how to get wordpress business plan for free

Install Themes or Plugins Without a Business Plan (A Complete Guide)

• July 3, 2020
• 8 minute read

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What you would need , how to export content from wordpress.com, how to host a wordpress.org website , how to install wordpress on siteground, how to import data from wordpress.com to wordpress.org, redirect existing visitors to your new website , other interesting articles.

First of all, it is impossible to upload a theme or install a plugin on WordPress.com without upgrading to the $299 per year WordPress.com business plan. The only way to install themes and plugins without a business plan is to migrate your existing website from WordPress.com to the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.

The process of migrating your website from one WordPress platform to another may sound intimidating, but as you’ll see in this step-by-step guide it is actually quite easy and much cheaper than upgrading to the WordPress.com business plan.

At the end of this guide, you will be able to install any theme or plugin that you like, and since this is a full website migration you won’t lose any of the data from your existing WordPress.com website.

• Your website data from WordPress.com 
• A custom domain name if you don’t have one already
• A Hosting plan

Start by heading over to WordPress.com and log into your admin dashboard. 

Navigate to the “My Site” tab and locate the menu item “WP Admin” which is located in the menu on the left.

This would bring you to your WordPress dashboard.

From here in the menu to the left hover over the menu item “Tools” and then click on “export” from the slide-out menu that appears. 

On the following screen, click on “export all”

When the export is completed a banner will appear with a download link to your exported content, click on “Download”. WordPress.com will also send a download link to your email address.

This will download a compressed .zip file that contains a custom XML file that contains all of your website data from WordPress.com. 

Congratulation you’ve just exported and downloaded your website data. Now its time to get a hosting plan and a unique domain name. 

WordPress.com provides an all-in-one solution where they provide hosting and a domain name so all you have to worry about is creating the content for your website. 

WordPress.org is a bit different, it is a self-hosted platform which means you’ll need to host your own website. To host your website you will need to purchase a hosting plan from a reputable web hosting provider.

My website (the one you are currently reading this article on) uses Siteground’s managed WordPress hosting , and I couldn’t be happier with their service.

The best part? Their plans start at just $ 2.99 per month , which is incredibly affordable.

I continue to use and recommend SiteGround because of their commitment to speed, security, and customer support.

My website loads quickly, and I feel confident knowing that SiteGround’s top-notch security features are keeping my site safe from threats. Plus, whenever I have an issue, their team of experts is always available to help me out.

I highly recommend SiteGround to anyone transitioning from WordPress.com to a self-hosted WordPress website.

When you’re ready to purchase your hosting plan, follow this link to the SiteGround managed WordPress hosting page . Here you’ll be greeted with a welcome screen with a choice of three hosting plans. 

I recommend that you select the Startup plan even though we are migrating your existing website. The reason being you can always upgrade your plan as your site grows.

Unless of course, your existing website receives a large number of visitors each month. If that’s the case then you should select the GoGeek or GrowBig plan .

After you’ve selected your plan its time to register a unique domain name. Select “register a new domain” and enter a domain name of your choice in the field below. This could be the name of your business or the domain you were using on WordPress.com without the WordPress.com extension.

If you already register a domain name on WordPress.com select “I already have a domain” and enter your domain in the field below. 

How can you tell if your WordPress.com website has a registered domain? Well, it won’t have wordpress.com in the URL.

A free domain from WordPress.com would look like:

• www.yourdomainname.wordpress.com

A unique domain name would look like:

• www.yourdomianname.com

Next, you’ll need to enter your :

• Account information

• Client information

• And payment information. 

Under the “purchase information” section set your hosting duration to 12-month to get the best deal.

Then select domain privacy if you are not comfortable with your personal information such as your name and address being available on Whois services.

Next agree to the terms and conditions then click on “pay now”. 

SiteGround will then process your order. When it’s done click on “proceed to customer area”.

From the customer area, you’ll see a banner with a button that says “set up site” click on it to begin installing WordPress.

On the next screen click on “start new website”

Then select “WordPress” under choose application section.

Next, you will need to create a username and a password that you will use to log into the admin area of your new website.

Siteground will then prompt you again to purchase a few extra add-ons. SG scanner isn’t necessary at this moment however I would recommend you pick up domain privacy unless it does not fit within your budget.

You’ll then be given the choice to view your new WordPress website or go to site tools. Select “Site Tools”.

Within your site tools dashboard click on the Install & Manage option in the menu to the left.

From the Install & Manage WordPress page, click on the “log in to admin button” under the actions heading

SiteGround will then launch the WordPress starter setup wizard, click on “start now”.

Next, select a theme that you like then click on “continue”.

Then select any of the following plugins from the recommended section. Don’t worry about your selections at this point you will be able to install any of these plugins later.

Do the same for the marketing plugins.

SiteGround will then proceed to install WordPress, your theme, and the plugins that you selected.

When its finished installing click on “Go to dashboard”

This is what your new WordPress dashboard will look like with the SiteGround starter plugin installed.

If you prefer the look of the normal WordPress dashboard you can uninstall the SiteGround starter plugin.

In the menu to the left hover over plugins and click on “Installed plugins”.

Next, find the WordPress Started plugin, click on “deactivate”, then click on “Delete”.

Okay great now that you have WordPress installed on your new site it’s time to upload the data you exported from your WordPress.com website.

Remember that compressed zip file we got from your WordPress.com website? Here is where we’re going to use it. 

First, locate the .zip file on your computer. It should have been downloaded to your “downloads folder”. When you’ve found it you will need to extract it. To do this right-click on the file and click on “extract all”.

Then click on “extract”. This will open a new folder with the extracted file close to it for now but remember its location.

Now head back to your new WordPress dashboard hover over tools and click on “import”

On the import screen, you will see a list of platforms that you can import data from. Since we are migrating a WordPress.com website click on “install now” under the WordPress option. 

When the install is completed you then need to click on “run importer”. 

Next, click on “choose file”.

Then select the XML file we exported from WordPress.com, located within the newly extracted folder.

Finally click on “upload file and import”.  

Siteground’s managed WordPress hosting plans offer a generous upload limit of 128mb unlike other web hosting services so you shouldn’t have an issue uploading your website data.

On the following screen, you will see a few author settings for your posts. Here you will be able to create a new user to be the author or select one from the drop-down menu.

Since we are importing data from your existing website we can leave the default author which would be the same author from your WordPress.com website.

Next, select “download and import file attachments” and then click on the submit button

Great now that your new website is live and all of your content has been transferred over from WordPress.com, it is time to set up a redirect from your old WordPress.com website to your new one. 

There are two ways in which you can do this. You can either create a new post informing your current readers on WordPress.com that you have moved your site to a new domain and that you would no longer be publishing new posts on your old site. Please note that this post should contain links to your new website so that your readers can find your new website. 

The other method is to use WordPress.com’s paid redirect service which costs $13 per year.

A redirect will allow your current users to seamlessly be transferred to your new website whenever they try to access your old one. This option will maintain your current audience and search engine rankings.

To use WordPress.com’s paid redirect service you’ll need to go to your dashboard then click on “manage” and in the drop-down menu click on “settings”. 

On the setting page under the site address heading click on “redirect”.

You will then be asked to enter the domain that you would like to redirect to. Here you will enter the domain of your new website. 

Next click on “go”, all you need to do from here is enter your payment information and complete your purchase. 

Remember this service will renew every year at the price of $13. It’s your choice to use this service for however long you need. The recommended period to keep redirects from an old website is two years. But this timeline is for an established website. If you don’t have that many visitors then one year will be fine.  

Set Your WordPress.com Website To Private

If it’s a case where your old website hasn’t yet been picked up before transferring it to WordPress.org then you can set it to private. 

This would prevent the issue of having two websites on the internet with the same exact content. 

To do this head over to your WordPress.com dashboard hover over settings then click on “reading”.

Next under the “user site visibility” section select “I would like my site to be private, visible only to myself and users I choose”.

Remember is always better to redirect your visitor than to leave them wondering why your website is no longer available.

Final Checks

Congrats you have successfully migrated your WordPress.com website to the self-hosted WordPress.org platform.

You will see that you can now go ahead and install a free theme from the WordPress theme directory or you can upload a theme that you purchased or downloaded from a third-party provider . You’ll even notice that you can also install plugins without any restrictions .

While this is all great we still need to check over the migration to make sure everything is there.

