Confused about web hosting

Hi guys, I’ am a bit confused about web hosting and WordPress, and I could really use some help. I want to create a travel blog to document my adventures and share them with friends and family. I wouldn’t mind being able to monetize it in the future.

I have been browsing through posts in this sub and came across Knownhost and Nixihost. When they mention they have a WordPress installer, does that mean I need to pay for WordPress separately and then it’s installed? Or do I just pay for the hosting, and WordPress is included?

What’s the difference between hosting on Knownhost or Nixihost versus using WordPress directly? I’m a bit confused about what I need to pay for and what the best option would be to create my blog.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

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WordPress is completely free. However, it would help if you had a place for it to ‘live,’ which is where the host comes in, like Knownhost. Their installers make it easy to get up and running with WordPress, but there isn’t an extra cost for the WordPress software.

It gets confusing because there’s also a hosting service called WordPress.com, which hosts WordPress sites. Most WordPress professionals don’t recommend it. This duality causes a lot of confusion.

If you choose something like Knownhost, you won’t need to pay for WordPress. However, you will need a domain for your site, so you’ll need to find a registrar if you haven’t already.

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You can use any of the hosts listed in the sidebar. You do not have to pay more for Wordpress, however there are paid themes/plugins available in addition to the free options. Wordpress installers are just easy ways to install the Wordpress software on your actual hosting account. Consider hosting to be your television, and WordPress to be the service you use to watch channels.

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WordPress is an open-source blogging platform. WordPress.com is a pricey hosting service. Typically, if you pay for hosting, you can run and install WordPress for free on that platform. If you want WordPress, I recommend looking for a “managed” host who handles the majority of the technical and security aspects of your site, leaving you to focus solely on design and content creation. Personally, I believe Flywheel offers a nice blend of features and affordability.