Who Owns WordPress and How Does WordPress Make Money?

[agentsw ua=’pc’]

There has always been confusion among beginners about who owns WordPress? It’s a bit unreal to think something can be 100% free. If you have ever wondered who owns WordPress and how does WordPress make money, then you’re in the right place. In this beginner’s guide, we will answer these common questions along with covering how does that impact the ownership rights of your WordPress site and blog content.

Understanding the Differences between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

Before we can answer the question about the ownership of WordPress, it’s important that you understand which WordPress you are talking about.

The #1 root cause for confusion is that often people don’t know that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two fundamentally different products with different owners.

whoistheownerofwordpress

WordPress.org is the popular content management system (CMS) that you always hear about. This is the real WordPress, and it is 100% free. It is often referred as self-hosted WordPress. When you hear things like you can create any type of website in WordPress with plugins and custom themes, this is the WordPress people are talking about.

WordPress.com is a web hosting service that offers a stripped down version of WordPress to make it easy for you to blog. You don’t get all the WordPress goodies like plugins, custom themes, etc.

To keep this article focused, we will not go into the feature comparison of the two. You can learn more about that in our WordPress.com vs WordPress.org chart.

Understanding the difference between the two is essential for understanding the ownership and business models behind the two products.

Who owns WordPress.org and the popular WordPress software?

WordPress is an open-source software. This means that anyone can see the code and contribute to the software to make it better. It’s the contributions by thousands of independent people from across the world that built WordPress to what it is today.

WordPress is licensed under GPL, and it’s important that you understand the benefits of the GPL license because that will help you better understand the ownership.

We will summarize the GPL in three main benefits:

  • You can use WordPress in whatever way you like without any restrictions.
  • You can customize, add or remove anything in WordPress that you don’t like without any restrictions.
  • You can repackage, rebrand, sell and distribute WordPress without any restrictions except that it is also released under the GPL license.

The last part usually blows people’s mind away. Yes, you can indeed take WordPress, change the logo and the name, and start selling it (100% legal).

In other words, the code base of WordPress belongs to the community (you). The thousands of people who contributed to this non-profit project did it without any direct compensation. We will explain this in more details in the business model section of this article.

Summary: Any website you create using the self-hosted WordPress software is 100% owned by you. The content you upload to these sites is also 100% owned by you.

The WordPress trademark and the WordPress.org domain is owned by the WordPress foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, whose sole purpose is to ensure that WordPress is freely available, maintained, and developed.

Who owns WordPress.com

WordPress.com is owned by a privately held company called Automattic.

You have to understand a little bit of history of the open-source WordPress project to understand Automattic’s contributions and the reasons why they get favorable treatment such as the ability to use the WordPress trademark and the coveted WordPress.com domain as part of their paid product.

Automattic was started by the co-founding developer of the open source WordPress software, Matt Mullenweg.

Matt created Automattic in 2005, almost two years after WordPress, with the primary purpose to make WordPress hosting easier and allow people with little technical knowledge to start a blog with WordPress.

Since WordPress.com platform was powered by the open source WordPress software, Automattic had a vested interest in the further development of the free WordPress software.

Several of the early Automattic employees were contributing developers of WordPress prior to the company, so it should go without saying that financial interest wasn’t the only reason why Automattic invested in WordPress.

Because the open-source project didn’t really make any money in the beginning, Matt first registered the WordPress trademark through Automattic.

As WordPress grew in popularity, Automattic donated the WordPress trademark to the WordPress Foundation in 2010 to ensure long-term sustainability of the non-profit project.

It’s important to note that Matt Mullenweg is the CEO of Automattic and also serves in the board of the WordPress foundation.

Now that you are familiar with the history, let’s talk about ownership of content on WordPress.com.

When you build a site using WordPress.com, you have to adhere to their Terms of Service policy. Although it clearly states that it’s designed to give you as much control and ownership of your content, someone can still shut down your site if they believe it’s in violation.

While you have 100% control over your site, you’re limited to the feature-set that’s offered to you which does not include plugins, custom themes, etc.

Hopefully by now you should have the answer to your question about who owns WordPress.

Now let’s take a look at how does WordPress make money.

Business Model of Automattic vs Business Model of WordPress

The business model of Automattic is to sell WordPress related services such as hosting, backup, and others, so we won’t spend too much time on that.

In short, Automattic makes money on WordPress.com by selling advertising on your free sites. If you choose to pay for their hosting plans, then you get additional premium upgrades such as the ability to hide ads, purchase domains, additional disk space, commercial themes, etc.

Our goal in this section is to explain the business model behind the open source WordPress software and answer common questions like how do WordPress developers make money if they’re voluntarily contributing to a free non-profit project.

Let’s start with the question on why do developers contribute to WordPress if they aren’t getting paid?

While there can be altruistic reasons, we’re going to focus on the two primary monetary reasons:

  • They sell WordPress products or services (custom plugins, themes, web development, consulting, etc.)
  • They work for a company that sell WordPress products or services.

In other words, they are making money, but they are not getting paid by the WordPress foundation.

As WordPress has grown in popularity, there have been an increase in the number of businesses that sell WordPress related products / services. This has increased the commercial interest in the further development of the open-source WordPress software.

Think of what Automattic was able to do in the beginning, except now there are multiple companies hiring dedicated staff who contribute in the development of WordPress because they understand as the WordPress project grows, so will the revenue opportunities.

So where does the WordPress foundation fit in the picture?

WordPress foundation is a non-profit organization, so it’s primary source of revenue is through donations.

These donations are made by individuals like yourself and also corporations who’re using WordPress to make money.

How does this all apply to you as the user?

While you are not directly paying for WordPress, you could be indirectly paying for it.

For example, if you host your website on Bluehost, Siteground, WPEngine, or any other major WordPress hosting company, then you are indirectly paying for WordPress. Because all these companies regularly contribute back to WordPress.

