WordPress is absolutely a good website builder, even now in 2025. It remains one of the most popular and versatile website builders, powering millions of websites worldwide—from simple blogs to complex eCommerce stores and corporate sites. Its lasting popularity owes to its flexibility, user-friendliness, and the vast ecosystem of themes and plugins that allow for virtually limitless customization possibilities.This comprehensive overview will explore why WordPress is a top choice for building websites. We’ll cover its pros and cons, customization options, and suitability for different websites. We’ll also discuss when WordPress might not be the ideal solution and provide possible alternatives to help you decide what to use as your website builder.

What is WordPress?

WordPress is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) based on PHP and MySQL (don’t let that scare you—it can be as no-code as you need). As of 2025, it powered over 43% of all websites on the Internet. Originally created in 2003 as a blogging platform, it has evolved into one of the most powerful website solutions.

The Distinction Between WordPress.com and WordPress.org

It is important to understand that there are two distinct versions of WordPress: WordPress.com (the all-in-one hosted platform) and WordPress.org (the open-source self-hosted software). Although the basic software is free for both, there are some significant variations between them.

WordPress.com is a hosted blogging service run by Automattic, the company behind WordPress. It provides a user-friendly platform for creating blogs and basic websites without hosting or installation. However, it has limited customization options, plugins, themes, and monetization restrictions.

WordPress.org (what we’ll refer to as ‘WordPress’ here on out), on the other hand, is the self-hosted version of WordPress. Users download the software from WordPress.org and install it on a web hosting service. This option offers extensive customization capabilities through thousands of free premium plugins and themes and complete control over monetization, SEO, and website functionality.

Webhosts that specialize in WordPress make it easy to set up. We strongly recommend that you see Siteground’s affordable website hosting rates.

Get Started with WordPress.org

WordPress Themes and Plugins Make it Extremely Flexible

WordPress plugins and themes are add-ons that extend the functionality and appearance of a WordPress website. Arguably, these are what make WordPress so much better than other website builders.

Plugins are software add-ons that bring new features to a WordPress site. They are like apps for your website. Some common examples include:

Ecommerce plugins (like WooCommerce) to turn your site into an online store
Contact form plugins to add contact forms to your pages
SEO plugins to optimize your site for search engines
Social media plugins to integrate social sharing buttons
Security plugins to protect your site from hackers

Themes are templates that control your WordPress website’s entire design and layout. They determine your site’s appearance, from the color scheme and typography to the page layouts and navigation menus. Themes allow you to change the appearance of your site without altering its core functionality. Divi is a widely used WordPress theme that makes every aspect of designing a website a visual, no-code experience.

Not all themes are available through the repository. Divi is a premium theme available on the Elegant Themes website.

Get Divi

What Kind of Websites is WordPress Good at Building?

WordPress is an incredibly versatile platform that can build a wide range of websites. WordPress Core provides everything one needs to create a website. However, it’s the thousands of plugins and themes available that turn WordPress sites into finely tuned websites for any need. Here are some

Small Business Websites

WordPress provides robust features and customization options that make it suitable for creating professional business websites. Companies like Sony Music, Microsoft News, and Renault Group leverage WordPress to showcase their products, services, and brand identity.

Example of a Business Layout Pack from Divi

See all Premade Business Layouts for your next website

Must have WordPress business plugins:

Business websites need intelligent form builders, CRM capabilities, and service/appointment booking. To create a feature-rich business site, we recommend these popular WordPress plugins:

See our full guide on how to make a WordPress website for a Small Business

Ecommerce Websites

With the powerful WooCommerce plugin, WordPress can be transformed into a fully functional eCommerce platform. Websites like Angry Birds use WordPress and WooCommerce to sell their products and merchandise online. It’s easy to start selling products online with this scalable solution fit for beginners and experts alike.

See all Premade eCommerce Store Layouts for your next website

Must have WordPress eCommerce plugins:

Choosing the right plugins can elevate your WooCommerce store’s functionality and user experience. Here are our top recommendations:

WooCommerce
Barn2 WooCommerce Plugins
Yith WooCommerce Plugins

Read up on our guide to building an online store with WordPress

News, Magazine, and Blog Websites

Major news outlets, such as TIME Magazine, The New York Times, Reuters, BBC America, and Wired, rely on WordPress to publish and manage content, thanks to its blogging roots and extensive content management capabilities.

One of many News Template Packs from Divi

Try Extra WordPress Theme for your next news/magazine website

Must have WordPress News and Content plugins:

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