The Pros & Cons Of Using WordPress For Your Website

If you haven’t heard of WordPress, you’ve presumably been living under a rock somewhere. It’s the most popular CMS (or content management system) in the world, serving as the foundation for everything from hobbyist blogs to major business websites. It’s so dominant that it holds the position of default recommendation for most people. Not sure what to use? Go with WordPress.

So the question that must be asked is this: does it warrant that position, or was it simply in the right place at the right time, ultimately becoming a trendsetter through fortune? Before we can come up with a useful answer, we need to look at the pros and cons of choosing WordPress to underpin your website — so let’s get to it (after an important preamble):

What are your needs?

Before we delve into the positives and negatives, we need to get something firmly established: not only is there no perfect CMS, but there’s also no CMS that will serve the needs of every website owner. You may look at a system that’s spectacular across the board, but realise that it’s missing that one feature you really need and have to compromise by using a system that’s generally inferior but can fulfill that specific requirement.

Here’s the main takeaway of this part: regardless of the conclusions, we reach from this piece, you’ll need to decide for yourself if WordPress is right for you. Don’t simply go by my assertions, as things just aren’t that simple. It would be easier if they were, of course! Now that we’ve covered that, we can move on to the assessment.

The pros of WordPress

In a nutshell, here’s what makes WordPress such a solid choice:

  • It’s essentially free. WordPress is 100% free to use with no caveats. You do need to pay for hosting, any monetized plugins you want, and any development you require to get everything set up, but those costs are unavoidable — and taking the WordPress route gives you the freedom to choose which services you use.
  • It’s extremely flexible. WP might be best known for its astonishing range of plugins, most of which are either free or very cheap to buy. And since it’s an open-source system, if you find something you can’t achieve with an existing plugin, you can either develop it yourself or hire a WordPress developer to do it for you.
  • It has huge support. Due to its design and immense popularity, there’s a great number of WordPress developers worldwide, as well as a vast community of users ranging from hobbyist bloggers to business owners. Quite simply, this means that there’s always a way to get assistance if you run into issues.
  • It’s fairly secure. It gets criticised sometimes for its security on the basis that it’s hacked more than any other CMS, but that’s hardly surprising since it’s the most widely-used CMS by a wide margin. In truth, a WordPress installation that’s kept updated and maintained sensibly is respectably secure (being attacked so frequently ensures that vulnerabilities get flagged up and patched just as frequently).

The cons of WordPress

It isn’t flawless, naturally, so here’s what’s bad about WordPress:

  • It isn’t very intuitive. The UI of WordPress isn’t daunting, necessarily — it doesn’t have a horribly dated design like some systems do — but it certainly isn’t easy for beginners to use. A reluctance to deal with complex systems is why slick hosted solutions like Wix (or Shopify for eCommerce) have caught on with some users. If you’re absolutely determined to avoid anything technical, then it might not be for you.
  • It can get bloated. Plugins are key for turning WordPress into a powerhouse, but every added plugin adds weight to an installation. Not only does security become an issue with numerous plugins given system-wide permissions, but so does performance. To keep loading times down and response times up, you need to be very careful with plugins.

Why it’s almost always viable

So, having looked at the pros and cons of using WordPress for your website, what’s the verdict? Is it something you should seriously consider? Well, to put it very simply, yes. WordPress is almost always a viable option. It might have a learning curve for new users, but there are so many guides and supportive communities out there that it’s really not a big issue.

It integrates with pretty much anything — even Shopify works with WordPress, and the likes of Dokan make it possible for retailers to run multichannel retail enterprises across eBay, Amazon etc.

And it doesn’t really matter what type of site you’re going for. Want to make a blog? It was designed for that. A business homepage? It’s certainly sufficiently customisable. An eCommerce store? Use a free retail plugin like WooCommerce, choose a high-performance host, and you’ll be able to compete with stores using expensive hosted solutions. You can also choose various other eCommerce solutions with WordPress.

WordPress isn’t a perfect system, but perfect systems don’t exist, so that isn’t a mark against it. Being free, secure, flexible, and ably backed by vast quantities of resources and supporters, it’s about as safe a CMS option as you’ll find. If you choose to use it, it’s very unlikely that you’ll regret it.

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By Tiago Lavis-Fernandes

Tiago is a Portuguese freelance web designer living and working in Manchester for over ten years. Fascinated by WordPress and the Divi Builder, he helps clients achieve success through UX/UI website design and search engine optimisation. If you're looking for someone to help with your online marketing, look no further.

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82 Comments

  1. Highland Avenue Restaurant

    I’m new to this, I stumbled upon it, I have found It positively useful and it has aided me out loads.
    I am hoping to contribute & assist other users like its helped me.

    Great job.

    Reply
    • Freelance Web Designer

      Thank you for your words, I am really glad this helped you.

