What Is Self-Hosted WordPress? (And How to Set It Up)

Thinking about launching your own website? That’s fantastic! WordPress is an incredible platform to get you started. It’s super beginner-friendly and amazingly customizable. Whether you want to start a simple blog or build a full-blown ecommerce store, WordPress has got you covered.

But before you dive in, there’s an important choice to make: self-hosted WordPress or hosted WordPress. If you’re scratching your head wondering what the difference is, you’re not alone!

Here’s the scoop: WordPress itself is free and open-source software, but it needs a web host to make your site accessible online. With self-hosted WordPress, you pick your own hosting provider, giving you more control and flexibility over your site.

What exactly is self-hosted WordPress

In simple terms, self-hosted WordPress involves downloading the free WordPress software from WordPress.org and installing it on your own web hosting account. This option provides you with complete control over every aspect of your website.

Pro tip: most of the mainstream web hosts offer handy helper tools that will actually handle the installation for you – so that you don’t have to do any downloading yourself.

When you choose to self-host WordPress, you:

• Get to select your own web host: You can pick a hosting provider that fits your specific needs and budget, whether it’s shared hosting for simplicity or something more powerful for maximum performance.
• Have full control over your site: You have access to all your site’s files, allowing you to install custom themes and plugins, modify code, and tailor your site exactly how you want it.
• Own your content completely: All your website’s content and data are stored on your server space, giving you full ownership without any third-party limitations.
• Monetize freely: You’re free to run advertisements, sell products, and generate revenue without restrictions imposed by a hosting platform.

However, this level of control also means you’re responsible for:

• Maintenance and updates: You’ll need to manage WordPress updates, plugin installations, and regular backups yourself. That being said; many hosting providers offer tools to help simplify these tasks, but as it always is with these kinds of things – you get what you pay for; meaning that in most cases, all those extra perks will cost you additionally.
• Technical troubleshooting: If any issues arise, it’s your responsibility to resolve them, either on your own or with assistance from your hosting provider’s support team. In other words, no errors will fix themselves.

Overall, self-hosted WordPress offers unmatched flexibility and control over your website, but it also requires a more hands-on approach to management. If you’re prepared to take on these responsibilities, it can be an excellent way to build and grow your online presence. In fact, I’d say that “self hosting WordPress” is still the best way to “own a WordPress website.” It gives you the most control and the most customizability. These benefits far outweigh the costs.

Differences between self-hosting WordPress and hosted WordPress

When most people get introduced to WordPress, they find it a bit confusing that there are two versions – WordPress.org and WordPress.com. They might sound similar, but they offer quite different experiences.

👉 If you’re interested in a more in-depth explanation, we have a whole resource on the topic here: WordPress.com vs WordPress.org: Key Differences and Which One You Should Use. Here’s the shortened version:

Self-hosted WordPress (getting the WordPress software from WordPress.org installed on a third-party host)

As I mentioned above, “self-hosting WordPress” involves getting the free software from WordPress.org and installing it on your own web hosting account.

This option grants you complete control over your site’s appearance, functionality, and data. You can customize every aspect, install any themes or plugins, and monetize your site without restrictions. However, this freedom comes with the responsibility of managing technical tasks like updates, backups, and security measures.

Hosted WordPress (signing up to WordPress.com)

Hosted WordPress through WordPress.com, on the other hand, provides a more streamlined experience. The hosting and technical maintenance are handled for you, allowing you to focus solely on creating content.

While this convenience is appealing, it comes with limitations. Customization options are restricted, especially on free or basic plans, and you will face constraints on available ways of monetization. You also don’t have full access to your site’s code, which limits advanced customizations.

So, which one should you choose?

It really depends on what you’re looking for:

• If you want maximum flexibility and don’t mind getting your hands a bit dirty, self-hosting WordPress is a fantastic choice. You’ll have the power to build the site of your dreams.
• If you prefer simplicity and a hands-off approach to site management, hosted WordPress could be the way to go. It’s user-friendly and takes care of the technical heavy lifting.

Personally, I love the freedom that comes with self-hosting. Sure, it requires a bit more effort, but the ability to customize every aspect of my site makes it totally worth it.

The costs of self-hosted WordPress

Before setting up a self-hosted site, it’s important to understand the potential costs involved. While the WordPress software itself is free, there are several expenses to consider to get your site up and running smoothly:

The big one: web hosting fees

The most significant cost is web hosting. Hosting providers offer various plans to suit different needs. Most users, however, will opt for shared hosting. This is a budget-friendly option where your site shares server resources with other websites. Prices typically range from $3 to $10 per month.

