WordPress Review
A well-liked content management system (CMS) for building blogs and webpages is called WordPress. It is highly flexible and can be used for everything from simple blogs to complex websites with various features and functionalities.
WordPress.com is a powerful and versatile website builder, though it comes with a bit of a learning curve. However, if your website plays a key role in your business strategy, it’s worth the investment in time, especially if you opt for one of the higher-tier plans. WordPress is a highly adaptable platform, powering nearly half of the websites on the Internet. But should you use it for your site? That depends—there are many factors to weigh before choosing WordPress as your go-to platform.
The Internet is vast, extending far beyond what any of us can fully grasp. WordPress powers around 40% of the sites out there, making it the world’s most popular content management system (CMS) by a wide margin.
What makes it so popular? It all comes down to adaptability, scalability, and flexibility.
WordPress is used to create a wide variety of websites—everything from online stores and blogs to landing pages, wikis, portfolios, and more. It’s suitable for small personal projects as well as large-scale enterprises. Even the text you’re reading now was written using WordPress! The possibilities are almost limitless.
4.6
Pricing
Starter ₹332
Explorer ₹664
Creator ₹2075
Entrepreneur ₹3736
Ranked 9 from 250 Website Builders
Performance: |4.9| 
WordPress performance depends on factors like hosting quality, caching, and optimization. Using a fast, reliable host, a lightweight theme, and minimal plugins can significantly boost speed. Implementing a content delivery network (CDN) and optimizing images also enhance performance. Regular updates and database maintenance further ensure a smooth, fast-loading WordPress site.
Uptime: |4.9|
WordPress uptime is crucial for site reliability, with top hosting providers often guaranteeing 99.9% uptime. Regular monitoring ensures minimal downtime, which can be caused by server issues, updates, or traffic spikes. High uptime rates mean your WordPress site remains accessible to users, reducing lost revenue and improving search engine rankings.
Customer Service: |4.8|
WordPress customer service varies based on the hosting provider or plan. Managed WordPress hosting typically offers 24/7 support via chat, phone, or email, with knowledgeable staff handling technical issues. Free WordPress users rely more on community forums for help. Quality support ensures quick resolutions to problems, enhancing user experience and site reliability.
Pricing: |4.7|
WordPress itself is free, as it’s open-source software. However, costs can arise from hosting, premium themes, plugins, and domain registration. Hosting prices range from a few dollars per month for shared hosting to higher fees for managed WordPress hosting. Premium themes and plugins can also add to the cost, depending on your site’s needs.
WordPress
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ |
|---|---|
| 💵 Price: | From $4/month | 🪄 Ease of use: | A pretty steep learning curve, made easier by plenty of great resources |
| 🎨 Templates: | Okay selection of free templates, massive premium third-party template library | 🏢 Business features: | All brought in by the plugins that you use – some of them cost extra |
| 👨💻 24/7 live support: | Yes | 🔥 Coupons: | Get 40% off! |
Overview
Can WordPress.com Still Cut It?
Absolutely, yes! If you’re looking for details, let’s dive in.
To properly answer whether WordPress.com is still relevant, we first need to clarify which version of WordPress we’re talking about.
I mentioned “WordPress.com” in the title. Don’t confuse this with “WordPress” from WordPress.org, which is the original, self-hosted content management system (CMS) that you can install on your own server for free, with no restrictions on functionality.
WordPress.com, on the other hand, is a paid service that allows you to create a WordPress site without the need to handle the technical aspects, like server management or site setup.
While WordPress.com can be seen as a “website builder,” it’s not exactly that. It’s still a CMS at its core, offering a level of power and flexibility that traditional website builders like Wix might never fully match. For this review, however, we’ll refer to it as a “website builder,” as required.
WordPress.com is essentially a large-scale installation of WordPress Multisite, a version of WordPress that allows multiple websites to run on a single installation. It’s been customized for monetization and user-friendliness, making it easier for new users to create their own sites.
When WordPress.com launched in 2005, it was arguably the best option for quickly setting up a free blog. Since then, WordPress as a CMS has evolved into a platform that can be used to build nearly any kind of website, from simple mommy blogs to complex e-commerce sites and even social networks.
As a result, WordPress.com, which uses the same core software, can also be used to build almost any type of website.
Combining the usage of both WordPress.org and WordPress.com, you’ll find that WordPress powers over a third of the internet. That’s a staggering statistic! The remaining two-thirds of the internet? It’s mostly run by Joomla, Drupal, and, of course, cat pictures.
With WordPress, you can create anything from a small, five-page brochure site with an online store to something as vast as the next social media giant (although there are better platforms for that specific purpose). It’s capable of handling enormous amounts of content if set up correctly.
