already own.
- Best for
- A quick free site, client portal or internal page, especially if you already use Google Drive.
- Works on
- Web browser
Pros
- Completely free, no ads
- Very easy for anyone who uses Google Docs
Cons
- Limited design options
- No blog, shop or SEO settings to speak of
Key features
- Embed Docs, Sheets, Calendar and Maps
- Custom domain for domains you own
- Sharing controls for private sites
4. Carrd
A builder for simple one-page sites: landing pages, portfolios and link-in-bio pages.
- Price
- Pro Lite $9 a year (3 sites); Pro Standard $19 a year (10 sites, custom domains); Pro Plus $49 a year (25 sites).
- Free plan
- Free one-page sites (up to 3) on a carrd.co address, with "Made with Carrd" branding. Your own domain needs Pro Standard or higher.
- Best for
- Freelancers and creators who need a one-page site, cheaply.
- Works on
- Web browser
Pros
- Your own domain for $19 a year
- Very fast to build
Cons
- One page per site only
- Not suited to blogs or shops
Key features
- One-page sites and landing pages
- Templates for portfolios and link-in-bio
- Forms and embeds (Pro)
- Custom domain (Pro Standard)
Sources
Official pages we checked for the prices, plans and limits on this page:
- WordPress.com: wordpress.com, checked October 26, 2026
- WordPress (self-hosted): wordpress.org, checked October 26, 2026
- Wix: www.wix.com, checked October 26, 2026
- Google Sites: support.google.com, workspace.google.com (2), checked October 26, 2026
- Carrd: carrd.com, checked October 26, 2026