What Is WordPress and Why Do Most Websites Use It?
WordPress is a free content management system (CMS) that allows anyone to create and manage a website without advanced technical knowledge. It was launched in 2003 as a blogging platform, but over the past two decades, it has evolved into one of the most flexible tools on the internet. Today, WordPress powers approximately 43% of all websites and holds more than 60% of the CMS market, according to W3Techs data from 2025.
Whenever you browse the internet, there is a strong chance that you are visiting a WordPress website without even realising it. From small businesses to global media organisations, WordPress has become a standard platform for website development.
In this article, we will explain:
● What WordPress is and how it works
● The difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org
● Why WordPress is so popular
● Which types of websites it is best suited for
● Its advantages and disadvantages, and when WordPress may not be the right solution
What Is WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system, or CMS. It is software that allows you to create, edit, and publish content online without having to write code.
Key features of WordPress:
● Free and open-source – anyone can download and use WordPress without paying a licence fee
● Installed on a hosting server of your choice
● Extendable through plugins and themes – it works like a smartphone: the foundation remains the same, while you add applications as needed
● Built with PHP and MySQL – two technical standards supported by virtually every hosting provider
A Brief History: From a Blogging Platform to 43% of the Internet
WordPress was launched on 27 May 2003. Its founders, Matt Mullenweg and Mike Little, used the code of the discontinued b2/cafelog project to build something entirely new.
The original goal was simple: to create an easy-to-use blogging platform.
However, users quickly recognised its potential. The community grew, developers began creating plugins and themes, and WordPress gradually expanded beyond its original purpose.
Today, it is used by:
● The New York Times blog section
● The White House website, whitehouse.gov
● Sony Music, BBC America, TechCrunch, and The Rolling Stones
● Millions of small and medium-sized businesses worldwide
WordPress has recorded continuous market-share growth over the past 12 years. No other CMS platform has come close to matching its dominance.
How Does WordPress Work?
What Is a CMS and Why Is It Important?
Before content management systems became widely available, building a website required knowledge of HTML, CSS, PHP, and several other technologies. Every new page had to be written manually, and every text update required access to the website’s code.
A CMS solves this problem by separating content from design. You enter text through an interface similar to Google Docs, while the system automatically generates the corresponding web page.
WordPress has made this process so accessible that a business owner can update prices, publish a blog post or replace an image on the homepage without relying on a developer for every change.
Themes: Website Design
A theme defines the visual identity of your website. It controls the layout, fonts, colours and heading styles. Changing the theme can transform the overall appearance of the website while leaving its content intact.
● The official WordPress repository offers more than 13,000 free themes
● Premium themes such as Divi, Avada, Astra and GeneratePress offer more advanced customisation options
● Fully tailored designs can be created through custom themes built from scratch
Plugins: Tailored Functionality
A plugin is an extension that adds new functionality to WordPress. It is not part of the core platform, but can be installed when needed, much like an application on a smartphone.
The official repository currently contains more than 70,000 free plugins. Some of the most widely used include:
| Plugin | Function |
|---|---|
| Rank Math | SEO optimisation of content and meta tags |
| WooCommerce | Turns WordPress into an online store |
| Elementor | Visual drag-and-drop page builder |
| Wordfence | Website security and protection against attacks |
| WP Rocket | Website speed optimisation |
| Contact Form 7 | Contact form creation |
| UpdraftPlus | Automated website backups |
WordPress.com vs WordPress.org – What Is the Difference?
This is one of the most common sources of confusion, so it is important to understand the distinction:
| WordPress.org | WordPress.com | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | Software you download and install | A hosted service built on WordPress |
| Cost | Free, with hosting paid separately | Free plan and paid plans |
| Control | Complete control and ownership | Limited according to the selected plan |
| Plugins | All plugins are allowed | Restricted on certain plans |
| Custom domain | Yes | Yes, on paid plans |
| Monetisation | Fully flexible | Restricted on lower-tier plans |
| Recommended for | Businesses, online stores and professional websites | Personal blogs and beginners |
When professionals refer to WordPress, they almost always mean WordPress.org – the version that gives you full control without platform restrictions.