As of 2018, WordPress.com hosted around 37.5 million websites, and that number has likely continued to grow. It’s accessible almost everywhere, supports dozens of languages, and offers a range of plans from free to affordable business and e-commerce options.
So, is WordPress.com right for you? Will it meet your specific needs? Are you among the one-third using it? That’s what we’re here to explore. Let’s find out.
TEMPLATE |5.0|
They Offer Business Themes Now, Too
WordPress.com now offers over 250 themes, or what other builders might call “templates,” with a broader selection than ever before. While WordPress initially started as a blogging platform, and many of its themes are blog-centric, more business-oriented themes have been introduced recently. However, it’s important to note that not all themes are accessible on the free plan.
Customization options are limited by two factors: the specific theme’s customization features and the plan you choose. Advanced Design Customization, which includes editing CSS files directly, is only available from the Premium plan onwards. Still, the base themes are of high quality, mobile-responsive, and likely sufficient for most users.
Themes aren’t just about aesthetics—they also integrate with WordPress’s functionality similar to plugins. Some themes come with advanced features like new ways to navigate posts, membership registration, contact forms, and more.
As mentioned earlier, the majority of themes (200+) are blog-focused or feature prominent blogging elements. WordPress.com categorizes its themes into 26 “Subjects,” with more general categories like “Business” offering a larger selection (100+ themes) compared to more niche categories like “Scrapbooking” (20+ themes).
Popular Website Builders
Additional filter options for themes include features like author bios, post sliders, and breadcrumb navigation, as well as various layouts and styles such as artistic, minimalist, and colorful. While the current selection is solid, it could benefit from more non-blog themes.
With the Business plan or higher, you can also install third-party themes from marketplaces like ThemeForest, TemplateMonster, or other WordPress theme providers. This expands WordPress’s theme options beyond those available in its own library, offering a broader range of choices than most other CMS platforms.
WordPress Plugins
1. Types of Plugins
Free Plugins: Available in the WordPress Plugin Directory. Examples include Yoast SEO, Contact Form 7, and Wordfence Security.
Premium Plugins: Paid plugins with advanced features and support. Examples include WP Rocket, Gravity Forms, and Elementor Pro.
Custom Plugins: Developed specifically to meet unique needs.
2. Features to Consider
Functionality: Adds desired features (e.g., SEO, security, backups).
Compatibility: Ensures compatibility with your theme and other plugins.
Updates and Support: Regular updates and reliable support from the developer.
Performance Impact: Minimal impact on site performance and load times.
3. Popular WordPress Plugins
Yoast SEO: Enhances on-page SEO and helps with optimizing content.
WooCommerce: Adds e-commerce functionality to your WordPress site.
Elementor: A page builder that works by dragging and dropping elements to create custom layouts.
WP Rocket: Caching plugin to improve site speed and performance.
Wordfence Security: Provides comprehensive security features for your site.
WordPress Patterns
Pre-Designed Layouts: Patterns come with predefined layouts, making it easier to create professional-looking designs without starting from scratch.
Reusable Blocks: Patterns are essentially collections of blocks that you can insert into your content. These patterns are reusable throughout your website.
Customization: While patterns offer a starting point, you can still customize individual blocks within the pattern to fit your needs.
Block Editor Integration: Patterns are integrated into the WordPress Block Editor (Gutenberg), allowing you to access and insert them directly from the editor interface.
FEATURES |5.0|
Growing Your Audience with WordPress.com
Originally designed as a blogging platform, WordPress.com offers a range of features ideal for managing and growing your audience. It includes posts, pages, a new block-based editor similar to Medium, and tools for organizing content, managing comments, and supporting multiple authors.
With default themes and functionality, you can create various types of blogs or simple business websites. You can also attach an existing domain to your site. Plugins further extend what you can do—improving SEO, building social networks, and more. Note that plugins are available only with the Business plan or higher, but the added functionality is often worth the cost.
In addition to core features, WordPress.com offers several standout tools for building and growing your business:
Store Builder:
Available on the Business Plan or higher in the U.S. and Canada, this tool allows you to set up an online store with automatic tax calculations, payment options including PayPal, Stripe, and offline methods, as well as support for coupons and product reviews. For other countries, you can install e-commerce plugins to manage your store.
Marketing and Analytics Tools:
WordPress provides tools for enhancing SEO, branding, traffic analysis, and social media sharing. The free plan offers basic tools, while paid plans offer more advanced features. Integration with Mailchimp allows you to add newsletter sign-ups directly on your site.
