Ads ◦ Yourname.wordpress.com ◦ Smaller set of themes • No hosting! • No plugin/theme/core updates! • Optimized security/speed • Can switch to WordPress.org • Limited customizability • No plugins • No hassle! Cheapest .com plan at $36 per year for no ads and a custom domain. This is a service. Limited flexibility. Not going to be able to add new functionality. Need to learn to make the most of it. Nice because there is no upkeep.
• You update plugin/theme/core • Limitless customizability • Plugins & Themes • You are responsible for backups security and speed • Tinkering/breaking/learning Main takeaway is control, customizability and opportunity to learn. Also more responsibility.
specific hosting $ $$ $$$ $1.89 - $10 Per month $5 - $40 Per month $5 - $100 Per month Hosts sell different levels of hosting. One of the things that matters most with hosts is customer support. Also not having to worry about other sites hurting yours through exploits and bogging down the server.
Bluehost • CloudAccess • Dreamhost • eHost • FatCow • Godaddy • Hostgator • InmotionHosting • Liquidweb • Nexcess • Siteground • Digital Ocean • Linode • Pantheon • Kinsta • WP engine • Flywheel • Pagely • Tap* There are tonnes of hosts out there. Some special hosts only do WP or WP and Drupal. They are tailored and may include dev, staging and prod environments. Thisistap.com is an outlier that is really interesting. Spin up a site for free with a .thisistap.com domain and when you are ready upgrade to $5 per month. Check it out.
this option • "The Famous 5-Minute Installation" - Manual http://www.wpbeginner.com/how-to-install-wordpress/ https://codex.wordpress.org/Installing_WordPress
(simplest) Developer Level • Vagrant (vvv) free • Pressmatic $$ As soon as you want to start tinkering with code for themes and plugins, you should work with a local environment. Don't hack core.
WordPress on your web server. 3. Upload the WordPress files to the desired location on your web server 4. Change wp-config.php file to have DB info 5. Run the WordPress installation script by accessing the URL in a web browser Shortened version of 5 minute install. Demonstrated using mamp pro.
Help • Dashboard Widgets • Your Profile • Plugins & Themes Screen Options and Help can be very helpful. You can also change the color scheme of the backend in your user profile