Is WordPress Still Worth It in 2025? An Honest Assessment

WordPress powers 43% of all websites. That's a staggering market share. But numbers don't tell the full story.

After building hundreds of websites with WordPress and increasingly moving clients to modern alternatives like Payload CMS, Next.js, and Webflow, I need to be honest: WordPress is falling behind in significant ways.

This isn't WordPress-bashing. WordPress remains excellent for certain use cases. But the landscape has changed dramatically, and businesses deserve an honest assessment of where WordPress fits in 2025.

What's Changed: The WordPress Decline

The Admin Interface is Getting Worse

Let's address the elephant in the room: the Gutenberg block editor.

Released in 2018, it was supposed to modernise WordPress.

The reality:

• Slower than classic editor
• More clicks for simple tasks
• Constant UI changes breaking muscle memory
• Confusing for non-technical users
• Many plugins still don't work well with it
• Accessibility issues

User feedback is overwhelmingly negative, yet it remains the default.

What clients tell me:

• "I used to update my site myself, now I pay someone because Gutenberg confuses me"
• "Why does WordPress feel slower and more complicated than it used to?"
• "Can we go back to the old editor?"

Compare to:

• Webflow: Visual, intuitive, fast
• Payload: Modern, fast, clean interface
• Sanity: Focused, streamlined editing

WordPress feels dated by comparison.

Security is Still a Constant Battle

The numbers:

• WordPress sites represent 90%+ of CMS hacking attempts
• Average WordPress site receives 44 attacks per day
• Vulnerable plugins are #1 attack vector

The reality:

• Weekly security updates required
• Plugin vulnerabilities constant
• Must monitor security news
• One outdated plugin = compromised site

Modern alternatives:

• Payload: Fewer attack vectors, modern security practices
• Webflow: Fully managed, security handled
• Next.js + Headless: API-only access reduces attack surface

Cost of WordPress security:

• Security plugins: £100-200/year
• Monitoring services: £50-150/year
• Recovery if hacked: £500-2,000
• OR: Pay for managed WordPress hosting: £30-80/month

Performance is Inherently Limited

WordPress architecture from 2003:

• PHP-based (slower than modern JavaScript)
• Database query on every page load
• Plugin-based feature system (each adds overhead)

Typical WordPress site:

• 20-40 plugins installed
• Each plugin loads code on every page
• Database queries: 30-100+ per page load
• Page generation time: 0.5-2 seconds
• Before content even starts downloading

Modern alternatives:

• Static generation: Pages built once, served instantly
• Edge caching: Content served from nearest location
• Optimised queries: Only fetch exactly what's needed

Real comparison:

WordPress blog (optimised):

• Time to First Byte: 400-800ms
• Page load: 1.5-3s

Next.js + Payload:

• Time to First Byte: 50-150ms
• Page load: 0.4-0.9s

4-5x faster with modern architecture.

The Plugin Ecosystem is Declining

The problem:

• Quality plugins increasingly expensive or abandoned
• Many developers moving to modern platforms
• Plugin conflicts remain nightmare
• Hard to predict compatibility

Examples:

• Popular plugin abandoned? Find alternative
• Plugin conflicts with another? Trial and error
• New WordPress version? Wait to see what breaks
• Update plugin? Hope nothing breaks

Modern alternatives:

• Built-in features (no plugins needed)
• Custom development (exact requirements)
• Integrated systems (no conflicts)

Hosting Costs Are Higher Than Alternatives

Shared hosting (£5-10/month):

• Poor performance
• Security concerns
• Resource limitations
• Frequent downtime

Quality WordPress hosting (£30-80/month):

• Kinsta, WP Engine, Flywheel
• Necessary for good performance
• Security monitoring
• Daily backups
• Still slower than modern alternatives

Modern alternatives:

• Vercel/Netlify: £0-20/month, faster performance
• Railway/Render: £0-40/month, better value
• Webflow: £14-29/month, includes hosting & CDN

Reality: Proper WordPress hosting costs more than modern alternatives with better performance.

Where WordPress Still Excels

WordPress isn't terrible. It's just no longer the best choice for many scenarios.

