Wordpress
6 comparisons available
About Wordpress
WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that powers approximately 43% of all websites on the internet, making it the most widely used website platform globally. Initially launched as a blogging platform in 2003 by Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, WordPress has evolved into a full-featured CMS for any type of website — blogs, business sites, e-commerce stores (via WooCommerce), and enterprise portals. The platform is maintained by Automattic and a global community of contributors. WordPress.org is the self-hosted open-source version requiring separate hosting, while WordPress.com is a hosted service. The platform's extensibility through 59,000+ plugins and 31,000+ themes makes it adaptable to virtually any use case. Page builders like Elementor, Divi, and the native Gutenberg editor have made WordPress accessible to non-developers. While WordPress has an unparalleled ecosystem, it requires more technical maintenance than hosted alternatives like Wix or Squarespace, including updates, security, and hosting management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress free?
WordPress.org (self-hosted) is free and open-source, but you need to pay for hosting ($3-30/month) and potentially premium themes/plugins. WordPress.com offers free hosting with limitations, and paid plans start at $4/month.
What percentage of websites use WordPress?
WordPress powers approximately 43% of all websites on the internet as of 2024, according to W3Techs data. This represents over 800 million websites globally.
Should I use WordPress or Wix?
WordPress is better if you need flexibility, own your data, and are comfortable with technical management. Wix is better if you want an easy, all-in-one hosted solution with drag-and-drop simplicity and minimal technical overhead.