Say hello to WordPress.

WordPress is a free, open-source software that allows you to create a beautiful website, blog, or app. It was officially launched in May 2003. ​

WordPress gives users the freedom to build. The freedom to change. The freedom to share. 

WordPress is designed for everyone, emphasizing accessibility, performance, security, and ease of use.

about wordpress

WordPress is built for simplicity and flexibility. This means you can get online and publishing in no longer than five minutes, and you can create any kind of website you want – from a simple personal blog all the way up to a complex e-commerce website.

WordPress does not discriminate and is licensed under the General Public Licence (GPL), which protects your freedoms.

The Core Freedoms offered under the open-source GPL to all users of WordPress:

  • The freedom to run the program, for any purpose.
  • The freedom to study how the program works, and change it to make it do what you wish.
  • The freedom to redistribute.
  • The freedom to distribute copies of your modified versions to others.
websites using WordPress
0 + million
free plugins available
30000 +
market share of all CMS platforms
%

There are over 60 million WordPress websites up and running around the world, which equates to more than 38% of websites worldwide.

When you create with WordPress, you own all your data, content and website.

There are two versions of WordPress: wordpress.com and wordpress.org. The main difference is that through your .com site, WordPress is your host. When you choose a .org site, you host your own site through Bluehost, DreamHost, SiteGround, etc. 

There are over 55,000 plugins you can use with your site, each one helping you customize your site to your specific needs.

You can choose your own style with 7,889 themes at your fingertips.

WordPress has a mobile app, so you can create and edit on the go. WordPress is continually finding new ways to improve upon itself. Currently, WordPress is working on Phase 2 of the Gutenberg project. The Gutenberg project is a WordPress plugin designed to broaden your access to a web presence and make that process easier.

The Most Popular WordPress Plugins

With 55,000+ free plugins available on the plugin repository (and thousands more on the premium/paid-for marketplace) there’s a plugin for pretty much anything you want. This is what makes WordPress so great (though, arguably, it’s also what contributes to vulnerabilities and bugs!)

most popular wordpress plugins-contact form 7
most popular wordpress plugins-yoast-seo
most popular wordpress plugins-classic-editor
most popular wordpress plugins-akismet
most popular wordpress plugins-elementor
most popular wordpress plugins-woocommerce

WordPress Website Showcase 🤩

Out of the millions of WordPress websites, did you know that some household brand names also use WordPress as their CMS of choice? Here are just some famous brand websites built using WordPress that you may not have known about… 

The White House
The Walt Disney Company
Vogue
Rolling Stone
Sony Music
Angry Birds

Want to know more about WordPress?

RSS WordPress News
  • Holiday Break December 20, 2024
    In order to give myself and the many tired volunteers around WordPress.org a break for the holidays, we’re going to be pausing a few of the free services currently offered: We’re going to leave things like localization and the forums open because these don’t require much moderation. As you may have heard, I’m legally compelled […]
  • State of the Word 2024: Legacy, Innovation, and Community December 16, 2024
    On a memorable evening in Tokyo, State of the Word 2024 brought together WordPress enthusiasts from around the world—hundreds in person and millions more online. This event marked the first time State of the Word was hosted in Asia, reflecting the platform's growing global reach.
  • Write Books With the Block Editor December 16, 2024
    If you need a little push to start writing this winter, in the comfort of your familiar editor, here it is! You can now use the Block Editor to create electronic books and other documents—all completely offline. What a full circle moment for Gutenberg! The Block Editor contains so many features I miss when writing […]
  • Openverse.org: A Sight for Sore Eyes December 11, 2024
    Openverse.org, the vibrant platform for openly licensed media, has introduced a sleek and modern Dark Mode feature. This new site theme is designed to enhance users’ comfort and style as they explore the extensive library of creative resources. Whether for late-night browsing or simply a preference for darker aesthetics, Dark Mode makes engaging with Openverse […]
  • WordPress 6.7.1 Maintenance Release November 21, 2024
    WordPress 6.7.1 is now available! This minor release features 16 bug fixes throughout Core and the Block Editor. WordPress 6.7.1 is a fast-follow release with a strict focus on bugs introduced in WordPress 6.7. The next major release will be version 6.8, planned for April 2025. If you have sites that support automatic background updates, […]
  • WordPress 6.7 “Rollins” November 12, 2024
    WordPress 6.7, code-named 'Rollins,' celebrates legendary jazz saxophonist Sonny Rollins and debuts the sleek, versatile Twenty Twenty-Five theme, designed for any blog, any scale. Dive into new font management features and gain a macro perspective on your site with the Zoom Out feature. Embrace the spirit of creativity and bold expression that defines Rollins' music […]
  • WordPress 6.7 Release Candidate 3 November 5, 2024
    The third release candidate (RC3) for WordPress 6.7 is ready for download and testing! This version of the WordPress software is under development. Please do not install, run, or test this version of WordPress on production or mission-critical websites. Instead, it’s recommended that you evaluate RC3 on a test server and site. Reaching this phase […]