WordPress Pros and Cons: Key Advantages and Disadvantages

In this article, I want to explore the pros and cons of WordPress in 2025. Here, I will mostly skip some of the points that have been beaten to death already.

Pros of WordPress

It is open-source and has a massive ecosystem of WordPress plugins, themes, and developers.
It is versatile and can be used to build anything from simple blogs to complex enterprise websites.
Someone with no development knowledge can maintain it.
It can be user-friendly.
They are easily optimized for search engines, one of WordPress’s significant pros.

Cons of WordPress

Due to its popularity, WordPress remains a large target for hackers, which is one of the notable cons of WordPress.
It’s based on PHP, which is argued to be an old programming language by more “modern” developers.
It can be maintained by someone with no development knowledge (purposely repeated from the Pro’s list).
WordPress hosting can be tough to figure out, from security to performance.
Frequent updates are required.

In this post, I want to focus on WordPress’s pros and cons in comparison to modern alternatives and when one platform should be considered.

In 2025, What are the Alternatives to WordPress

Today, we have to look at two broad areas if we want to explore modern alternatives to WordPress:

No-code hosted services
More modern development languages and frameworks.

Let’s start at the bottom and work our way up. As a developer, I am more interested in code-based solutions.

Modern Frameworks

Today, numerous development frameworks are available to build websites, each with benefits and drawbacks. Among the most popular are Netify, MERN, and Next.js. I’m not going into the details of all of them because they all work on the same concepts, and this is not a technical article.

A Short Introduction to Netify

I will provide a quick explanation of Netify since this one is brought up the most when talking to potential clients. Netify is a web framework enabling developers to create websites like WordPress. However, it differs from WordPress in that it is written in JavaScript. Netify is a relatively easy framework to learn from a development standpoint and has many advantages. Some advantages, such as focusing on fast load time, were not even a concern when WordPress was developed long ago. Even hosting a Netify website means considering modern networking concepts like global content delivery networks (CDN).

No-Code Hosted Services

No-code services are online tools/platforms (SAAS subscription services) that allow users to create, launch, and manage digital products and services without writing a single line of code.

Drag, Drop/Point, Click: No Programming Required (or Allowed)

These services provide a visual interface that enables users to drag and drop different elements to build their website, product, or service.

Squarespace, Wix, Weebly, Etc.

No-code website solutions like Squarespace, Wix, and Weebly are becoming increasingly popular. These platforms allow users to create websites without writing any code. These platforms usually offer a variety of templates that can be used to create a professional-looking website. In addition, they provide tools that make it easy to add content such as text, images, and videos.

No Custom Code, None

One very important point we have to cover with no-code services is that there are no exceptions; the limitations of their system bind you. These systems cannot be customized and are built for the masses. Any third-party integrations or simple design tweaks cannot be accomplished unless the service provider has written it into their system.

You are Locked In

Another important point is that you are locked into these services. You can’t take your website with you, and migrations to other systems might be impossible short of copying and pasting. If the system your site is on gets sold, goes out of business or shuts down, you are at the mercy of its business decisions.

Which is the Best WordPress Alternative?

As with so many other questions about technology, the answer is a resounding “It depends.”

Which WordPress Alternative Would a WordPress Developer Choose?

If it were me, I would choose one of the newer JavaScript-based frameworks like Netify. However, why I would choose this route is a huge point of this article. I would choose Netify or a similar framework because I am a developer. I enjoy learning programming languages and working in an IDE, and modern networking technologies such as CDNs fascinate me. I often focus on performance and development efficiencies, which one could argue is not what WordPress’s pros and cons highlight.

The Pros of WordPress

Now that we have explored what the alternatives are today and my personal biases as a developer, let’s talk about why anyone would still use WordPress.

WordPress is a Great Platform for Non-Technical Businesses

At FatLab, as a WordPress web support company, our typical clients are businesses and organizations that consider their online presence critical. They may use their website for product sales, service sales, donations, member relations, and public relations.

It’s About Communications, Not Development

Our typical clients have communications-related titles such as VP of Communications or Director of Marketing. These organizations typically do not have a developer on staff. Our clients need to get a press release online at a specific time or launch marketing landing pages quickly without worrying about the cons of WordPress.