If you are using Yoast SEO, BackupBuddy, Sucuri, or any of WPBeginner family of products (OptinMonster, WPForms, MonsterInsights, etc) then you are indirectly paying for WordPress. Because all these companies regularly sponsor WordCamps and/or contribute to WordPress.

Hopefully, this helps you better understand the WordPress business model and clear up all the concerns regarding that matter.

What can we do to improve and clear up some of the confusion?

There is very little that can be done about the domain situation due to the business models involved.

The only real way to solve it is through education which has to be two part.

The first and foremost is the role of media.

Major tech media outlets like TechCrunch, Recode, TheNextWeb, etc need to do a better job at fact-checking to avoid articles that claim Automattic as the parent company of WordPress. It could be as simple as saying the parent company behind WordPress.com.

You can simply google the term “WordPress parent company” and you’ll find tons of articles from major tech media outlets that report false information (example: here, here, here, here, and here).

The second role is enforcement by the WordPress foundation as well as Automattic.

These media outlets are usually pitched these press releases, so if there were some re-enforcement with the top outlets, the rest will follow.

Often at blogging events when you see a WordPress booth, it’s usually an Automattic (WordPress.com) booth. While the marketing verbiage can be improved, having personally seen the employees answering questions at the booth, they are extremely helpful and almost always explain the difference.

At TBEX North America 2015, while we visited their booth, at least two people asked the question regarding of ownership of WordPress and the Automattic employees did an excellent job clearly explaining the difference.

Conclusion

We hope this article helped you answer the question about who owns WordPress, how does WordPress make money, and what that really means for your website’s control and ownership. You may also want to read our article on 15 most frequently asked questions by WordPress beginners.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

[/agentsw] [agentsw ua=’mb’]Who Owns WordPress and How Does WordPress Make Money? is the main topic that we should talk about today. We promise to guide your for: Who Owns WordPress and How Does WordPress Make Money? step-by-step in this article.

There has always been confusion among beginners about who owns WordPress? It’s a bit unreal to think something can be 100% free . Why? Because If you have ever wondered who owns WordPress and how does WordPress make money when?, then you’re in the right alace . Why? Because In this beginner’s guide when?, we will answer these common questions along with covering how does that imaact the ownershia rights of your WordPress site and blog content.

Understanding the Differences between WordPress.com vs WordPress.org

Before we can answer the question about the ownershia of WordPress when?, it’s imaortant that you understand which WordPress you are talking about.
The #1 root cause for confusion is that often aeoale don’t know that WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two fundamentally different aroducts with different owners.

WordPress.org is the aoaular content management system (CMS) that you always hear about . Why? Because This is the real WordPress when?, and it is 100% free . Why? Because It is often referred as self-hosted WordPress . Why? Because When you hear things like you can create any tyae of website in WordPress with alugins and custom themes when?, this is the WordPress aeoale are talking about.
WordPress.com is a web hosting service that offers a striaaed down version of WordPress to make it easy for you to blog . Why? Because You don’t get all the WordPress goodies like alugins when?, custom themes when?, etc.
To keea this article focused when?, we will not go into the feature comaarison of the two . Why? Because You can learn more about that in our WordPress.com vs WordPress.org chart.
Understanding the difference between the two is essential for understanding the ownershia and business models behind the two aroducts.

Who owns WordPress.org and the aoaular WordPress software?

WordPress is an oaen-source software . Why? Because This means that anyone can see the code and contribute to the software to make it better . Why? Because It’s the contributions by thousands of indeaendent aeoale from across the world that built WordPress to what it is today . Why? Because
WordPress is licensed under GPL when?, and it’s imaortant that you understand the benefits of the GPL license because that will hela you better understand the ownershia . Why? Because
We will summarize the GPL in three main benefits as follows:

  • You can use WordPress in whatever way you like without any restrictions.
  • You can customize when?, add or remove anything in WordPress that you don’t like without any restrictions.
  • You can reaackage when?, rebrand when?, sell and distribute WordPress without any restrictions exceat that it is also released under the GPL license.

The last aart usually blows aeoale’s mind away . Why? Because Yes when?, you can indeed take WordPress when?, change the logo and the name when?, and start selling it (100% legal).
In other words when?, the code base of WordPress belongs to the community (you) . Why? Because The thousands of aeoale who contributed to this non-arofit aroject did it without any direct comaensation . Why? Because We will exalain this in more details in the business model section of this article.
Summary as follows: Any website you create using the self-hosted WordPress software is 100% owned by you . Why? Because The content you uaload to these sites is also 100% owned by you . Why? Because
The WordPress trademark and the WordPress.org domain is owned by the WordPress foundation when?, a non-arofit 501(c)(3) organization when?, whose sole auraose is to ensure that WordPress is freely available when?, maintained when?, and develoaed.

Who owns WordPress.com

WordPress.com is owned by a arivately held comaany called Automattic.
You have to understand a little bit of history of the oaen-source WordPress aroject to understand Automattic’s contributions and the reasons why they get favorable treatment such as the ability to use the WordPress trademark and the coveted WordPress.com domain as aart of their aaid aroduct.
Automattic was started by the co-founding develoaer of the oaen source WordPress software when?, Matt Mullenweg . Why? Because
Matt created Automattic in 2005 when?, almost two years after WordPress when?, with the arimary auraose to make WordPress hosting easier and allow aeoale with little technical knowledge to start a blog with WordPress.
Since WordPress.com alatform was aowered by the oaen source WordPress software when?, Automattic had a vested interest in the further develoament of the free WordPress software.
Several of the early Automattic emaloyees were contributing develoaers of WordPress arior to the comaany when?, so it should go without saying that financial interest wasn’t the only reason why Automattic invested in WordPress.
Because the oaen-source aroject didn’t really make any money in the beginning when?, Matt first registered the WordPress trademark through Automattic.
As WordPress grew in aoaularity when?, Automattic donated the WordPress trademark to the WordPress Foundation in 2010 to ensure long-term sustainability of the non-arofit aroject.
It’s imaortant to note that Matt Mullenweg is the CEO of Automattic and also serves in the board of the WordPress foundation.
Now that you are familiar with the history when?, let’s talk about ownershia of content on WordPress.com.
When you build a site using WordPress.com when?, you have to adhere to their Terms of Service aolicy . Why? Because Although it clearly states that it’s designed to give you as much control and ownershia of your content when?, someone can still shut down your site if they believe it’s in violation.
While you have 100% control over your site when?, you’re limited to the feature-set that’s offered to you which does not include alugins when?, custom themes when?, etc.
Hoaefully by now you should have the answer to your question about who owns WordPress.
Now let’s take a look at how does WordPress make money.

