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WordPress
WordPress · San Francisco, CA, USA (Automattic) · founded 2003
What it is
WordPress is free, open-source software for publishing websites, blogs, portals and applications. Users build pages with blocks and themes, then customize them without code. Plugins can add stores, analytics, newsletters, social connections, forms and spam protection. Publishing features include drafts, scheduled posts, revisions, public or private content, and password-protected pages and posts. WordPress also provides media upload and editing tools and roles for administrators, editors, authors, contributors and subscribers. Developers can extend it with plugins, themes, custom content types and a REST API. The software is available in more than 70 languages and uses the GPLv2-or-later license, permitting modification and redistribution, including for commercial projects without licensing fees. You can install it on your own hosting and domain or use a hosting provider. The project recommends PHP 8.3 or later, MariaDB 10.11 or later or MySQL 8.0 or later, plus HTTPS. WordPress.org offers documentation and community forums. Its Security Team handles reported issues, while only the latest version is officially supported.
For and against
For
- Free GPLv2-or-later open-source software
- Blocks and themes support no-code customization
- Plugins add stores, analytics and forms
- Includes scheduling, revisions and password protection
- Available in more than 70 languages
Against
- Self-hosting requires your own hosting and domain
- Recommended PHP version is 8.3 or later
- Only the latest version is officially supported
The verdict
WordPress offers a broad publishing foundation with no licensing fee and extensive extension options. Running it yourself means arranging hosting, a domain and the recommended server requirements.
Who it suits
WordPress suits creators, small businesses, enterprises, first-time bloggers and professional developers. It fits users who can provide hosting and a domain or arrange them through a provider.
Plans and prices
WordPress software
Self-hosted software; hosting and domain are obtained separately
Read 21 Oct 2026 · wordpress.org
WordPress (self-hosted)
Free open-source software · Requires your own hosting and domain
Read 9 Oct 2026 · wordpress.org
On the record
- Audience
- WordPress describes itself as suitable for creators, small businesses, enterprises, first-time bloggers, and professional developers.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Company facts
- Automattic Inc. lists its founding as August 2005, headquarters in San Francisco, and staff of 1,447 across 81 countries.automattic.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Data and license
- WordPress is GPLv2-or-later software that users may run, study, modify, and redistribute, including for commercial projects without licensing fees.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Design
- The block-based design tools and themes let users customize a site without writing code.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Developer resources
- Developer documentation includes the REST API Handbook, Code Reference, and WP-CLI commands.developer.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Developer tools
- Developers can extend WordPress with plugins, themes, custom content types, and a REST API.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The documentation hub links to overview, technical, support, and customization guides, including installation, maintenance, and security material.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Editing
- The editor previews content as it is added and rearranged.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Developers can extend or modify WordPress using themes and plugins, and the project says the software can be used for commercial work without licensing fees.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Extensions
- Plugins can add functions such as stores, analytics, newsletters, and social media connections.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Hosting requirements
- The project recommends PHP 8.3 or later, MariaDB 10.11 or later or MySQL 8.0 or later, and HTTPS support.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Users can download and install WordPress themselves with their own hosting and domain or set it up through a hosting provider.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Capterra lists integrations including Google Docs, Google Drive, PayPal, Slack, Trello, Dropbox, Salesforce Sales Cloud, and Microsoft 365.capterra.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Language
- WordPress is available in more than 70 languages.wordpress.org · read 9 Oct 2026
- Latest notable release
- WordPress 7.1.3, released October 6, 2026, included seven security fixes and four bug fixes.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Licence
- WordPress is free and open source under GPL version 2 or later.wordpress.org · read 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: performance and upkeep
- Capterra reviewers report that many plugins, heavy themes, or large media files can slow sites and increase maintenance work.capterra.com · read 21 Oct 2026
- Limit: plugin conflicts
- Capterra summaries identify plugin incompatibilities and update-related bugs as recurring sources of troubleshooting and maintenance.capterra.com · read 21 Oct 2026
