The software itself is free. You'll still pay for hosting, a domain name, and any premium themes, plugins, or development work you need.

It can be, but security depends on how it's maintained. Outdated plugins and themes are the most common way WordPress sites get compromised, which is why regular updates matter so much.

Do I need to know how to code to use WordPress?

No. You can build and manage a WordPress site without writing any code, especially for everyday content updates. Custom functionality or design work usually benefits from a developer.

How is WordPress different from Squarespace or Wix?

Squarespace and Wix are hosted, all in one platforms. You don't manage hosting or software updates yourself, but you're also more limited in what you can customize. WordPress gives you more control, and more responsibility.

Can I switch hosts without losing my WordPress site?

Yes. Since you own the software and the content, you can move a WordPress site to a different host at any time.

WordPress Websites

What it is, who it's for, and how I can help

A clear, honest look at WordPress, without the sales pitch.

WordPress powers more than 40% of all websites, and I've spent years building, fixing, and maintaining WordPress sites for businesses of every size. This is the page I point people to when they ask what WordPress actually is, whether it's the right fit, and what tends to go wrong. It's not an argument for WordPress. It's meant to give you a clear picture before you decide anything.

What Is WordPress?

WordPress is open source software for building and running a website. Whoever manages your site controls the code, the content, and the hosting. There's no single company running things behind the scenes, it's maintained by a large community of contributors, and anyone can use it for free.

Editing a page in the WordPress block editor

Two versions get confused often. WordPress.org is the self hosted software you install on your own hosting, where you have full control. WordPress.com is a separate, hosted service with real limits on customization. When I talk about WordPress on this site, I mean the self hosted, WordPress.org kind.

Most of what makes WordPress flexible is its plugin and theme ecosystem. Plugins add functionality, forms, SEO tools, ecommerce, page builders, and themes control how a site looks. Tens of thousands of both exist, built by companies and independent developers all over the world.

Is WordPress Right for You?

WordPress's biggest strength is also its biggest responsibility: you own everything. That cuts both ways.

On the plus side, you're not locked into one company's pricing, feature roadmap, or platform decisions. You can move your site to a different host at any time. You can add almost any functionality through a plugin, or have something custom built if nothing off the shelf fits. And the software itself is free, so your costs go toward hosting, development, and the tools you actually need, not a subscription for the platform itself.

The tradeoff is that upkeep, security, and technical decisions are also on you, or whoever you hire to handle them. Plugins need updates. Hosting needs to be chosen and maintained. A theme or plugin from an inactive developer can quietly become a liability. None of this is a dealbreaker, but it's real, and it's worth knowing going in.

WordPress tends to be a strong fit for businesses that want full control over their site, expect to grow or customize significantly over time, or already have, or want, a relationship with a developer. It's less of a fit for teams that want a single all in one platform with marketing, sales, and content bundled together, and don't want to think about hosting or plugin maintenance at all.

What WordPress Is Commonly Used For

WordPress started as blogging software, and blogs are still one of its strongest use cases. It's grown into something far broader since:

Brochure and marketing websites for small and mid sized businesses
Blogs and content heavy sites that need strong SEO tools
Online stores, usually built with WooCommerce
Membership sites and gated content
Custom web applications, built with WordPress as the foundation

That range is exactly what makes WordPress so flexible. It's also why some businesses eventually outgrow a simple setup, or find that a more structured, all in one platform fits their team better as they grow.

Common WordPress Challenges

A few problems come up again and again, and I've built dedicated resources for the most common ones.

Slow Websites

The most frequent complaint I hear. Usually caused by unoptimized images, too many plugins, or a host that isn't built for WordPress. See what might be slowing your site down.

Ongoing Maintenance

Someone needs to keep WordPress, your theme, and your plugins updated, and keep an eye on security. Explore WordPress management services.

Accepting Payments

WordPress doesn't take payments natively, so how you set that up depends on what you're selling. Learn how to accept payments with WordPress.

None of these are reasons to avoid WordPress. They're just things that need a plan, the same way any platform has its own list of things to plan for.

How I Help With WordPress

I work with WordPress in a few different ways, depending on what you need:

Design and Development

Building a new WordPress site from scratch, or improving an existing one. Web development services / Website design services.

Performance

Fixing a slow site and keeping it fast. Website performance services.

Ongoing Management

Keeping an existing WordPress site updated, secure, and running smoothly. WordPress management services.

Migrations

Moving a site to WordPress, or moving it away from WordPress if your needs have changed. I've written detailed guides for both directions. Migrating from HubSpot to WordPress / Moving from WordPress to HubSpot.

I'm not going to tell you WordPress is the right choice before I know more about your business. But if it is, or if you're already using it, I can help.