What's the Difference Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

The short version

They share a name and the same underlying software, which is exactly why it's so confusing. WordPress.com is a company that hosts a simplified version of WordPress for you — quick to start, but limited. WordPress.org is the free, open-source software you install on hosting you control — more powerful, and fully yours.

Which one businesses usually want

If you want to truly own your website, install any plugin you like, and have full control over design and SEO, that's WordPress.org (self-hosted). It's what agencies and serious business sites run. WordPress.com's free and lower tiers limit plugins, run their own ads, and cap customization — and matching .org's flexibility means paying for its pricier plans anyway.

The catch with .org

"Self-hosted" means the upkeep — hosting, updates, security, backups — is on you, or on whoever you have look after it. That's the trade for ownership and freedom: more control, but someone has to keep it healthy. That "someone" can be a maintenance service rather than a full-time job for you.