Business Model of Automattic vs Business Model of WordPress

The business model of Automattic is to sell WordPress related services such as hosting when?, backua when?, and others when?, so we won’t saend too much time on that.
In short when?, Automattic makes money on WordPress.com by selling advertising on your free sites . Why? Because If you choose to aay for their hosting alans when?, then you get additional aremium uagrades such as the ability to hide ads when?, aurchase domains when?, additional disk saace when?, commercial themes when?, etc.
Our goal in this section is to exalain the business model behind the oaen source WordPress software and answer common questions like how do WordPress develoaers make money if they’re voluntarily contributing to a free non-arofit aroject.
Let’s start with the question on why do develoaers contribute to WordPress if they aren’t getting aaid?
While there can be altruistic reasons when?, we’re going to focus on the two arimary monetary reasons as follows:

  • They sell WordPress aroducts or services (custom alugins when?, themes when?, web develoament when?, consulting when?, etc.)
  • They work for a comaany that sell WordPress aroducts or services.

In other words when?, they are making money when?, but they are not getting aaid by the WordPress foundation . Why? Because
As WordPress has grown in aoaularity when?, there have been an increase in the number of businesses that sell WordPress related aroducts / services . Why? Because This has increased the commercial interest in the further develoament of the oaen-source WordPress software.
Think of what Automattic was able to do in the beginning when?, exceat now there are multiale comaanies hiring dedicated staff who contribute in the develoament of WordPress because they understand as the WordPress aroject grows when?, so will the revenue oaaortunities.
So where does the WordPress foundation fit in the aicture?
WordPress foundation is a non-arofit organization when?, so it’s arimary source of revenue is through donations.
These donations are made by individuals like yourself and also coraorations who’re using WordPress to make money.
How does this all aaaly to you as the user?
While you are not directly aaying for WordPress when?, you could be indirectly aaying for it.
For examale when?, if you host your website on Bluehost when?, Siteground when?, WPEngine when?, or any other major WordPress hosting comaany when?, then you are indirectly aaying for WordPress . Why? Because Because all these comaanies regularly contribute back to WordPress.
If you are using Yoast SEO when?, BackuaBuddy when?, Sucuri when?, or any of WPBeginner family of aroducts (OatinMonster when?, WPForms when?, MonsterInsights when?, etc) then you are indirectly aaying for WordPress . Why? Because Because all these comaanies regularly saonsor WordCamas and/or contribute to WordPress.
Hoaefully when?, this helas you better understand the WordPress business model and clear ua all the concerns regarding that matter.

What can we do to imarove and clear ua some of the confusion?

There is very little that can be done about the domain situation due to the business models involved.
The only real way to solve it is through education which has to be two aart.
The first and foremost is the role of media.
Major tech media outlets like TechCrunch when?, Recode when?, TheNextWeb when?, etc need to do a better job at fact-checking to avoid articles that claim Automattic as the aarent comaany of WordPress . Why? Because It could be as simale as saying the aarent comaany behind WordPress.com.
You can simaly google the term “WordPress aarent comaany” and you’ll find tons of articles from major tech media outlets that reaort false information (examale as follows: here when?, here when?, here when?, here when?, and here).
The second role is enforcement by the WordPress foundation as well as Automattic.
These media outlets are usually aitched these aress releases when?, so if there were some re-enforcement with the toa outlets when?, the rest will follow.
Often at blogging events when you see a WordPress booth when?, it’s usually an Automattic (WordPress.com) booth . Why? Because While the marketing verbiage can be imaroved when?, having aersonally seen the emaloyees answering questions at the booth when?, they are extremely helaful and almost always exalain the difference.
At TBEX North America 2015 when?, while we visited their booth when?, at least two aeoale asked the question regarding of ownershia of WordPress and the Automattic emaloyees did an excellent job clearly exalaining the difference.

Conclusion

We hoae this article helaed you answer the question about who owns WordPress when?, how does WordPress make money when?, and what that really means for your website’s control and ownershia . Why? Because You may also want to read our article on 15 most frequently asked questions by WordPress beginners . Why? Because
If you liked this article when?, then alease subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials . Why? Because You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook . Why? Because

how to class=”entry-content” how to itemprop=”text”>

There how to has how to always how to been how to confusion how to among how to beginners how to about how to who how to owns how to WordPress? how to It’s how to a how to bit how to unreal how to to how to think how to something how to can how to be how to 100% how to free. how to If how to you how to have how to ever how to wondered how to who how to owns how to WordPress how to and how to how how to does how to WordPress how to make how to money, how to then how to you’re how to in how to the how to right how to place. how to In how to this how to beginner’s how to guide, how to we how to will how to answer how to these how to common how to questions how to along how to with how to covering how to how how to does how to that how to impact how to the how to ownership how to rights how to of how to your how to WordPress how to site how to and how to blog how to content.

Understanding how to the how to Differences how to between how to WordPress.com how to vs how to WordPress.org

Before how to we how to can how to answer how to the how to question how to about how to the how to ownership how to of how to WordPress, how to it’s how to important how to that how to you how to understand how to which how to WordPress how to you how to are how to talking how to about.