Why Do So Many Websites Use WordPress?
According to W3Techs, WordPress powers approximately 43.4% of all websites. This means that nearly every second website you visit may be built on WordPress. Among websites that use a recognised CMS, WordPress holds more than 61% of the market.
Several factors explain this level of dominance.
1. It Is Free and Remains Free
WordPress is open-source software distributed under the GPL licence. There is no monthly subscription, usage fee or premium version that places essential features behind a paywall.
You only pay for hosting and a domain, which are costs associated with running almost any independently hosted website.
2. Flexibility Without Major Compromises
WordPress may begin as a blog, but it can be transformed into:
● A corporate website
● An online store
● A news portal
● A portfolio
● An educational platform or LMS
● A community forum
● A booking system
Few platforms can support such a broad range of website types equally well.
3. Basic Use Does Not Require Technical Knowledge
Routine content updates, including adding text, images, pages, and blog posts, can be handled by anyone familiar with Word or Google Docs.
A developer is not required for every minor website update.
4. A Large Community and Ecosystem
The term “WordPress” generates approximately 2.2 million searches worldwide each month.
WordPress has one of the largest communities of developers, designers, and users in the world. Most common problems have already been addressed, with solutions readily available online.
5. A Solid SEO Foundation
WordPress provides a strong technical foundation for SEO, including clean URLs, efficient content indexing and support for meta tags.
Plugins such as Yoast SEO and Rank Math add a comprehensive set of tools for organic search optimisation.
6. Regular Updates and Long-Term Stability
The WordPress team regularly publishes security and feature updates.
The platform has existed for more than 20 years and continues to grow, making it a reliable choice for long-term digital projects.
Which Types of Websites Is WordPress Best Suited For?
WordPress is not the right solution for every project, but it is highly suitable for a wide range of websites.
Corporate and Business Websites
This is one of the most common uses of WordPress.
A company may need an online presence that presents its services, contact information, team, and references. WordPress offers fast development, straightforward maintenance, and extensive customisation.
If you would like to see what a professionally developed corporate website looks like, this is an area in which we have extensive experience.
Blogs and Media Portals
WordPress was originally built for publishing blog content.
Categories, tags, RSS feeds, comments and scheduled publishing are all available by default. It is no coincidence that media websites such as TechCrunch continue to use the platform.
Portfolio Websites
For photographers, designers, architects and other creative professionals, WordPress provides the flexibility to present work in a way that reflects their individual style, without being restricted by rigid templates.
Educational Platforms
Plugins such as LearnDash and LifterLMS can transform WordPress into a complete learning management system.
These platforms can include courses, quizzes, certificates and online payment functionality.
WordPress and WooCommerce – A Powerful E-Commerce Combination
WooCommerce is a plugin that transforms a WordPress website into a complete online store. It is not simply popular – it is one of the leading platforms in global e-commerce.
According to W3Techs, WooCommerce is used by approximately 8.8% of all websites worldwide. It is also estimated that around 120 million websites use the platform.
What Does WooCommerce Offer?
● An unlimited number of products
● Inventory management
● Multiple payment methods, including cards, PayPal and local payment options
● Order and delivery management
● Discounts, coupons, upselling and cross-selling
● Integrations with ERP systems, email marketing tools and analytics platforms
When Does WooCommerce Make Sense – and When Does It Not?
WooCommerce is an effective solution for online stores that are launching or expanding, require full control over their code and data, and have specific requirements that standard SaaS platforms cannot support.
However, if you need to launch quickly without technical complexity, or plan to sell globally with specialised logistics requirements, platforms such as Shopify or Magento may be more suitable.
We explore this topic in more detail in our article, The Best Website-Building Platform in 2026.
