Why You Should Still Use WordPress in 2026 (And Beyond)

There’s a reason millions of websites around the world still use WordPress, despite the rise of flashy new platforms like Webflow, Framer, and Squarespace. WordPress remains not just relevant, it’s irreplaceable. While competitors may offer sleek interfaces or drag-and-drop convenience, none can match the sheer depth, flexibility, and ownership WordPress offers.

Whether you’re launching a personal project, scaling an eCommerce business, or managing a high-traffic media site, WordPress continues to deliver at every level.

Still Dominating the CMS Market

Despite the buzz surrounding newer website builders, WordPress is still the dominant content management system on the web. With over 60% CMS market share, it powers more than 40% of all websites globally. That’s not just legacy inertia; that’s because people choose to use WordPress for reasons that remain as strong as ever.

From global publishers like BBC America to small business blogs, WordPress provides the infrastructure to publish, grow, and evolve. It’s open-source, endlessly customizable, and supported by one of the largest developer communities in the world.

Meanwhile, platforms like Webflow or Wix, while stylish, can be limited when it comes to complex needs, custom integrations, or long-term flexibility. And Framer, while trendy for designers, still lacks mature content management capabilities.

What Makes WordPress Stand Out?

Let’s cut through the noise. If you’re asking, “Why should I still use WordPress in 2026?”, here’s the answer: because it still outperforms most platforms where it matters most.

Built to Scale With You

Whether you’re starting a single-page portfolio or building a global product catalog, WordPress scales gracefully. With the right hosting and technical setup, it can handle millions of pageviews without blinking. There are no artificial limits on what you can build, just opportunities to grow.

Real Ownership, Real Control

This is where WordPress truly shines. When you use platforms like Wix or Squarespace, you’re building on rented land. You’re tied to their terms, their pricing models, their roadmaps.

When you use WordPress, you own everything: your content, your code, your data. That’s the kind of control that future-proofs your digital presence. You can move hosts, change themes, add any functionality you need, and never worry about being locked in.

A Plugin for (Almost) Everything

The WordPress plugin ecosystem is legendary. With over 59,000 plugins available, and more added every week, you can expand your site’s capabilities in seconds. Want to add a booking system? Launch an affiliate program? Integrate your CRM? There’s a plugin for it.

SEO That Actually Works

Search engine visibility is still the foundation of most online growth. WordPress has always been built with SEO in mind. Tools like Yoast SEO and Rank Math give you total control over your metadata, structured data, sitemaps, and performance. And when you need to customize deeper? The platform doesn’t hold you back.

When Should You Use WordPress Over Alternatives?

The best platform depends on your goals. But there are specific situations where WordPress almost always comes out on top:

• You need custom functionality that off-the-shelf platforms can’t handle.

• You’re planning for scale, not just launch.

• SEO is critical to your marketing strategy.

• You want to own your data and keep your options open.

Let’s say you start on Squarespace and grow fast. Moving to WordPress later is painful. On the other hand, if you use WordPress from the start, you can evolve your website without ever needing to migrate.

Making WordPress User-Friendly

A common misconception is that WordPress is hard to use or outdated. That may have been true a decade ago, but not anymore.

With today’s visual builders, automation tools, and hosting platforms, running a WordPress site is as smooth as anything else on the market. And thanks to its open ecosystem, you can choose the exact tools that match your team’s workflow and skill level.

Here’s how to make WordPress feel modern and manageable:

• 🛠️ Visual Builders – Use Elementor or Kadence Blocks for intuitive drag-and-drop page creation.
  
• ⚡ Performance Tools – WP Rocket and FlyingPress can turbocharge your site speed with minimal effort.
  
• 🔒 Security & Backups – Tools like iThemes Security and BlogVault simplify protection and recovery.
  
• 🤖 AI Integration – Use Bertha AI or GetGenie to help generate content faster.
  
• 📦 Smart Hosting – Use hosts like Kinsta or SiteGround for built-in backups, SSL, CDN, and staging.

With these modern tools, WordPress isn’t just easy to use; it’s enjoyable.

Why Businesses Still Use WordPress

When you talk to developers, marketers, or business owners who use WordPress, a common theme emerges: it gives them room to grow.

• Marketers love the SEO control and fast iteration.

• Developers love the freedom to build anything.

• Content teams love the editorial interface and media library.

• Business owners love that they’re not tied to a proprietary platform.

Even in the face of AI-generated sites, low-code tools, and newer CMS options, WordPress remains the default for serious brands. It’s mature, secure, constantly evolving, and most importantly, battle-tested.

WordPress vs. Webflow, Wix, and Others

Webflow is great for polished design and animations, but can be overwhelming for content managers. Wix is beginner-friendly but lacks scalability. Squarespace looks beautiful, but exporting content can be a nightmare.

Each platform has a place. But if you’re building for the long haul, WordPress still wins on:

• Flexibility

• Ownership

• Developer access

• Plugin availability

• Community support

Final Word: WordPress Is Built to Last

The web will continue to change, new design tools will emerge, hosting will evolve, and AI will reshape workflows. But the foundations of a good website, performance, control, flexibility, and scalability, won’t change. And that’s where WordPress continues to shine.