Summary
- WordPress powers 43.5% of all websites globally in 2025, representing over 860 million sites
- Free and open-source CMS with 65,000+ plugins and 13,000+ themes available
- Real costs: $3-35/month for hosting + $10-20/year for domain
- WooCommerce holds 33% of the global e-commerce market
- Perfect for blogs, business sites, and online stores with extensive customization
- Requires technical knowledge to optimize performance and security
The CMS shaping the modern web
WordPress stands as the definitive reference for content management systems today. With 43.5% market share according to W3Techs in 2025, this open-source platform significantly outperforms direct competitors like Shopify (6.2%) or Wix (5.2%). This dominance stems from its exceptional flexibility and rich ecosystem of over 65,000 free plugins.
Beyond impressive statistics, WordPress meets diverse needs of content creators, entrepreneurs, and large corporations. Fortune 500 companies like NBC, CNN, and the NFL trust this technology to manage their digital presence. The platform enables creating any type of website: from personal blogs to sophisticated e-commerce stores, including creative portfolios and community platforms.
How does WordPress work?
WordPress operates on a modular architecture that separates content from presentation. The system uses PHP as its programming language and MySQL/MariaDB for database management. This structure allows unlimited customization through themes controlling appearance and plugins adding functionality.
The platform exists in two distinct forms: WordPress.org (self-hosted and free) and WordPress.com (hosted with plans from $4-45/month). The .org version offers complete freedom but requires external web hosting, while the .com version simplifies maintenance at the cost of reduced flexibility.
The Gutenberg editor, introduced in 2018, modernizes the creation experience with an intuitive block system. Each element (text, image, video) becomes a movable block, enabling complex page construction without coding knowledge. This approach democratizes web creation while maintaining WordPress's technical power.
Core features include:
- Integrated media management system
- Intuitive admin interface
- User management and permissions
- Native SEO with customizable URLs
- Comments system and moderation
- Automated backup and restoration
- Multilingual and multisite support
Our take on WordPress
WordPress combines technical power with accessibility, explaining its global success. Its strength lies in balancing simplicity for beginners with advanced possibilities for developers. The plugin ecosystem extends functionality limitlessly, transforming a simple blog into an e-commerce platform or social network.
However, this flexibility comes with technical responsibilities. Maintenance, security updates, and performance optimization require constant vigilance. Poorly maintained sites become vulnerable to attacks and may experience significant slowdowns.
The Gutenberg interface still divides the community. Some appreciate its modernity, others prefer visual builders like Elementor or Divi. This diversity of approaches perfectly illustrates WordPress's spirit: offering choice rather than imposing a single solution.
WordPress advantages and disadvantages
Strengths:
- Maximum flexibility: unlimited customization through themes and plugins
- Rich ecosystem: 65,000+ free plugins available
- Active community: abundant support, tutorials, and resources
Weaknesses:
- Learning curve: technical mastery needed to exploit full potential
- Continuous maintenance: regular security updates and optimizations required
- Vulnerabilities: poorly coded plugins can create security flaws
Frequently asked questions about WordPress
Is WordPress really free in 2025?
The WordPress.org software is completely free, but using it requires web hosting ($3-35/month) and a domain name ($10-20/year). WordPress.com offers paid plans from $4-45/month including hosting. Total cost depends on your needs: budget $50-300/year for a standard site.
What's the difference between WordPress.org and WordPress.com?
WordPress.org offers complete freedom but requires external hosting and technical maintenance. WordPress.com simplifies hosting with all-inclusive plans but limits customization. For maximum control, choose .org. For simplicity, opt for .com.
Is WordPress suitable for beginners in 2025?
WordPress remains accessible to novices thanks to the Gutenberg editor and ready-made themes. "One-click" installation at most hosting providers simplifies setup. However, fully mastering the tool requires time and technical knowledge to optimize performance and security.
Alternatives to WordPress
Webflow positions itself as the most serious competitor with its advanced visual approach and integrated hosting. This platform attracts designers through its total creative freedom, but requires more advanced learning than traditional builders.
Shopify dominates the e-commerce sector with 18.5% market share. This specialized solution offers native functionalities for online selling, from payments to shipping, but limits customization compared to WooCommerce.
Wix prioritizes simplicity with premium templates and clean interface. Ideal for creatives and small businesses, it offers less technical flexibility but guarantees professional results effortlessly. Pricing starts at $17/month, making this solution more expensive than WordPress long-term.
Maximizing WordPress potential
WordPress flourishes in the hands of users willing to invest time in learning. This platform perfectly suits serious bloggers, digital entrepreneurs, and web agencies who value advanced customization.
To start effectively, focus on fundamentals: choose high-performance hosting, select an optimized theme, and install only essential plugins. Security should never be neglected: use strong passwords, perform regular backups, and keep extensions updated.
The WordPress ecosystem will continue evolving with increasing artificial intelligence integration and Gutenberg editor improvements. Developers are working on new native features that will reduce dependence on third-party plugins, thus strengthening platform stability and security.
Sources and resources
Sources: WordPress.com Statistics 2025 - W3Techs Market Share - WPBeginner Research Report
