WordPress has dominated for over 20 years. 43.6% of websites run on this CMS in 2025, according to W3Techs. That’s massive!
Yet, I’m hearing more and more developers and entrepreneurs tell me: “Charles, WordPress is starting to frustrate me. It’s become complicated, slow, and we’re constantly under attack.”
So, is the WordPress king really losing its crown? Or is this just a passing trend?
After analyzing 15 years of WordPress projects (and developing hundreds), here’s my unfiltered take on what’s really happening with WordPress in 2025.
The Current State: WordPress Still on Top, But…
The numbers are clear: WordPress continues its progression. In 2017, it powered 27.3% of sites. Today? 43.6%. That’s 16.3 percentage points growth in 8 years!
And yet…
2023 marked the first decline since 2011. A mere 0.1% drop, but symbolic nonetheless. And in 2024, growth significantly slowed.
Here’s what concerns me in recent data:
Competitors are gaining ground: Shopify exploded from 0.3% to 6.7% market share. Squarespace and Wix also progress at 3.3% and 5.2% respectively.
Innovation stagnates: While WordPress debates Gutenberg since 2018, Astro, Gatsby, and Next.js revolutionize the developer experience.
Complexity intensifies: Creating a simple WordPress site? Easy. Creating a performant, secure, and maintainable WordPress site? That’s becoming an obstacle course.
So why does WordPress still resist? Inertia. Changing platforms for 500 million existing sites is a titanic challenge.
WordPress’s Real Problems Today
Security: A Permanent Race Against Time
Let’s talk raw numbers: 7,966 vulnerabilities discovered in the WordPress ecosystem in 2024. Yes, you read that right.
Every week, SolidWP publishes alarming reports: 200 to 350 new vulnerabilities in plugins and themes. In May 2025, 234 new flaws were identified in a single week!
This isn’t my analytical tendency talking—it’s common sense: when you manage a revenue-generating site, you can’t afford to play Russian roulette with security.
AI complicates everything: Hackers now use artificial intelligence to automate attacks. Result? They scan and exploit vulnerabilities faster than you can install updates.
Growing Complexity (That Discourages Even Pros)
WordPress “simple”? Give me a break.
Today, creating a professional WordPress site means:
- Choosing from 59,000 free plugins (good luck sorting through those!)
- Navigating 13,000 official themes plus thousands on marketplaces
- Managing conflicts between extensions
- Optimizing performance (or hello slowness)
- Constantly maintaining security updates
My verdict? WordPress has become an expert ecosystem disguised as an “easy” solution.
If I were your consultant (which I am, in a way), here’s what I’d tell you: “Yes, you can have a working WordPress site in 10 minutes. But a WordPress site that rocks? Prepare for 3 months of struggle.”
Performance: The Persistent Achilles’ Heel
A slow WordPress site in 2025? That’s SEO suicide.
Google has prioritized speed since 2021 with Core Web Vitals. Problem: WordPress “out of the box” often crawls. Between bloated themes, resource-hungry plugins, and unoptimized images, it’s a slowdown festival.
Ground reality: I’ve audited hundreds of WordPress sites. Result? 80% exceed 3-second loading times. Unacceptable in 2025.
Rising Alternatives (That Hurt)
Static Site Generators: The Silent Revolution
While WordPress struggles with its issues, a silent revolution occurs: Static Site Generators (SSG).
Astro, Gatsby, Hugo, Next.js… These tools change the game:
- Lightning speed: No database = ultra-fast loading times
- Enhanced security: No dynamic server = reduced attack surface
- Minimal maintenance: No weekly security updates
My favorite? Astro. This marvel generates ultra-performant static HTML while maintaining a modern developer experience. I’ve written about it before, and honestly, it’s impressive.
Headless CMS: Best of Both Worlds
Strapi, Contentful, Sanity… These solutions separate content management (backend) from display (frontend).
Huge advantage: You keep CMS editing ease but with static site performance.
So, Is WordPress Really in Decline?
My nuanced answer: No, WordPress won’t disappear tomorrow. But its absolute dominance is ending.
Here’s why I think we’re witnessing an era change:
For beginners: Builders like Squarespace and Wix become truly competitive. Simpler, safer, less maintenance.
For experts: Modern technologies (Astro, React, Vue) offer more control and performance.
WordPress keeps its strengths: Richest ecosystem, WooCommerce for e-commerce, massive community.
But here’s where it gets interesting: New projects increasingly avoid WordPress. That’s telling.
My Advice Based on Your Situation
If you’re starting a project:
- Simple blog? Hugo or Jekyll
- Business site? Astro or Gatsby
- E-commerce? Shopify or WooCommerce depending on budget
- Complex application? Next.js or Nuxt
If you already have a WordPress site:
- Works well? Keep it and optimize
- Performance issues? Consider migration
- Too much maintenance? SSGs can free you
My 2025-2030 prediction: WordPress will remain dominant through inertia, but growth will stagnate. New technologies will progressively nibble away market share.
The Truth About WordPress’s Future
Let’s not kid ourselves: WordPress is going through growing pains.
It’s growing, evolving, but also dragging baggage. Gutenberg divides, performance remains challenging, and security demands constant vigilance.
But (and it’s a big but), WordPress has a major asset: adaptability. It survived social media emergence, mobile, e-commerce… It will probably adapt to SSGs and AI.
My final advice? Don’t put all eggs in one technology basket. Learn alternatives, test, experiment. The future belongs to those who master multiple tools.
Is WordPress losing its edge? Maybe. But it’s not ready to lose its position. However, its monopoly is ending. And frankly? That’s great for innovation!
What do you think? Will your next project be on WordPress or will you try an alternative? Tell me everything!
