WordPress 2025: Is It Still Worth Using for New Websites?

WordPress 2025: Is It Still Worth Using for New Websites?

In 2023, I heard from three different developer colleagues that "WordPress is dying." In 2024, I heard it again. In 2025, WordPress powers 43% of all websites on the internet — a higher share than when those conversations happened.

WordPress isn't dying. But it is changing, and the question of whether it's the right choice for your project is more nuanced than it used to be.

I've built websites on WordPress, React/Next.js, Webflow, Squarespace, and custom CMS solutions. Each has its place. In this guide, you'll get an honest, balanced assessment of WordPress in 2025 — what it does brilliantly, where it struggles, and which types of projects it's genuinely the best choice for.

WordPress in Numbers: What the Data Says

The "WordPress is dying" narrative doesn't match the data:

• 43.3% of all websites use WordPress (W3Techs, 2025)
• 65% of all CMS-powered sites use WordPress
• 20,000 new WordPress sites are created daily
• 60,000+ plugins in the official repository
• $500 billion+ in ecommerce transactions processed annually through WooCommerce

These aren't the metrics of a dying platform. They're the metrics of the dominant content management system.

What WordPress Does Brilliantly in 2025

Content Management for Non-Developers

WordPress's original purpose remains its strongest feature. The Gutenberg editor (WordPress's block-based editor since 2018) allows non-technical content creators to build complex layouts without touching HTML:

• Drag-and-drop column layouts
• Embedded media (video, audio, galleries)
• Reusable blocks across pages
• Custom patterns and templates

For organizations where content is managed by a marketing team, editors, or non-developers, WordPress is still the most accessible professional option.

The Plugin Ecosystem

No other CMS comes close to WordPress's plugin ecosystem. For virtually any functionality you need, a plugin exists:

• SEO: Yoast SEO, Rank Math
• Ecommerce: WooCommerce
• Forms: Gravity Forms, WPForms
• Performance: WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache
• Security: Wordfence, Sucuri
• Membership: MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro
• Email marketing: MailChimp integration, FluentCRM

The risk: each plugin is code maintained by a third party. A poorly coded plugin can slow your site, conflict with others, or introduce security vulnerabilities.

Full Site Editing (FSE)

WordPress 6.x introduced Full Site Editing — the ability to edit headers, footers, sidebars, and templates using the same block editor used for posts. This reduces dependence on page builder plugins (Elementor, Divi) for many use cases.

Cost Structure

A self-hosted WordPress site can be built for:

• Hosting: $5–15/month (SiteGround, Cloudways, WP Engine)
• Domain: $12–15/year
• Theme: $0–100 (one-time)
• Essential plugins: $0–200/year

Comparable functionality on custom-built platforms would cost significantly more in development time.

Where WordPress Struggles in 2025

Performance Out of the Box

A fresh WordPress installation with a basic theme and a few plugins typically scores 40–60 on Google's PageSpeed Insights. Modern alternatives like Next.js, Gatsby, or Astro (static site generators) routinely score 90–100.

WordPress requires active optimization:

• Caching plugin (WP Rocket, LiteSpeed Cache)
• Image optimization plugin or CDN
• Code minification and concatenation
• Database optimization

After optimization, WordPress sites can absolutely achieve 90+ PageSpeed scores — but it requires effort and typically a paid plugin. For optimization techniques, our web performance guide covers the principles that apply to WordPress too.

Security Surface Area

WordPress is the most attacked CMS because it's the most used. According to Sucuri's 2024 report, WordPress accounts for 95% of infected CMS platforms — not because it's inherently less secure, but because its market dominance makes it the primary target.

Common vectors:

• Outdated plugins and themes
• Compromised themes/plugins from unofficial sources
• Weak passwords and no 2FA
• PHP vulnerabilities in abandoned plugins

An unmaintained WordPress site will eventually be compromised. Our WordPress security guide covers the 20 steps to lock down a WordPress site properly.

Developer Experience

Developers who build with modern JavaScript frameworks often find WordPress development frustrating:

• PHP codebase with inconsistent patterns
• Legacy decisions that can't be changed for compatibility
• WP-CLI has improved but the developer workflow is behind modern standards
• The block editor (Gutenberg) has had a rocky reception — WordPress's attempt at a React-based editor shows in some rough edges

WordPress vs. Modern Alternatives

Headless WordPress

One increasingly popular architecture: use WordPress as a headless CMS (content stored and managed in WordPress, delivered via WP REST API or GraphQL/WPGraphQL) with a Next.js or Nuxt frontend. You get WordPress's excellent admin interface and content management with a modern, performant frontend.

Who Should Use WordPress in 2025?

Excellent fit for:

• Blogs and content-heavy sites with non-developer content teams
• Small to medium business websites
• eCommerce stores (especially with WooCommerce)
• Multi-author publishing platforms
• Organizations that need extensive plugin customization
• Users on a budget who don't want to hire developers

Consider alternatives if:

• You're a developer building a web application (use a proper framework)
• Performance is the absolute #1 priority (use a static site generator)
• You want zero maintenance overhead (use a hosted service)
• Your content is very structured and database-driven (use a headless CMS)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is WordPress still relevant in 2025?

Absolutely. WordPress powers 43% of all websites as of 2025, growing from previous years. It powers major media sites, businesses, and blogs worldwide. Its ecosystem continues expanding.

What are the biggest downsides of WordPress?

Security (most targeted CMS), performance requiring optimization, PHP codebase complexity, and plugin bloat. Active maintenance is required.

Should I use WordPress or Wix/Squarespace?

WordPress for ownership, control, and flexibility. Wix/Squarespace for zero maintenance and simplicity. WordPress sites are portable; hosted builders lock you in.

Is WordPress free?

WordPress.org (self-hosted) is free. You pay for hosting ($5–50/month), optional premium theme ($0–100), and optional premium plugins ($0–300/year).

What is the difference between WordPress.com and WordPress.org?

WordPress.org is free software you install on your own hosting — full control. WordPress.com is a hosted service with limited customization on lower plans. For professional sites, use WordPress.org.