If you’re thinking about a website for your business, you’ve probably come across WordPress. It’s the world’s most popular Content Management System (CMS) and a great choice for almost any website… but is WordPress free?
The simple answer is yes – WordPress is free. But like most things in life, the reality is a bit more complicated.
Let’s cut through the confusion and talk about what WordPress actually costs in Australia, so you can make an informed decision about whether it’s right for your business.
WordPress is free, but that doesn’t mean your website comes without costs.
Here’s the thing: WordPress itself doesn’t cost a cent. You can download it right now and start building a website without paying anyone anything. This is one of the most beautiful and appealing things about open source software like WordPress.
Where it gets tricky however – you’ll need somewhere to put that website, and that’s where the costs start adding up.
Think of it like you somehow get a free car. Amazing! The car doesn’t cost anything, but you’ll still need to pay for registration, insurance, fuel, and maintenance. WordPress works the same way – the core software is free, but running a website comes with ongoing costs.
Understanding the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
Before we dive into WordPress pricing, there is something that always trips people up. There are essentially two different types of WordPress set ups that are available… WordPress.org and WordPress.com
WordPress.org is the completely free, open-source software you download and install yourself. This is what most people mean when they talk about WordPress being free. You get complete control over your website, but you’re responsible for hosting, security, and maintenance.
WordPress.com is a hosted service that takes care of the technical stuff for you. They do offer a free plan, but it’s quite limited, and you’ll likely need to upgrade to a paid plan to get the features your business needs.
Most Australian businesses that want serious control over their website choose WordPress.org, even though it means handling (or paying someone to handle) the technical side of things.
What you get for free with WordPress
When people say WordPress is free, they’re talking about WordPress.org. Anyone can go to WordPress.org, and download WordPress completely free of charge, without having to register an account. Here’s what you actually get without spending a dollar:
The core WordPress software is genuinely free and incredibly powerful. You can create blog posts, pages, manage users, and customise your site’s appearance. It’s the same software that powers over 40% of websites on the internet, including many major Australian brands.
You’ll also get access to thousands of free themes and plugins. While they might not have all the bells and whistles of premium options, many free themes and plugins are perfectly suitable for small businesses just starting out.
The WordPress community is massive and helpful. You’ll find free tutorials, forums, and resources to help you learn and troubleshoot problems. Plus, WordPress regularly releases free updates that add new features and security improvements.
Is WordPress fee? The real ongoing costs
While the core WordPress platform is free, it doesn’t mean your website is going to be completely free to run ongoing (especially for anything other than a very simple site).
Here’s where the cost of WordPress starts to add up, and these expenses catch many Australian business owners off guard:
WordPress website hosting is your biggest ongoing expense. This is where the files and database that make up your website files lives on the internet, and is served up to users. In Australia, there are some basic shared hosting options starting from $10 per month, but in reality a good quality managed WordPress hosting service will cost $30-60+ per month. The quality of your hosting directly impacts your website’s speed and reliability, so it’s worth investing in a decent provider.
Domain names typically cost around $15-30 annually for common extensions like .com.au or .com. It’s a small cost, but it’s ongoing, and you’ll want to register it for multiple years to avoid losing it.
Premium themes aren’t essential, but they can make your website look more professional and save you hours of customisation time. Expect to pay $50-200 for a quality theme that’s regularly updated and supported.
Essential plugins can range from free to several hundred dollars annually. Popular plugins like backup solutions, SEO tools, or eCommerce functionality often have premium versions with better features and support.
SSL certificates are crucial for website security and SEO. Many hosting providers include these free now, but some still charge $20-100 annually.
WordPress.com pricing and differences explained
WordPress.com’s free plan might seem appealing, but it can be quite restrictive. When you’re using WordPress.com, you’re actually getting a modified version of WordPress that is built specifically for the WordPress.com platform.
The WordPress.com experience is quite different to using the normal open source version. There are lots of functionality that is either locked down or modified, and unless you’re on a higher tiered plan you can’t install plugins and themes which many consider a core part of WordPress appeal.
