It may seem like a no-brainer to use WordPress.com for both hosting and website development given the versatility and popularity of the website building software. However, be warned that the features and functionality between the two are not the same. WordPress.org is hands-down the better option for users who value the design freedom and features of WordPress and want a variety of themes, plugins, add-ons, and customizability. The process of starting a WordPress Blog will be a bit different for each site. For WordPress.com Sign up for an appropriate level hosting plan Set up your site title and tagline (My Site → Manage → Settings) Connect to your domain, if you do not wish to use the free one provided Create your first post (My Site → Site → Posts → Add New Post) Develop the content Publish (click Publish in the top right corner of the editor) For WordPress.org Select your hosting provider and purchase your domain Install WordPress (most hosts have a one-click installation script available in cPanel) Log in to the administration area through your domain Choose your theme (When you log into WordPress for the first time, WordPress will automatically assign their latest theme to your site. You can select a new theme by going to Appearance → Themes in the dashboard) Customize and configure your theme as needed Write and publish pages and posts