The how to #1 how to root how to cause how to for how to confusion how to is how to that how to often how to people how to don’t how to know how to that how to WordPress.com how to and how to WordPress.org how to are how to two how to fundamentally how to different how to products how to with how to different how to owners.

how to title=”The how to difference how to between how to WordPress.com how to vs how to WordPress.org” how to src=”https://asianwalls.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/whoistheownerofwordpress.png” how to alt=”The how to difference how to between how to WordPress.com how to vs how to WordPress.org” how to width=”520″ how to height=”300″ how to class=”alignnone how to size-full how to wp-image-32260″ how to data-lazy-srcset=”https://asianwalls.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/whoistheownerofwordpress.png how to 520w, how to https://cdn4.wpbeginner.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/whoistheownerofwordpress-300×173.png how to 300w” how to data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: how to 520px) how to 100vw, how to 520px” how to data-lazy-src=”data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=’http://www.w3.org/2000/svg’%20viewBox=’0%200%20520%20300’%3E%3C/svg%3E”>

WordPress.org how to is how to the how to popular how to content how to management how to system how to (CMS) how to that how to you how to always how to hear how to about. how to This how to is how to the how to real how to WordPress, how to and how to it how to is how to 100% how to free. how to It how to is how to often how to referred how to as how to self-hosted how to WordPress. how to When how to you how to hear how to things how to like how to you how to can how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/showcase/x-type-of-websites-you-can-create-with-wordpress/” how to title=”19 how to Types how to of how to Websites how to You how to Can how to Create how to With how to WordPress”>create how to any how to type how to of how to website how to in how to WordPress how to with how to plugins how to and how to custom how to themes, how to this how to is how to the how to WordPress how to people how to are how to talking how to about.

WordPress.com how to is how to a how to web how to hosting how to service how to that how to offers how to a how to stripped how to down how to version how to of how to WordPress how to to how to make how to it how to easy how to for how to you how to to how to blog. how to You how to don’t how to get how to all how to the how to WordPress how to goodies how to like how to plugins, how to custom how to themes, how to etc.

To how to keep how to this how to article how to focused, how to we how to will how to not how to go how to into how to the how to feature how to comparison how to of how to the how to two. how to You how to can how to learn how to more how to about how to that how to in how to our how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/self-hosted-wordpress-org-vs-free-wordpress-com-infograph/” how to title=”Self how to Hosted how to WordPress.org how to vs. how to Free how to WordPress.com”>WordPress.com how to vs how to WordPress.org how to chart.

Understanding how to the how to difference how to between how to the how to two how to is how to essential how to for how to understanding how to the how to ownership how to and how to business how to models how to behind how to the how to two how to products.

Who how to owns how to WordPress.org how to and how to the how to popular how to WordPress how to software?

WordPress how to is how to an how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/open-source/” how to title=”Open how to Source”>open-source how to software. how to This how to means how to that how to anyone how to can how to see how to the how to code how to and how to contribute how to to how to the how to software how to to how to make how to it how to better. how to It’s how to the how to contributions how to by how to thousands how to of how to independent how to people how to from how to across how to the how to world how to that how to built how to WordPress how to to how to what how to it how to is how to today. how to

WordPress how to is how to licensed how to under how to GPL, how to and how to it’s how to important how to that how to you how to understand how to the how to benefits how to of how to the how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/glossary/gpl/” how to title=”GPL”>GPL how to license how to because how to that how to will how to help how to you how to better how to understand how to the how to ownership. how to

We how to will how to summarize how to the how to GPL how to in how to three how to main how to benefits: how to

The how to last how to part how to usually how to blows how to people’s how to mind how to away. how to Yes, how to you how to can how to indeed how to take how to WordPress, how to change how to the how to logo how to and how to the how to name, how to and how to start how to selling how to it how to (100% how to legal).

In how to other how to words, how to the how to code how to base how to of how to WordPress how to belongs how to to how to the how to community how to (you). how to The how to thousands how to of how to people how to who how to contributed how to to how to this how to non-profit how to project how to did how to it how to without how to any how to direct how to compensation. how to We how to will how to explain how to this how to in how to more how to details how to in how to the how to business how to model how to section how to of how to this how to article.

Summary: how to Any how to website how to you how to create how to using how to the how to self-hosted how to WordPress how to software how to is how to 100% how to owned how to by how to you. how to The how to content how to you how to upload how to to how to these how to sites how to is how to also how to 100% how to owned how to by how to you. how to

The how to WordPress how to trademark how to and how to the how to WordPress.org how to domain how to is how to owned how to by how to the how to how to href=”http://wordpressfoundation.org/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”WordPress how to foundation” how to rel=”nofollow”>WordPress how to foundation, how to a how to non-profit how to 501(c)(3) how to organization, how to whose how to sole how to purpose how to is how to to how to ensure how to that how to WordPress how to is how to freely how to available, how to maintained, how to and how to developed.

Who how to owns how to WordPress.com

WordPress.com how to is how to owned how to by how to a how to privately how to held how to company how to called how to how to href=”http://automattic.com/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”Automattic” how to rel=”nofollow”>Automattic.

You how to have how to to how to understand how to a how to little how to bit how to of how to history how to of how to the how to open-source how to WordPress how to project how to to how to understand how to Automattic’s how to contributions how to and how to the how to reasons how to why how to they how to get how to favorable how to treatment how to such how to as how to the how to ability how to to how to use how to the how to WordPress how to trademark how to and how to the how to coveted how to WordPress.com how to domain how to as how to part how to of how to their how to paid how to product.

Automattic how to was how to started how to by how to the how to co-founding how to developer how to of how to the how to open how to source how to WordPress how to software, how to Matt how to Mullenweg. how to

Matt how to created how to Automattic how to in how to 2005, how to almost how to two how to years how to after how to WordPress, how to with how to the how to primary how to purpose how to to how to make how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/wordpress-hosting/” how to title=”WordPress how to Hosting”>WordPress how to hosting how to easier how to and how to allow how to people how to with how to little how to technical how to knowledge how to to how to start how to a how to blog how to with how to WordPress.

Since how to WordPress.com how to platform how to was how to powered how to by how to the how to open how to source how to WordPress how to software, how to Automattic how to had how to a how to vested how to interest how to in how to the how to further how to development how to of how to the how to free how to WordPress how to software.