WordPress is Still Best For:

1. Simple Content-Focused Sites

When WordPress makes sense:

• Primarily blog or news content
• No complex custom functionality
• Non-technical users updating regularly
• Budget under £2,000

Why: Familiar interface (if you stay with classic editor), extensive documentation, cheap to build.

Example: Personal blog, small local news site, simple portfolio.

2. Very Tight Budgets

When money is the deciding factor:

• Total budget under £1,500
• Need site live quickly
• Can compromise on performance/security
• Have time to learn WordPress basics

Why: Large pool of cheap WordPress developers, cheap hosting available, free themes/plugins.

3. Extensive Third-Party Integrations

If you absolutely need:

• Specific rare plugin functionality
• Integration with niche software
• Features only available as WP plugins

Why: 60,000+ plugins cover nearly everything. If you need very specific functionality and it exists as a mature WP plugin, WordPress might be practical.

4. Client Insists

Sometimes clients request WordPress because:

• Past experience with it
• In-house person knows WordPress
• Comfort with familiar system

Why: Client satisfaction matters. If they specifically want WordPress and understand tradeoffs, it's reasonable.

What WordPress Does Adequately (Not Best)

Medium-complexity sites:

• Corporate websites
• Small e-commerce
• Membership sites
• Basic directories

Reality: WordPress can handle these, but modern alternatives often do it better, faster, and more securely.

The Modern Alternatives

Let me explain what's better than WordPress for different scenarios:

For Content-Heavy Sites: Payload CMS

Why it's better:

• Modern architecture (fast)
• Type-safe (fewer bugs)
• Self-hosted (you control data)
• Headless (flexible frontend)
• Clean admin interface
• Predictable costs

Best for:

• Custom web applications
• E-commerce with complex needs
• Sites requiring custom functionality
• Businesses with growth plans

Tradeoff: Requires developer for setup and maintenance.

Cost: £5,000-12,000 setup, £40-80/month hosting.

For Designer-Managed Sites: Webflow

Why it's better:

• Visual design interface
• No code required (for designers)
• Fast by default
• Managed hosting included
• Built-in CMS
• Great for marketing sites

Best for:

• Marketing websites
• Portfolios
• Small business sites
• When designers manage updates

Tradeoff: Monthly fee, some design limitations, can't self-host.

Cost: £2,500-5,000 build, £14-29/month subscription.

For Maximum Performance: Next.js + Headless CMS

Why it's better:

• Fastest possible performance
• Modern development practices
• Complete design freedom
• Scalable architecture
• Best developer experience

Best for:

• Performance-critical sites
• Custom applications
• E-commerce
• When budget allows proper development

Tradeoff: Requires skilled developers, higher initial cost.

Cost: £8,000-20,000 build, £20-60/month hosting.

For Simple Sites: Pure HTML/CSS or Astro

Why it's better:

• No CMS overhead
• Maximum speed
• No security concerns
• Minimal hosting cost

Best for:

• Landing pages
• Simple portfolios
• Sites rarely updated

Tradeoff: Content updates require code changes.

Cost: £1,500-3,000 build, £0-10/month hosting.

The Cost Truth

Let's compare total cost of ownership over 3 years:

WordPress Website

Initial build: £2,500 Hosting (managed): £40/month = £1,440 Security plugins: £150/year = £450 Backup service: £60/year = £180 Updates & maintenance: £600/year = £1,800 Performance plugins: £100/year = £300 Broken plugin fixes: £400/year = £1,200 Security incident (probable): £1,000 once

Total: £9,870 over 3 years

Modern Alternative (Payload + Next.js)

Initial build: £8,000 Hosting: £60/month = £2,160 Maintenance: £400/year = £1,200 Security incidents: £0 (much rarer) Updates: £200/year = £600

Total: £11,960 over 3 years

Difference: £2,090 more for modern stack

BUT: The modern site is:

• 4-5x faster
• More secure
• Easier to scale
• No plugin management
• Better performance = higher conversions

If conversion rate improves 15% due to performance, the modern stack pays for itself.

