WordPress hosted VS downloading your own blog

[3ukman]

Can you actually install plugins to the hosted version of WordPress at wordpress.com or do I have to download my own wordpress blog for that ?

And which approach is generally preferred ?

[annalaurab]

I can't emphasize enough the importance of using your own self hosted wordpress blog. You cannot use plugins with wordpress.com and with wordpress.com they can and will cancel your blog without notice if they decide they do not like the content. I had this happen awhile back and had to start all over. So please do yourself a favor and use wordpress.org self-hosted.

[hostrea]

You really should host your own blog. Not only does worpress put ads on your page from time to time but you can't fine tune it the way you want with the extensions and template modifications.

[~kev~]

It depends on whether you want to lease your own server or not. Do you really want to mess with security updates, and a hosting bill?

If you dont want to mess with all of that, then just go with an account at wordpress.com

[nobita]

You can, both ways, same.