First, let’s check to see if all your images came over. This is a common error that some people encounter when migrating a website to a new location.

If you’ve noticed that any of your images are missing you will need to use the Auto Upload Images plugin to fix this issue . 

Finally, you’ll need to check the links in your blog posts. If you added links within your post to other posts on your website there is a good chance that they kept the same URL from WordPress.com. You will need to go through each post and change these links.

Hope your website migration was successful and best of luck on your new website.

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Is WordPress Free? Here’s the Scoop

One of the aspects of WordPress that can confuse people is whether WordPress is free .

The answer can be complicated, which is probably why people get confused. A WordPress site can be free or can have some cost attached to it (like WordPress plugins and WordPress themes ). But the WordPress software itself — referred to as WordPress core — is free and always will be. And this isn’t just about the financial cost of WordPress : it’s also free in the sense that you are free to amend and extend it and to use it as you wish.

Is WordPress Free? Key Points to Know:

WordPress is released under the GNU General Public License (or GPL), which means anyone can download, edit, customize, use, and even sell the code as long as they release it under the GPL license.

The software itself is free but you might end up paying for:

• Premium support
• Updates of premium plugins/themes
• Premium themes
• Premium plugins

In this post, I’ll demystify these questions:

• Is WordPress really free?
• Why is WordPress free?
• Which aspects of WordPress aren’t free?

I’ll explain the two senses of free that apply and I’ll identify the main situations in which you can get a WordPress site for free, along with the specific aspects of WordPress that you can choose to get for free and those you might pay for.

So, let’s get started!

The Two Meanings of Free Applied to WordPress

Before we can look at whether WordPress is free, it helps to understand the two senses of the word free.

These are sometimes referred to as “free as in beer” and “free as in speech”.

The first sense most people are thinking of when they ask if WordPress is free is the monetary sense: free as in beer. A beer can be free in monetary terms, meaning it won’t cost you a dime. It will never be free as in speech, though.

The second meaning of free is the freedom of speech. In other words, if you have a copy of the WordPress software, are you free to use it as you wish to, without restrictions? The answer to this is a definite “Yes!” as you’ll see in a minute.

So let’s look in more depth at the ways in which WordPress is free.

Free as in Speech

The WordPress software is free in both senses of the word. You can download a copy of WordPress for free, and once you have it, it’s yours to use or amend as you wish.

The software is published under the GNU General Public License (or GPL), which means it is free not only to download but to edit, customize, and use. It’s a software model known as open source .

The main features of this license can be summed up as follows:

• You can use WordPress in whatever way you like with no restrictions.
• You can customize, add, or remove anything in WordPress with no restrictions.
• You can repackage, rebrand, sell, and distribute WordPress with no restrictions except that it is also released under the GPL license.

That third point is important. It means that you can take WordPress, alter it, repackage it, and sell it to other people at a profit, as long as you also apply the GPL license. In other words, your clients can pay for the code but you have to give them access to it so they can modify it themselves.

For people used to dealing with software companies that aren’t open source, this can be mind-blowing, I know. But it’s true!

So you could download WordPress and amend the code to make it work differently. In fact, WordPress started much like this, when in 2003 Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little took another open source blogging system called b2/cafelog and adapted it . What they built became WordPress: initially another blogging platform , but over the years it’s developed into a Content Management System used for all kinds of websites .

Even if you can edit the core code of WordPress , it’s not a good idea. If you want to customize WordPress, best practices tell you to “pack” your customizations in a new plugin or use one already available. This means that when you update your version of WordPress, your customizations won’t be lost because they’re stored in the files in your plugin.

As we’ll see, some plugins are free as in beer, and others aren’t: but they’re all free as in speech.

Free As in Beer

WordPress is and continues to be free because it’s not owned by a company. Instead, it’s owned by the non-profit WordPress Foundation , which was established “to ensure free access, in perpetuity, to the software projects we support”. Its mission is to provide a stable codebase for generations to come and to educate people about WordPress and related open source software. The WordPress foundation doesn’t make any profit from developing or distributing WordPress: it’s all voluntary work.

WordPress has thousands of plugins, some of which are free and some you have to pay for, but they’re all free as in speech. If you download or buy a plugin, you’re free to modify, adapt, and sell the code just as you are with WordPress core as long as you release them under the GPL license. The best way to do this is by writing another plugin that extends the original plugin, but there are plenty of examples of people taking a plugin and writing a new plugin that’s based on it. Since this is open source software, that’s allowed.

So here’s the idea: WordPress, the plugins, and themes are all open source and published under the GPL license. You’re free to work with and adapt them. But when it comes to the financial aspects of your WordPress site, things are a bit more complicated.

The software itself is free but if you want to run a website, you’ll need server space on which to host it . Unless you have your own servers (and the skills to use them to host a website), that means paying for hosting. A hosting provider like Kinsta will rent you space on their servers that you use to host your WordPress site. They don’t own your site: it’s still yours and you can edit it, customize it, or move it at any time.

Managing servers and providing hosting costs money: there are physical infrastructure and support requirements involved. But it won’t cost you much, though, certainly not when compared to website builders which provide a lot less flexibility.

So How Is WordPress Funded?

Having learned that WordPress is run by a nonprofit foundation and that hundreds of developers contribute to its codebase for free, you may be wondering how it’s possible for this to happen.

After all, it costs money to host the WordPress.org site itself. It costs money to run the infrastructure that enables large teams to collaborate on WordPress. And it costs time for people to get involved.

The reality is that thousands, if not millions of companies, developers, and enthusiasts benefit from WordPress. They recognize that without the support of people like themselves, WordPress wouldn’t exist and they wouldn’t have this awesome software with which they earn a living . That’s why they choose to give something back to the WordPress community: by contributing to the codebase, providing support via the WordPress support forums , or running events like WordCamps and local WordPress meetups.

How to Get a WordPress Site for Free

There is one way to get WordPress for free, and that’s if you sign up for a free WordPress.com plan . WordPress.com is owned by a private company, Automattic: they host millions of sites on their own servers, and if you sign up for a free plan, you can get one for free.

There are limitations , though. Your free WordPress.com site is free as in beer, but it isn’t free as in speech. You have no access to the code, you’re limited with the themes you can use and you have no access to plugins. You won’t be able to use your own domain name and there will be ads on your site over which you have no control (which is one of the ways it’s funded).

For some users, this isn’t a problem, and they happily use WordPress.com to support a blogging hobby or even a portfolio site . But if you want a professional website, you’ll need something more.

Suggested reading: 12 Best WordPress Portfolio Plugin Options to Showcase Your Work .

Alternatively, you can sign up for a premium WordPress.com plan: this gives you the ability to use your own domain name and extra features. You still won’t have access to the code, though. If you sign up for a WordPress.com plan, you’re getting a site that is free in neither respect. You’re paying for it and you don’t have much freedom to modify it. You may find that your monthly fees are more than you’d pay for hosting a self-hosted site.

That’s why I often recommend getting a self-hosted WordPress site and paying for hosting separately.

Why It’s Worth Paying for WordPress Hosting

If you decide to get yourself a self-hosted WordPress site, or migrate from your free WordPress.com plan to it, then there is one key difference.

Instead of the site being hosted on WordPress.com, you install WordPress on server space that you rent from a WordPress hosting company. The main difference here is that the site belongs to you (or one of your clients). You get to decide what themes and plugins to run, you own the site and the content , and you can move it or change it whenever you want. You are free to choose how your site will run, what you will add to it, and how it will operate (within the limits of the law).

This gives you freedom in the “free speech” sense.

There is a financial cost to self-hosted WordPress websites but for anyone wanting a quality website, the benefits will easily outweigh any financial outlay. Hosting isn’t expensive when you consider the potential business benefits of a professional website. A free WordPress.com site won’t reflect well on your brand or allow you to add the features you need to run a professional website. It won’t give you the control you need.

You think that a free WordPress.com site will be enough for you right now. But as your site grows and evolves over time, chances are it won’t meet your long-term needs. The good news is that migrating from a WordPress.com site to a self-hosted site isn’t difficult.

What Aspects of WordPress are Free?

Even if you don’t have a free WordPress site, there are other aspects of your WordPress installation that can be free. Some are always free, while with others such as plugins or themes, you can choose between free and premium options.

