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    WordPress.com
    Web hosting and site building software

    WordPress.com

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    "A managed home for WordPress sites, run by Automattic since 2005."

    Founded November 21, 2005 San Francisco, California (distributed workforce) CEO: Matt Mullenweg
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    About

    WordPress.com opened to the public on November 21, 2005, after a short invitation-only beta. It was the second product from Automattic, the company Matt Mullenweg had started that same year, and it solved a specific problem: the WordPress software released in 2003 was free and capable, but running it required a server, a database, and a willingness to patch security holes on a schedule. WordPress.com took those tasks off the user's hands. Sign up, pick a name, publish.

    Two decades later the service has grown well beyond blogging. Paid plans add custom domains, additional storage, premium themes, and WooCommerce for stores, while Jetpack supplies backups, spam filtering, and analytics. A free tier still exists, carrying a wordpress.com subdomain and Automattic's ads. The platform competes less with self-hosted WordPress than with Squarespace, Wix, and the managed WordPress hosts that court users leaving the .com service; Hostinger and others publish step-by-step migration guides for exactly that move.

    The corporate story turned eventful in 2026. Fortune reported in October on a 33-hour boardroom attempt to remove Mullenweg, who kept his position as CEO. Days later TechCrunch reported that Automattic had begun layoffs following the board upheaval and a series of executive departures, with four teams affected and further cuts expected. The friction traced back to the 2024 dispute between Mullenweg and WP Engine over WordPress trademark use, which produced lawsuits and a divided community. WordPress.com remains in operation throughout, one of Automattic's core revenue lines alongside WooCommerce and Tumblr.

    Ownership is split in a way that surprises newcomers. The open-source code and the WordPress trademark belong to the non-profit WordPress Foundation, not to Automattic. WordPress.com is a commercial service built on that shared code. The arrangement has kept the software independent for more than twenty years, and it has also generated the persistent .com versus .org confusion that both sides still field in support tickets.

    Products & Sub-brands

    Free planPersonal planPremium planBusiness planCommerce planEnterprise planCustom domainsPremium themesJetpack (security, backups, analytics)WooCommerce integration

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is WordPress.com used for?
    It is a hosted platform for publishing blogs, business sites, portfolios, and online stores without managing a server. Automattic handles hosting, security patching, and updates. A user picks a plan, selects a theme, and publishes. The free tier carries a wordpress.com subdomain and Automattic's advertising; paid plans remove both and add a custom domain, storage, and plugin access.
    What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?
    WordPress.org distributes the free, open-source content management system that anyone can download and install on third-party hosting. WordPress.com is a managed service run by Automattic on top of that same code, with hosting and support bundled in. The .org route gives full control over plugins, themes, and source files. The .com route trades some of that control for convenience and a monthly or annual fee.
    Is WordPress.com free, and is it still operating?
    A free plan exists and remains the entry point for hobbyists. Paid tiers start with Personal and run through Premium, Business, Commerce, and Enterprise. The platform is still in business. Its parent company, Automattic, began layoffs in October 2026 after a boardroom conflict, but WordPress.com itself continues to operate and sell plans.
    Who owns WordPress.com and who is the CEO?
    Automattic owns WordPress.com. Matt Mullenweg, who co-founded the underlying WordPress software with Mike Little in 2003, serves as Automattic's CEO. He retained the role after a reported October 2026 attempt by board members to remove him, a 33-hour episode covered by Fortune. Layoffs at Automattic followed within days.
    How does WordPress.com compare with Squarespace or Wix?
    Reviewers generally rate WordPress.com highly for blogging and for the reliability of its hosting, while noting that its site-building tools are less flexible than Squarespace or Wix for users who want drag-and-drop design control. It suits people who want WordPress without technical setup. Power users who need custom plugins or code access often migrate to self-hosted WordPress.org instead.

    Keywords

    WordPress.comAutomatticMatt Mullenwegmanaged WordPress hostingblogging platformWordPress.orgJetpackWooCommercesite builderSquarespace competitor

    Sources

    WikipediaWordPress.comFortuneTechCrunchPCMagHostinger

    Company Info

    Founded
    November 21, 2005
    Founder
    Matt Mullenweg
    CEO
    Matt Mullenweg
    Headquarters
    San Francisco, California (distributed workforce)
    Industry
    Web hosting and site building software
    Parent Company
    Automattic
    Underlying software first released
    2003
    Share of all websites on WordPress (W3Techs)
    Over 40 percent
    Free plan
    Yes, with subdomain and ads

    Official Website

    wordpress.com/

    Links

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