Free Or Paid Plan on WordPress? Read this!

~ beetleypete

WordPress is about to change the variety of plans available to bloggers. In their ongoing quest to pander to business users, (and to make more money) only TWO plans will be offered in future.

Free
or
Pro

https://wordpress.com/support/plan-features/

*There will also be a monthly limit on views of your blog! So much for expanding your community!

https://wordpress.com/pricing/

The Free plan will allow ONLY 0.5 GB of storage space. If you use more than that, WP will potentially delete the photos in your media library. The Pro plan allows 50 GB, and retains the features of Premium, with some extras. Bloggers already getting the free 3 GB allowance on the Free plan, or 13 GB on the Premium plan will retain that.

For now.

But the cost of the Pro plan will be $180 a year, paid in advance. This is going to impact millions of WP bloggers around the world, at a time when the cost of living is increasing to levels not seen since WW2.

Read this post from Bookstooge, for a detailed explanation. Then get angry!
https://bookstooge.wordpress.com/2022/04/02/bend-over-bloggers-wordpress-wants-your-ss/

84 thoughts on “Free Or Paid Plan on WordPress? Read this!”

        1. If that works for you, then why not? I know at least six bloggers who left Blogger for WP, and one who left WP for blogger then returned in a few weeks. I have no doubt these new changes will make many people explore other platforms..
          It has taken me years to become part of a great community here though. I have made real friends, and even met some of them. I am very reluctant to abandon all that after 10 years.
          Best wishes, Pete.

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  3. i have a simple scenario: if it gets too expensive, I quit. I’ve been doing this a along time and it has been a great run. I don’t like the way they run anymore anyhow, so I’ll either find another way to do this or not do it. But I can’t afford those prices and frankly, I don’t think it’s worth the money. Not any more. Views are down, readership is dropping and has been for a while, so if they push it, okay, I’m ready to say bye bye. Nothing lasts forever.

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    1. Thanks, Marilyn, I completely understand that. As of last night, it currently appears that existing bloggers will not be affected. We will see how long that lasts.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  4. I had found a good hoster here, a year ago. Just under eight euros for 25 GB of storage space, WordPress can be installed with a few clicks, and there is no limit to the amount of traffic. I can use up to ten domains too. I only have the problem that I cannot use this WP jetpack in Germany because it does not correspond to the interpretation of the GDPR practiced here. I can’t reblog directly with this. ;-(

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  6. Lucky me! My premium plan renewed 25th March. At least it gives me some time to research my options. (Unless they change the rules again before next March. They’re almost certain to change the prices.)
    And why are we in the UK being charged the same amount of pounds as those in the US will be charged in dollars?

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  8. I enjoy being self-hosted. I’ve been with the same hosting since 2008. I pay $14.95 a year for my domain name, and $3.99 per month (or you can pay quarterly or annually). I’m just lazy and haven’t converted mine to annual yet. I’ve had it this way for all these years.

    $3.99, gets you 20 subdomains (if you’re into having more than one website) 20 SQL databases if you need it, (I use only two, one forum and one WordPress). 100 email accounts (I only use 4). 250 GB of traffic a month, no limited views as long as traffic is under the 250 GB, Unlimited storage. I have about 29 GB used storage on my unlimited hosting now, that includes my forum that has tons of pictures and games, that is on a subdomain.

    There is also an auto installer on your hosting to install WordPress. Then you just use a free account to access the WordPress reader.

    There are two or three WordPress options you don’t have, like the reblog button, but I live without it for the price.

    Something you can think about, if prices get too steep. I think WP has lost their minds!

    -Ron

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    1. Thanks for adding that useful information, Ron. You are very tech-savvy, and I am not sure how many of the rest of us feel confident to be able to run our own site and add the necessary features. I also fear that WP may find a way to start charging outsiders to access their blogs and forums.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  9. That stinks. I hadn’t heard about this until now. I have a free personal plan and have used it for many years, so I guess I’m ok for now. I don’t usually add many photos, unless I’m reblgogging a post that includes some. So I’m not very close to the 3GB limit yet, I don’t think. Guess I will have to start just sharing links instead of reblgogging posts. I’ll see how it goes for now, I suppose, and take things from there.

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    1. Reading the WP pages carefully, it certainly seems that existing bloggers should not be affected, Jeanne. But it will be interesting to see if those of us with paid plans have to pay the new rate when our plans expire. New bloggers from this month will only get the 0.5 GB option on a free plan.
      Best wishes, Pete.

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  11. Pete, you know that I have a business account, as I post so many pics and videos that my limit was being reached quickly…I will wait to see what plans they have for me, especially with a limit on views? What positive impact can that possibly have for anyone?