Getting something for free may sound too good to be true. And sometimes it can be. But the people who develop free themes and plugins for WordPress do it for valid reasons: they either want to give something back to the community or they have a free version of a plugin that you can upgrade with a premium option. In this case, the free version acts as a lead-in for the paid one.

That doesn’t mean there aren’t sources of free WordPress code that are legitimate. Here I’ll look at the different aspects of WordPress that you might be able to get for free and help you do so without compromising the security or quality of your site.

Aspects of self-hosted WordPress that are (or can be) free are:

• Core software

Let’s take a look at each of these in turn.

Free Software

WordPress itself is free. If you’re downloading WordPress, always do so from the official WordPress download page.

At Kinsta, we provide a tool that you can use to install WordPress without having to download the code . An auto-installer like this is safe and reliable and will save you time and effort.

Free Support

A quality hosting provider will give you support as part of its hosting plan to help you with your hosting, domain management, and WordPress installation.

If you need help with other aspects of WordPress, such as learning how to manage your site, writing your own plugins, and fixing problems with your themes or plugins , you’ll need to find other sources of WordPress support .

Something worth repeating: free support is provided by volunteers, WordPress experts who are giving something back to the community or people whose employers give them time to work in the support forums. As you aren’t paying for this support, you should temper your expectations accordingly and not expect an immediate answer.

Free Themes

There are thousands of free themes available via the WordPress theme directory .

These are created by a variety of developers, including commercial theme developers, volunteers, and the WordPress.com team. They all go through rigorous testing before they’re made available so you can be confident they’re well-coded, reliable, and secure.

The WordPress theme directory is the only place where you can safely download free themes. You can either download them directly from there or install them via the Themes page in your site admin .

Don’t download free themes from other sources ! If the theme is robust and secure, the developer should be distributing it via the official directory. If not, then you may be at risk of installing a theme in your site that includes spammy or even malicious code.

Free Plugins

As with themes, there are thousands of free WordPress plugins available via the plugins directory. These range from small plugins that add a couple of lines of code to your site or dashboard, to vast, complex plugins such as WooCommerce which adds a full-featured store to your site.

You may be wondering why people would spend time developing a plugin and then make it available for free. And that’s a good question. Developers of free plugins normally come under one of three headings:

• They’re WordPress enthusiasts who want to share their code and give something back to the community.
• They’re agencies which have built a plugin for use with their clients and want other people to benefit from the code (as well as maybe getting a bit of publicity).
• They’re professional plugin vendors who have built a free version of a plugin in the expectation that a proportion of people using it will upgrade to the premium version or buy add-ons.

This means that people create free plugins because it can be profitable or it can be done for more altruistic reasons. But as with themes, if a plugin is provided for free, then its inclusion in the WordPress plugin directory will mean it’s been tested and will most likely be safe and reliable. You can’t guarantee this for all plugins all of the time as they may be affected by updates, but a good plugin developer will update their plugin to ensure it’s compatible with the latest WordPress version . When you install a plugin, you’re told when it was last updated and whether it’s compatible with your version of WordPress.

Free Updates

Updating WordPress core is free. Your admin screens include an update screen that you can use to update the software whenever a new release comes out.

It’s a good idea to run updates on a staging version of your site first. Kinsta hosting plans include a staging copy of your site that isn’t visible to the outside world. If the update should cause a problem (maybe through incompatibility with one of your plugins), you can choose not to update your live site until the plugin has been updated or deactivate that plugin.

Free updates will apply to WordPress core and to free themes and plugins. Whether you can update a premium theme or plugin for free will depend on the charging model. Some themes/plugins require you to pay an annual subscription and you can only update if that is up-to-date. Others charge you once for lifetime access so you can keep the theme/plugin updated forever without paying any more.

Aspects of WordPress That Aren’t Free

There are plenty of aspects of WordPress that are free, which is one of the wonderful things about the platform. Newcomers to WordPress are often puzzled by the fact that such a high-quality, useful piece of software can be free. And if you’re used to buying software from companies like Microsoft or Adobe, which can charge you a lot for updates or subscriptions, it may seem odd. But as open source software, WordPress core will always be free.

However, that doesn’t mean that running a professional WordPress site is free. How much it costs will depend on the needs of your site and whether you’re happy paying for the convenience of a premium plugin, for example, when a free one might do the same or a similar job with a little more work.

Aspects of WordPress that you may need to spend money on are:

Once again, let’s take a look at each of these in turn.

Paying for Hosting

If you’re opting for a self-hosted WordPress site, which will give you more flexibility and freedom than a WordPress.com one, you’ll need to pay for a hosting provider .

As well as making it possible for you to actually have a self-hosted site, a good hosting package will give you other benefits:

• The ability to install WordPress easily via your hosting dashboard .
• Access to DNS settings so you can configure your domain name to point at your site.
• 24/7 support .
• Regular backups .
• A guarantee against hacking and downtime .
• Commitment to speed, ensuring your site is as fast as possible.

Before choosing your hosting provider, check that they provide all of these things. It can be tempting to opt for cheap hosting, only to find that your site runs slowly or that the support isn’t as helpful as you expected. If you want a professional site, it’s worth paying extra for quality .

Even if you’re on WordPress.com, if you upgrade from the free plan, you’ll end up paying for your hosting at the end of the day.

If you ask me, paying for hosting and having the freedom of running your own site is a better investment.

Paying for Support

Your hosting provider should provide support to help you with the aspects of your site that relate to hosting.

And if you need extra support and the free channels aren’t enough for you, then you can buy premium support. There is a range of providers which will give you support in return for a subscription.

Paying for Themes

If you can’t find a free theme that meets your needs or you want a theme with a drag-and-drop interface (often referred to as a page builder ), then you can buy a premium WordPress theme.

There are three main types of premium themes:

• Themes designed for ease of use, such as the Astra theme.
• Themes designed for extendability, such as the Divi page builder theme.
• Standalone themes sold via marketplaces such as ThemeForest .

Before you pay for a theme, take care to check that it meets your needs and that it’s safe to install on your site. Specifically:

• Check its license: is it distributed under the GPL?
• Ask other WordPress users and developers.
• Read reviews and articles that mention/review it
• Get personal recommendations.
• Check if there’s a free trial, money back guarantee, or any cooling-off period.

If the theme doesn’t meet your needs, you don’t want to waste your money.

For more on finding quality premium themes, see our guide to free vs premium WordPress themes .

Paying for Plugins

In addition to the free plugins you can install from the plugin repository, you may find yourself needing to buy premium plugins.

This is very common: there are some things that premium plugins simply do better than their free counterparts.

Situations when you might need to pay for a premium plugin include:

• When you’ve been using the free version of a plugin and realize you need the extra features provided by the premium version.
• When the free plugins don’t give you the functionality or ease of use you need.
• When you need to install a number of plugins all designed by the same developer who provides a subscription option for full access..
• When you want to add extra features to a free plugin by buying premium add-ons, such as the add-ons you can buy for WooCommerce.

If you invest in the right premium plugins, they can save a lot of time and give your site a significant boost. When you decide to install a premium plugin, you should be as cautious as you would be with a premium theme. Therefore you should check:

• Whether the provider also has plugins in the plugin directory (disreputable companies won’t stay there for long).
• Reviews for the provider and the plugin .
• That the plugin is distributed under the GPL.
• What type of support will be provided to help you use the plugin and solve any problems.
• If there is a money-back guarantee. It’s very frustrating to install a plugin, realize it doesn’t do what you need and have wasted your money.

The best source of information about premium plugins is always going to be personal recommendations. Talk to other WordPress users and developers, look on WordPress forums or Facebook groups, and check that other people are happy with the plugin before you buy.

Paying for Updates

If you’ve installed a premium theme or plugin, you’ll normally get at least a year of free updates and support. As most premium plugins and themes work under a subscription model, you’ll probably have to pay again to get the updated version of the software and still receive active support.

There are exceptions to this, though: some plugin providers only require you to pay once for lifetime access.

I know, it’s tempting to not renew your subscription: after all, the plugin or theme works and you won’t lose the code if you don’t buy the latest release. But what if the plugin or theme develops a security problem and a new update is released to fix that? What if a new version of WordPress is released and your theme or plugin no longer works? Your site — or some functionality of it — will break. And that’s something you don’t want to happen . Ever!

Paying for Development

If you can’t find any of the free or premium themes/plugins able to meet your needs, and you don’t have the time or the skills to code your own, then an option is to hire a developer .

