Testing out WordPress without transferring or registering a domain

  • Unknown's avatar
    alexearl3 · Member ·

    Hello! I’d like to test out the functionality of WordPress before I commit to it and I can’t seem to figure out how to create a test site. It forces me into a buy a new domain or transfer my current domain loop– neither of which I want to do until I know WordPress is right for me. Any suggestions? Thanks! Alex

  • Unknown's avatar
    mywritingmuscle · Member ·

    Hello @alexearl3,

    Firstly, I would like to bring to your notice that there are two types of WordPress-WordPress.com and WordPress.org. Learn more about the difference between the two here:

    WordPress.com vs. WordPress.org

    Once you understand the differences between the two, if you choose to go ahead with the open source software, please take your question to a more experienced community in the WordPress.org forums:

    https://wordpress.org/support/forums/

    And now, if you choose to bring your site to life on WordPress.com. You are in the right forum and please read on.

    Were you asked to buy a domain or transfer your current domain in the Step 2 of 3 in creating a site here on WordPress.com? It could be because you were persistent on going ahead with creating a site using a custom domain option. For example if you were keen on creating a test site with an example such as example.com and not example.wordpress.com; it is not possible to create a site with a custom domain option with a free plan.

    Custom domains are a feature of paid plans and the domain credit included would cover the cost of one of these options : Domain Mapping or Transfer.

    WordPress.com provides a free WordPress.com subdomain(example.wordpress.com/example.blog.com etc…) for you when you create your site with them. You can use that to build your site by choosing a theme, adding content etc.. and basically leave registering a domain name with WordPress.com or bringing in your existing domain over to WordPress.com until you feel ready to do so.

    
When you feel ready you can register a domain or upgrade plan with WordPress.com or switch your existing domain over to your WordPress.com. Your domain can either be mapped or transferred. This way your current site (if any) remains online while you are working on your draft site on WordPress.com. 



    I hope this was of help. All the best with any choice you make.

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