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    1. See the comment above from Ron Walker, Gavin. He explains it better than I can. It is much cheaper, but requires a level of Tech know-how to make it work.
      Cheers, Pete.

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      1. I contacted WP about the change and this is the response I got:

        “This is correct. We have now introduced two plans only. The Free plan and the Pro plan.
        The new plans will make it easier to communicate the value we provide in a clear and plain manner.

        All previous plans which we now refer to as legacy plans (Personal, Premium, Business and eCommerce) will remain active however they will no longer be renewed upon expiry.

        All of our existing plans, including features and support, will stay in place for the foreseeable future.”

        The last paragraph was somewhat confusing but the bottom line is clear. When your current plan expires, you have only 2 plans to choose from.

        I too am afraid we will lose many bloggers. I will likely continue on the Pro plan, as I’m not quite ready to give it up.

        Liked by 1 person

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          1. I sent another email to them since the 2 last sentences of their initial reply seemed to contradict each other. I asked specifically whether I could renew my ‘legacy’ plan in July, or must I pick from free or pro at that time. They’re reply was:

            “Yes, if you renew your plans on time, they will continue to be in place.”

            Honestly their communication on this has been so poor, I’m still not convinced. I guess I’ll find out when I renew.

            Liked by 1 person

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  15. Pingback: The More You Know, The Madder You’ll Get – This, That, and The Other

    1. It seems that they are currently promising to leave existing bloggers alone. My guess is that once our paid plans expire, these will be the new options.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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      1. Maybe not. OH data plan expired years ago and he still renews it every year. The new option is expensive though. £180 a year not including the domain. Hobby bloggers don’t need 50g data. Or is it 500g? And 0.5g free is nothing. That won’t last long.

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            1. I really don’t know, GP. Blogger seems to be favoured by many, but I have no experience of that platform. You could put up a post asking for suggestions. As we know, other bloggers are very helpful
              Best wishes, Pete.

              Liked by 1 person

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    1. My guess is they are factoring in the amount of people who will stop blogging, and adding that loss of income to come to the $180 total. That might only be the start of future price increases though.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

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      1. I don’t understand why they want to alienate their blogging community like this. I pay for the Personal plan, which perfectly suits my needs. But that’s $48/yr. I’m not a professional blogger. I don’t need MOST of the bells and whistles of the $180/yr Pro plan. But it looks like that is my only option unless I want to go back to those gross ads being displayed on my posts and lose most of my media folder storage capacity. Grrr.

        Liked by 1 person

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        1. I already pay for Premium, but resent being forced to pay for all that extra stuff, and space I don’t need. However, blogging is my main interest in life now I am retired, so I may have to think about doing just that.
          Best wishes, Pete.

          Liked by 1 person

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  22. Man, this stinks. I recently renewed my Premium plan, and I’ve received no notification of an impending change. I assume when my plan expires next year, I’ll be forced to go with Pro. Coming on the heels of the nearly year-long unsubscribe bug debacle, this is very uncool.

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  23. Hi Pete, Thanks for this link, I didn’t know about this. I don’t believe I have anywhere near 10,000 visits a months so that’s not a worry for me. WRT picture space, well, I will just have to delete older pictures as I go along. I have done that before. I deleted 600 posts in 2020 and all the related pictures to free up space. I just kept the posts that were reviews of books or guest posts. I am not to fussed about that, I don’t get enough visits to older posts to worry about them to much.

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    1. I don’t think anyone knew, Robbie. They just changed the price plans without warning, effective 1/4/22. It is only supposed to affect new bloggers, but I suspect more changes will come.
      Best wishes, Pete.
      Best wishes, Pete.

      Liked by 1 person

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  24. That’s pretty typical. Free is free until one becomes hooked. Then it’s time to pay. I’ve been using pro for years. I assume prices will only go up as they never go down. I do enjoy blogging. There will come a time when I will jump ship for good because of a limited budget. Everything costs too much.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. I have been paying for years now, and also upgraded to a Premium plan some time ago. Moving up to Pro would be a jump for me, but I am already paying something, so not too terrible. However, new bloggers will be put off, and the restriction on allowed views will impact so many bloggers too. Seems to me that WP only wants previously-committed bloggers who can afford to pay more, and business customers who write off the expense.
      Thanks, Cindy.
      Best wishes, Pete. x

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        2. They replied to my request for clarification and I have added the reply to the article now. Long story short they either don’t know, or aren’t prepared to say, what the basis for the new limit is.

          My feeling is it will be views, though.

          Liked by 1 person

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            1. I think it will be. I remember years ago being excited the first time my monthly stats hit 5 figures, e.g. over 10,000 views. Going forward it would be a cause for concern. I’m not sure what the incentive is to create content for others to read if you will be financially penalised if you do that too well.

              Liked by 2 people

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