This can range from anything to designing and creating your site, to writing a plugin, to customizing your WordPress theme . Everything depends on your specific needs, time, and budget.

WordPress is designed so that you don’t need to hire an expert and pay extra to get yourself a great website. But if you’re creating a highly bespoke site or you’re running a business and don’t have the time or skills to do it in-house, then it can be a good investment.

Again, this is optional. But for some WordPress users, it is something they choose to pay for.

The WordPress core software will always be free: free as in speech and free as in beer.

The software is free to download and free to use in any way you want to. You can customize it, extend it, redistribute it, and even sell it as long as you use the GPL license .

But if you want a kickass website, there are things you will need to pay for.

A self-hosted site means you have to pay for hosting (note: we offer free migrations if you’d like to change your hosting provider), a few premium plugins and/or themes at least, and support.

How much you get for free and how much you’ll end up paying for is up to you. But given that the software itself is free, a WordPress website still represents extraordinary value for money. And it’s well worth paying a little extra for a high-performing , professional website.

Suggested reading: How to Install WordPress Locally .

Rachel McCollin has been helping people build websites with WordPress since 2010. She's a huge fan of self-hosted WordPress and wants to help as many people as possible create an awesome website with it.

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Very interesting article. I’m more inclined to learn about the GPL aspect of WordPress. If it is free, then why do premium themes and plugin developers charge for their work? It would seem that they are charging a fee for a derivative work. If the main work is GPL licensed, then isn’t that the derivative work should also be free because the main source is under GPL? If they charge a fee, would that not violate the GPL license? I read somewhere that what you are actually paying for premium themes or plugins is the subscription fee for the service or maintenance of the software? But isn’t the whole point of GPL that software should be free and open-source? Then why charge a fee for premium themes and plugins?

no matter what I do I can’t get WordPress to show me a free version. Perhaps because I already have paid sites? I need a temporary one for my daughter’s portfolio and it brings up the starter site at $7pm. Any suggestions?

Probably you are looking at the WordPress.com version and not the self-hosted version of WordPress.org.

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How to Install Plugins in WordPress Without a Business Plan: A Step-by-Step Guide

More Wordpress Editors

Updated on: June 18, 2023

Installing plugins in WordPress is an essential task that can help you add extra functionality to your website. However, if you’re using WordPress without a business plan, you may find it challenging to install plugins. Fortunately, there are several ways to install plugins in WordPress without having a business plan.

One way to install plugins in WordPress without a business plan is by using the built-in plugin installer. To access this feature, go to your WordPress dashboard and select the “Plugins” link from the left-hand sidebar. From there, you can search for the plugin you want to install and click the “Install Now” button. This method is straightforward and convenient, making it an ideal option for beginners.

Another way to install plugins in WordPress without a business plan is by manually uploading the plugin to your WordPress site. This method involves downloading the plugin from a trusted source and uploading it to your WordPress site using an FTP client. While this method may seem more complicated, it allows you to install plugins that are not available in the WordPress plugin repository.

Understanding WordPress Plans

WordPress is a popular content management system that offers different plans to cater to the needs of its users. The plans include free, personal, premium, and business. Each plan has its unique features and limitations.

If you are using the free plan, you can only use the basic features of WordPress. You cannot install plugins or themes, and you have limited storage space. On the other hand, the personal plan allows you to install custom plugins and themes, but you are still limited in terms of storage space and bandwidth.

The premium plan offers more advanced features, including more storage space, advanced customization options, and access to premium themes and plugins. However, you still cannot install custom plugins or themes.

The business plan is the most advanced plan offered by WordPress. It offers all the features of the premium plan, but you can install custom plugins and themes. You also get access to priority support and the ability to monetize your website.

It is important to note that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two different platforms. WordPress.com is a fully hosted platform, while WordPress.org is a self-hosted platform. If you are using WordPress.com, you will need to upgrade to the business plan to install custom plugins and themes. However, if you are using WordPress.org, you can install custom plugins and themes without any restrictions.

If you are using managed WordPress hosting, you may have additional limitations depending on your hosting plan. Some hosting providers may restrict certain plugins or themes due to security concerns. It is important to check with your hosting provider to ensure that you can install the plugins and themes you need.

In summary, understanding the different WordPress plans is crucial in determining the features and limitations of your website. If you want to install custom plugins and themes without any restrictions, you will need to use the self-hosted WordPress.org platform or upgrade to the business plan on WordPress.com.

Why You Might Need Plugins

Plugins are essential for any website built on WordPress, regardless of whether you have a business plan or not. These tools can help you to customize your website, improve its functionality, and enhance the user experience.

One of the primary reasons you might need plugins is to improve the speed of your website. A slow website can have a significant impact on user experience and can lead to lower search engine rankings. By installing plugins such as WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache, you can optimize your website’s performance and ensure that it loads quickly.

Plugins can also help you to customize your website. If you have a specific idea or design in mind, you can use plugins to add new features and functionality to your website. For example, you can use plugins to add social media buttons, create contact forms, or add a search bar to your website.

Content management is another area where plugins can be useful. Plugins such as Yoast SEO or All in One SEO Pack can help you to optimize your content for search engines, while plugins like Jetpack can help you to manage your website’s security and backups.

In conclusion, plugins are an essential part of any WordPress website, and they can help you to improve your website’s speed, customize its functionality, and manage your content. Whether you have a business plan or not, there are plenty of free and paid plugins available that can help you to take your website to the next level.

Exploring Free and Paid Plugins

Installing plugins in WordPress is an essential part of customizing your website’s functionality. There are plenty of free and paid plugins available that can help you achieve your desired results without having to upgrade to a business plan.

Free Plugins

WordPress.org has a vast repository of free plugins that you can browse and download. These plugins are developed and maintained by the WordPress community, and they cover a wide range of functionality, from SEO optimization to social media integration.

One of the benefits of using free plugins is that they are well-tested and reliable. They are also easy to install and update, and you can find plenty of documentation and support online.

Paid Plugins

If you need more advanced functionality, you can consider purchasing a premium plugin. Paid plugins usually offer more features and customization options than their free counterparts. They are also typically better supported and come with dedicated customer support.

Codecanyon is a popular marketplace for premium WordPress plugins. You can find a wide range of plugins there, from e-commerce solutions to membership plugins. However, it’s important to do your research before purchasing a plugin to ensure that it’s reliable and well-supported.

Choosing the Right Plugin

When choosing a plugin, it’s important to consider your specific needs and requirements. Here are some factors to consider:

Compatibility: Make sure that the plugin is compatible with your version of WordPress and other plugins that you are using.

Ratings and Reviews: Check the ratings and reviews of the plugin to see what other users are saying about it.

Support and Documentation: Make sure that the plugin comes with adequate documentation and support.

Features: Consider the features that the plugin offers and whether they meet your needs.

In conclusion, there are plenty of free and paid plugins available that can help you customize your WordPress website’s functionality. By considering your specific needs and requirements, you can choose the right plugin for your website.

Finding Plugins on WordPress

WordPress offers a vast selection of plugins to choose from, making it easy to find plugins that suit your website’s needs. The WordPress dashboard is the central hub for managing your website, including installing and managing plugins.

To find plugins, navigate to the WordPress dashboard and click on the “Plugins” tab on the left-hand side of the screen. Here, you can browse through the featured plugins, popular plugins, and recommended plugins. You can also search for plugins by entering keywords in the search bar.

The WordPress plugin directory is another excellent resource for finding plugins. It is a repository of thousands of free plugins that you can browse by category, popularity, or rating. You can also use the search bar to find plugins by entering keywords.

Another option is to use a plugin repository like WP Super Cache or Add to WP. These repositories automatically install any new updates for you, and they are both free to use. Additionally, you can use plugin search engines like pluginindex.org or wpmudev.org to find plugins specific to your needs.

It is essential to note that not all plugins are created equal. Before installing a plugin, it is crucial to read reviews, check the plugin’s compatibility with your version of WordPress, and verify that the plugin is actively maintained and updated.

In conclusion, finding plugins in WordPress is a straightforward process that can be done through the WordPress dashboard, the WordPress plugin directory, or plugin repositories. It is essential to take the time to research and verify the quality and compatibility of plugins before installing them on your website.

How to Install Plugins in WordPress

Installing plugins in WordPress is a simple process that can be done in a few easy steps. However, if you’re using the free version of WordPress, you may not have access to all the features of the platform. This means that you may not be able to install certain plugins without upgrading to a premium plan.