Another, a bit more premium option, it’s what’s called managed WordPress hosting – it’s where the hosting company takes care of all the technical aspects of the setup, and you just get to enjoy WordPress. This one’s usually in the $30 per month range.

Domain name registration

A domain name is your website’s address on the internet (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). Registering a domain typically costs between $10 and $15 per year. Some hosting providers offer a free domain for the first year when you sign up for a hosting plan.

Premium themes and plugins (optional)

While thousands of free themes and plugins are available, premium options often provide enhanced features and support:

• Premium themes or theme upgrades: The most popular themes out there are free. However, they do offer premium upgrades to unlock more designs or more features. Prices usually range from $30 to $100 as a one-time fee or annual subscription.
• Premium plugins: Add specialized functionality to your site, such as advanced SEO tools, ecommerce payments, or membership systems. Costs vary widely, from $15 to several hundred dollars, depending on the plugin.

Time investment

Although not a direct financial cost, managing a self-hosted site requires time:

• Initial setup can take several hours, especially if you’re new to WordPress.
• Regularly updating WordPress core, themes, and plugins is essential for security and performance. If your host doest do this, you’ll have to take care of it yourself.
• You might need to invest time in learning how to use WordPress effectively in the first place, especially for advanced customization.

Summary of costs

👉 The above is just a rough summary of what it cost to build a website on WordPress. If you’re like a more in-depth breakdown, we have that as well here.

How to get started with self-hosted WordPress

The following process is just a general summary of the steps involved. It will get you in the right direction just fine, but if you need more guidance, feel free to check out this detailed guide of ours: 👉 How to Make a WordPress Website: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners.

1. Choose a web host

First, you’ll need to choose a web hosting provider. This is where your website’s files will reside. Picking the right company is not always the most straightforward thing, but we’ve spent some time to create resources that could help you out. First, read this comparison of the top hosts for WordPress. When putting it together, we consider things like user opinions, our months-long performance tests, and also our own experimentation with each platform.

Here’s a short-list table with our top choices:

2. Register a domain name

The domain name is your website’s address on the internet. Some hosting providers offer a free domain registration when you sign up for a hosting plan (Bluehost does), so that’s worth considering.

3. Install WordPress

Once you have hosting and a domain, it’s time to install WordPress. Many hosting services actually offer a one-click installation feature, which simplifies this step significantly. Actually, I shouldn’t say that many hosts offer it, but rather that every self-respecting web host in 2024 should offer this feature (every host on our shortlist does).

4. Customize your site

With WordPress installed, you can begin to customize your site. Choose a theme that fits your vision and install plugins to add functionality. Then, spend some time exploring the WordPress dashboard to familiarize yourself with its features and settings.

You can browse themes directly in your dashboard by going to Themes → Add New and using the search function. The great thing about themes is that they essentially provide you with everything you need for a fully functioning site. And you can even choose them based on your needs. There are themes for online stores, blogs, news sites, and more. Or, you can pick a multipurpose theme like our Neve FSE. Check it out!

Finding and installing plugins works very much the same way. Just go to your dashboard and select Plugins → Add New. From there, you can use the search feature to find the plugin you need

👉 Not sure which plugins to get? Check out this list: Must-Have WordPress Plugins + Why You Actually Need Them

5. Start creating content

Once you’ve picked a theme and plugins for your WordPress site, you can start designing your main WordPress pages. Many themes will come with the basics, such as ‘About’, ‘Portfolio’, and ‘Shop’ pages.

To customize a page, simply navigate to your dashboard and hit Pages in the left-hand menu:

Here, you’ll find any pre-existing pages your theme includes. You can hover over any page and click on Edit beneath it.

Alternatively, you can select the Add New button at the top of the page to create totally new pages. Just make sure to save your changes as you go and hit Publish when you’re done.

Conclusion 🧐

A self-hosted WordPress site is built using the software from wordpress.org. Meanwhile, wordpress.com is the hosted version. If you opt for self-hosting, you’ll need to start by choosing a web host and installing WordPress. After that, you’ll be able to select a WordPress theme, design your core pages, and install any essential plugins.

Do you have any questions about self-hosting WordPress? Let us know in the comments section below!