If you are considering a WooCommerce store, the RedWood Digital team has years of experience implementing projects ranging from straightforward online shops to complex e-commerce systems.
Advantages and Disadvantages of WordPress
| Advantage | Disadvantage | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free software | Hosting, premium themes and plugins involve additional costs |
| Flexibility | Can be adapted to almost any requirement | Too many options may overwhelm beginners |
| Ecosystem | More than 70,000 plugins | A poorly developed plugin can cause website issues |
| SEO | Strong tools and a solid foundation | Requires configuration and is not fully automated |
| Security | Regular platform updates | A frequent target for attacks and requires active maintenance |
| Speed | Can deliver excellent performance | A poorly configured website can be slow |
| Control | You own and control everything | You are responsible for hosting, backups and security |
| Community | Large and active global community | The quality of tutorials and solutions varies |
Is WordPress the Right Solution for Your Business?
This is the most important question, and the answer is not always the same.
WordPress is probably the right solution if:
● You want full control over your website and data
● You plan to run a blog or publish content regularly
● You need a corporate website that your team can update independently
● You are building a store with specific requirements that SaaS platforms cannot support
● You have a budget for professional development and ongoing maintenance
Consider an alternative if:
● You need a website within a few days and do not have a technical team
● You do not want responsibility for hosting, backups and security
● You are building a large store with enterprise-level transaction volumes, where Magento or BigCommerce may be more suitable
● You want to focus entirely on sales rather than website technology
Security: The Biggest Myth and the Reality
WordPress has a reputation for being an insecure platform. This concern is not entirely unfounded, but it does not reflect the complete picture.
The WordPress core is developed with security in mind, and the team regularly releases security updates.
Problems usually arise when:
● Plugins and themes have not been updated for months or years
● Plugins from unreliable sources or without active support are used
● The hosting server is poorly configured
● Regular backups have not been established
The solution is professional maintenance.
With an experienced agency or developer monitoring the website, updating its components and maintaining the necessary security tools, WordPress is a secure and reliable platform for professional business websites.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is WordPress Really Free?
Yes. The WordPress software is free.
You pay for hosting, a domain and, where necessary, premium themes or plugins. The total cost depends on the size and complexity of the project.
How Much Does a WordPress Website Cost?
The price range varies significantly.
A simple corporate website may cost several hundred euros, while a complex online store with custom functionality may cost several thousand.
The key is to define the actual requirements before development begins.
Can I Manage a WordPress Website Myself?
For everyday content management, yes.
For technical areas such as updates, security and performance, professional support is recommended, at least through periodic maintenance.
How Fast Is WordPress?
WordPress performance depends directly on the hosting environment, selected theme and installed plugins.
A properly optimised WordPress website can achieve excellent Core Web Vitals results. A poorly configured website can be slow.
WordPress or Shopify for an Online Store?
The right choice depends on your requirements.
WooCommerce offers greater flexibility and lower transaction costs, but requires more technical attention. Shopify is easier to launch and manage, but involves a monthly subscription and potential transaction fees.
You can find a detailed comparison in our guide to the best website-building platforms in 2026.
Is WordPress Good for SEO?
Yes. WordPress is one of the stronger platforms for SEO.
With the right plugins, it provides a complete set of tools for on-page optimisation, technical SEO and meta tag management.
Can I Move from WordPress to Another Platform?
Yes, migration is possible, but it is not always straightforward.
Content such as text, images and pages can usually be exported. However, the design and advanced functionality will normally need to be rebuilt.
Conclusion
WordPress is popular for good reason. It is not a temporary trend or the result of chance.
It is free, flexible and supported by a large global community, with more than two decades of proven stability. For most websites, from straightforward corporate presentations to complex portals and online stores, WordPress offers a practical solution at a reasonable cost.
However, the right solution does not come from the platform alone. It comes from combining the right technology with professional implementation.
If you are planning a new website or online store and are unsure whether WordPress is the right platform for your business, we would be pleased to help you make an informed decision.
Contact us to discuss your project.