WordPress.com and WordPress.org are two different providers of the Content Management Service, WordPress. They offer different support options for your WordPress website, which may vary if you use WordPress.org or WordPress.com. Here, we will explore the main difference between WordPress.com and Self-Hosted WordPress support.
WordPress.org Support
WordPress.org offers support forums for self-hosted WordPress websites or sites hosted by third-party hosting providers other than WordPress.com. Your questions will be public and answered by WordPress professionals or other WordPress users. You cannot use these forums if you need support regarding a WordPress.com website.
WordPress.com Support
WordPress.com offers support if you use their platform to host their website. It is also a public support forum, but there are options to contact WordPress.com via email or live chat (depending on your WordPress plan).
Can I use the WordPress.com and WordPress.org forums interchangeably?
No, you cannot use the WordPress.com and WordPress.org forums interchangeably, as they are meant to be used by specific WordPress websites. For more information about the key differences between WordPress.com and WordPress.org, check out this article.
Hosting Provider Support
If you use a hosting provider other than WordPress.org, which has set up your WordPress site for you, you may be able to contact your hosting provider for WordPress assistance. This may only be available for specific WordPress hosting providers outside of WordPress.com.
Stackoverflow WordPress Forum
Stackoverflow is a tool commonly used to ask questions related to programming but also has a WordPress forum. This can be useful if you are unable to get assistance from your host or for asking more general questions about WordPress.com or WordPress.org. Unlike the other support forums, this one can be used interchangeably for WordPress.com and WordPress.org (though it is more commonly used for WordPress.org support).