To install a plugin in WordPress, you can either search for it in the WordPress plugin repository or upload it manually. To search for a plugin, go to the ‘Plugins’ tab in your WordPress dashboard and click ‘Add New’. From there, you can search for the plugin you want and click ‘Install Now’ to install it.

If you have a plugin that you’ve downloaded from a third-party website, you can upload it manually by going to the ‘Plugins’ tab in your dashboard and clicking ‘Add New’. From there, click ‘Upload Plugin’ and select the file you want to upload. Once the upload is complete, click ‘Activate’ to activate the plugin.

It’s important to note that not all plugins are compatible with all versions of WordPress. Before you install a plugin, make sure that it’s compatible with your version of WordPress and that you have the necessary permissions to install it.

In summary, installing plugins in WordPress is a straightforward process that can be done in a few easy steps. Whether you’re searching for a plugin in the WordPress repository or uploading it manually, make sure that it’s compatible with your version of WordPress and that you have the necessary permissions to install it.

Activating and Managing Plugins

After installing a plugin, you will need to activate it. To activate a plugin, navigate to the Plugins section of your WordPress dashboard, find the plugin you want to activate, and click the Activate button. Once activated, you can manage the plugin’s settings by clicking on the Settings link that appears under the plugin’s name.

Managing plugins is a crucial part of maintaining your WordPress site. It is recommended that you keep your plugins updated to ensure that they are compatible with the latest version of WordPress and to avoid security vulnerabilities. To manage your plugins, go to the Plugins section of your WordPress dashboard. From there, you can activate, deactivate, update, and delete plugins.

In addition to managing plugins, you can also search for new plugins to install. To do this, go to the Plugins section of your WordPress dashboard and click on the Add New button. From there, you can search for plugins by keyword, author, or tag. Once you find a plugin you want to install, click the Install Now button.

It is important to note that not all plugins are created equal. Some plugins may slow down your site or cause conflicts with other plugins. It is recommended that you research plugins before installing them and only install plugins from reputable sources.

In summary, activating and managing plugins is an essential part of maintaining your WordPress site. Keep your plugins updated, manage them regularly, and only install plugins from reputable sources to ensure the best performance and security for your site.

Using Third-Party Plugins

If you’re looking to install plugins in WordPress without a business plan, you can use third-party plugins. These plugins are available outside of the WordPress repository and can be installed manually. However, it’s important to be cautious when using third-party plugins, as they may not be as secure or reliable as those available in the WordPress repository.

One popular third-party plugin for WordPress is SiteGround Starter Plugin. This plugin includes a variety of features to help you get started with your WordPress site, including a one-click installer for WordPress, a free SSL certificate, and more. SiteGround also offers hosting services that are compatible with WordPress, making it a great option if you’re looking for a reliable hosting provider.

When using third-party plugins, it’s important to ensure that you’re downloading them from a reputable source. Look for plugins that have been reviewed and tested by other users, and check the plugin’s ratings and reviews before installing it on your site.

Another important consideration when using third-party plugins is your domain name. Make sure that you have a unique domain name that is easy to remember and relevant to your site’s content. This will help users find your site and improve your search engine rankings.

Overall, using third-party plugins can be a great way to enhance your WordPress site without a business plan. Just be sure to do your research and choose reputable plugins that are compatible with your site.

Overcoming Upload Limitations

One of the limitations of not having a WordPress business plan is the upload limit. WordPress.com users are restricted to a maximum upload limit of 3GB, which can be a problem for those who want to install multiple plugins. However, there are a few ways to overcome this limitation.

One option is to use a redirect service such as Dropbox or Google Drive to host your plugins. This way, you can upload your plugins to your Dropbox or Google Drive account and then link to them from your WordPress site. This method can help you save space on your WordPress site and avoid hitting the upload limit.

Another option is to upgrade your web hosting provider. Many web hosting providers offer plans with higher upload limits or even unlimited storage. Upgrading your hosting plan can help you overcome the upload limit and give you more flexibility in terms of the number of plugins you can install.

Lastly, you can consider switching to a self-hosted WordPress.org platform. With a self-hosted WordPress site, you have complete control over your site and can install as many plugins as you want without any upload limitations. However, self-hosting requires more technical knowledge and can be more expensive than using WordPress.com.

In summary, while not having a WordPress business plan can limit your upload capabilities, there are ways to overcome this limitation. Using a redirect service, upgrading your web hosting provider, or switching to a self-hosted WordPress.org platform can all help you install plugins without any upload limitations.

Using FTP for Plugin Installation

FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is a method of transferring files between a local computer and a remote server. It can be used to install WordPress plugins without the need for a business plan.

To use FTP for plugin installation, you will need an FTP client. Some popular FTP clients include FileZilla, Cyberduck, and WinSCP. Once you have an FTP client installed, follow these steps:

Connect to your website via FTP by entering your website’s FTP credentials in the FTP client. You can get these credentials from your hosting provider or your website’s administrator.

Navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory on your website.

Download the plugin zip file to your local computer.

Extract the plugin files from the zip file.

Upload the extracted plugin folder to the wp-content/plugins directory on your website via FTP.

Once the plugin is uploaded, log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to the Plugins section.

Find the plugin you just uploaded and click the Activate button to activate the plugin.

Using FTP for plugin installation is a great option if you are having trouble installing plugins through the WordPress dashboard. It can also be useful if you need to install a large number of plugins at once, as you can upload multiple plugins at the same time via FTP.

However, it’s important to note that using FTP for plugin installation can be more complicated than using the WordPress dashboard. If you are not familiar with FTP or are uncomfortable using it, it may be best to stick with the WordPress dashboard for plugin installation.

Advanced Plugin Installation Methods

For those who are comfortable with more advanced methods of plugin installation, there are a few options available. These methods require a bit more technical knowledge, but can be useful in certain situations.

WP-CLI is a command-line interface for WordPress that allows you to perform various tasks from the command line. One of the tasks that you can perform with WP-CLI is installing plugins.

To install a plugin with WP-CLI, you’ll need to have SSH access to your server. Once you’re logged into your server via SSH, you can navigate to the root directory of your WordPress installation and run the following command:

Replace “plugin-name” with the name of the plugin that you want to install. WP-CLI will automatically download and install the plugin for you.

If you don’t have access to WP-CLI, another option is to install plugins via SFTP. SFTP stands for Secure File Transfer Protocol, and it allows you to transfer files between your computer and your server securely.

To install a plugin via SFTP, you’ll need to download the plugin files from the WordPress plugin repository. Once you’ve downloaded the files, you can use an SFTP client to transfer the files to your server.

To do this, connect to your server via SFTP and navigate to the wp-content/plugins directory in your WordPress installation. Upload the plugin files to this directory, and then activate the plugin from the WordPress dashboard.

While the methods outlined in this section require a bit more technical knowledge, they can be useful in certain situations. WP-CLI is a powerful tool that can save you time and effort when installing plugins, while SFTP allows you to install plugins when you don’t have access to WP-CLI.

Security Concerns with Plugins

Plugins are a great way to add functionality to your WordPress site, but they can also pose a security risk. It is important to be mindful of these risks when installing and using plugins.

One of the biggest security concerns with plugins is that they can introduce vulnerabilities to your site. This can happen if the plugin is poorly coded or if it has not been updated in a while. Hackers can exploit these vulnerabilities to gain access to your site or to inject malicious code.

Another risk is that plugins can conflict with each other or with your WordPress theme. This can cause your site to crash or to display incorrectly. It is important to test plugins thoroughly before installing them on your live site to avoid these issues.

To minimize these risks, it is important to only install plugins from trusted sources. The WordPress repository is a good place to start, as all plugins are reviewed for security before being added to the repository. You can also check reviews and ratings from other users to get an idea of the quality of the plugin.

Additionally, it is important to keep your plugins updated. Developers release updates to fix security vulnerabilities and to improve performance. By keeping your plugins up-to-date, you can ensure that any security issues are addressed promptly.

Finally, it is a good idea to limit the number of plugins you use. The more plugins you have installed, the greater the risk of conflicts and vulnerabilities. Only install plugins that you really need and remove any that you are no longer using.

By being mindful of these security concerns and taking steps to minimize the risks, you can safely use plugins to add functionality to your WordPress site.

