If you’ve started researching websites for your business, one word keeps coming up: WordPress. But what exactly is it, what is wordpress, why is it so popular, and is it the right choice for you?
This guide answers all of that — without technical jargon.
WordPress in One Sentence
WordPress is free, open-source software that lets you build and manage a website without knowing how to code.
It powers 43% of all websites on the internet — from tiny personal blogs to major news sites like TechCrunch and BBC America. That’s not a coincidence. It’s because WordPress hits the right balance between ease of use, flexibility, and power.
Two Types of ‘WordPress’ — Which One Do People Mean?
What is WordPress and Why Use It?
WordPress.com
WordPress.com is a hosted platform. You sign up, pick a plan, and your site is hosted on their servers. It’s the simpler option — but it’s more restricted. Free plans show ads on your site. Paid plans remove restrictions gradually, but at a higher cost than hosting your own site.
WordPress.org (what most people mean)
WordPress.org is the free software you download and install on your own hosting. This is the version used by web developers, agencies, and serious businesses. It gives you complete control — you own your files, your database, and your data. No restrictions. This is what WebLabs Pro builds all our client sites on.
What Can You Do with WordPress?
- Build a standard business website (Home, About, Services, Contact)
- Add a blog and publish content for SEO
- Build an online store with WooCommerce
- Create a membership site with restricted content
- Add booking systems, portfolios, event calendars, and more
- Build almost anything a website needs — with the right plugin
What Makes WordPress Better Than Competitors?
You own it completely
Unlike Wix or Squarespace, your WordPress site lives on your own hosting. If those platforms shut down or double their prices, your Wix site is gone. Your WordPress site belongs to you forever.
Massive ecosystem
60,000+ free plugins and thousands of premium ones. Need a booking system? There’s a plugin. Need a form builder? Multiple options. Need to connect to your CRM? Done.
SEO dominance
Google tends to rank WordPress sites well, especially when combined with a plugin like Yoast SEO. The platform gives developers full control over technical SEO — something Wix and Squarespace still struggle with.
Developer freedom
Any developer in the world can work on a WordPress site. You’re never locked into one agency or one person.
Is WordPress Hard to Use?
With a modern page builder like Elementor (which we use at WebLabs Pro), editing your own website is as simple as clicking on text and typing. Most of our clients are able to update their own content within minutes of launch — we include a short training video with every project.
The steeper learning curve comes if you want to build a site from scratch yourself. For business owners who want a professional result without the DIY time investment, hiring a developer to build it and handing over a ready-to-edit site is the best of both worlds.
What Does a WordPress Website Cost to Build?
The software itself is free. You’ll need hosting (from ~$3/month) and a domain name (~$12/year). A professionally built WordPress site from WebLabs Pro starts at $299 and is delivered in 5–10 business days. Read our full WordPress website cost guide for a detailed breakdown.
Summary
WordPress is the world’s most popular website platform — free, flexible, and powerful. It’s the right choice for any business that wants to own their website, rank on Google, and grow without hitting a platform ceiling.
All WebLabs Pro websites are built on WordPress. View our services page to see what’s included in each package, or contact us for a free quote.