Running a website today isn’t as simple as a decade ago. In the early days of the internet, all you needed was some basic HTML knowledge and a web hosting account to get started. Your site needs to be fast, responsive, and secure to be competitive today. This necessitates using a content management system (CMS).
The content management system is an integral part of the web. It helps in creating, managing, and publishing content on websites. Nowadays, there are many content management systems available—each with its own set of features and capabilities. However, none stands out like WordPress.
WordPress is an open-source content management system that uses PHP and MySQL. From 2003 to date, WordPress has consistently proven itself to website owners and developers.
How many websites use WordPress?
More than 60 million websites use WordPress. This makes it the most popular CMS on the internet.
According to a study done by W3Techs, WordPress will power 43.20% of all websites in 2022. That’s an incredible feat for software that’s been around for less than twenty years. This percentage will only increase in 2022 as more people move away from static HTML sites to dynamic websites.
Top WordPress Countries
News about WordPress spread like wildfire in the internet community. It is now available in over 70 languages and used by people worldwide.
The United States has the most WP websites. This is not surprising given that it’s the largest economy globally. What is surprising is the number of sites in China. China secures space in the top five countries using the platform. This is a clear indication that WordPress is gaining popularity in developing countries.
Other top countries include Brazil, Canada, Japan, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom. These countries are all leaders in the global economy. It’s no coincidence that they also have a high number of WordPress websites.
How does compare to other popular CMSs?
There is no doubt that WordPress is the most popular CMS Or eCommerce platform on the internet. However, it is not the only CMS that’s out there. Let’s take a look at how it compares to other popular CMSs:
WordPress vs. Shopify
Shopify is a closed-source CMS specifically designed for eCommerce websites. While Shopify is an excellent platform for eCommerce websites, it doesn’t compare to WordPress’ market share. The percentage of websites using WordPress is 60% and WooCommerce 13.2% , while Shopify only has a measly 4.4%. However, for a framework hosting a specific niche, Shopify is doing very well.
Joomla VS WordPress
Launched in 2005, Joomla is only two years younger than WP. It is also an open-source CMS. It uses object-oriented programming (OOP) and software design patterns.
While both are open-source CMSs, they differ in approach to site development. WordPress is more blog-oriented, while Joomla is more suited for complex web pages. As for the numbers, WordPress is far ahead of Joomla. According to usage statistics, Joomla powers only 2.5% of websites using.
While it might seem like a low market share, Joomla secures a higher market share than other popular frameworks like Google Systems and OpenCart.
WordPress VS Drupal
Drupal was started in 2001 by Dries Buytaert. It is an open-source content management system that uses PHP. When compared to WordPress, Drupal lags in terms of market share.
While it powers only about 1.9% of all websites, Drupal has a lot of big names under its belt. However, it makes up for it with its powerful features. In 2019, this platform experienced its highest percentage market share of 2.3%. Since then, Drupal has been experiencing a steady decline in market share.
Why is getting so popular?
It has not been about luck that has made the software so popular. Rather, it is due to offering a unique combination of unmatched features and benefits. Let’s look at some of the reasons why WordPress is so popular:
Free and open-source.
When it comes to open-source content management systems, WordPress is king. It uses a GPL license, which means that anyone can use it for free. You can even modify the source code and redistribute it if you want to. This makes WordPress.org an attractive option for those on a tight budget.
Ease of use
Even if you’re not a tech-savvy person, you can easily create a website with WordPress. You don’t need any coding knowledge to create a website with WP. Just install the software and start creating pages and posts. The best part is that you can do it all from your web browser without having to download or install any software. Besides, tons of tutorials and resources are available online to help you get started.
SEO friendly
WordPress utilizes a clean and valid code. This makes it easy for search engines to index your website. It also comes with many features that make it easy to optimize your website for search engines.
For instance, you can easily add meta tags, title tags, and descriptions to your posts and pages. You can also install plugins to optimize your website further. All these factors make WP an ideal platform if you want to get high rankings in the search engines.
Highly customizable
One of the best things about WordPress is that it’s highly customizable. You can easily change the look and feel of your site by installing themes and plugins. There are thousands of bootstrap themes and plugins available for free on the repository. You can also find premium additions if you want more features.
Also, you can increase the functionality of your theme without having to write any code. This level of versatility makes it ideal use on simple websites and complex eCommerce stores.
Reliable platform
The platform has been tested and proven over the years. It is a very stable platform that can handle any webpage. WordPress sites are also less likely to crash compared to other types of websites.
This is because of the consistent updates done by the team of developers behind it. So, you can be sure that your website will always be up and running.
Cost-effective
You don’t need to purchase any licenses or fees to use it. The only thing you need is a domain name and web hosting. In addition, you don’t need to hire a web developer or freelancer to create or manage your webpage. You can do it yourself with a little bit of training. This makes WordPress, one of the most cost-effective options available for creating a website.
What is the Future?
While it is impossible to predict the future, it is safe to say that WordPress has a very bright future. The team of developers behind it is constantly working on new features and improvements. Let’s look at what to expect from the CMS in the future:
Gutenberg improvement
The Gutenberg editor came with WP version five. It is a block-based editor that makes it easy to create complex pages and posts. This feature came as a replacement for the old WYSIWYG editor. It aims at improving the editing experience for users.
So far, the Gutenberg editor has received a lot of mixed reviews. Some users love it because it makes creating pages and posts more manageable. Others find it challenging to use and prefer the old WYSIWYG editor.
Regardless of the mixed reviews, the Gutenberg editor is here to stay. And the team of developers is continuously working on making it better. We can expect more improvements and new features in the Gutenberg editor in the future.
New features in WP core
The team of developers is also working on adding new features to WP core. Some of the new features we expect to see in the future WordPress include a built-in content management system (CMS), a membership system, and an improved editor.
These features will make WordPress even more powerful and versatile. And they will open up new possibilities for what you can do with a Website.
Ability to design via phones
We can also expect to see more improvements in the WordPress mobile app. Currently, the app only allows you to manage your website. But in the future, WordPress should enable people to design and build a website from scratch using their phone. This means making the app lightweight and fast.
This would be a game-changer as it would make WordPress even more accessible to users. And it would allow anyone to create a website, regardless of their technical skills.
Better performance and security
Websites are already known for their fast loading times. However, there is always room for improvement. By making some changes to the code, the team of developers can make WordPress sites even faster.
Besides, they are also working on making more secure the core software. This is important because WordPress powers a large percentage of the internet. So, it is a target for hackers. By making more secure, we can make the internet a safer place for everyone
More premium themes and plugins
As people continue to embrace online life, the need for themes and plugins will continue to grow. Currently, there are already a lot of high-quality themes and plugins available.
As the demand for WordPress increases, we can expect to see even more amazing themes and plugins. This will make it easier for people to find the perfect theme or plugin for their business.
Final words
Joining 43.2% of the internet powered by WordPress has many advantages. And it seems like there are even more advantages to using WordPress in the future. So, if you are thinking about starting a website, WordPress should be your first choice.