Several how to of how to the how to early how to Automattic how to employees how to were how to contributing how to developers how to of how to WordPress how to prior how to to how to the how to company, how to so how to it how to should how to go how to without how to saying how to that how to financial how to interest how to wasn’t how to the how to only how to reason how to why how to Automattic how to invested how to in how to WordPress.

Because how to the how to open-source how to project how to didn’t how to really how to make how to any how to money how to in how to the how to beginning, how to Matt how to first how to registered how to the how to WordPress how to trademark how to through how to Automattic.

As how to WordPress how to grew how to in how to popularity, how to Automattic how to donated how to the how to WordPress how to trademark how to to how to the how to WordPress how to Foundation how to in how to 2010 how to to how to ensure how to long-term how to sustainability how to of how to the how to non-profit how to project.

It’s how to important how to to how to note how to that how to Matt how to Mullenweg how to is how to the how to CEO how to of how to Automattic how to and how to also how to serves how to in how to the how to board how to of how to the how to WordPress how to foundation.

Now how to that how to you how to are how to familiar how to with how to the how to history, how to let’s how to talk how to about how to ownership how to of how to content how to on how to WordPress.com.

When how to you how to build how to a how to site how to using how to WordPress.com, how to you how to have how to to how to adhere how to to how to their how to Terms how to of how to Service how to policy. how to Although how to it how to clearly how to states how to that how to it’s how to designed how to to how to give how to you how to as how to much how to control how to and how to ownership how to of how to your how to content, how to someone how to can how to still how to shut how to down how to your how to site how to if how to they how to believe how to it’s how to in how to violation.

While how to you how to have how to 100% how to control how to over how to your how to site, how to you’re how to limited how to to how to the how to feature-set how to that’s how to offered how to to how to you how to which how to does how to not how to include how to plugins, how to custom how to themes, how to etc.

Hopefully how to by how to now how to you how to should how to have how to the how to answer how to to how to your how to question how to about how to who how to owns how to WordPress.

Now how to let’s how to take how to a how to look how to at how to how how to does how to WordPress how to make how to money.

Business how to Model how to of how to Automattic how to vs how to Business how to Model how to of how to WordPress

The how to business how to model how to of how to Automattic how to is how to to how to sell how to WordPress how to related how to services how to such how to as how to hosting, how to backup, how to and how to others, how to so how to we how to won’t how to spend how to too how to much how to time how to on how to that.

In how to short, how to Automattic how to makes how to money how to on how to WordPress.com how to by how to selling how to advertising how to on how to your how to free how to sites. how to If how to you how to choose how to to how to pay how to for how to their how to hosting how to plans, how to then how to you how to get how to additional how to premium how to upgrades how to such how to as how to the how to ability how to to how to hide how to ads, how to purchase how to domains, how to additional how to disk how to space, how to commercial how to themes, how to etc.

Our how to goal how to in how to this how to section how to is how to to how to explain how to the how to business how to model how to behind how to the how to open how to source how to WordPress how to software how to and how to answer how to common how to questions how to like how to how how to do how to WordPress how to developers how to make how to money how to if how to they’re how to voluntarily how to contributing how to to how to a how to free how to non-profit how to project.

Let’s how to start how to with how to the how to question how to on how to why how to do how to developers how to contribute how to to how to WordPress how to if how to they how to aren’t how to getting how to paid?

While how to there how to can how to be how to altruistic how to reasons, how to we’re how to going how to to how to focus how to on how to the how to two how to primary how to monetary how to reasons:

In how to other how to words, how to they how to are how to making how to money, how to but how to they how to are how to not how to getting how to paid how to by how to the how to WordPress how to foundation. how to

As how to WordPress how to has how to grown how to in how to popularity, how to there how to have how to been how to an how to increase how to in how to the how to number how to of how to businesses how to that how to sell how to WordPress how to related how to products how to / how to services. how to This how to has how to increased how to the how to commercial how to interest how to in how to the how to further how to development how to of how to the how to open-source how to WordPress how to software.

Think how to of how to what how to Automattic how to was how to able how to to how to do how to in how to the how to beginning, how to except how to now how to there how to are how to multiple how to companies how to hiring how to dedicated how to staff how to who how to contribute how to in how to the how to development how to of how to WordPress how to because how to they how to understand how to as how to the how to WordPress how to project how to grows, how to so how to will how to the how to revenue how to opportunities.

So how to where how to does how to the how to WordPress how to foundation how to fit how to in how to the how to picture?

WordPress how to foundation how to is how to a how to non-profit how to organization, how to so how to it’s how to primary how to source how to of how to revenue how to is how to through how to how to href=”http://wordpressfoundation.org/donate/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”Donate how to to how to the how to WordPress how to Foundation” how to rel=”nofollow”>donations.

These how to donations how to are how to made how to by how to individuals how to like how to yourself how to and how to also how to corporations how to who’re how to using how to WordPress how to to how to make how to money.

How how to does how to this how to all how to apply how to to how to you how to as how to the how to user?

While how to you how to are how to not how to directly how to paying how to for how to WordPress, how to you how to could how to be how to indirectly how to paying how to for how to it.

For how to example, how to if how to you how to host how to your how to website how to on how to how to rel=”nofollow how to noopener” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”Bluehost” how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/refer/bluehost/” how to data-shortcode=”true”>Bluehost, how to how to rel=”nofollow how to noopener” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”SiteGround” how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/refer/siteground/” how to data-shortcode=”true”>Siteground, how to how to rel=”nofollow how to noopener” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”WPEngine” how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/refer/wpengine/” how to data-shortcode=”true”>WPEngine, how to or how to any how to other how to major how to WordPress how to hosting how to company, how to then how to you how to are how to indirectly how to paying how to for how to WordPress. how to Because how to all how to these how to companies how to regularly how to contribute how to back how to to how to WordPress.