Easy Monetization:
From the Personal plan onward, you can accept subscription payments for content. The Premium plan or higher enables easy ad placement on your site.
Third-Party Integrations:
WordPress.com integrates with various services, with a notable focus on Google Analytics and GSuite. With plugins, you can connect your site to virtually any service with an API, offering extensive customization options.
PROS AND CONS OF WORDPRESS
Pros of WordPress
Extensive functionality and flexibility with a vast library of free plugins.
Very affordable, with options to suit various budgets.
No restrictions on monetizing your site.
Cons of WordPress
More complex compared to WordPress.com.
Users are responsible for managing and maintaining their own website.
EASY OF USE |4.4|
There’s a Bit of a Learning Curve
WordPress has always aimed to be user-friendly, but if you’re new to website building, you might face a learning curve. The platform is easy to use if you have some basic website knowledge, but adding advanced customizations, such as editing CSS or installing third-party plugins, can complicate things.
For a simple five-page brochure site, other website builders might be easier to use. However, if you need more complex features, the learning curve with WordPress is worth it.
To get you started, consider the following essential features:
Content Editor:
WordPress has evolved from a basic text editor to the new “Gutenberg” editor, which organizes content into individual “blocks” for more flexible editing. You can customize each block separately, adding features like columns, background images, and more. Gutenberg also supports embedding various types of media and allows for easy drag-and-drop reordering of content. Despite initial user concerns and bugs, Gutenberg has improved significantly and is stable with recent updates. You can also disable it via a plugin if you prefer the classic editor.
Theme Customizer:
Unlike drag-and-drop builders like Wix, WordPress offers real-time preview of theme customizations. While customization options depend on the theme, you can see changes such as color adjustments and layout shifts before applying them. For a drag-and-drop experience, consider installing a plugin like Elementor (available with the Business plan or higher), which makes WordPress function more like traditional website builders.
Organization and Publishing Tools:
WordPress provides intuitive tools for scheduling posts, categorizing content, and managing page hierarchies. Although it lacks drag-and-drop capabilities, its strong organizational features are beneficial for managing large amounts of content efficiently.
Overall, WordPress.com is not overly difficult to use, but there’s a learning curve for new users. Tutorial messages and pop-up tips can help you get started. Once you familiarize yourself with the navigation, tasks like adding pages and customizing themes become straightforward. Setting up a store is simple if you’re in the U.S. or Canada. For other regions, third-party plugins like WooCommerce offer additional e-commerce functionality, though they also come with their own learning curve.
SUPPORT |4.4|
Prompt and Helpful Service
One aspect often missing from WordPress.com reviews is a look at the actual customer service experience. I decided to test this and was quite pleased with the results.
WordPress.com offers several support options for users at all levels. Free plan users have access to a comprehensive knowledge base and video tutorials. If you need more help, the support forum is also available.
Users on the Blogger plan can reach out via email support, while those on higher plans enjoy 24/7 live chat.
One minor issue I encountered is that if you’re on a plan with both email and live chat support, the “Contact Us” page only directs you to live chat. The email support option isn’t listed, and I had to ask for the email address during my live chat session. Essentially, I had to contact support to get the contact details for support!.
Is WordPress Hosting Secure?
Yes, WordPress hosting is generally secure, especially when you choose reputable hosting providers that prioritize security. However, the level of security can vary depending on the type of hosting and the hosting provider. Here are some key security features and practices that good WordPress hosting providers typically offer:
Key Security Features of WordPress Hosting
Automatic Updates
Core Updates: Regular updates to the WordPress core to ensure any security vulnerabilities are patched.
Plugin and Theme Updates: Automatic updates for plugins and themes to keep them secure.
Firewalls and Malware Scanning
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Protects against common web-based attacks like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Malware Scanning: Regular scanning for malware and malicious code on your website.
DDoS Protection
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Protection: Mitigates large-scale attacks aimed at overwhelming your website with traffic.
SSL Certificates
Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): Encrypts data transferred between the server and users, protecting sensitive information. Many hosting providers offer free SSL certificates.
Backup Solutions
Automatic Backups: Regularly scheduled backups to restore your site in case of data loss or a security breach.
On-Demand Backups: Ability to create manual backups before making significant changes to your site.
Access Control
Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification for login.
Secure Login Procedures: Enforces strong password policies and login attempt limits to prevent brute-force attacks.
Isolated Environment
Account Isolation: Each account or website is isolated to prevent one compromised site from affecting others.
Security Monitoring
Continuous Monitoring: 24/7 monitoring of servers and websites for suspicious activity or security breaches.