Getting Support for Plugin Issues

If you encounter any issues with a plugin, getting support can be essential in resolving the problem. Here are some tips to help you get the support you need:

1. Check the Plugin Documentation

Before reaching out to support, check the plugin documentation. Many plugins have extensive documentation that can help you troubleshoot common issues. The documentation may also include step-by-step guides on how to use the plugin’s features.

2. Contact Customer Support

If you can’t find a solution in the documentation, contact customer support. Most plugin developers offer customer support through email, chat, or a ticket system. Make sure you have your username and password to access your WordPress site ready before contacting support.

3. Be Clear and Specific

When contacting support, be clear and specific about the issue you’re experiencing. Include any error messages you’re seeing and steps you’ve taken to try to resolve the issue. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for support to help you.

4. Trust the Experts

When contacting support, trust the experts. They have extensive knowledge of the plugin and can help you resolve the issue quickly. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, and follow their instructions carefully.

By following these tips, you can get the support you need to resolve any issues you encounter with your WordPress plugins. Remember to check the documentation first, contact customer support if needed, be clear and specific about the issue, and trust the experts.

In conclusion, installing plugins in WordPress without a business plan is possible, but it comes with some risks. You can use the built-in plugin installer to add plugins to your WordPress site. However, some plugins may not be available for free, so you may need to purchase them or find a suitable alternative.

It is important to carefully review the plugin’s terms of service before installing it. Some plugins may have restrictions on how they can be used, and violating these terms can result in your site being suspended or even permanently banned.

Additionally, keep in mind that installing too many plugins can slow down your site’s performance. Only install plugins that you really need, and make sure to regularly remove any plugins that are no longer necessary.

If you are unsure about how to install plugins without a business plan, consider consulting with a WordPress expert or reaching out to the WordPress community for assistance. With the right knowledge and tools, you can safely and effectively add plugins to your WordPress site without a business plan.

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How can i get a free wordpress business plan.

If you’re thinking about starting your own WordPress business, there are a few things you’ll need in order to get started. First, you’ll need a WordPress business plan.

A good business plan will outline your business goals, strategies, and how you’ll achieve them. It’ll also include a financial analysis and a timeline for when you think your business will be successful.

Once you have a good business plan, you’ll need to start building your website. A website is the first step to attracting potential customers and building a brand.

You’ll also need to create a marketing plan and develop a sales strategy. It can be a lot of work, but it’s important to get started if you want your WordPress business to be successful.

If you’re ready to get started, there are a few resources available to help you. WordPress.

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How to Get Started With WordPress

WordPress, which started in 2003,  now powers 45.8% of the web . That means you’ve likely visited a site or two powered by WordPress today already. This could be a blog, an eCommerce site, a marketing site, a course website or any number of other possible kinds of websites.

There is a reason that WordPress absolutely dominates the internet. It has a small learning curve, is easy to install, has extensive documentation, is extremely customizable with themes and plugins, is supported by many contributors and developers, and has a great community across different platforms.

The barrier to entry for building your own website using WordPress is low in cost, time, and energy. This allows you to focus on what matters; building a business that serves a customer base through content, products or services. In this post, we outline what WordPress is, what you’ll need to know before getting started, and a step-by-step guide to creating your website using WordPress right now.

What is WordPress?

WordPress has had a great many iterations over the years but still remains true to its core; it is free and open-source software designed for everyone. You’ll typically hear or see it referred to as a content management system (CMS). WordPress emphasizes ease of use, security, and performance with minimal effort and requirements to install and get started. Out of the box, WordPress can work immediately to allow you to produce and publish content on the web. WordPress is also built with an incredibly rich API for plugin and theme developers, allowing for endless extensibility to create nearly anything you can dream up. “There’s a plugin for that,” was an adage in the WordPress space for a long time. If you have a need to do something with your website, WordPress has a wide array of plugins that can help you do pretty much anything.

Customization of your design and layout can be done easily using themes, and Kadence is one of WordPress’ most popular themes to date. WordPress can be a platform for almost anything your mind can conjure up in both functionality and design. As such, it is the number one choice for building a functional website today.

What Do I Need to Build a WordPress Website?

Simply put, to start, you’ll need a domain name, a WordPress host, and just a few minutes to get started. Before getting into how to create a website using WordPress, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with the underlying technology and core concepts that will be useful as you continue. This is useful information for anyone interested in understanding websites, even those not built on WordPress.

WordPress, at its core, is written in PHP, relies on MySQL as a database, and is secured with HTTPS support. WordPress will run on any server that supports PHP and MySQL, from Linux, Unix, or even Windows server. For the sake of brevity, here is a short list of core concepts you should have familiarity with as you get started building a WordPress website. While understanding these concepts isn’t necessary when building a site, knowing them can help with troubleshooting and basics of any website functionality.

Internet-connected computers and servers can be reached via any public IP address . For the sake of this guide, this will be the publicly accessible IP address of wherever your WordPress website is hosted. You’ll likely want to put your host’s IP address into either your domain registrar’s or CDN’s DNS records, depending on your configuration. Many hosting providers will help with setting these things up for you.

Domain name

A domain name is a human-readable unique identifier that typically resolves to a server’s IP address. When registering, you may have the option to choose a different top-level domain (TLD). A TLD, without getting too technical, is anything like .com, .net, .org, .co, .io, etc. WordPress uses the domain name to resolve all paths, or URLs, to the appropriate content on your website. There are domain name servers that will translate your domain name to the corresponding IP address where your site is being served.

A hosting provider is a service where you receive a server environment to install your WordPress website on. A server can be any internet-connected computer that stores data, like your website’s files or databases. This is where your WordPress installation and the database will exist. There are myriad hosting providers available and nearly all hosting providers understand and support WordPress.

A database hosted on a computer is a structured set of data made available for creating, reading, updating, and deleting said data. Regarding WordPress, this is where your content for posts, pages, user information, and even your product information if setting up eCommerce will be stored. WordPress will read from your database to the front end or your publicly-facing website. The back end, or admin view, will allow administrative users to manage the content on posts, pages, products, and even the user accounts for the WordPress site.

How to Create a Website

There are many ways today to deploy a WordPress website. One-click WordPress installs allow you to start producing and publishing content within minutes. Many of the large shared hosting providers offer this as a solution, which, while fast, may come with some scaling limitations. There are also managed dedicated WordPress services that will scale your resources depending on the needs of your website as it grows, at a cost. Both of these approaches will install and connect your WordPress site to a database, typically set up SSL certificates, and enable HTTPS automatically. Once up and running, you can customize your WordPress website with any extension or theme.

One of the key benefits of WordPress is that it is open source. You own your content and anything you build on WordPress because of this. So, if your hosting provider isn’t all that you need, moving your site is fairly straightforward. Contrast this with other hosted systems, if you have issues with Wix, SquareSpace, or another site builder, you’re locked in. Moving your site would require a rebuild. WordPress gives you freedom, flexibility, and full control of your online presence.

Domain name registration

Due to DNS propagation, it is recommended to start the registration process as early as possible. After snagging your domain name, be sure to add an A record that points to your hosted WordPress website’s server in your DNS records as quickly as possible. You’ll likely want to set up your hosting and register your domain in tandem if you still need to get a domain name.

You can register a domain name on any of the thousands of domain name registrars in almost any country. Depending on the registrar, the prices may be in different currencies and values. Here is a quick list of a few of the top domain name registrars as of 2022:

• Cloudflare . Cloudflare started as a Content Delivery Network, but they now offer domain registrations at a very affordable rate.
• Google Domains . Google does so much more than search, and inexpensive domain name registration is another service they offer.

There are a few options available when it comes to hosting. You can opt for shared hosting, dedicated hosting, or virtual private server (VPS) cloud hosting. Depending on your level of comfortability in managing hosting environments and how much control you want to have will determine which option is most appropriate for you. Shared budget-friendly hosting, while limiting in terms of disk space and computing power, is the quickest and easiest to get started with. Dedicated hosting requires a lot more time managing your server and manually scaling as needed. Virtual private servers also require an understanding of server administration but tend to be very cost-effective.

Be sure to find a good hosting provider. We recommend Liquid Web Managed WordPress Hosting and Nexcess Managed WordPress Hosting .