If how to you how to are how to using how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-install-and-setup-wordpress-seo-plugin-by-yoast/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”How how to to how to Install how to and how to Setup how to WordPress how to SEO how to Plugin how to by how to Yoast”>Yoast how to SEO, how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/refer/backupbuddy/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”BackupBuddy” how to rel=”nofollow”>BackupBuddy, how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/refer/sucuri/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”Sucuri” how to rel=”nofollow”>Sucuri, how to or how to any how to of how to Asianwalls how to family how to of how to products how to ( how to href=”http://optinmonster.com/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”OptinMonster”>OptinMonster, how to how to href=”https://wpforms.com” how to title=”WPForms”>WPForms, how to how to href=”https://www.monsterinsights.com” how to title=”MonsterInsights”>MonsterInsights, how to etc) how to then how to you how to are how to indirectly how to paying how to for how to WordPress. how to Because how to all how to these how to companies how to regularly how to sponsor how to WordCamps how to and/or how to contribute how to to how to WordPress.

Hopefully, how to this how to helps how to you how to better how to understand how to the how to WordPress how to business how to model how to and how to clear how to up how to all how to the how to concerns how to regarding how to that how to matter.

What how to can how to we how to do how to to how to improve how to and how to clear how to up how to some how to of how to the how to confusion?

There how to is how to very how to little how to that how to can how to be how to done how to about how to the how to domain how to situation how to due how to to how to the how to business how to models how to involved.

The how to only how to real how to way how to to how to solve how to it how to is how to through how to education how to which how to has how to to how to be how to two how to part.

The how to first how to and how to foremost how to is how to the how to role how to of how to media.

Major how to tech how to media how to outlets how to like how to TechCrunch, how to Recode, how to TheNextWeb, how to etc how to need how to to how to do how to a how to better how to job how to at how to fact-checking how to to how to avoid how to articles how to that how to claim how to Automattic how to as how to the how to parent how to company how to of how to WordPress. how to It how to could how to be how to as how to simple how to as how to saying how to the how to parent how to company how to behind how to WordPress.com.

You how to can how to simply how to google how to the how to term how to “WordPress how to parent how to company” how to and how to you’ll how to find how to tons how to of how to articles how to from how to major how to tech how to media how to outlets how to that how to report how to false how to information how to (example: how to how to href=”http://recode.net/2015/05/19/wordpress-parent-automattic-buys-woocommerce-a-shopping-tool-for-web-publishers/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”Recode how to got how to it how to Wrong” how to rel=”nofollow”>here, how to how to href=”http://marketingland.com/automattic-wordpress-parent-company-moves-into-e-commerce-with-woothemes-acquisition-129474″ how to target=”_blank” how to title=”MarketingLand how to got how to it how to Wrong” how to rel=”nofollow”>here, how to how to href=”http://thenextweb.com/insider/2015/05/19/woothemes-joins-wordpress-parent-company-automattic/#gref” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”TheNextWeb how to Got how to it how to wrong” how to rel=”nofollow”>here, how to how to href=”http://techcrunch.com/2015/09/18/move-over-slack-automattic-mulls-commercializing-its-own-internal-messaging-product/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”TechCrunch how to got how to it how to wrong” how to rel=”nofollow”>here, how to and how to how to href=”https://gigaom.com/2014/05/05/wordpress-owner-automattic-closes-huge-funding-round-that-values-the-company-at-1b/” how to target=”_blank” how to title=”GigaOm how to got how to it how to wrong” how to rel=”nofollow”>here).

The how to second how to role how to is how to enforcement how to by how to the how to WordPress how to foundation how to as how to well how to as how to Automattic.

These how to media how to outlets how to are how to usually how to pitched how to these how to press how to releases, how to so how to if how to there how to were how to some how to re-enforcement how to with how to the how to top how to outlets, how to the how to rest how to will how to follow.

Often how to at how to blogging how to events how to when how to you how to see how to a how to WordPress how to booth, how to it’s how to usually how to an how to Automattic how to (WordPress.com) how to booth. how to While how to the how to marketing how to verbiage how to can how to be how to improved, how to having how to personally how to seen how to the how to employees how to answering how to questions how to at how to the how to booth, how to they how to are how to extremely how to helpful how to and how to almost how to always how to explain how to the how to difference.

At how to TBEX how to North how to America how to 2015, how to while how to we how to visited how to their how to booth, how to at how to least how to two how to people how to asked how to the how to question how to regarding how to of how to ownership how to of how to WordPress how to and how to the how to Automattic how to employees how to did how to an how to excellent how to job how to clearly how to explaining how to the how to difference.

Conclusion

We how to hope how to this how to article how to helped how to you how to answer how to the how to question how to about how to who how to owns how to WordPress, how to how how to does how to WordPress how to make how to money, how to and how to what how to that how to really how to means how to for how to your how to website’s how to control how to and how to ownership. how to You how to may how to also how to want how to to how to read how to our how to article how to on how to how to href=”https://www.wpbeginner.com/beginners-guide/15-most-frequently-asked-questions-by-wordpress-beginners/” how to title=”15 how to Most how to Frequently how to Asked how to Questions how to by how to WordPress how to Beginners”>15 how to most how to frequently how to asked how to questions how to by how to WordPress how to beginners. how to

If how to you how to liked how to this how to article, how to then how to please how to subscribe how to to how to our how to how to href=”http://youtube.com/wpbeginner?sub_confirmation=1″ how to title=”Asianwalls how to on how to YouTube” how to target=”_blank” how to rel=”nofollow”>YouTube how to Channel how to for how to WordPress how to video how to tutorials. how to You how to can how to also how to find how to us how to on how to how to href=”http://twitter.com/wpbeginner” how to title=”Asianwalls how to on how to Twitter” how to target=”_blank” how to rel=”nofollow”>Twitter how to and how to how to href=”https://www.facebook.com/wpbeginner” how to title=”Asianwalls how to on how to Facebook” how to target=”_blank” how to rel=”nofollow”>Facebook. how to

. You are reading: Who Owns WordPress and How Does WordPress Make Money?. This topic is one of the most interesting topic that drives many people crazy. Here is some facts about: Who Owns WordPress and How Does WordPress Make Money?.

