Amateur Web Design & Development

GROK,

“Please compare the total cost and expected performance level of using WordPress.org to WordPress.com for a 10-20 page existing site with lots of BGs, sticky widgets, links to social media, etc., but no active SEO support, and minimal design/development technical support. Developed on an unknown page builder, the site serves a seasonal business of Halloween Pumpkin events and Christmas tree sales, using WooCommerce for minimal online sales.”

This is the response I got.

I don’t claim to know very much about the subject, but I have managed to learn only what I need to know, so I use this page to explain why I cannot answer questions from others – for example, the one on the right that I recently posed to GROK.

I have never written software, aside from a short time many years ago when I found myself needing to write assembly language for an Intel 80C8x, and had no one to help me. Creating and managing a website is not particularly complicated, but it has lots of moving parts that need to be coordinated. We can skip over definitions, like frontend/backend, design vs. development, and things like ICANN and the WEB because we can Google those as needed.

I have “designed” (not developed) a few websites, and until a few years ago, I relied exclusively on my good friend and mentor, Matt Knowles, to “develop”, maintain, and “host” them for me. Matt grew up in the canyons of Silicon Valley and moved to Northern California some years ago, where he works from his home. I strongly advise others to talk with someone with his experience before jumping in or spending money.

I think of the current options in three categories.

         Hard-Coded[i]The tools are the basic ones, like html and css that create content for browser consumption in the fasted and most efficient way.
If you are Honda or United Airlines or just an aspiring Procter and Gamble start-up, you are going to need an office building full of people and others in far-off places, writing code around the clock.
        The Middle Ground
If you are stuck in the middle, you have some choices. I have experience with some CMS[ii]Content Management System development platforms like Drupal, Magento, and Joomla, but I started using WordPress on Matt’s advice. I can do what I need with plugins and occasional help from Matt. Here is a brief summary of one other.
        Drag & Drop (D&D&P)[iii]“Drag & Drop & Pay”
If you want to publish your son’s soccer team schedules, you will likely be happy with one of the options available from Wix or similar – from GoDaddy and others. They all do the same things. You can even set up an online store, but that’s probably not the best place to do that.

 

At least for retail businesses, I generally think of a website as a place to store detailed information or keep existing customers advised of current offerings, rather than attracting new customers. Recent focus group reports suggest that the kind of glitz popularized in social media can be detrimental when used on a website. Given the number of sites on the web these days, SEO is critically important, but the goal of attracting new customers might be better served with social media, which is better suited for “Glitz”[iv]floating windows, BGs, sticky side bars, and Widgets

All of the platforms do pretty much the same things. Shopify is very much eCommerce-oriented, as its name suggests. Wix has been around for a long time and still holds onto a significant market share. Drupal and Joomla have also been around for a long time, but neither has kept up with the competition, and they are shrinking in market share. Squarespace follows the same business model as the other also-rans, but it has taken them over 20 years to carve out a 3% market share. It is clear that the D&D&P business model is a highly competitive one, and one that is likely to continue shrinking in the CMS market.

One thing that has led to the WordPress dominance is that, while it offers the typical D&D&P service through WordPress.com, it also serves the “Middle Ground” market with WordPress.org. Its D&D&P version has limitations similar to the other D&D&P competitors, while WordPress.org allows for full customization and plugin installation. That means you can do things with the .org version that cannot be done with the .com version or with the other D&D&P platforms.

Read or watch the details by going to YouTube – “wordpress.com vs wordpress.org”.

On the question of using Beaver Builder on WordPress.com
Having never used WordPress.com before, I will just add some notes as I learn about it.

Question to Claude:
      “is beaver builder compatable with wordpress.com”

Answer:

Summary Table 📋

Quick Reference:

WordPress.com Plan Beaver Builder Cost/Year Recommended?
Free ❌ No $0 ❌ No
Personal ❌ No $48 ❌ No
Premium ❌ No $96 ❌ No
Business ✅ Yes $300 ⚠️ Maybe
Commerce ✅ Yes $540 ⚠️ For eCommerce
Enterprise ✅ Yes Custom ✅ For large orgs
Self-Hosted ✅ Yes $75-135 ✅ Best value

Final Recommendation 🎯

Best Approach:

If You Want to Use Beaver Builder:

1️⃣ BEST: Use Self-Hosted WordPress.org
   ✅ Install WordPress on your own hosting
   ✅ Full control and flexibility
   ✅ Lower cost
   ✅ Better long-term
   
2️⃣ GOOD: WordPress.com Business Plan
   ✅ If you prefer managed hosting
   ✅ Don't want technical management
   ✅ Budget allows higher cost
   
3️⃣ AVOID: WordPress.com lower plans
   ❌ Can't install Beaver Builder
   ❌ Limited functionality
   ❌ Not worth it for page building

Don't start with WordPress.com if you want Beaver Builder

Instead:
1. Choose hosting provider
2. Install WordPress.org
3. Purchase Beaver Builder
4. Install and build

Recommended Hosts for Beaver Builder:
✅ SiteGround ($3-15/month)
✅ WP Engine (premium, $20+/month)
✅ Kinsta (premium, $35+/month)
✅ Bluehost ($3-10/month)
✅ Cloudways ($10+/month)

All include:
✅ 1-click WordPress install
✅ Plugin installation capability
✅ Full Beaver Builder compatibility
By: Jim
Written: June 2022
Published: June 2022
Revised: April 29, 2025 (added market share info and analysis)
Revised: February 26, 2026 (added GROK analysis)
Revised: April 23, 2026 (added Beaver Builder section)
Reader feedback always appreciated
footnotes
footnotes
↑i The tools are the basic ones, like html and css that create content for browser consumption in the fasted and most efficient way.
↑ii Content Management System
↑iii “Drag & Drop & Pay”
↑iv floating windows, BGs, sticky side bars, and Widgets