PRICE |4.7|
Pricing Plans and Refunds on WordPress.com
WordPress.com offers a range of pricing plans from free to “eCommerce” (a term that varies in capitalization). In general, the plans are quite affordable, and if you’re selling products, the eCommerce plan provides excellent value.
Compared to other website builders, WordPress offers substantial features at a low cost.
Payment Options Accepted:
Visa
Mastercard
American Express
Discover
PayPal
The free plan provides a basic blog with 3GB of storage, access to free themes, and community support. However, it includes ads that say, “This is a WordPress.com site,” and you can’t add custom themes or plugins, nor monetize your site through the platform.
Upgrading to a paid plan offers additional benefits. The least expensive plans remove WordPress.com ads, include a domain name, and allow limited monetization through subscriptions.
On higher plans, such as WordPress VIP, you gain access to plugins, more themes (including third-party options), advanced customization, WordPress-supported ads, enhanced SEO tools, more monetization methods, and payment acceptance from over 60 countries.
Should You Upgrade?
My advice: Start by building your site and getting familiar with the platform. Once you’re comfortable, consider upgrading for additional support and a domain name. Upgrading is straightforward and quick, but note that payments are required annually, not monthly.
Cancellations & Refunds
You can cancel any plan within 30 days for a full refund, with one exception: domain purchases. If you buy a domain, you must cancel within 48 hours to receive a refund. This policy is more generous than many others.
The cancellation process is automated, so no need to wait for human approval. You’ll complete a form with a few questions but can cancel without talking to a representative. Refunds are typically processed within minutes, ensuring a smooth and prompt return of funds if canceled within the specified time.
WordPress
STARTER
₹332
/MONTHS
WordPress
EXPLORER
₹664
/MONTHS
WordPress
CREATOR
₹2075
/MONTHS
WordPress
ENTERPRENEUR
₹3736
/MONTHS
WordPress
STARTER
₹332
/MONTHS
WordPress
EXPLORER
₹664
/MONTHS
WordPress
CREATOR
₹2075
/MONTHS
WordPress
ENTERPRENEUR
₹3736
/MONTHS
Alternative
Frequently Asked Question.
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage websites easily. It’s available in two versions: WordPress.org, a self-hosted option, and WordPress.com, a hosted service.
WordPress.org is free to download and use, but you’ll need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes or plugins you choose. WordPress.com offers a free plan with limitations, along with paid plans that unlock additional features.
No, you don’t need coding skills to use WordPress, especially with the intuitive Gutenberg block editor and thousands of pre-made themes and plugins. However, knowing some HTML/CSS can be helpful for advanced customizations.
WordPress.com is a hosted platform that takes care of hosting and maintenance, but it has some limitations on customization. WordPress.org is self-hosted, offering more flexibility and control, but you’re responsible for your own hosting, security, and updates.
Yes, both WordPress.com and WordPress.org allow you to use a custom domain name. On WordPress.com, you’ll need a paid plan to do this, while with WordPress.org, you can purchase a domain separately and link it to your site.
Plugins are add-ons that extend the functionality of your WordPress site. There are thousands of plugins available, covering everything from SEO optimization to e-commerce capabilities.
WordPress offers a wide variety of free and premium themes to choose from. When selecting a theme, consider your site’s purpose, design preferences, and the level of customization you need. You can preview themes before activating them.
Yes, WordPress is designed with SEO in mind. There are also plugins like Yoast SEO that can help you optimize your content for search engines.
WordPress is secure, but like any online platform, it’s important to follow best practices. This includes keeping WordPress, themes, and plugins updated, using strong passwords, and installing security plugins. For WordPress.org users, security is your responsibility.
Backing up your site is crucial to protect against data loss. On WordPress.org, you can use backup plugins like UpdraftPlus. On WordPress.com, automatic backups are included with higher-tier plans.
Yes, both WordPress.com (with a paid plan) and WordPress.org allow you to monetize your site through ads, affiliate marketing, selling products, and more.
WordPress.com offers different levels of support based on your plan, ranging from community forums to 24/7 live chat. WordPress.org users rely on community forums, documentation, and third-party resources, though some premium themes and plugins include dedicated support.
Yes, you can migrate your site from WordPress.com to WordPress.org if you decide you need more control and flexibility. WordPress provides tools and guides to help with the migration process.
WordPress regularly releases updates to improve security, fix bugs, and add new features. It’s important to keep your site updated to ensure it runs smoothly and securely.
Yes, with WordPress.org, you can use plugins like WooCommerce to build a full-featured online store. WordPress.com also offers e-commerce capabilities, but you’ll need a Business plan or higher to access them.