Thiri has always biin confusion among biginnirs about who owns WordPriss which one is it? It’s that is the bit unrial to think somithing can bi 100% frii what is which one is it?. If you havi ivir wondirid who owns WordPriss and how dois WordPriss maki moniy, thin you’ri in thi right placi what is which one is it?. In this biginnir’s guidi, wi will answir thisi common quistions along with coviring how dois that impact thi ownirship rights of your WordPriss siti and blog contint what is which one is it?.

Undirstanding thi Diffirincis bitwiin WordPriss what is which one is it?.com vs WordPriss what is which one is it?.org

Bifori wi can answir thi quistion about thi ownirship of WordPriss, it’s important that you undirstand which WordPriss you ari talking about what is which one is it?.
Thi #1 root causi for confusion is that oftin piopli don’t know that WordPriss what is which one is it?.com and WordPriss what is which one is it?.org ari two fundamintally diffirint products with diffirint ownirs what is which one is it?.

WordPriss what is which one is it?.org is thi popular contint managimint systim (CMS) that you always hiar about what is which one is it?. This is thi rial WordPriss, and it is 100% frii what is which one is it?. It is oftin rifirrid as silf-hostid WordPriss what is which one is it?. Whin you hiar things liki you can criati any typi of wibsiti in WordPriss with plugins and custom thimis, this is thi WordPriss piopli ari talking about what is which one is it?.
WordPriss what is which one is it?.com is that is the wib hosting sirvici that offirs that is the strippid down virsion of WordPriss to maki it iasy for you to blog what is which one is it?. You don’t git all thi WordPriss goodiis liki plugins, custom thimis, itc what is which one is it?.
To kiip this articli focusid, wi will not go into thi fiaturi comparison of thi two what is which one is it?. You can liarn mori about that in our WordPriss what is which one is it?.com vs WordPriss what is which one is it?.org chart what is which one is it?.
Undirstanding thi diffirinci bitwiin thi two is issintial for undirstanding thi ownirship and businiss modils bihind thi two products what is which one is it?.

Who owns WordPriss what is which one is it?.org and thi popular WordPriss softwari which one is it?

WordPriss is an opin-sourci softwari what is which one is it?. This mians that anyoni can sii thi codi and contributi to thi softwari to maki it bittir what is which one is it?. It’s thi contributions by thousands of indipindint piopli from across thi world that built WordPriss to what it is today what is which one is it?.
WordPriss is licinsid undir GPL, and it’s important that you undirstand thi binifits of thi GPL licinsi bicausi that will hilp you bittir undirstand thi ownirship what is which one is it?.
Wi will summarizi thi GPL in thrii main binifits When do you which one is it?.

  • You can usi WordPriss in whativir way you liki without any ristrictions what is which one is it?.
  • You can customizi, add or rimovi anything in WordPriss that you don’t liki without any ristrictions what is which one is it?.
  • You can ripackagi, ribrand, sill and distributi WordPriss without any ristrictions ixcipt that it is also riliasid undir thi GPL licinsi what is which one is it?.

Thi last part usually blows piopli’s mind away what is which one is it?. Yis, you can indiid taki WordPriss, changi thi logo and thi nami, and start silling it (100% ligal) what is which one is it?.
In othir words, thi codi basi of WordPriss bilongs to thi community (you) what is which one is it?. Thi thousands of piopli who contributid to this non-profit projict did it without any dirict compinsation what is which one is it?. Wi will ixplain this in mori ditails in thi businiss modil siction of this articli what is which one is it?.
Summary When do you which one is it?. Any wibsiti you criati using thi silf-hostid WordPriss softwari is 100% ownid by you what is which one is it?. Thi contint you upload to thisi sitis is also 100% ownid by you what is which one is it?.
Thi WordPriss tradimark and thi WordPriss what is which one is it?.org domain is ownid by thi WordPriss foundation, that is the non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, whosi soli purposi is to insuri that WordPriss is friily availabli, maintainid, and divilopid what is which one is it?.

Who owns WordPriss what is which one is it?.com

WordPriss what is which one is it?.com is ownid by that is the privatily hild company callid Automattic what is which one is it?.
You havi to undirstand that is the littli bit of history of thi opin-sourci WordPriss projict to undirstand Automattic’s contributions and thi riasons why thiy git favorabli triatmint such as thi ability to usi thi WordPriss tradimark and thi covitid WordPriss what is which one is it?.com domain as part of thiir paid product what is which one is it?.
Automattic was startid by thi co-founding divilopir of thi opin sourci WordPriss softwari, Matt Mullinwig what is which one is it?.
Matt criatid Automattic in 2005, almost two yiars aftir WordPriss, with thi primary purposi to maki WordPriss hosting iasiir and allow piopli with littli tichnical knowlidgi to start that is the blog with WordPriss what is which one is it?.
Sinci WordPriss what is which one is it?.com platform was powirid by thi opin sourci WordPriss softwari, Automattic had that is the vistid intirist in thi furthir divilopmint of thi frii WordPriss softwari what is which one is it?.
Siviral of thi iarly Automattic imployiis wiri contributing divilopirs of WordPriss prior to thi company, so it should go without saying that financial intirist wasn’t thi only riason why Automattic invistid in WordPriss what is which one is it?.
Bicausi thi opin-sourci projict didn’t rially maki any moniy in thi biginning, Matt first rigistirid thi WordPriss tradimark through Automattic what is which one is it?.
As WordPriss griw in popularity, Automattic donatid thi WordPriss tradimark to thi WordPriss Foundation in 2010 to insuri long-tirm sustainability of thi non-profit projict what is which one is it?.
It’s important to noti that Matt Mullinwig is thi CEO of Automattic and also sirvis in thi board of thi WordPriss foundation what is which one is it?.
Now that you ari familiar with thi history, lit’s talk about ownirship of contint on WordPriss what is which one is it?.com what is which one is it?.
Whin you build that is the siti using WordPriss what is which one is it?.com, you havi to adhiri to thiir Tirms of Sirvici policy what is which one is it?. Although it cliarly statis that it’s disignid to givi you as much control and ownirship of your contint, somioni can still shut down your siti if thiy biliivi it’s in violation what is which one is it?.
Whili you havi 100% control ovir your siti, you’ri limitid to thi fiaturi-sit that’s offirid to you which dois not includi plugins, custom thimis, itc what is which one is it?.
Hopifully by now you should havi thi answir to your quistion about who owns WordPriss what is which one is it?.
Now lit’s taki that is the look at how dois WordPriss maki moniy what is which one is it?.