Downloading

To have a WordPress website, you have to install WordPress. You can either have your hosting provider do this, or you can download WordPress to do it yourself. Once you’ve downloaded the WordPress zip file, you’ll want to unpack or unzip it. If you have shell access to your server and prefer not to download WordPress to your local machine, you can simply download WordPress to your server, extract it there, and skip the following link. You can find the latest version of WordPress here .

Installation

Most shared hosts have a file viewer or UI tool for interacting with your server’s file system. You can navigate to your root public directory and upload the unzipped WordPress files you downloaded in the last step. If you’re using a dedicated server or VPS and have shell access, you can download WordPress directly to the server. For more detailed information on the installation process, visit this article on installing WordPress .

Before you visit the automatic installer, you’ll need to be sure there is a database set up. Most shared hosting providers have a utility called phpMyAdmin. This utility provides a user interface to your databases that makes managing the underlying data easier. You should create a user that only your WordPress installation can use to authenticate and interact with the database. A database is necessary for WordPress to start installation, so be sure to consult your host’s documentation or customer support on setting up a database. If you’re unsure about the installation steps, the official installation documentation can be found here .

Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A CDN can make a huge difference for your end user’s experience, your uptime, and possibly your wallet. Not only are you serving cached content from servers closest to your end users, speeding up page delivery times, but you are also creating a better experience for anyone visiting your site. Cloudflare has many features, such as firewall blocking, customizable DNS records, shared SSL certificates, and DDoS protection. There is every reason to put your WordPress website behind such a trusted CDN, especially since there is a free-for-life tier. Visit Cloudflare to learn more.

Customizing

Theming is where you get to customize or stylize the look of your WordPress website to match your business’ brand and identity. This is where you want to be the most polished, to convey trust and respect from your visitors. There are thousands of premium themes to choose from, and many of them come with a host of extra features to give you even more control over the look and feel of your website.

Understanding which theme developers are the most trusted in the industry will be helpful in choosing what themes are right for your business. Kadence is one of the most popular themes for WordPress for good reason. We offer a set of no-code, ready-to-use starter templates that can be fully customized for nearly any use case.

Creating and publishing content

It’s always a good idea to start with a content checklist when launching your WordPress website. Understanding content hierarchy and the differences between posts and pages , WordPress tags , and categories will help you develop your content in an ordered and sensible way. Blogging can be daunting if you’re unfamiliar with writing blog posts or even what a blog fully consists of. To learn more about blogs, check out What is a Blog .

Protect, Backup, and Maintain Your Site

It is important to ensure your site is protected from threats. iThemes Security Pro offers 30 ways of protecting the most vulnerable areas of your WordPress site, defending it from a wide range of modern, sophisticated tactics malicious actors employ. Powerful vulnerability scanning, passwordless authentication, and file integrity monitoring allow you to reduce the attack surface dramatically.

You will also need a solid backup plan in the event something on your site goes terribly wrong. Even your host backup may not be enough if you experience a server crash. Having a current backup of your WordPress website is critical for protecting your website. Most hosting providers offer backups for your site, but if not there are a number of solutions available. Make sure you test your backups to ensure that they’re functional before you need them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How hard is it to build a website.

The first time you ever do anything is going to be the hardest. Hopefully, everything you’ve read up until this point has prepared you for the steps necessary to build your own WordPress website.

Depending on your connection speed, you might find yourself waiting for a few short periods of time, but all in all, it’s not a very complicated process. Don’t be afraid to break things your first time; that’s how you learn.

How much does it cost?

If your business is just getting started and you opt for a budget shared-hosting plan coupled with domain registration, the first month can cost around $10 and as little as $5 each month after that. Managed hosting accounts are a little more expensive but oftentimes great for anyone needing more time to focus on the content of their website rather than the details of how the site was assembled. Managed hosting often starts around $10 – $20 and goes up as you grow. A premium theme can cost $50 – $100 unless you opt for a subscription service for regular updates and customer support.

Does my business need a blog?

Content marketing helps drive viewers to your products and services. Search engine optimization ( SEO ) plays a big factor in driving that traffic to your blog, which you can then possibly convert into paying customers or clients. Investing some time and energy into a blog will help drive business in one of the most cost-effective ways there are in marketing. Learn why your business needs a blog and how to do keyword research to rank your blog .

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Wrapping up

There are very few people who would benefit from something other than a WordPress website, either to promote their services, sell their products, or produce content. WordPress has come a long way since 2003, and the community behind the platform is more expansive than ever. Check your local area for a WordPress meetup near you, or look for a WordCamp , both which can help you get started publishing with best practices faster than ever.

Advancements in WordPress publishing such as with Kadence Blocks has made building sites faster, easier, and a lot more fun. It truly is a great time to be creating and publishing content for your business.

Grow your Site with Kadence

A Kadence full bundle gives you everything you need to supercharge your site to take advantage of the latest web design trends. From the Kadence theme, Kadence Blocks, Kadence Conversions for popups, slide-ins, and banners, and Kadence Shop Kit for supercharging WooCommerce storefronts, Kadence offers everything you need for building powerful sites with WordPress.

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Meet WordPress

The open source publishing platform of choice for millions of websites worldwide—from creators and small businesses to enterprises.

Create any website with flexible design tools and the power of blocks . Start with a blank canvas or choose a theme . Customize every detail—no code needed.

See how your site will look in real time, even as you add, edit, and rearrange content—with intuitive editing and integrated features to manage it all.

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Make your site do whatever you need it to. Add a store, analytics, newsletter, social media integration; you’re in control with an extensive library of plugins .

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Elevate your site-building experience with WordPress 6.5. This release includes a new way to manage fonts, exciting new foundational APIs for developers, and an impressive performance boost.

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Discover a collection of website examples from around the world, curated to spotlight gorgeous design, technical innovation, and the limitless power of WordPress.

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Behind the technology is a diverse collective of people collaborating and gathering from around the world. We hold regular events with opportunities to learn more about WordPress and the latest tech trends, connect with fellow industry experts, and foster your professional growth. 

We’re united by the spirit of open source, and the freedom to build, transform, and share without barriers. Everyone is welcome.

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Understanding loan forgiveness options

How to qualify for student loan forgiveness, your guide to student loan forgiveness.

Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate student loans to write unbiased product reviews.

• You can't get forgiveness with private student loans, unlike with federal ones.
• Certain federal student loan holders are eligible for forgiveness, such as nurses and teachers who meet specific requirements.
• Income-driven repayment plans offer forgiveness for a remaining balance after the payment term is up.

Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)  

Public Service Loan Forgiveness is a loan forgiveness program meant for those working in certain government or not-for-profit organizations. PSLF will be applied to the remaining balance that eligible borrowers have on their Direct Loans. Eligibility kicks in if you're working full-time for an eligible employer, and after the equivalent of 120 qualifying monthly payments have been made.

Teacher Loan Forgiveness (TLF)

The Teacher Loan Forgiveness program is designed for educators who don't have an outstanding balance on Direct Loans or Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) loans, have been employed full-time for five consecutive academic years, have been employed at an elementary or secondary school, or educational agency serving low-income students, and lastly, the loans you're seeking forgiveness for must be from your minimum of five years of teaching.

Income-Driven Repayment (IDR) Forgiveness

An IDR plan restructures and bases your monthly student loan payment on your income and the size of your family, with the goal of setting up lower monthly payments. Under an IDR plan, at the end of your repayment term, any remaining balance will be forgiven.

Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program

The Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program (NCLRP) forgives educational debt for registered nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, and nurse faculty members.

Those who receive an award must have worked for at least two years in a critical shortage facility, or an eligible nursing school as a faculty member.

Perkins Loan cancellation and discharge

If you're an educator with a Federal Perkins Loan, it's possible to get 100% of your loan canceled incrementally. The following jobs are eligible for loan cancellation, under certain conditions:

• Elementary or secondary school teachers
• Special education teachers
• Preschool or Pre-K teachers
• Other educators
• Law enforcement
• First responders
• Nonprofit workers
• Those in the Military
• Health care workers
• Those who work with people with disabilities.

You may be eligible to get your Perkins Loan discharged if you've gone through any of the following life events:

• Certain types of bankruptcy
• School closure before you completing your program of study
• Total and permanent disability

Understand the specific requirements of each program

Every loan forgiveness program is different, and set up for different borrowers in different situations. Compare your options to identify your strongest chance for loan forgiveness.

Verify your loan eligibility

Even if you are in an eligible role for any of these forgiveness program, that doesn't mean the type of loan you have is eligible for loan forgiveness. 

