Which WordPress Is Self Hosting?
WordPress is the most popular content management system (CMS) used on websites across the globe. The software offers an easy-to-use interface that allows anyone with basic computer skills to get up and running with a website in just minutes.
Due to its popularity, hundreds of different versions of the software have been released, meaning that not all WordPress installations are created equal. When choosing a software to use for your website, it’s important to consider the essentials: what features do I need, what is the price, and is there support available if I’ve run into an issue?
In this article, we’ll discuss what features you need and what is included in the base installation of WordPress so that you can make an educated decision about which version to use for your site.
Basic Features Needed For A Website
In order to host your own website using WordPress, you’ll need to first consider the basics: what is the platform and what features do I need?
The two most important features are a web server and a database. A web server is what allows your site to be displayed to visitors — it takes the work of generating content and presenting it to the public out of your computer and places it on a server so that other computers can access it.
A database is what stores information — in this case, the content that you generate using WordPress. When a visitor lands on your site, their browser connects to the web server and requests the content from the database. As a result, the information is sent to their device directly from the database, enhancing performance and usability.
Aside from those essentials, you’ll also need to consider the structure of your content. Do you want to create a blog for the site, or are you looking to build a more traditional e-commerce site?
Which Version Should I Choose?
As stated above, there are several different versions of WordPress, each with its own unique set of features. Before making a decision, it’s important to understand what each version is capable of and what makes it special. Here is a short list of the features that you may or may not need based on which version of WordPress you decide to go with.
Oldest
The oldest version of WordPress is now in its fifth decade, having been first released back in 2001. This version is most suitable for older, slower computers or smaller data storage devices. Its popularity comes mainly from its simplicity: anyone can easily install and use it, and thanks to its popularity, a large number of add-ons and plugins are available that extend its functionality.
Not all features are available in the old version, but those that are can be used to their advantage. For example, the Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plugin allows you to improve your site’s performance on search engines like Google by implementing the latest SEO techniques. You don’t need to have a technical understanding of SEO to utilize its features, but without it, your site’s performance may suffer.
Most Popular
The most popular version of WordPress is no doubt the community edition. This is the free version of the software, which is also available for open source distributions like WordPress.com. Unlike the Oldest version, this is a fully active version that can be used to build a fully-functional website with all the bells and whistles. In short, the community edition allows you to create anything you want and gives you full control over the functionality and design of your site.
This version has seen the most adoption and demand since its initial release in 2005. As a result, a large number of themes and plugins are made specifically for it, while others have been updated to work with its unique features. Some disadvantages of this version are its size and security; it takes up a lot of space on your device and is more likely to be hacked as a result of its popularity.
Most Secure
The most secure version of WordPress is again, unsurprisingly, the one that is directly supported by the software’s developer, the WordPress team. This version’s primary selling point is its security: it is completely free from viruses, malware, and other malicious software (such as keyloggers).
To get the latest security updates, you’ll need to subscribe to the WordPress VIP program. This is a service offered by the WordPress team that provides direct security updates to users. Subscribing to the VIP program is free, and it ensures that you’ll always be up-to-date with the latest security patches for WordPress.
Additional Considerations For Deciding Which Version To Use
Apart from choosing the right version of WordPress, you’ll also need to consider its price and the available support resources. You don’t want to run into an issue with the software once you’ve launched your site, especially if you’re paying for web hosting and domain registration by the month.
With that in mind, here are a few more considerations before making a decision about which version of WordPress to use for your site.
Ease Of Use
One of the main considerations when choosing a software is how easy it is to use. Even if you’re technically sound, you may find the software less than user-friendly if you’re not tech-savvy. This is why you want to choose a software that is as easy to use as possible: otherwise, you’ll simply end up hiring freelance consultants to get the job done for you.
WordPress is easily one of the most user-friendly CMSs available; it requires little to no previous knowledge or experience to get up and running with your site. Even if you’re completely new to web design, you’ll have no problem understanding or using the software.
Cost
Finally, we arrive at the most important consideration when choosing a piece of software to use for your site: cost. Just like with any other piece of software, choosing a CMS that is free is often the way to go when looking for a hosting option: you don’t want to end up paying for services you don’t need, especially not when there are alternative options that aren’t as expensive but still offer the same or better functionality.
WordPress is again, one of the most popular choices when it comes to CMSes, mainly because it is completely free. Thanks to its open source nature, anyone can download it and get started building their own website — even if you’ve never done so before — with no costs other than a domain name and web hosting. That is often enough to get you up and running with a basic blog or an e-commerce store. Even if you decide to go with a premium theme, you will still likely save money in the long run by going with the free version of the software.
To get started with the most basic version of WordPress, visit https://wordpress.com/ and click on the Get Started button to continue to the download page. From there, click on the blue button to start the download process for the latest version of WordPress.
Making A Decision: What Is The Right Version Of WordPress For My Site?
With all of that in mind, let’s revisit our original question: which version of WordPress should I use for my site? To answer that, we need to consider the essentials discussed above and then add a bit more detail to the discussion. Here are some important details to keep in mind:
Does My Site Need A Blog?
If you’re building a site that’s dedicated to news, opinions, or other types of content that don’t really have a fixed schedule (like a calendar with birthdays and anniversaries), you may not need a traditional blog. In this case, any version of WordPress will do; you don’t need to run toward the community edition for a traditional blog.
Is It Worth Paying For Domain Registration?
Even if you’re not monetizing your site, it’s still a good idea to pay for domain registration. This is mainly because you’ll be able to build a better-looking website with a custom domain. For example, https://www.healthcare.com looks better than http://www.healthcare.com/ (the second one has two dashes in it).