Getting started: signing up on WordPress.com vs a host's one-click install

You’ve got a plan. Now you need an actual WordPress site. There are two usual routes, and neither one requires you to write any code.

On WordPress.com:

Create an account.
Choose a site address and a plan.
Follow the setup steps, and you’re in your site’s editor.

On a self-hosted setup:

Buy hosting from a provider that supports WordPress.
Find the WordPress installer in the host’s control panel, often labelled one-click install.
Fill in your site name and admin login, and run it.

Many hosts now offer WordPress during signup, so you may not even need the installer.

Both routes end the same way, with a working site and a login. Your site will look plain to begin with, and that’s normal, since we haven’t changed anything yet.

Save your login details in a password manager from day one. Avoid “admin” as your username and use a strong, unique password.