No Time to Drop and Drag

They also don’t want to spend an hour dragging and dropping elements in their web browser to create a new point-and-click page with one of the no-code solutions. They want to create a new web page quickly without dealing with templates or drag-and-drop editors.

Integration into Other Business Systems

WordPress is incredibly versatile because it is based on PHP and runs on a dynamic server. We can also integrate third-party applications, APIs, and CRMs without issue. The developmental flexibility that WordPress gives us is incredible, and this is another reason I recommend it to my particular client base, considering both the pros and cons of WordPress’s website.

No Lock-In

A WordPress site is yours; you can move hosts and developers easily while integrating third parties seamlessly.

The Cons of WordPress

I mentioned above pros that WordPress is still a powerful platform for certain groups of people, but it also comes with some significant cons of WordPress.

There are Better WordPress Alternatives for Certain Types of Website Owners

No-Code Can be Faster for Non-Developers

First, let’s talk about no-code solutions that shine in being truly no-code and allow business owners quick setup times.

The Weekend Warrior of Website Development

Let’s assume that setting up WordPress can be an incredibly frustrating process, especially when choosing themes, installing plugins, and configuring them, which might only get you about 80% towards your goals, leading you down rabbit holes searching through plugin recommendations and technical PHP articles, making your site clunky, slow or worse crashing it after making changes via FTP.

Custom WordPress Development Can be Expensive

Pricing ranges greatly, from freelancers, studios, and agencies building sites starting around $5K to six figures. Good developers alleviate performance issues, and good-managed web hosting helps, but there are always trade-offs, such as the ease of use discussed above.

I still believe that WordPress pros make it great platform website, especially for those who do not wanting development businesses afford experts to find value, avoid lock-in, no-code services need quick information posting, empower communication executives promoting products and services without development cycles, complex solutions, membership sites requiring personalization great candidates too.

Not For The Weekend Web Warrior

I don’t recommend WordPress cons, making it unsuitable for weekend warriors, resulting in typically poor outcomes. Instead, suggesting no-code services. Squarespace Wix provides proven multi-million dollar platforms running businesses with hassle-free hosting security performance, built-in complex solutions, online stores, and eCommerce set-up clicks.

Not For Those With Development Capabilities

I wouldn’t recommend WordPress website pros and cons owners having in-house ability build deploy Netify modern frameworks combined luxury planning scheduling deployments updates performance technology new frameworks too cool ignore.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is WordPress, and why is it so popular?

WordPress is an open-source content management system (CMS) that allows users to build websites and blogs. Its popularity stems from its flexibility, user-friendly interface, and extensive plugin ecosystem.

What are the main advantages of using WordPress in 2025?

Pros of WordPress include:

– User-friendly interface suitable for beginners.

– Highly customizable with thousands of themes and plugins.

– Strong community support and frequent updates.

– SEO-friendly architecture.

– Flexibility in creating various types of websites.

Are there any drawbacks to using WordPress?

Cons include:

– Potential security vulnerabilities if not maintained.

– Performance optimization might be required for high-traffic sites.

– Dependency on plugins can lead to compatibility issues.

– The learning curve for more complex customizations.

– Some premium themes and plugins are not free.

How does the WordPress.org platform differ from WordPress.com?

WordPress.org offers the self-hosted version, allowing full customization and control. In contrast, WordPress.com is a hosted solution with limitations on plugins and monetization but easier setup.

Are security concerns still associated with WordPress?

While WordPress core is secure, vulnerabilities can arise from outdated plugins, themes, or poor security practices. Regular updates and security measures mitigate these concerns.

How does WordPress compare to other CMS platforms in 2024?

While WordPress remains the most popular CMS, platforms like Joomla, Drupal, and newer entrants offer varying features. The choice depends on individual project needs, technical expertise, and specific requirements.

Is WordPress still free in 2025?

Yes, the core WordPress software remains open-source and free. However, related costs can arise from hosting, premium themes, plugins, and specialized services.

How will the WordPress community evolve by 2025?

The WordPress community grows with more developers, users, and contributors. This has led to more robust support, enhanced features, and a diverse ecosystem.

Is WordPress suitable for e-commerce in 2025?

Absolutely. With plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress remains a strong contender for creating user-friendly and feature-rich e-commerce platforms.