      Reply
  2. Sarah Wright

    This is a very comprehensive article that covers some good information. I think wordpress is the best tool out there for developers and it’s the one I’ve always used in my work – thanks

    Reply
    • Freelance Web Designer

      Glad you found it useful, WordPress really is the best in my biased opinion. 😁

      Reply
  3. Bev Puckerman

    I have to say I’ve used plenty of platforms over the years, but WordPress is by far my favourite. It does everything you need it to, and while it doesn’t have the same level of functionality as others, it’s amazing nonetheless.

    Reply
  4. Summer Coles

    Wow, this post is good, my sister is analyzing these things, thus I am going to tell her about this.

    Reply
  5. Mohammad Craig

    I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but great topic.
    I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more.
    Thanks for excellent info I was looking for this info for my mission.

    Reply
  6. Molly Baxter

    Awesome post, keep up the great work!

    Reply
  7. Brandon Hobbs

    Have you ever thought about adding a little bit more than just your articles?

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    this site could definitely be one of the greatest in its niche. Very good blog!

    Reply
  8. Keira Green

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    Reply
  9. Rhys Howarth

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    I’m quite certain I will learn many new stuff right here!
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    Reply
  10. Zara Nolan

    You can certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write.
    The world hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. Always go after your heart.

    Reply
  11. Jonathan Daly

    So glad I found this, cheers for that!

    Reply
  12. Lilly Davey

    Just what I needed to decide, thanks a lot!

    Reply
  13. Billy Bradley

    I am so gonna try WordPress after this, really appreciate your time writing this article!

    Reply
  14. Leon Greenwood

    Nice wording and all but I will still stick by HTML

    Reply
  15. Brandon Stone

    Totally agree!

    Reply
  16. Natasha Davidson

    Great post, thank you for sharing this information.

    Reply
  17. Ava Brown

    Hey, I found you on top of Google and thought it was a good idea to say hi! Thank you for clarifying my concerns. Have a great day!

    Reply
  18. Luca Sanders

    Love your stuff, just a shame you don’t post very often. Can you start posting new content every week? I would love that!

    Reply
  19. Amelia Walters

    Thank you for sharing this information, a great blog post!

    Reply
  20. Tyler Ingram

    I love your blog, carry on the awesome job!

    Reply
  21. Ethan Hale

    Great content, thanks for helping me to make a decision.

    Reply
  22. Sarah Benson

    I used to love Squarespace but since I changed my website to WordPress, I would never go back!

    Reply
  23. Sean Moss

    WordPress offers unlimited possibilities, great designs, useful widgets to use, countless plugins for anything you need. WordPress isn’t perfect, but it’s the closest one to perfection!

    Reply
  24. Corey Sheppard

    Very helpful blog post. You just saved me lots of time searching for what type of web designer I should search for. Cheers!

    Reply
  25. Scarlett Miah

    Nice article – Personally, I believe that WordPress is the go-to solution for website design. It’s really easy to use, but you’re spot on – there are some cons too but if you keep plugins, theme and core WordPress version up to date and backed up, you will avoid unnecessary stress!

    Reply
  26. Jacob Craig

    Great article, thanks for this.

    Reply
  27. Michael Elliott

    Thanks for your help, I was looking for some clarity about WordPress and came across your article. Carry on writing, love your stuff!

    Reply
  28. Faith Stephenson

    Great blog post, keep up the awesome writing.

    Reply
  29. Adam Moss

    Fair enough, but I still prefer Joomla.

    Reply
  30. Ruby Stewart

    I know there is a lot of people who thinks that the biggest Con of WordPress is security, but honestly, those same people are the ones who use the same password for everything, use the same nickname as their username, never do updates of plugins etc. I have never had issues so I would say that is a myth. Will you write something about this topic, please? Thank you!

    Reply
  31. Louie McDonald

    Awesome post!

    Reply
  32. Rosie Akhtar

    I don’t like WordPress but my clients love it so I have to use it.

    Reply
  33. Hollie Matthews

    I had a few issues with WordPress but it turned out to be due to updates. Once I updated some plugins, all sorted.

    Reply
  34. Dominic Norton

    Thank you, really useful!

    Reply
  35. Chloe Lyons

    I’ll give WordPress a go. Thank you.

    Reply
  36. Jamie Finch

    I love the way you explain stuff. Thanks for helping me to decide.

    Reply
  37. Sienna Parry

    Thank you for sharing this information.

    Reply
  38. Evie Wheeler

    I tell you what, this really helped me to decide! Nice one, thank you!

    Reply
  39. Ella North

    I’ve never tried any other CMS but I love WordPress so don’t really need to try.

    Reply
  40. Jake Lloyd

    Perfect, just what I was looking for. Cheers!

    Reply
  41. Hayden Rhodes

    Why am I under the impression that you are besotted by wordpress?

    Reply
  42. Dominic Lamb

    Nice one, keep up the good writing!

    Reply
  43. Jodie Giles

    Please help me, my web designer disappeared and all I have now is WordPress logins. Can you drop me an e-mail? Thank you so much!

    Reply
  44. Poppy Cameron

    Spot on!

    Reply
  45. Toby Gregory

    I think you’re right, WordPress is here to stay!

    Reply
  46. Summer Conway

    Why using WordPress when you can hire a web designer for £300 to do it all for you? haha!