Stay on top of your payments

For certain programs, such as IDR and PSLF, you are only eligible for loan forgiveness if you're up to date on your payments and your account is in good standing. 

Keep accurate records

To prepare your application and any questions the lenders may have, be sure to have all important documents on hand. That includes your employment verification, social security information, and other personal credentials. It also means keeping a record of your paystubs, payment history, and other relevant documents.

No, not all student loans are eligible for all programs. Be sure to check program details carefully.

The limit on how much student loan debt can be forgiven is entirely dependent on the program. PSLF, for example, may forgive the entire remaining balance.

Generally speaking, you have to pay taxes on forgiven student loans. Consult a tax advisor for specific details.

Private student loans are rarely forgiven, unless otherwise handled through specific employer programs. Most forgiveness is for federal loans.

Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards .

Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.

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Managing Your Debt

How to make a plan for tackling your debt, improving your credit score and feel like the money you owe isn’t controlling you.

By Tara Siegel Bernard

Financial Boot Camp for 20-Somethings: Day 4 of 5

It’s time to get your money in order.

Many of us make one of the most consequential financial decisions of our lives before we even hit the legal drinking age: borrowing money for college.

The college acceptance letter is followed by the financial aid package (“aid,” lol), which is really just a nicer way of stating how much debt you’ll need to amass to pay for your degree.

It’s at that moment that Americans — teenagers! — have their first encounter with the debt culture that’s ingrained in how we pay for just about everything. It’s always there, for the taking, to buy cars, homes, Lululemon leggings and more. U.S. households carry more than $17 trillion , for all of it, including credit cards.

So while we’ve normalized indebtedness in this country, we’ve also moralized it : If you have debt that you can’t afford to pay back, you must have done something very wrong .

Yet we know that’s often the furthest thing from the truth. Many people accumulate debt, not because of lattes, nice sweaters and exotic vacations, but because of circumstances beyond their control, from health issues to job loss.

Then there are the structural reasons that most people borrow, like wages not keeping pace with education costs and a societal decision to push more of the burden onto individuals. We should all be asking big, basic questions about how we landed here — where college degrees often feel like luxury products and medical debts often drive bankruptcies — and what it would take to change the status quo.

For now, we’re going to focus on the microeconomy that is you: How to improve your credit standing, avoid debt where you can and manage the debt you have so it doesn’t feel like it’s controlling you.

Spending Awareness

The first part of debt management is simply becoming more aware of where your money goes and spending with intention, just as Ron discussed in the third boot camp session .

In an increasingly cashless society, it’s become easier to lose track of our spending because there’s little friction — you don’t even need to pull out a piece of plastic from a wallet, you can just tap your phone, and some money is charged to your credit card or siphoned from your bank account.

Buy now-pay later apps, which enable you to pay for just about everything with a no-interest installment loan, instantaneously underwritten from somewhere deep inside your mobile phone, can be similarly pernicious .

Understanding Your Credit Profile

Look at debt as a tool that you have to use carefully. It can also help improve your credit profile — and may have already.

In fact, people with debt who make timely payments may already have solid credit scores , the three-digit number that lenders use to judge you when deciding whether to make you a loan (and how much interest to charge for it). Landlords often use them when considering rental applications.

But having too much debt can drag down your score, which generally ranges from 300 to 850 — the higher, the better. (At FICO , a score of more than 740 is considered “very good.”)

The bottom line: Paying down debt regularly will help strengthen solid scores and improve less-than-perfect scores, which can lead to better interest rates later. (We’ll provide more information on how to find your scores in the action items section below.)

Got Debt? Make a Plan

There are several different approaches to tackling credit card debt :

Don’t forget one of the oldest tricks: ye olde balance transfer offer , where you transfer your debt to a credit card with an introductory rate of zero percent. With interest rates on the rise, these deals are harder to find, but it’s worth a shot. Be sure to evaluate the transfer fees (which have risen) and how much you would need to pay each month to be debt-free once the introductory rate expires.

Consolidating your debts into a personal loan is another option. The interest rates are nearly as high as those for credit cards, but there is some variability across lenders, so it pays to shop around. You may get lucky, especially if you have a strong credit score.

For people with debt on multiple credit cards, the so-called avalanche method is the most practical — you focus on paying down your highest-cost debt first. Pay the monthly minimums on all of your card debts (to avoid any late fees). Then, throw the money you have left over toward your credit-card balance with the highest interest rate. Once that is zapped, put the extra money toward the next highest-cost debt.

The second strategy, known as the snowball method, may be more psychologically rewarding for people who want a quicker win. Here too, you pay the monthly minimums on all of your debts, but put the extra money toward your smallest-balance debt first. The logic here? You knock out debts more quickly, which can be highly motivating and spur you to keep going.

Some people like to combine the two — snowball first, for a quick victory, then follow with avalanche.

If at any point you feel stuck, there are professionals who can help. They may even be able to negotiate a repayment plan with your credit card companies (but beware of scam artists who make promises that sound too good to be true ). Your safest bet is to find a nonprofit credit counseling agency through the National Foundation for Credit Counseling .

Medical Debt

Medical debt is a bit different from other consumer debts. After you’ve made sure that the bill is accurate and your insurance (if you have it) paid every last cent that it should, ask your medical provider to reduce the bill to a more manageable amount, and then work out a payment plan. Even if collectors are hounding you, don’t put the debt on your credit card. Here’s why: Once you do, it will look just like any other consumer debt.

Why is that important? The big credit reporting agencies have begun to view medical debts a bit less punitively. (Read a piece by my colleague Ann Carrns for more information.)

Managing Your Student Loans

If you’ve already amassed some credit card debt but also have student loans, you’re probably wondering how to balance the two. Even though federal student loan rates have risen, they’re still far less than most credit cards, which now carry insanely high rates of 22 percent, on average. The same rules apply here: You want to stay current on your student loans while also attacking your highest-rate debt first.

If you’re overwhelmed with other consumer debts, there may be a way to safely reduce your student loan payment while you focus on the former. Run your numbers on Studentaid.gov ’s loan simulator , which will calculate your monthly payments under different repayment plans, along with how much you will pay in interest over the life of the loan.

But that’s a step that all student borrowers should take to ensure you’re in the best repayment plan, given your circumstances.

For people struggling to make ends meet, income-driven repayment, or I.D.R., plans may be the most affordable option: They base your monthly payment on your discretionary income and household size. After you make payments for a set period, somewhere between 10 and 20 years, the remaining debt is cancelled.

The Biden administration’s new I.D.R. plan, called SAVE , is the most generous version (which is why it’s being challenged by more than a dozen Republican-led states). Anyone working in public service or at a nonprofit should also consider the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, which may provide an even faster path to eradicating your federal student debts.

If you also have private student loans through commercial lenders, there are a few things you should bear in mind. Federal student loans have embedded protections that private loans do not — I.D.R. programs may not require you to pay anything at all if your income is wiped out or you’re making a minimum wage, for example, and tools like forbearance allow you to temporarily hit the pause button on payments. If you ever consider refinancing your federal student debt with a commercial lender, you give all of that up.

It’s a lot to take in. If you’d like some hand-holding, there are experts at organizations like TISLA who can assist.

The journey through your 20s is a time of self-discovery, including your financial personality. You may make suboptimal decisions that you may not even necessarily regret, but those choices will teach you. As long as the lesson isn’t lost, you will have gained something.

Action items:

Your family background has probably influenced your outlook on debt. Did your family save for big purchases? Borrow constantly for financial emergencies? Or perhaps they were financially comfortable, but still managed to overextend themselves? Think about how your life experience thus far may have shaped your approach toward debt as an adult.

Make a list of all of your debts, along with the interest rate you are paying on each. Can you optimize in any way?

Everyone has a credit file at each of the three major credit reporting companies ( Equifax , Experian and TransUnion ). Pull each of yours (using this website only, where you receive a free report from each bureau weekly) and scan it for errors. You can dispute any errors online.

Do you know your credit score? There are several places to look.

Don’t have debt? Reacquaint yourself with the reward terms and interest rate on your credit card — can you do better?

Have a question about money?

Ask us here .

Did you miss Day 1? Catch up here. Day 2 is here , Day 3 is here , Day 4 is here and Day 5 is here .

Tara Siegel Bernard writes about personal finance, from saving for college to paying for retirement and everything in between. More about Tara Siegel Bernard

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