This is the core trade off for WordPress.com service, you have a more restricted version of WordPress, but there are also many benefits around security, performance, and functionality that come with using the platform.
As of the the publication date of this article (July 2025), the WordPress.com plans range from free up to Commerce which is $68 per month. There is also an
WordPress.com can certainly hold appeal and be a good option for some businesses and use cases. But for full flexibility and control, most website developers will recommend using the open source WordPress.org version.
The real cost of WordPress for Australian businesses
Let’s get practical about what you’ll actually spend on a WordPress website in Australia:
Budget setup (DIY approach): You could get started for around $100-200 in the first year. This includes basic hosting ($60-120 annually), a domain ($15-30), and perhaps a premium theme ($50-100). You’ll handle all the setup and maintenance yourself.
Professional setup: If you hire someone to set up your WordPress site properly, in most cases this be included as part of a website build. In terms of ongoing costs you can expect to pay anywhere from $300-$600 annually just for quality hosting, and often with additional costs for professional WordPress maintenance which can include things like content changes, plugin updates, security & SEO. Business owners that that know the value their website brings to their business will often opt to have it managed professional – for convenience, peace of mind but also for the simple reason of focusing time and efforts where they have the biggest impact.
Ongoing maintenance is something many business owners forget to budget for. Whether you do it yourself or hire someone, you’ll need to handle updates, backups, security monitoring, and occasional troubleshooting. Professional maintenance typically costs $100-500 per month.
WordPress costs vs other website platforms
When you factor in the total cost of ownership, WordPress often provides better value than alternatives, especially for growing businesses.
Website builders like Squarespace, Webflow or Wix might seem cheaper upfront, but their monthly fees can add up quickly, and you’re locked into their ecosystem. With WordPress, you own your website and can move it anywhere.
With WordPress websites, the costs in most cases can be relatively stable. Sometimes when your site grows significantly you might need to consider a move to a higher performance hosting environment, but often the ongoing costs for plugins and themes are fixed and don’t change based on traffic.
With many other website platforms the costs can increase directly in relation to the number of users and traffic. What started out as a really affordable and even cheaper option initially can quickly jump up exponentially to a level that is significantly more expensive.
Being locked into a particular ecosystem also means your website isn’t something you can easily just pick up and move to another provider. With WordPress, there are a huge number of hosting providers with a huge range of price points and features, and as they all are built for WordPress you can move your site easily (many hosting providers even migrate it for you for free).
WordPress is also something that can really scale from a simple small site to a truly global multi-national set up. As your business grows, you can add functionality without rebuilding your entire website. With some other website platforms you’ll often hit limitations that force you to start over, which can be a costly and time consuming process.
The bottom line… Is WordPress worth it?
WordPress isn’t completely free, but it offers exceptional value for Australian businesses willing to invest a bit of time or money in doing it properly.
If you’re comfortable with technology and want maximum control over your website, WordPress.org is hard to beat. The initial learning curve pays off with long-term flexibility and cost savings. In most cases, a trusted website partner will handle all the technical factors, so you can focus on your business.
If you prefer a hands-off approach, WordPress.com’s paid plans offer good value, but you’ll pay more for the convenience and ultimately have less control over your site.
The key is being realistic about the total cost of WordPress from the start. Budget for hosting, a domain, and at least some premium features or professional help. Your website is often the first impression potential customers have of your business – it’s worth investing in getting it right.
Remember, a well-built WordPress website can serve your business for years with minimal ongoing costs. When you calculate the cost per year over the life of your website, WordPress typically works out to be excellent value for money.
Ready to get started? Take some time to research hosting providers, browse themes, and plan your budget. WordPress might not be completely free, but it’s one of the best investments you can make in your business’s online presence.
If you need help setting up your WordPress website or want professional guidance on making the right choices for your Australian business, let’s chat about helping you succeed online.