    Reply
  47. Nicole Bailey

    Love it! Continue writing great articles, I added your website to my favourites. Thanks!

    Reply
  48. Sarah Coates

    To be honest, I don’t really care about the pros and cons. I had 5 websites done since I opened my business and the only website that really helped to boost my sales, is built using WordPress. That’s all I need to know!

    Reply
  49. Lilly Shepherd

    One day something else will take over WordPress and you will feel like us who refuse to try it. When you do something for so long, it’s really hard to adapt to new platforms. You’ll understand one day.

    Reply
  50. Logan Baldwin

    Please can you write about WooCommerce? I have an e-commerce website and would love to see your views about it. Cheers!

    Reply
  51. Niamh Jarvis

    I love your blog, bookmarked!

    Reply
  52. Amelia Bell

    I gave up fully bespoke websites a few years ago and I tell you what, the best thing I’ve ever done! WordPress saves me so much time and my clients have really good results so I’ll stick by it!

    Reply
  53. Nicole Bell

    All the websites on your portfolio look great, are they all built using WordPress? Please send me an e-mail, I might need your help. Thank you mate!

    Reply
  54. Brooke Young

    Thank you for this great article! Keep up the amazing work you have been doing!!!

    Reply
  55. Mason Robson

    Hi there, I am also a freelance web designer and I love your website! Can you send me an e-mail with tips to grow my freelance business? That would be much appreciated!

    Reply
  56. Alisha Martin

    It’s like everything, innit? Good and bad. But at least WordPress is easy to use.

    Reply
  57. Dominic Bowen

    Yes, finally someone who agrees with me, wish you could talk with my colleagues and tell them why WordPress is the best! I’ll show them this. Thank you!

    Reply
  58. Kiera Barker

    Great article, keep up the good work!

    Reply
  59. Kian Bishop

    Great blog post but I would love to see one like this about Joomla. Thank you.

    Reply
  60. Scarlett Morton

    Thank you for sharing this info, very useful pal.

    Reply
  61. Alisha Wyatt

    Great post! If you need a freelance wordpress designer drop me an e-mail!

    Reply
  62. Dominic Bishop

    I guess it depends, if you are good with it, it’s worth it. If you are not very good using WordPress, then it’s sh*t.

    Reply
  63. Emma Dean

    I wish I could get used to WordPress but I’ve been building websites since the 90’s using just HTML, I’m struggling now to keep up with times, to be honest. I guess I’ll leave it up to you young lads. Good to learn more about WordPress here though, thank you!

    Reply
  64. Scott Hammond

    Love how you explain things, very clear. Great article, thank you for helping me out!

    Reply
  65. Brooke Mann

    Sorted, I’ll tell my designer to build the website using WordPress, you convinced me.

    Reply
  66. Jack O'Donnell

    Thanks mate, very helpful info. I guess I’ll be going for WordPress then.

    Reply
  67. Niamh Mahmood

    Yep… totally agree! There are loads of pros and cons of using WordPress but it is still the best, by far!

    Reply
  68. Joseph Pearson

    Great blog post, thanks dude!

    Reply
  69. Elliot Robertson

    Awesome, this post helped me make my mind up. WordPress it is!

    Reply
  70. Zoe Gregory

    No doubt, I mean 455,000,000 people can’t be wrong! WordPress is by far the best CMS. This is the percentage of CMS used on the entire web – WordPress=35%, Joomla=2.6%, Drupal=1.7%, Squarespace=1.5%, Wix=1.3%. Stats don’t lie! I am very passionate about WordPress so thank you so much for this post!

    Reply
  71. Millie Watkins

    WordPress all the way! Awesome article.

    Reply
  72. Scarlett Leonard

    I can’t believe people still go for website designers that build websites from scratch with code. Takes so much longer, it’s so much more expensive, and it doesn’t have half of the capabilities that WordPress has with its massive community of plugin developers. I mean, a web designer can be a great web designer, but how the hell they will excel in website security, website performance, design, e-commerce, all at once? Isn’t it better to just design a website and know precisely what plugins to install on a website, each plugin developed by experts in their area?

    Reply
  73. Jacob Baker

    Yep, spot on! WordPress is the best!

    Reply
  74. Niamh Bibi

    Opinions… WordPress is pretty dull. Have you tried Drupal? Sure, WordPress is better for your clients to make changes, but it can be a bit limited if you are building a website for a multi-national company.

    Reply
  75. Bethany Hawkins

    Great blog post! You know what’s the best thing about WordPress? How easy it is to use. I had a website done by a bespoke custom html web designer and bloody hell, I couldn’t even change my name on the text!

    Reply
  76. Robert Humphreys

    I hate WordPress but I have to admit, it’s the best…

    Reply
  77. Sam Crawford

    WordPress FTW!

    Reply
  78. Leah Dennis

    Totally agree, WordPress is the best!

    Reply
  79. Michael Baxter

    I love your blog, keep up the great work!

    Reply
  80. Kiera Hilton

    Great content, thanks for sharing!

    Reply

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