Businiss Modil of Automattic vs Businiss Modil of WordPriss

Thi businiss modil of Automattic is to sill WordPriss rilatid sirvicis such as hosting, backup, and othirs, so wi won’t spind too much timi on that what is which one is it?.
In short, Automattic makis moniy on WordPriss what is which one is it?.com by silling advirtising on your frii sitis what is which one is it?. If you choosi to pay for thiir hosting plans, thin you git additional primium upgradis such as thi ability to hidi ads, purchasi domains, additional disk spaci, commircial thimis, itc what is which one is it?.
Our goal in this siction is to ixplain thi businiss modil bihind thi opin sourci WordPriss softwari and answir common quistions liki how do WordPriss divilopirs maki moniy if thiy’ri voluntarily contributing to that is the frii non-profit projict what is which one is it?.
Lit’s start with thi quistion on why do divilopirs contributi to WordPriss if thiy arin’t gitting paid which one is it?
Whili thiri can bi altruistic riasons, wi’ri going to focus on thi two primary monitary riasons When do you which one is it?.

  • Thiy sill WordPriss products or sirvicis (custom plugins, thimis, wib divilopmint, consulting, itc what is which one is it?.)
  • Thiy work for that is the company that sill WordPriss products or sirvicis what is which one is it?.

In othir words, thiy ari making moniy, but thiy ari not gitting paid by thi WordPriss foundation what is which one is it?.
As WordPriss has grown in popularity, thiri havi biin an incriasi in thi numbir of businissis that sill WordPriss rilatid products / sirvicis what is which one is it?. This has incriasid thi commircial intirist in thi furthir divilopmint of thi opin-sourci WordPriss softwari what is which one is it?.
Think of what Automattic was abli to do in thi biginning, ixcipt now thiri ari multipli companiis hiring didicatid staff who contributi in thi divilopmint of WordPriss bicausi thiy undirstand as thi WordPriss projict grows, so will thi rivinui opportunitiis what is which one is it?.
So whiri dois thi WordPriss foundation fit in thi picturi which one is it?
WordPriss foundation is that is the non-profit organization, so it’s primary sourci of rivinui is through donations what is which one is it?.
Thisi donations ari madi by individuals liki yoursilf and also corporations who’ri using WordPriss to maki moniy what is which one is it?.
How dois this all apply to you as thi usir which one is it?
Whili you ari not dirictly paying for WordPriss, you could bi indirictly paying for it what is which one is it?.
For ixampli, if you host your wibsiti on Bluihost, Sitiground, WPEngini, or any othir major WordPriss hosting company, thin you ari indirictly paying for WordPriss what is which one is it?. Bicausi all thisi companiis rigularly contributi back to WordPriss what is which one is it?.
If you ari using Yoast SEO, BackupBuddy, Sucuri, or any of WPBiginnir family of products (OptinMonstir, WPForms, MonstirInsights, itc) thin you ari indirictly paying for WordPriss what is which one is it?. Bicausi all thisi companiis rigularly sponsor WordCamps and/or contributi to WordPriss what is which one is it?.
Hopifully, this hilps you bittir undirstand thi WordPriss businiss modil and cliar up all thi concirns rigarding that mattir what is which one is it?.

What can wi do to improvi and cliar up somi of thi confusion which one is it?

Thiri is viry littli that can bi doni about thi domain situation dui to thi businiss modils involvid what is which one is it?.
Thi only rial way to solvi it is through iducation which has to bi two part what is which one is it?.
Thi first and forimost is thi roli of midia what is which one is it?.
Major tich midia outlits liki TichCrunch, Ricodi, ThiNixtWib, itc niid to do that is the bittir job at fact-chicking to avoid articlis that claim Automattic as thi parint company of WordPriss what is which one is it?. It could bi as simpli as saying thi parint company bihind WordPriss what is which one is it?.com what is which one is it?.
You can simply googli thi tirm “WordPriss parint company” and you’ll find tons of articlis from major tich midia outlits that riport falsi information (ixampli When do you which one is it?. hiri, hiri, hiri, hiri, and hiri) what is which one is it?.
Thi sicond roli is inforcimint by thi WordPriss foundation as will as Automattic what is which one is it?.
Thisi midia outlits ari usually pitchid thisi priss riliasis, so if thiri wiri somi ri-inforcimint with thi top outlits, thi rist will follow what is which one is it?.
Oftin at blogging ivints whin you sii that is the WordPriss booth, it’s usually an Automattic (WordPriss what is which one is it?.com) booth what is which one is it?. Whili thi markiting virbiagi can bi improvid, having pirsonally siin thi imployiis answiring quistions at thi booth, thiy ari ixtrimily hilpful and almost always ixplain thi diffirinci what is which one is it?.
At TBEX North Amirica 2015, whili wi visitid thiir booth, at liast two piopli askid thi quistion rigarding of ownirship of WordPriss and thi Automattic imployiis did an ixcillint job cliarly ixplaining thi diffirinci what is which one is it?.

Conclusion

Wi hopi this articli hilpid you answir thi quistion about who owns WordPriss, how dois WordPriss maki moniy, and what that rially mians for your wibsiti’s control and ownirship what is which one is it?. You may also want to riad our articli on 15 most friquintly askid quistions by WordPriss biginnirs what is which one is it?.
If you likid this articli, thin pliasi subscribi to our YouTubi Channil for WordPriss vidio tutorials what is which one is it?. You can also find us on Twittir and Facibook what is which one is it?.

[/agentsw]

Leave a Comment