WordPress is the open-source publishing platform preferred by millions of websites worldwide — from creators and small businesses to enterprises. Nearly 500 million websites are built on WordPress, representing about 40% of all websites.
Despite WordPress being the most popular website platform globally, there is a lot of misinformation.
We have been building digital products with WordPress for over 12 years, so we’ve heard all the common misconceptions about this CMS.
In this article, we will debunk the most widespread myths about WordPress. Our goal is to help you choose the best platform for developing your websites, whether that’s WordPress or another option.
Myths and Misconceptions
WordPress is just a blogging tool
Although WordPress started as a blogging platform, today it is a complete content management system (CMS) used to create all types of websites, from portfolios and business sites to complex e-commerce platforms.
It is an insecure platform
WordPress itself is no more insecure than other platforms; security depends on how the site is managed and maintained. Regular updates to the core, themes, and plugins are essential for security.
WordPress is not suitable for large (high-traffic) websites
WordPress can handle high-traffic sites when properly configured. With performance optimisations, caching, quality hosting, and proper infrastructure scaling, WordPress can handle many visitors without issues.
The future of WordPress is uncertain
WordPress has a global community of developers and users who constantly contribute to its development. With projects like Gutenberg and continuous improvements to the API, WordPress’s future looks solid and innovative.
WordPress doesn’t support e-commerce
On the contrary, with plugins like WooCommerce, WordPress offers full e-commerce functionality, becoming one of the most popular solutions for online stores.
WordPress is just for small businesses
This is a myth; WordPress is used by businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and small enterprises to large corporations and government institutions. Its scalability and flexibility allow it to manage sites of any complexity and traffic volume.
There is very limited support available
There is vast support for WordPress, including official documentation, community forums, numerous blogs and tutorials, plus paid support services from developers and web agencies.
It’s for beginners
While WordPress is accessible for beginners, it is also extremely powerful and flexible for advanced users, offering detailed control over the site through custom themes, plugins, and custom code.
WordPress is difficult
In fact, WordPress is known for its intuitive and user-friendly interface. With many tutorials and online resources, even beginners can learn to manage a WordPress site quite quickly.
WordPress is not scalable
WordPress is extremely scalable, capable of handling everything from small blogs to high-traffic websites. With caching plugins, server optimisation, and suitable hosting solutions, WordPress can support sites with millions of visitors.
Most WordPress sites look the same
With thousands of customisable themes and plugins, the appearance of a WordPress site can be completely unique. Designers and developers can create custom themes, and users can modify almost every aspect of their site.
WordPress is free, so its quality is poor
WordPress is indeed free, but its quality is not compromised. Millions of developers contribute to the improvement and expansion of the platform, providing high-quality solutions for all website needs.
WordPress is just a template
WordPress offers much more than simple templates. It is a complete content management system (CMS) that allows the creation of dynamic, interactive, and custom websites, far from being just a set of static templates.
WooCommerce and e-Commerce
Flexibility and Extensibility
WooCommerce offers a wide range of extensions and plugins, allowing detailed customisation of online stores. This means store owners can adapt the platform to their specific needs, whether it’s adding new payment methods, shipping options, or specific features.
Support and Community
A key benefit of WooCommerce is its large community and extensive support, which provides quick solutions to problems and regular updates to keep the platform secure and performing well.
Conclusion
WordPress and WooCommerce have proven capable of supporting impressive growth and providing effective solutions for e-commerce. However, the success of a WordPress site depends not only on the popularity of the platform but also on how it is managed and secured. Myths around security and misconceptions need to be debunked through education and best security practices. Ultimately, to keep a WordPress site secure and efficient, it is crucial to take a proactive approach to security, updates, and content management.