The Decision Framework

Use WordPress in 2025 if:

• Budget is under £2,000
• Content-only site (blog, news)
• Non-technical team must manage everything
• You need specific WordPress plugins
• Performance isn't critical
• You understand security requirements

Choose modern alternatives if:

• Budget allows £3,000+
• Performance matters
• Security is important
• Custom functionality needed
• Planning to scale
• Want future-proof solution

What About WordPress for E-commerce?

WooCommerce powers 28% of online stores.

But should you use it in 2025?

When WooCommerce Works

Small, simple stores:

• Under 500 products
• Standard product types
• Basic shipping/tax
• Budget under £4,000

Why it works: Quick to set up, familiar interface, lots of extensions.

When to Choose Alternatives

Complex requirements:

• 1,000+ products
• Complex pricing logic
• Custom product configurations
• B2B functionality
• International markets

Better options:

• Shopify: Managed, scalable, reliable
• Payload + Stripe: Custom, fast, flexible
• Headless commerce: Best performance

Reality: For serious e-commerce, WooCommerce is increasingly limiting.

The WordPress Community Problem

The ecosystem is fracturing:

Block themes vs Classic themes

• Developers must choose
• Many choosing Classic (Gutenberg resistance)
• Fragmented ecosystem

WP Engine vs Automattic conflict

• Legal battles
• Community uncertainty
• Future direction unclear

Developer exodus:

• Many experienced developers moving to modern frameworks
• Remaining community increasingly junior
• Quality concerns

WordPress.com vs WordPress.org confusion:

• Two different products
• Constant marketing confusion
• Automatic acquisition strategy unclear

The Brutal Honesty

WordPress is:

• Mature and stable (pro)
• Dated and slow (con)
• Huge ecosystem (pro)
• Declining quality (con)
• Familiar to many (pro)
• Increasingly complex (con)

In 2025, WordPress is:

• ❌ Not the best performance
• ❌ Not the most secure
• ❌ Not the best developer experience
• ❌ Not the cheapest (when done properly)
• ✓ Most familiar to clients
• ✓ Largest plugin ecosystem
• ✓ Easiest to find cheap developers

The truth: WordPress is often chosen by default, not because it's the best solution.

My Recommendation

I recommend WordPress for:

1. Simple blogs/portfolios
2. Budgets under £2,000
3. When client specifically wants it
4. Quick/temporary solutions

I recommend modern alternatives for:

1. Serious business websites
2. E-commerce (except very simple)
3. Custom functionality requirements
4. Performance-critical sites
5. When budget allows (£3,000+)

The transition: Most of my new projects use Payload, Next.js, or Webflow. WordPress for legacy support and specific use cases only.

How to Migrate Away From WordPress

If you're considering moving:

Step 1: Assess your needs

• What does your site actually do?
• What features do you really use?
• What's your budget?
• Who manages content?

Step 2: Choose alternative

• Webflow for designers
• Payload for developers
• Shopify for e-commerce
• Static sites for simple needs

Step 3: Plan migration

• Content export
• URL structure
• 301 redirects
• SEO preservation
• Timeline

Step 4: Execute carefully

• Test thoroughly
• Maintain SEO
• Train team
• Monitor results

Cost: £2,000-8,000 depending on complexity

ROI: Usually positive within 12-24 months from better performance and lower maintenance.

The Bottom Line

Is WordPress still worth it in 2025?

For most serious business websites: No.

Modern alternatives are:

• Faster
• More secure
• Better developer experience
• Often similar or lower total cost
• More future-proof

For specific use cases: Yes.

WordPress still works for:

• Very simple content sites
• Extremely limited budgets
• When specific plugins required
• When client specifically wants it

The industry is moving away from WordPress. Not because it stopped working, but because better options emerged.

My advice: If starting new in 2025, seriously consider modern alternatives before defaulting to WordPress.

Ready to Explore Modern Alternatives?

I work with WordPress when it makes sense, but I primarily build sites with modern technologies like Payload CMS, Next.js, and Webflow that deliver better performance and value.

If you're considering whether WordPress or a modern alternative is right for your project, I can provide an honest assessment based on your specific needs and budget.

Get in touch for a consultation. I'll recommend what actually makes sense for you - whether that's WordPress or something better.